Fine Art
Program Transfer Guide
Morgan State University
Effective
Fall, 2024 - Current
Instruction Methods
In person
About the Program
Mission
The Fine and Performing Arts Department seeks to deliver a dynamic, challenging and comprehensive arts curriculum. The Fine Arts major is engaged in research, instruction, performance, exhibition and its practices. Our faculty consists of practicing artists and scholars who believe arts education should be accessible to all who pursue it. We serve the campus wide student population through our general education and elective courses. The Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center is the cultural hub of the University providing a wealth of experience in professional level exhibition and performance. The mission of the Fine and Performing Arts Department is aligned with the University, we are committed to creating an environment that fosters the highest quality teaching, research and public service.
Goals:
The goals of the Fine Art Major are: to provide the opportunity for the student to develop historical and philosophical perspectives on the visual arts; to provide the opportunity for the student to develop a competitive portfolio of work or experiences in one or more areas of the visual arts; and to develop the student’s capacity for diligent and persistent inquiry.
Descriptions of focus areas:
Art History
Art history is the study of humanity through the analysis of visual artifacts. While studio majors study art history to enhance their critical thinking skills, and analyze the processes of artistic production as they refine their techniques, students who are concentrating in art history learn how to conduct research in order to situate works of art within their historical, social, and political contexts. The focus on research prepares students for careers as academic art historians or curators in art museums.
Graphic Design
Morgan’s Graphic Design concentration in the Fine Arts program focusing on visual arts. The Graphic Design concentration is built around training students in creative problem solving using the latest design standard technology (Adobe Creative Cloud), while also providing cultural and social context to their projects. The B.A. in Fine Arts provides students with the opportunity to focus on graphic design methods and techniques used in effective design thinking for visual communication.
Illustration
Illustration focuses on strengthening the fundamental elements of communication imagery and the “language” of this art form. Students are challenged to consider how to manipulate various media and to intelligently communicate through complex compositions while working to create works that shed light on particular themes. Students are also encouraged to consider whether they desire to pursue illustration’s commercial uses or to move in the direction of fine arts illustration. Our primary purpose is to provide guidance that allows the student to reach their short-term goals with the understanding that there is more to achieve beyond the undergraduate level such as animation, book illustration, sequential illustration among others.
Multi Media Studio
Multi Media Studio engages students in material skill building with emphasis on the mastering of materials associated with art production while intellectually pursuing complex visual communication. Students are exposed to the potentials of mediums such as, Ceramics, Digital Media, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture and Mixed Media.
Requirements:
The department offers the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Fine Art. Under this degree program, students may focus in one of four areas of fine art: (1) Art History (2) Graphic Design/Illustration, or (3) Illustration or (4) Multi-Media Studio. It also offers a minor in Fine Art for those wishing to develop their arts interests as a supplement to their major field.
Teacher Certification:
To attain certification to teach art, students must complete one of the focus areas in art and see the School of Education and Urban Studies for additional courses required for teacher certification and/or the five year Master’s Program in Education.