Visual Arts

The University of North Georgia’s Department of Visual Arts offers the following degree programs:

Associate of Arts in Art
Bachelor of Arts in Art with Concentration in Digital Art
Bachelor of Arts in Art with Concentration in Graphic Design
Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art
Bachelor of Science in Art Education *
Bachelor of Science in Art Marketing
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts

*NOTE: The professional education degree program offered through the Department of Visual Arts is in coordination with and subject to requirements stipulated by the College of Education.
www.ung.edu/visual-arts/index.php

Associate of Arts in Art

The A.A. in art prepares students for further study in art or a related field within a four-year degree program; it may also stand as an independent, two-year degree. The 60-credit program consists of 42 credits in Areas A-E core curriculum course work, and 18 credits in foundation studio art and art history courses.

Bachelor of Arts in Art with Concentration in Digital Art

The B.A. in Art with Concentration in Digital Art is designed to prepare students for jobs or graduate study in 2-D and 3-D animation, 3-D modeling and printing, motion arts, interactive media design, visual effects, and product visualization and style development, in fields such as studio art, advertising, marketing, web and game development, and the entertainment industry. It is a comprehensive degree with 60 credits in 2000-, 3000-, and 4000-level coursework in studio art and art history, with a focus in the digital 2-D and 3-D art. An additional 60 credits are taken in Area A-F core curriculum coursework. As part of this degree, students must undertake a field internship in their Senior year.

Bachelor of Arts in Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

The B.A. in Art with Concentration in Graphic Design prepares students for careers in fields such as advertising, illustration, web design, motion graphics, package design, and publication design. It is a comprehensive degree with 60 credits in 2000-, 3000-, and 4000-level coursework in studio art and art history, with a focus on the application of graphic design to advertising, illustration, web design, motion graphics, and/or digital photography. An additional 60 credits are taken in Area A-F core curriculum coursework. As part of this degree, students must undertake a field internship in their Senior year.

Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art

The B.A. in Studio Art prepares students for a career in the field of visual arts. It is a comprehensive degree with 60 credits in studio art and art history courses, and 18 credits that can be dedicated to a minor in art history or another liberal arts discipline. An additional 42 credits are taken in Areas A-E core curriculum course work. The areas of study for this degree are ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textile design, and weaving (a minimum of 39 credits in 3000- and 4000-level studio art, art history, and art education courses are required).

Bachelor of Science in Art Education

The B.S. in art education prepares students to teach art in the Georgia School System. This is a comprehensive degree program, offered in coordination with and subject to requirements stipulated by the UNG School of Education, that provides an initial teaching certificate to teach pre-school through twelfth grades. Sixty credits are taken in Areas A-F core curriculum coursework, 33 credits are required in 3000- and 4000-level studio art and art history, and 36 credits are taken in professional education coursework. (A minimum of 39 credits in 3000- and 4000-level studio art, art history, and art education courses are required.)

Art education students must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program before beginning 3000-level ARED and EDUC coursework; to complete the program they must undertake a field internship and student teaching, and post a passing score on the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE).

Bachelor of Science in Art Marketing

The B.S. in Art Marketing prepares students for a career in visual arts or fields related to the production, sales, marketing, and/or display of visual arts. This is a comprehensive degree with a minimum of 39 credits in 3000- and 4000-level studio art and art history courses, and 18 credits in the economics, management, and marketing of art. An additional 60 credits are taken in Areas A-F core curriculum coursework. As part of this degree, students must undertake a field internship in their Junior or Senior year; consult with your advisor regarding a placement that best suits your professional interests.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts

The BFA in visual arts is a professional degree that includes 78 credit hours in studio art and art history courses and prepares students for careers or graduate studies in visual arts. The areas of study for this degree are ceramics, digital arts, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Admission to the program is based on application and portfolio review after completion of foundation courses.

