Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Art Major


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Department of Art

Department Chair: Chloe Irla, M.F.A.

Description


The Art faculty works to nurture students’ ability to use art to convey their ideas through traditional, digital, and intermedia approaches to examine, interpret, understand and negotiate the natural and soci-cultural world they inhabit.  Students learn that art may not only be used to convey notions of beauty, but is well equipped to meet the needs of the times it is addressing.  Faculty strive to develop their students’ artistic, conceptual, and creative abilities for their own intellectual growth and for success in an art career.

The undergraduate Art program prepares students for a multitude of careers. McDaniel graduates are now working as graphic designers, interior designers, art therapists, educators in elementary and secondary schools, professors in Colleges, Universities and Art Institutes throughout the United States, and work in makers spaces, museums and non-profit art centers, to name a few. Students majoring in art may plan their programs for graduate study in studio art, graphic design, art therapy, or for public school teaching. Many students add art to their course of study for personal enrichment and a desire for creative satisfaction.

The Department offers a range of experiences, including the opportunity to view monthly shows in our own Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, where students can meet local, regional, and national artists. The Department has an active visiting artist lecture series, where students get the opportunity to interact with regional and national artists. Art majors may also participate in special student/faculty research projects, including graphic design, painted murals, and restoration of damaged art. Other opportunities include internships in Graphic Design and Studio Art. Field trips to galleries in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and New York City broaden the horizons of students. Opportunities for further travel exist in January Term art tours of Europe and programs for study abroad.

Other Required Courses (22 credits):


Art Elective Courses (12 credits)


Total Program Hours: 56


Departmental Writing Requirement:


Students who major in Art are required to take ART 4492 as denoted with the # symbol.

Requirements for Departmental Honors


  • Completion of major with a 3.50 GPA for Art courses and a 3.00 overall GPA at McDaniel College;
  • Completion of a four-credit special studies project in either Studio Art;
  • Submission of a written resume and statement of eligibility for departmental honors;
  • Recommendation by one of the faculty members in the Art Department.

All requirements should be completed by March 1st of the senior year. See the Department Chair for more specific requirements.

PK-12 Teacher Certification


Please see PreK-12 Art teacher certification requirements under Programs: Education minor (PreK-12) for Art major.

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