Degree Requirements

Art & Design degrees allow students to pursue their own personal interests in Art, Design, or Art Education. The flexible curriculum encourages students to develop expressive capabilities and individual art perceptions. To build a portfolio, Art & Design majors participate in a Portfolio Assessment process three times during study: sophomore, junior, and graduating senior portfolio reviews. 

 

Graphic Design Concentration (ADGD)

Required Freshman/Sophomore Seminar Courses: 3 credit hours

  • ART 1101: Seminar 1
  • ART 1104: Writing about Art Seminar
  • ART 1105: Art Careers Seminar

Required Studio Courses: 42 credit hours

  • ART 1200: Drawing I
  • ART 1280: 2D Design
  • ART 1290: 3D Design
  • ART 2360: Intro to Digital Photography
  • ART 2350: Color Photo I
  • ART 2710: Illustrator/Photoshop
  • ART 2712: Graphic Design I
  • ART 2714: Typography
  • ART 3360: Digital Photography
  • ART 3722: Graphic Design II 
  • ART 3724: Graphic Design III
  • ART 3726: Design for Interactive Media
  • ART 3730: Web Page Design 
  • ART 4950: Portfolio Preparation

Supportive Elective Courses: 6 credit hours

  • ART 2xxx - 4xxx
  • ART 2xxx - 4xxx 

Required Art History Courses: 12 credit hours

  • ART 2101: Ancient - Medieval Art History
  • ART 2102: Renaissance-Baroque Art History
  • ART 2103: Modern Art History
  • ART 2110: Non-Western Art, ART 2105: African Art, ART 2120: History of Photography, or ART 4120: African American Art

36 credit hours of general education, College of Arts & Sciences requirements of one course in foreign language (3 cr hrs) and a designated diversity course (embedded), and 18 credit hours of electives in any area of study are required. 


Students in the Design Option enrolled in courses ART 2710 or higher are required to have a laptop computer. The recommended industry-standard is the Apple MacBook Pro, or a PC laptop with enough memory and processor to use Adobe Creative Cloud software. CSU Financial Aid can help students obtain support for this required laptop purchase.

2D Studio Art Concentration (ARTD)

Required Freshman/Sophomore Seminar Courses: 3 credit hours

  • ART 1101: Seminar I
  • ART 1104: Writing about Art Seminar
  • ART 1105: Art Careers Seminar 

Required Studio Courses: 48 credit hours

  • ART 1200: Drawing I
  • ART 1280: 2D Design
  • ART 2200: Drawing II
  • ART 2230: Painting I
  • ART 2260: Printmaking I
  • ART 2401: Sculpture I
  • ART 1290: 3D Design
  • ART 2570: Ceramics I, ART 2500 Fiber Arts I, or ART 2540 Weaving I
  • ART 4950: Portfolio Preparation
  • ART 2xxx - 4xxx: 2D Studio Course*
  • ART 2xxx - 4xxx: 3D Studio Course**
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 2D Studio Course
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 2D Studio Course
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 2D Studio Course
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 2D Studio Course

Required Art History Courses: 12 credit hours 

  • ART 2101: Ancient – Medieval Art History
  • ART 2102: Renaissance-Baroque Art History
  • ART 2103: Modern Art History
  • ART 2110: Non-Western Art, ART 2105: African Art, or ART 4120: African American Art

36 credit hours of general education, College of Arts & Sciences requirements of one course in foreign language (3 cr hrs) and a designated diversity course (embedded), and 18 credit hours of electives in any area of study are required. 

*2D studio courses: ART 2210, 2230, 2245, 2260, 2310, 2350, 2360, 2710, 2712, 2730, 3200, 3245, 3260, 3310, 3330, 3340, 3350, 3360, 3715, 3730, 3740, 4230, 4340, 4350, 4360, and independent/special topics courses in these disciplines.

**3D studio courses: ART 2050, 2455, 2500, 2540, 2570, 2600, 3401, 3410, 3450, 3455, 3465, 3500, 3540, 3570, 3575, 4400, 4575, and independent/special topics courses in these disciplines.

3D Studio Art Concentration (ARTR)

Required Freshman/Sophomore Seminar Courses: 3 credit hours

  • ART 1101: Seminar I
  • ART 1104: Writing about Art Seminar
  • ART 1105: Art Careers Seminar

Required Studio Courses: 48 credit hours

  • ART 1200: Drawing I
  • ART 1280: 2D Design
  • ART 1290: 3D Design
  • ART 2200: Drawing II
  • ART 2401: Sculpture I
  • ART 2500: Fiber Arts I or 2540: Weaving I
  • ART 2570: Ceramics I
  • ART 2230: Painting I or 2260: Printmaking
  • ART 4950: Portfolio Preparation
  • ART 2xxx - 4xxx: 2D Studio Course*
  • ART 2xxx - 4xxx: 3D Studio Course**
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 3D Studio Course
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 3D Studio Course
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 3D Studio Course
  • ART 3xxx - 4xxx: 3D Studio Course

Required Art History Courses: 12 credit hours 

  • ART 2101: Ancient – Medieval Art History
  • ART 2102: Renaissance-Baroque Art History
  • ART 2103: Modern Art History
  • ART 2110: Non-Western Art , ART 2105: African Art, or ART 4120: African American Art

36 credit hours of general education, College of Arts & Sciences requirements of one course in foreign language (3 cr hrs) and a designated diversity course (embedded), and 18 credit hours of electives in any area of study are required. 

*2D studio courses: ART 2210, 2230, 2245, 2260, 2310, 2350, 2360, 2710, 2712, 2730, 3200, 3245, 3260, 3310, 3330, 3340, 3350, 3360, 3715, 3730, 3740, 4230, 4340, 4350, 4360, and independent/special topics courses in these disciplines.

