Mar 28, 2024  
Permanent Working Catalog (Spring 2025 Draft In Progress) 
    
Permanent Working Catalog (Spring 2025 Draft In Progress)

Art and Art History


This area is in the School of Design and Communication  within the COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION .


Art and Art History

Cortney Chaffin, Area Coordinator/Assistant Professor
Office: NFAC 192
Email: cchaffin@uwsp.edu
Web: https://www.uwsp.edu/schoolofdesign/Pages/major/Art.aspx

Faculty and Academic Staff: J Ables-Playl, C Chaffin, A Gambrell, J Jo, A LaRocca, G Peñafiel, B Sievers

Definition: The Art and Art History Area offers students a rich range of fine-art-focused experiences and technical, formal, and conceptual approaches to making and researching creative work. The programs are steeped in a formal studio background, with the ability to explore and combine a variety of media and investigative methodologies to examine and explore topics across 2D, 3D, and 4D (time based) studio practice. The Art & Art History Area encourages innovative and transdisciplinary thinking and making for students interested in alternative and innovative practices.

Accreditation: The Art & Art History Area is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). It is one of five such accredited programs in the UW System.

Enrollment Management Plan

The Art & Art History Area is a limited enrollment program. Students admitted to the university are accepted into the Art & Art History Area in order of application. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Professional Opportunities in Art & Art History

Programs of study in the Art & Art History Area prepare you for careers or graduate study in the visual arts, museums/galleries, private studio practice, education, arts administration, and many other possible art-related fields.

Recommended High School Preparation

In addition to the university requirements for admission and entry into any of the art and art history programs, high school courses in art and design are highly recommended. If you are planning to enter the professional Art BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) program, four years of English, one year of algebra, two years of foreign language, and two years of science in high school are recommended.

General Requirements for Art & Art History

Study in a variety of areas of knowledge is required of all undergraduates, and these requirements vary depending on the particular major. The Art & Art History Area offers the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Additionally, the Art & Art History Area offers an Art History Minor  and Art Minor . See the previous section of this catalog entitled General Education  

Courses for Non-Art Majors

Subject to availability, courses in the Art & Art History Area are open to all students who meet the prerequisites and secure School permission. You do not need prior consent for courses that are open to non-art majors.

Exhibition Material

The Art & Art History Area reserves the right to retain examples of student work for exhibition purposes.

Visiting Artist and Scholar Program, and Edna Carlsten Gallery

The Art & Art History Area also maintains an ongoing program of visiting artists and scholars to supplement the curriculum, and a cooperative schedule of operations and exhibitions with the Edna Carlsten Gallery, housed in the Noel Fine Arts Center. The gallery regularly displays traveling shows and exhibits for student and public viewing.

Course Fees for Art & Art History

Fees are charged for certain courses to cover the cost of models and consumable materials.

Academic Standards for Art & Art History

As an art and art history student you must first meet the academic entrance requirements of the university. Since individual development is an expectation, you should be prepared to present a portfolio of artwork for review and evaluation periodically throughout the program as requested.

Transfer credits:

Please refer to the university policy on transferred credits in the Academic Policies  section of this catalog.

Credits in Residence:

Any student transferring into art and art history from another institution must complete a minimum of 21 credits within the department for the BFA degree and 15 credits within the department for the BA degree.

Entry status:

All entering art majors (freshmen, changes of major, and transfers) are accepted into the art program as BA majors. Acceptance into the BFA is achieved by passing the BFA Portfolio Review, as described below.

The Art & Art History Area has the following standards for continuation in its programs:

Art Foundation Requirement:

You need a 2.67 or higher GPA in the art foundation (Studio Art Foundation and Art History Foundation combined), including transfer credits and regardless of any declaration of academic forgiveness, to maintain your status as an art major and to qualify for the BFA Portfolio Review. The foundation consists of DSN 101 , DSN 102 , DSN 103 , ART 201 , and 6 credits of Art History ART 111  & ART 112 .