Minors

The Department of Visual Arts also offers several minors:

Minor in Art History
Minor in Digital Arts
Minor in Digital Design & Fabrication
Minor in Graphic Design
Minor in Studio Art

The department also provides core curriculum courses in Area C and electives to the student body at large. Upper level visual arts courses are accessible to non-majors with permission of the department head. Any open-option student who is considering a visual arts major should consult an academic advisor in the Department of Visual Arts as soon as possible in order to make informed decisions when planning a course of study. This is especially critical since visual arts majors should begin taking Area F core requirements in the first semester of the freshman year to maintain the appropriate sequence of courses.

Core Curriculum- Area C Fine Arts Requirement

Every undergraduate North Georgia student is required to complete a course in either fine arts, speech or philosophy as a part of the Area C core curriculum requirements. Successful completion of ART 1100 Art Appreciation, ART 2510 Art History I, or ART 2520 Art History II fulfills this requirement for non-visual arts majors; visual arts majors may complete this requirement by successfully completing ART 1100 Art Appreciation.

Visual Arts Program Requirements and Assessment

Visual arts majors and minors must achieve a grade of “C” or better in each Department of Visual Arts course taken to fulfill degree requirements.

All 3-hour art studio courses are activity-based courses in visual arts; these courses normally meet for six hours per week.

All transfer visual arts courses completed at another institution are subject to portfolio or equivalency review by the faculty to determine if transfer credit can be awarded.

Students enrolled in visual arts courses (including Area F courses) may be required to attend art exhibitions, guest lectures, and/or cultural presentations that occur outside the regular class time. This attendance requirement, which will be stated in writing for each visual arts course at the beginning of each term, is considered to be an integral component of the liberal arts education provided by the University of North Georgia.

Each visual arts degree candidate must successfully meet oral and written communication skills requirements and exhibit an understanding of cultural diversity. Further, each degree candidate must demonstrate facility with appropriate current technologies, along with the ability to use critical thinking skills in response to issues, themes and ideas within her or his chosen area of study.

All area F courses (ART 1010, ART 1020, ART 1030, ART 2510, ART 2520, and ART 2100, ART 2150, ART 2200, ART 2600 or ART 2700) must be completed by visual arts majors with a grade of C or higher prior to taking any 3000- or 4000-level studio art or art history courses.

All majors must successfully complete Portfolio Review with a committee of a minimum of two members of the Visual Arts faculty. The Portfolio Review will be held during the last semester the student is enrolled in Area F courses and prior to moving into 3000- or 4000-level studio art or art history courses.

Majors may pre-register for upper level studio art or art history courses the semester they are completing Area F coursework. Prior to starting 3000-and 4000-level studio art history courses, Visual Arts advisors will verify their advisees have passed Portfolio Review and completed their Area F coursework with a grade of C or better.

Each candidate for an undergraduate degree in visual arts must successfully participate in a senior exhibition showing her or his best art work created while a student at North Georgia. During the last semester of the junior year or first semester of the senior year of study, all majors must participate in Senior Review with a committee of Visual Arts faculty. The student’s senior exhibition proposal will be evaluated and either approved or denied, and the proposal must be approved before registering for ART 4910 Senior Capstone Exhibition, which is offered Fall and Spring semester, and senior exhibitions are held Fall and Spring semesters only. Students pursuing a BS in Art Education take these courses and hold their exhibition the semester prior to student teaching.

In addition to these requirements, each candidate for an undergraduate visual arts degree in professional education must be admitted to Teacher Education before taking any 3000- or 4000-level EDUC or ARED courses, successfully complete a teaching internship that is jointly directed by the Department of Visual Arts and the School of Education, and meet all the other requirements stipulated by the Department of Visual Arts and the School of Education.

Visual Arts Scholarships and Awards

A limited number of visual arts scholarships and awards are available to outstanding majors. Scholarships are awarded based on artistic merit, academic achievement, and/or university or community involvement. For basic information, refer to the section on Departmental Awards under Honors and Awards. Detailed information is available at http://ung.edu/visual-arts/scholarships-and-awards.php or from:

Department of Visual Arts
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA 30597

Programs

Associate of Arts

Art (A.A.)

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Visual Arts (B.F.A.)

Bachelor of Science

Certificate Programs

Digital Design and Fabrication Certificate

Minor