Offered by the Department of Art
Art history majors acquire a background in the historical and cultural origins of the visual arts, from cave painting to computer art. Art History courses include Art and Mythology of Ancient Greece, Women in Ancient Greek Art, Art of Ancient Rome, Art of Ancient Egypt, Medieval Art, Art of the Renaissance, History of African-American Art, Art of Africa and Oceania, Modern Art, and Contemporary Art.. This program is primarily preparation for graduate school, but with close advisement in selecting courses, it also prepares students for work in galleries, museums, writing in the art field, and other related careers.
The B.A. in Art History is unique in that it offers all 30 credits of core courses in Art History in an online environment. In addition the 120 credit program requires 55 credits of General Education courses, and 35 credits of free electives. The 30 credits of core courses consist of ARH 1101 Introduction to Art, ART 3300 Visual Studies in Aesthetic Experiences, ART 4404 Special Problems in Art, and 21 credits of Art History electives. As part of the B.A. degree in Art History, students are required to do either a minor in any field, or complete any language of choice at a second year proficiency. Currently the majority of online General Education courses are offered during the summer. Students may supplement their online courses with courses that are offered on campus, or they may opt to transfer in credits from elsewhere as part of their degree program.
Mission
The mission of the Art Department at Mansfield University is to develop and sustain flourishing programs within the visual arts that support the needs of its undergraduate and continuing education students, as well as members of the community seeking personal enrichment.
The Art Department will continue to provide opportunities that challenge tomorrow’s students-helping to cultivate art- and design-related leaders and entrepreneurs within our communities.
Through all interactions, the Art Department strives to exemplify and teach respect for art and scholarly endeavors-engendering positive character, critical thinking, and an environment for constructive, ethical, and professional creative practice.
Seamlessly imbedded into our curriculum, is a focus on visual literacy and global awareness, paired with learning that is centered in process, technology, and applied practice. These components are inherent to the fabric of a strong, liberal arts university, and essential in developing individuals who will strive to leave a positive imprint on the world.
Vision
The Art Department will serve as a cultural center of the visual arts for the University and outlying communities.
Through an ongoing awareness of our program goals, content and structure, the
Art Department will maintain offerings that are vital, innovative, and in-step with current best practices, pedagogues, and technologies.
By continuing to foster a creative and flexible program structure, the Art Department will seek to provide an educational platform that guides students’ individual needs, and provides them with the ability to acquire necessary life and career competencies.
With the support of the University, the Art Department will continue to offer a gallery venue through which students, faculty, and professional artists may exhibit their work-further establishing accessibility to the arts within our region.
Goals
- Facilitate art- and design-based programs that are central to the liberal arts experience, by promoting creative thinking, collaboration, and community engagement.
- Demonstrate the value of the creative process through rigorous research, revision and critique.
- Focus on written, oral, visual, and aural communication with intention and awareness of audience.
- Nurture and sustain programs that provide art- and design-related experiences for students and community.
Program Outcomes
Articulate knowledge of the cultural and historical context in which works of art and architecture were made.
- Recognition of stylistic traditions
Recognize stylistic traditions in major historical art styles in selected artworks.
Analyze the iconography of selected artworks.
Evaluate the aesthetics, iconography, cultural and historical context, and stylistic tradition of a specific western or non-western artwork through a research project that meets written standards for upper level students in the major.
- Ability to do research efficiently
Students will demonstrate the ability to do research efficiently (retrieving, synthesizing, and citing information) by the completion of an essay or a research paper.
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