Degree Requirements

Art & Design offers a BA Degree in Art, with Option in Art (2D Studio or 3D Studio concentration); Design Option (graphic design concentration), or Art Education PK-12 Teacher Preparation Option. Our flexible curriculum encourages students to develop expressive capabilities and individual approach to pursue their own personal interests. To build a portfolio, Art & Design majors participate in a Portfolio Assessment review process three times during study.

BA Degree requirements can be found in the CSU Catalog - Degrees & Programs. Click on the appropriate degree to see detailed requirements.

Master of Arts in Teaching MAT Visual Art (preK-12) requirements can be found in the CSU Catalog - MAT Secondary Education.

Sample 4-Year Degree Maps

Degree Maps show how the BA degree may be completed in 4 years. Students' individual degree progress and course scheduling is subject to variation and change.

Minors in Art & Design

Art & Design offers Minor Degrees in Art, Photography, Design, or Art History. The 21-credit Minor adds to the Major degree study, introducing skills and knowledge in Art, Photography, and Art History. These advising sheets show details and requirements:

Honors in the Major Program

The Honors in the Major Program is a unique opportunity for motivated and gifted Art & Design students to create a body of artwork, research papers, and/or written thesis beyond basic requirements, toward an advanced individualized portfolio. Honors students work with faculty mentors to develop honors work, using visual language appropriate to specific study or media. Honors work and honors portfolios help prepare for graduate study and careers.

To receive honors credit, students present their work to the chair & faculty honors committee at the end of each course. Upon successful completion of required 12 honors credits, students will be recognized as an Honors Student on the CSU transcript. The honors program is designed to begin junior year and extend through senior year, culminating in the capstone Portfolio Preparation course. Art & Design students can apply for admission into the honors program during the second semester of their sophomore year. A minimum 3.25 grade point average in the major and 3.0 overall is required. Transfer students entering at the junior level also qualify for the program.

General Education Courses

Art & Design offers the following courses each year to meet the CSU Fine Arts General Education Requirement. These courses fulfill Fine Arts General Education requirement for non-degree students, Art & Design degree students must take Fine Arts General Education courses outside the major.

Art 1100: Introduction to the Visual Arts
Art 1200: Drawing I
Art 2101: Ancient through Medieval Art
Art 2102: Renaissance through Baroque Art
Art 2103: Modern Art
Art 2110: Introduction to Non-Western Art
Art 2120: History of Photography
Art 2140: Chicago Art Scene
Art 2150: Survey of Women Artists
Art 2401: Sculpture I
Art 2500: Fiber Arts I
Art 2540: Weaving I
Art 2570: Ceramics I

Art 2110 & 2150 also meet the Diversity requirement (embedded, no additional course required).