Art (BA)

This program is offered by the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts/Department of Art, Design and Art History and is only available at the St. Louis main campus.

Program Description

The BA in Art is a liberal arts degree that familiarizes students with the rich tradition of the visual arts, provides them with an understanding of the tools and materials available to the artist as a means of personal expression, shows students that there are fundamental concepts which unify all art yet which allow for infinite variation, and introduces to them alternative ways of looking, seeing, finding, and discovering. While exploring a variety of media, learning the techniques and expressive opportunities unique to each, students have the opportunity to explore other interests throughout the university and are encouraged to incorporate those interest into their artistic production. Primary focus in the program is on students finding their own creative and conceptual voice, and discovering ways to visually communicate their thoughts and ideas.  

This program is offered through the Department of Art, Design, and Art History in the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts. Please see the Colleges, Schools, and Departments section of this catalog for further information.  

Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates of the BA in Art program will be able to:

• Express an individual, creative voice through an artistic practice that engages with contemporary global art and design discourse.
• Implement the formal vocabularies of art and design as a foundation for artistic dialogue.
• Practice drawing as a means to develop ideas.
• Draw upon the history of art and design as a wellspring for ideas, solutions and meaning within one's own artistic practice.
• Analyze and discuss art and design through discipline-specific vocabularies and methods.
• Display growth and competence in artistry and technical skills across a variety of artistic media and processes.

Special Requirements

All BA in Art majors must register for ART 1900: First-Year Exhibition in the spring of their first year. The First-Year Exhibition is an opportunity for students to display their work with their first-year cohort in a group exhibition with a public reception, offering an opportunity to consider their progress and direction, and celebrating their accomplishments. DADAH faculty review the work and offer feedback.  

All BA in Art majors must register for ART 2900 DADAH Critique in the first semester after completing 18 studio credits. For traditional Freshmen this will occur in the fall or spring of their sophomore year. For transfer students this will occur in their first semester at Webster, or when they have a combined total of 18 studio credits. The DADAH Critique is a review of student progress by DADAH full and part-time faculty held on one day during the fall and spring semesters. Following the review, students will meet with their advisor to discuss faculty concerns and recommendations as written on the evaluation form by the advisor during the review. In some cases a student may be advised to undergo a second review in the following semester. The department notifies students of portfolio review dates.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 49 required credit hours
• 30 Global Citizenship Program credit hours
• 41 elective credit hours

Required Courses

Core Distribution 

• ART 1010 Creative Strategies (3 hours)
• ART 1150 Observational Drawing (3 hours)
• ART 1310 Materials and Making (3 hours)
• ART 1900 First-Year Exhibition (0 hours)
• DESN 1500 Digital Visualizations (3 hours)
• ARHS 2200 Current Art (3 hours)
• ARHS 2210 Intercultural History of Art (3 hours)
• ART 2900 DADAH Critique (0 hours)
• ART 4020 Professional Practice for Artists (3 hours)
• ART 4030 Senior Critique (3 hours)
• ART 4910 DADAH BA/BFA Exhibition (1 hour)
• Drawing electives (see below) (6 hours)
• Studio course distributions (see below) (15 hours)
• ARHS 3000-level or above course (3 hours)

Other Program Requirements

• Students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework in drawing, including ART 1150 and six additional credit hours of drawing electives.
• Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of coursework selected from the following studio areas, choosing one from each area: ceramics, fibers, graphic design, illustration, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and time-based art. At least one course must be at the 3000-level or above.