Mission Statement

The Department of Art and Art History is dedicated to developing students’ critical thinking, creativity, visual literacy, technical skills, and knowledge about the history of art. We provide high-quality instruction in Art Education, Art History, Studio Art, and Interior Architecture. In all areas, we endeavor to create an environment which supports professional artistic activities and research in traditional and new media and methodologies.

Our faculty are committed to fostering a sense of community that enables students to be simultaneously nurtured and challenged. The faculty take pride in being easily accessible, eager to explore ideas with students and to help them realize their creative concerns. As teachers, we pride ourselves on maintaining high standards that employ both well-tested and innovative methods. We integrate the investigation of the visual with political, historical, and moral issues.

Members of the faculty are nationally and internationally recognized. Our artists, scholars, and designers have won significant public commissions and grants, shown with well-established galleries, received awards for distinguished teaching, written for key journals and presses, and been invited speakers throughout the world. In addition, renowned visiting artists, art historians, and critics introduce challenging concepts in lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and critiques of student work. We offer Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees.