Chatham University

Visual Arts: Studio Arts (BA) Learning Outcomes

B.A. in Visual Arts, Studio Concentration

College-Wide Goals & Objectives

This section explains how the Visual Arts, Studio Concentration Major meets the overarching objectives at Chatham University.

  1. Information Literacy

    1. Students must effectively locate and gather information for research and medium-related analysis through a variety of information media.
    3. Students must utilize their knowledge gathered from various media sources to render well-communicated, designed and conceptualized projects and/or research papers in response to their contextual analysis.
  2. Critical Reading

    1. Students must evaluate art and theories related to critical visual studies through a combination of written and online texts, hand-outs, journal articles, art shows in galleries and museums, artist discussions and in-class lectures, conversations and demonstrations.
  3. Analytical Thinking

    1. Students must critically investigate and respond to the work of other artists, and theorists as well as the work of their peers during critique sessions.
    2. Students must look for multidisciplinary relationships between art, studio practice and other fields of research, examining the role of the artist as well as art works within a broader social context.
    3. Students must exhibit a critical understanding of related technical concerns, representational issues, aesthetic practices, ideas and concepts through original projects and/or papers.
  4. Problem Solving

    3. Students must have a strong understanding of technique in order to properly troubleshoot and solve conceptual and creative issues related to a project.
  5. Public Written Communication

  6. Public Oral Communication

    1. Students must communicate ideas clearly in oral presentations.

Program-Specific Goals & Objectives

This section explains the discipline-specific goals and objectives of Visual Arts, Studio Concentration major.

  1. Media Literacy, Analysis and Context

    1. Students must have a historical understanding of the medium they are using and the ideas they are pursuing in their creative work.
    2. Students must be aware of major theories influencing the art field.
    3. Students must develop original and well-informed responses to theoretical and critical analysis.
    4. Students must look for interdisciplinary relationships between art, art history, and other fields of research.
  2. Creative Processes

    1. Students must develop and transform original concepts into well-conceptualized projects – demonstrating a competency in project development.
    2. Students must choose appropriate medium for the development of their project and/or idea through models, sketches, proposals, and aesthetic choices.
    3. Students must communicate their creative expression through project presentation at various stages of development.
  3. Technical Fundamentals

    1. Students must have knowledge of the medium they are utilizing for their projects.
    2. Students must create original projects that draw on their knowledge of the medium in order to thoroughly investigate relationships between concept development and media used.
    3. Students must properly troubleshoot and solve medium-related problems.
  4. Professional Practice

    1. Students must develop projects with an understanding of a diversified audience.
    2. Students must properly document their projects, choosing appropriate forms of media
    3. Students must have an understanding of relevant journals, festivals, firms, etc. for later distribution or field contribution.
    4. Students must develop field-appropriate professional portfolios and be able to communicate their projects clearly.
    5. Students must develop attitudes of professional responsibility and accountability.
    6. Students must develop professional discipline (time-management, organizational skills).