Department of Art and Design

Department of Art and Design

Location: 100 Art Building, Phone

Phone: (409) 880-8141

Chair: Stephanie Chadwick (Interim)

Administrative Coordinator: Judy Havens

Phone: (409) 880-8141

Mission Statement

The Department of Art & Design seeks to nurture and empower the individual artistic practice, academic development, and personal growth of its diverse student body through innovative curricula in design, studio art, art history, art theory, and art education. Nationally recognized, the Department of Art & Design impacts and transforms the local community and beyond through community engagement activity, innovative academic programs, the creative and scholarly achievements of its faculty, and the educational and professional accomplishments of its students and alumni. Locally committed and globally engaged, the Department of Art prepares its students for professional careers.

The Department of Art & Design offers two professional undergraduate instructional programs, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design is recommended for those seeking careers in the field of graphic design. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design includes course work in the following areas of study: graphic design, typography, brand identity, illustration, web design, digital imaging, motion design, and portfolio development. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art emphasizes the development of skills, concepts, and creative sensitivities essential to the professional artist. Students in this program choose from one of the following areas: Photography, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Internship opportunities are available to all Lamar University Bachelor of Fine Arts students.

The Department of Art and Design offers a liberal arts undergraduate instructional program, the Bachelor of Science in Studio Art. The Bachelor of Science degree in Studio Art is designed for those seeking all-levels art teacher certification and requires 42 credit hours of academic foundations and 84 credit hours of professional program (including 21 hours of professional development in the College of Education and Human Development). The art education program is structured to provide students with the knowledge needed to pursue a career of excellence as an all-levels art teacher in elementary and secondary schools. 

All students entering a degree program in art and design must be counseled by the department chair regarding study options in the department. Academic advising is mandatory for all art and design majors. Art and Design majors are required to follow the prescribed sequence of courses. The letter grade “C” will be the minimum prerequisite grade for the successful completion of all required courses in the major and for continuing studio courses in sequence. All prerequisites must be satisfied prior to enrollment in art and design courses. During either the fall or spring semester prior to graduation, a candidate for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will be required to take ARTS 4399 Senior Thesis & Exhibition and prepare an exhibition as a degree completion requirement. Art and Design majors are required to meet formally with the art department chair two semesters prior to anticipated graduation for the purpose of a degree audit.

A minor in art history is available to students in other programs or departments by earning 18 hours of credit as required by the Department of Art & Design.

Art and design electives are available for non-majors who desire experiences in the visual arts as part of their general education. Non-majors are required to satisfy prerequisites for art and design elective courses not specifically offered to non-majors.

Transfer credit of freshman and sophomore art courses is in compliance with the Transfer Curriculum for Visual Arts adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Programs