**3D studio courses: ART 2050, 2455, 2500, 2540, 2570, 2600, 3401, 3410, 3450, 3455, 3465, 3500, 3540, 3570, 3575, 4400, 4575, and independent/special topics courses in these disciplines.

Art Education PK-12 Concentration (ARTT)

Required Freshman/Sophomore Seminar Courses: 3 credit hours

  • ART 1101: Seminar I
  • ART 1104: Writing about Art Seminar
  • ART 1105: Art Careers Seminar 

Required Studio Courses: 42 credit hours

  • ART 1200: Drawing I
  • ART 1280: 2D Design
  • ART 1290: 3D Design
  • ART 2360: Intro to Digital Photo
  • ART 2401: Sculpture I
  • ART 2570: Ceramics I
  • ART 2230: Painting I
  • ART 2260: Printmaking
  • ART 2710: Illustrator/Photoshop or ART 2712: Graphic Design I
  • ART ____: Non-Ceramics Craft Course
  • ART ____: Art Elective
  • ART ____: Art Elective
  • ART 4649: Technology and Art Education
  • ART 4950: Portfolio Preparation

Required Art History Courses: 12 credit hours 

  • ART 2101: Ancient – Medieval Art History
  • ART 2102: Renaissance-Baroque Art History
  • ART 2103: Modern Art History
  • ART 2110: Non-Western Art

Required Professional Education Courses: 11-15 credit hours 

  • ED 1520: Introduction to Teaching
  • ED 2000: History/Philosophy of American Public Education
  • PSYC 2020: Education Psychology
  • S ED 4301: Characteristics of Exceptional Children
  • ELED 3010: Fundamentals of Elementary Education (or ED 4500)

Courses Required after Admission to the COE: 18-20 credit hours

  • ED 4500: Principles and Practices of Secondary Teaching (or ELED 3010)
  • READ 4100: Content Reading Middle School
  • S ED 4303: Teaching Students with Exceptional Needs
  • CAS 2630: Classroom Management Seminar
  • ART 1092: IL Certification Review
  • ART 4662: Foundations of Art Ed
  • ART 4664: Teaching Art in Elementary/Secondary Schools
  • ART 4975: Student Teaching and Seminar: K-12

A total of 88-90 credit hours of art and education courses, with an additional 36 credit hours of general education, College of Arts & Sciences requirements of one course in foreign language (3 cr hrs) and a designated diversity course (embedded), and 18 credit hours of electives in any area of study are required. 

Art Education PK-12 Post Baccalaureate License (TCAR)

Required Studio Courses: 42 credit hours

  • ART 1200: Drawing I
  • ART 1280: 2D Design
  • ART 1290: 3D Design
  • ART 2360: Intro to Digital Photography
  • ART 2401: Sculpture I
  • ART 2570: Ceramics I
  • ART 2230: Painting I
  • ART 2260: Printmaking
  • ART 2710: Illustrator/Photoshop or ART 2712: Graphic Design I
  • ART ____: Non-Ceramics Craft Course
  • ART ____: Art Elective
  • ART ____: Art Elective
  • ART 4649: Technology and Art Education
  • ART 4950: Portfolio Preparation

Required Seminar Courses: 2 credit hours

  • ART 1104: Writing about Art Seminar
  • ART 1105: Art Careers Seminar

Required Art History Courses: 12 credit hours

  • ART 2101: Ancient - Medieval Art History
  • ART 2102: Renaissance-Baroque Art History
  • ART 2103: Modern Art History
  • ART 2110: Non-Western Art

Required Professional Education Courses: 11-15 credit hours

  • ED 1520: Introduction to Teaching
  • ED 2000: History/Philosophy of American Public Education
  • PSYC 2020: Education Psychology
  • S ED 4301: Characteristics of Exceptional Children
  • ELED 3010: Fundamentals of Elementary Education (or ED 4500)

Courses Required after Admission to the COE: 18-20 credit hours

  • ED 4500: Principles and Practices of Secondary Teaching (or ELED 3010)
  • READ 4100: Content Reading Middle School
  • S ED 4303: Teaching Students with Exceptional Needs
  • ART 1092: Illinois Art Teacher Certificate Test Review
  • CAS 2630: Classroom Management Seminar
  • ART 4662: Foundations of Art Ed
  • ART 4664: Teaching Art in Elementary/Secondary Schools
  • ART 4975: Student Teaching and Seminar: K-12

Total of 87-89 Credit Hours

 

 

Sample 4-Year Degree Maps 

Degree Maps show how the BA degree may be completed in 4 years. Students' individual degree progress and course scheduling is subject to variation and change.  

 

Minor in Art & Design

Art & Design offers Minor Degrees in Art, Photography, or Art History. The 21-credit Minor adds to the Major degree study, introducing skills and knowledge in Art, Photography, and Art History. These advising sheets show details and requirements:

 

Honors in the Major Program

The Honors in the Major Program is a unique opportunity for motivated and gifted Art & Design students to create a body of artwork, research papers, and/or written thesis beyond basic requirements, toward an advanced individualized portfolio. Honors students work with faculty mentors to develop honors work, using visual language appropriate to specific study or media. Honors work and honors portfolios help prepare for graduate study and careers. 

To receive honors credit, students present their work to the chair & faculty honors committee at the end of each course. Upon successful completion of required 12 honors credits, students will be recognized as an Honors Student on the CSU transcript. The honors program is designed to begin junior year and extend through senior year, culminating in the capstone Portfolio Preparation course. Art & Design students can apply for admission into the honors program during the second semester of their sophomore year. A minimum 3.25 grade point average in the major and 3.0 overall is required. Transfer students entering at the junior level also qualify for the program.