Art and Design
Mission Statement
The Department of Art and Design welcomes students into a close-knit, supportive community where creative and intellectual growth flourishes in the visual arts. At our core is an experienced group of accomplished artists dedicated to guiding students through the challenges of developing their own creative voices. Our faculty takes an individualized approach to teach students the skills necessary to become perceptive, analytical, and adaptive artists.
Our program includes Graphic Design, 2-Dimensional Design, 3-Dimensional Design, Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Photography, Web Design, Video, Sculpture, Printmaking, and Art History. It also includes Art Education and Pre-Art Therapy. In the course of their study students develop an interdisciplinary view of making art. They are encouraged to experiment, practice, and learn through their own experience. This process helps to foster a sense of understanding and appreciation for all creative disciplines.
Students cultivate, through their passion for art, innovative approaches to problem solving. Their dynamic studio environment helps foster an understanding of their relationship to the world while guiding them toward being compassionate, responsible people. Our goal is to prepare artists for a global community where they can envision and bring about new opportunities to practice creativity and life-long learning.
Course Fees
A modest course fee will be charged in most Art and Design courses in order to cover the cost of course resources.
Studio Art
The studio program offers a foundation in artistic production and visual thinking. Studio majors are offered a wide range of experience in various media, introduced to the history of art and contemporary theory, and challenged to develop individual expressive languages.
There are three-degree options in studio art. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is for students who wish to pursue careers in specialized art fields or graduate study (Master of Fine Arts) which would qualify them to teach at the college level. The Bachelor of Arts option provides a general level of experience and appreciation in art while allowing students to major or minor in another field of study. The Bachelor of Fine Arts with Teacher Certification is for students planning on art education careers.
Graphic Design
The graphic design program prepares students for industry careers through concentration on the print and front-end web design elements of the graphic design field. There are two-degree options in graphic design. The Bachelor of Arts degree is for students interested in becoming entry-level professional graphic designers, and it allows students to major or minor in another field of study. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is recommended for students interested in pursuing an MFA in Graphic Design or similar degree in graduate school.
Students majoring in Studio Art or Graphic Design have pursued careers as game designers, graphic designers, web designers, art therapists, art directors, professional artists, arts administrators, educators, craft artists, product designers, multi-media artists, museum and gallery curators, art writers, video editors, video producers, professional photographers, make-up artists, illustrators, photo editors, art historians, animators, freelance artists, and many other fields that demand a high degree of critical thinking, problem solving, software skills, and creative ability.
Interior Design
A Liberal Arts education is the best preparation for students in a changing world. We must cultivate in students the ability to think critically and creatively and to develop the ability to make sound judgments based on valid information and concern for the health, safety and welfare of people through education and research. Applying interdisciplinary knowledge from users and experts in other disciplines promotes both team collaboration and good design solutions.
This degree program is structured to produce a highly qualified graduate with the professional ability to enter directly into the interior design profession. Students develop a strong liberal arts background with emphasis on the principles of design and the history of architecture and interiors, designed to enable them to express creative concepts and ideas. An internship experience with an interior design or architectural firm is highly recommended to provide exposure to the available resources and to enhance future employment opportunities. An active Interior Design Organization provides additional opportunities as student members in professional organizations. Interior design majors may complete the program on campus or elect to spend a semester or summer studying abroad.
Pre-Architecture Program
Adrian College offers a Pre-Architecture program for students who plan on attending graduate school for Architecture and pursuing a career as an Architect. Students will graduate from Adrian College with a BS degree in Interior Design. They will also complete the following additional course work: ART100 and ART101, HIST123 and HIST124; MATH135; PHIL105; PHYS101 and PHYS103.
Pre-Art Therapy
See Pre-Professional Programs in the Academics section of the catalog.