Art and Design

The University of Southern Indiana’s Art and Design department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and offers both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees in art and in art education. Students pursuing an art degree choose an emphasis in art history, graphic design, illustration, interactive media design, photography, or studio (ceramics, jewelry, painting, printmaking, sculpture or woodworking). Students seeking to become art teachers select the Visual Art P-12 Teaching Major. Program requirements for the art education major with P-12 certifications meet the teacher education licensure requirements in the State of Indiana. Minors in art teaching (elementary or secondary) are available to Early Childhood and Elementary Education majors. Minors in art history, digital video, graphic design, photography, and studio art are available to all students, including Art majors with a separate emphasis.

The art and art education programs serve to help students define their own creative goals to pursue careers or graduate study. All art courses are designed to help students develop technical and conceptual skills, establish a foundation for critical thinking, and fulfill their creative potential. An internship program offers junior and senior art students the opportunity to work in professional settings at design studios, museums, and galleries. Upon completion of their studies at USI, many art majors have been accepted into graduate programs at prestigious institutions throughout the country. The art faculty takes pride in the accomplishments of its graduates who have achieved success as graphic designers, artists, elementary to university-level teachers, museum and gallery personnel, and art historians.

The Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries provide a professional exhibition space for the creative work of art majors, faculty members, and alumni, as well as special exhibits of the University’s art collection, visiting artists, traveling exhibits, and juried invitational shows. The art program also is affiliated with the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, which provides continuous art exhibitions during the year.

Note: For a 15-week semester, one semester credit hour equals one contact hour of class instruction for lecture courses (most ARTH and ARTE prefixes). For studio/laboratory courses (most ART and ARTD prefixes) one semester credit hour equals two contact hours of class instruction. All art courses require preparation outside of class. A maximum of two courses with a grade less than a C may apply toward the Art major / emphasis.