Mar 28, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2018-2019 
    
Academic Catalog 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art


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Art/Art History

Faculty

“A liberal arts education empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change as well as helping students develop a sense of social responsibility, strong intellectual and practical skills, and the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings.”
Association of American Colleges and Universities

The art department offers a broad scope of opportunities for attaining a liberal arts education. From traditional fine art subjects, such as painting and photography, to artisanal craft-based media, such as ceramics, metal, and glass; to digital technology such as 3D modeling and printing; and to community-based genres, such as eco art and social sculpture, students are sure to find an area that suits their expressive style. Rigorous study of art history across culture and time offers opportunities to consider multiple perspectives as well as providing a firm grounding for the understanding that cultural context is a shaping force for all human activity.

What connects all of these different areas is our commitment to liberal arts core values and a focus on process in relation to context. Whether painting a landscape, building a bridge, or starting a school; creative ideation, intelligent planning, and skillful execution are essential elements for generating change in the world. We believe that the studio arts provide an ideal venue for learning and practicing these critical skills. Ensuring that our students understand the applicability and transferability of the creative making process to all areas of life is a primary goal.

At the core of both the Fine Art and Design Tracks of the Art major are common outcomes that help students practice and refine their creative process. Students who complete the program will be able to generate original ideas, communicate the contexts and concepts that frame and drive their work, develop their craft, and adopt behaviors for success.

Program Learning Outcomes

Outcome 1: Creative Process Students will be able to use a variety of brainstorming techniques to generate novel ideas of value to solve problems
Outcome 2: Development of Skill and Technique Students will have sufficient mastery of one or more media to complete the technical and formal challenges pertinent to a body of original work.
Outcome 3: Communication of Ideas and Context Students will be able to clearly communicate the content and context of their work visually, orally and in writing.
Outcome 4: Development of Deliberate Practice Students will develop behaviors such as curiosity, initiative, and persistence that will help them engage with the world in productive ways. Students will be able to work independently or collaboratively to achieve stated goals

Art History

The discipline of Art History is central to a liberal arts education because it unites the visual arts with numerous fields in the humanities, such as history, politics, religious studies, philosophy, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, gender studies, and literature. As such, art history is interdisciplinary and will enrich the life of any student regardless of major.

Art history is the study of visual culture in its historical and theoretical contexts. It goes beyond merely studying artistic styles and aesthetic theories to exploring a variety of cultures, geographic areas, and time periods, in both western and non-western art, as well as a variety of broad thematic issues to present art history within a global perspective. Through the study of art history, the student can realize the impact of visual culture on the formation of human values, beliefs, creativity, and identity in diverse civilizations as well as for oneself in contemporary society.

Students who major in art history or take art history classes develop skills that enhance their achievements as students and scholars and cultivate skills that are highly valued by employers. These skills include: critical and creative thinking; oral, written, and visual communication skills; problem-solving techniques; the ability to work effectively individually and collaboratively; ability to analyze and interpret using independent thinking; and research and synthesis. The study of art history also inspires students to interact with their visual culture and community through the visitation of local galleries, museums, and art shows, as well as traveling abroad to pursue that interaction with other global communities.

The study of art history prepares students for advanced degrees in graduate school as well as employment in galleries, museums, arts administration, art criticism, nonprofit organizations, art centers and institutions, conservation, archivist, and art education, depending on their skills and experience. Students who are considering graduate work in art history are encouraged to study a foreign language beyond the 102 level. Students who are interested in the field of art conservation may wish to pursue a Chemistry minor. All art history majors must complete all core requirements and maintain a 3.0 average, with no class below a C- in the major.

College Alliances

Pacific University offers a unique opportunity for students to enroll in art courses not offered at Pacific at The Oregon College of Art and Craft located about twenty minutes from campus. Qualified students are encouraged to enrich their creative experiences at Pacific with the cross registration of courses at the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts through The Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities. Art students may also choose to study fine art, design or art history abroad with Pacific’s international partner York St. John University in York, England. Please see the chair of the art department for details about these programs.

Programs

    Bachelor of ArtsMinor

    Courses

      Art HistoryArt Studio

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