Department of Fine Arts

Housed in the Alexander Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the Department of Fine Arts provides academic programs in art and music. An important dimension of the Department’s activities is to stimulate a climate on the campus conducive to the development of artistic expression and creation and to provide satisfaction for these aesthetic needs. Individual exposure and interdisciplinary participation by students in the arts are equally important aspects of training and, as such, are encouraged. Many of the co-curricular programs provided by the Fine Arts Department meet these demands. In addition, the Artist-Lecture Series, sponsored by the Department of Fine Arts, brings to campus professional musicians and artists for performances and workshops. The Department of Fine Arts encourages its students to meet and work with such notables, recognizing this as an integral part of the student’s professional growth and training.

Art

Based on the conviction that the artist is of essential value to his or her time and culture, the programs of study offered by the Department of Art are designed to provide the creative individual with opportunities to develop his or her talents in an orderly and logical manner. The Department has a program for the student seeking a career as an art teacher, advertising/graphic design professional, studio artist, or the student wanting to continue art studies in graduate school. Three individual programs and two types of degrees are offered.

Students may seek the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Studio Art or a major in Advertising/Graphic Design or the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a Pre K-Adult specialization. Details for the latter are described here . Studio Art is also available as a minor field.

Qualified students may take selected art classes without pursuing a degree program. In addition, art degree students may pursue advanced studies in art by working under the supervision of Concord art faculty, with approved professional artists, crafts-workers, or advertising and related business supervisors. The combined grade point average of all art courses must be at least a 2.5 in order to graduate. Students with grades of C in required art courses may be advised to take additional work. In addition many of the mandatory art courses require that the student get a grade of C or higher to get credit for the course taken.

Transfer students wanting to major in art must take a minimum of five art courses (three for a minor) at Concord University, regardless of work transferred, as well as meeting all requirements of the Department and the University.

Portfolio and Exhibition Requirements

While the Department of Art does not require a portfolio for admission into the program, the following requirements do exist for students enrolled in Studio Art, Graphic Design/Advertising and Art Education:

By the end of their sophomore year, students must prepare a portfolio of work for review by the entire full-time art faculty. Students who fail their portfolio review will be asked to take additional courses. Guidelines are listed in the Department of Art Student Handbook.
Participation in a senior exhibition (group or individual) is required. All art students must present to the Art Faculty a portfolio for review of their work, which they wish to have considered for inclusion in their senior exhibit. A jury comprised of the entire full-time art faculty will judge the student[s work. If the jury is passed, selected works will be included. Senior exhibition guidelines are listed in the Department of Art Student Handbook.

Music

Music’s objective is to graduate competent, sensitive musicians who are prepared to begin a variety of musical careers. All prospective music students must schedule an audition for placement purposes before enrolling in any applied music course. Transfer students must audition for placement.

In addition, students are responsible for all applicable requirements in the Music Student Handbook. Music students can expect to plan individual daily practice sessions of at least two or three hours.

An overall grade point average of 2.50 (C) must be maintained in all courses in music for graduation.