BFA Portfolio Review:

Passing the BFA Portfolio Review is required for admission into the BFA (professional) program. This review is conducted by art and art history faculty. You must have completed DSN 101 , DSN 102 , DSN 103 , ART 201 , and a choice of six credits from other art studio courses.

The review must take place before you complete 24 studio art credits. If you complete 24 studio art credits during the fall semester, you must complete the review the following spring semester. You may attempt the BFA Portfolio Review only once.

If you do not pass the BFA Portfolio Review, you may maintain BA status in Art & Art History Area. Graduating with a BA degree is contingent upon meeting the specific major requirements of the BA degree.

BFA Portfolio Review Appeals Process:

You may appeal any action taken by the Art & Art History Area that is based on the School’s requirements and policies that are set forth in this catalog. You must appeal in writing to the assistant dean within 30 days of notification of the action taken. The assistant dean will determine whether a review is appropriate. If so, a review team, composed of a faculty member appointed by the assistant dean and a faculty member that you select, will review the matter, and give a recommendation to the assistant dean.

BFA Review - Reconsideration Review:

You may be reconsidered for acceptance into the BFA after the School’s Academic Appeal 30-day limit has passed. This appeal must be made to the assistant dean and must include three letters of support from art and art history or graphic design faculty who have worked with the student in the classroom. The appeal will automatically trigger a new BFA review by a review team made up of faculty members from the Art & Art History Area. The new review must take place within 30 days of receiving the final letter of support. A reconsideration review may be attempted once.

BFA Requirement:

To complete the BFA program, you must satisfy the art foundation requirements, pass the BFA Portfolio Review, and maintain a 2.67 or higher GPA in all art courses. This includes transfer credits and applies regardless of any declaration of academic forgiveness. For graduation, you must also successfully pass ART 491 .

BA Requirement:

In order to complete the BA program, you must maintain a 2.67 or higher GPA, including transfer credits, regardless of any declaration of academic forgiveness.

Contact the School of Design & Communication for further details. The assistant dean may make exceptions to the above entrance and retention criteria under unusual circumstances.

Test-Out and Credit-by-Exam Policy for Art & Design

The Art & Art History Area has test-out and credit-by-exam procedures for all General Education Program (GEP) requirement   art courses. If you wish to test out and receive credit-by-exam, you must first confer with the faculty member who teaches the course about requirements for the exam and grading procedures. If you pass the exam, the GEP requirement will be waived, you will receive credit for the course, and the course may count toward an art major and/or minor if appropriate.

The cumulative exam will consist of a specific exercise or series of exercises different from those used in the existing course. In a course with a significant research component, you may be required to do an appropriate project. You may take a test-out/credit-by-exam test only once.

Probation for Art Major

If your GPA is below the minimum requirement, you will receive a warning that your academic status is unsatisfactory. If your GPA falls below the minimum requirement for two consecutive semesters, you will be dismissed as a major. The School of Design & Communication’s policy on repeating courses and academic forgiveness requires prior School authorization, but is otherwise the same as general university policy, except where higher School GPA requirements apply.

Academic Appeal

You may appeal any action taken by the School of Design & Communication that is based on School requirements and policies that are set forth in this catalog. You must appeal in writing to the assistant dean within 30 days of notification of the action taken. The assistant dean will determine whether a review is appropriate.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The School of Design & Communication works cooperatively with the Disability Resource Center to ensure that qualified students with disabilities are provided equal access and accommodations appropriate to their disability in their academic programs and pursuits.

Students with an art and art history major who have a documented disability may qualify for services through the UW-Stevens Point Disability Resource Center. Depending on the student’s individual needs as related to their disability, they may utilize accommodations that could include, but not limited to, classroom, testing, reading and writing accommodations as appropriate. Inquiry or referral for accommodation services should be directed to the Coordinator of the Disability Resource Center.

Programs

    Bachelor DegreesPre-ProfessionalMinors

    Courses

      Art and DesignArt EducationDesign