Department of Art and Art History Home Page
Faculty
Ruth L. Bohan, Professor and Chair
Ph.D., University of Maryland
E. Louis Lankford, Professor, Des Lee Foundation Endowed Professor of Art Education
Ph.D., Florida State University
Kenneth Anderson, Professor
M.F.A., Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Yael Even, Professor
Ph.D., Columbia University
Dan Younger, Professor
M.F.A., University of Iowa
Jeanne Morgan Zarucchi, Professor
Ph.D., Harvard University
Marian Amies, Associate Professor
M.F. A., Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Jennifer McKnight, Associate Professor
M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
Phillip E. Robinson, Associate Professor
M.F.A. University of Illinois, Chicago
Gretchen Schisla, Associate Professor
M.F.A., Boston University
Jeffrey L. Sippel, Associate Professor, BFA Coordinator
M.F.A., Arizona State University
Susan Waller, Associate Professor
Ph.D. Northwestern University
Karen Cummings, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Terry L. Suhre, Research Professor, Gallery Director
M.F.A., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Sharon Callner, Associate Teaching Professor
M.F.A., Northern Illinois University
Lucí Mauricio-McMichael, Associate Teaching Professor
M.F.A., Fontbonne University
Bridget Sandhoff, Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Anuradha Vedagiri, Visual Resources Curator
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
The Department of Art and Art History has a diverse faculty actively engaged in the production of art, its historical and critical evaluation, and the training of art educators. The department prides itself on its commitments to high standards of teaching and sound research achievements. Individual faculty have been cited for their teaching excellence. Art history faculty members have written books, articles, and critical reviews and regularly participate in national and international conferences. Studio art faculty exhibit nationally and internationally in group and solo juried and invited exhibitions.
General Information
Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The department offers course work leading toward the Bachelor of Arts in Art History and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art.
Courses included in the B.A. in art history cover the arts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America, including Native American arts, from ancient times to the present. Courses examine the entire range of human visual expression from painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography to performance and festival arts. In each case the arts are examined within their historical, aesthetic, and cultural contexts.
The B.A. in Art History has the following learning outcomes:
— to write clearly and coherently about works of art and art historical literature;
— to possess the ability to conduct independent research on works of art and visual culture;
— to recognize and be able to apply different methodologies, recognizing that each incorporates a specific valuing system;
— to demonstrate understanding of the ethical issues surrounding cultural property;
— to analyze critically and interpret works of visual art and art historical texts;
— to demonstrate familiarity with and basic knowledge of diverse historical artworks.
The B.F.A. in studio art consists of a foundation art program and an emphasis area in the following: art education, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and general fine arts. UMSL has a transfer agreement with the St. Louis Community College District, which offers a direct credit transfer to upper division BFA courses for students who graduate with an AFA degree from the SLCC.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art, with emphasis in Art Education, Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and General Fine Arts, has the following learning outcomes:
— to develop visual and verbal responses to visual phenomena, and organize perceptions and conceptualizations both rationally and intuitively;
— to become familiar with the major achievements in the history of art and design, including the works and intentions of leading artists and designers in the past and present;
— to develop the capacity to identify and/or solve problems within a variety of physical, technological, social, and cultural contexts;
— to understand and evaluate contemporary thinking about art or design;
— to become familiar with and develop competence in a number of art or design techniques;
— to make valid assessments of quality and effectiveness in design projects and works of art, especially their own.
To support its teaching and research objectives, the department maintains a slide collection of over 110,000 slides and an expanding database of digital images. The collection, which includes examples of painting, sculpture, architecture, photography and decorative arts, is under the supervision of a professional visual resource curator, who is available for special assistance to staff and students.
Gallery 210
Gallery 210, located in Building 7, 44 East Drive, offers visual arts programming of regional, national, and international importance. The gallery's exhibitions and related arts programming have enjoyed a long and distinguished history of service to the university and to the St. Louis community. Gallery activities are supervised by a professional gallery director.
Gallery FAB
Located in the Fine Arts Building, Gallery FAB exhibits a range of work by artists of regional and national significance. The exhibitions are coordinated by members of the Studio Art Faculty and complement the teaching emphases of the Fine Arts program.
Gallery Visio
Gallery Visio is located in room 170 Millennium Student Center. It showcases work by students and faculty, and hosts exhibitions that address cultural and contemporary issues.
Scholarships/Internships
Several scholarships are available on a competitive basis within the departmen, including the Art Department/Barbara St Cyr Scholarship, the William T. Isbell Jr. Scholarship, and the Aronson Scholarship. The department also sponsors a variety of internships with local arts institutions, including the Saint Louis Art Museum, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, and Laumeier Sculpture Park.
Undergraduate Studies
General Education Requirements
Majors in art history must meet the college and university general education requirements. A foreign language is required; French or German is recommended. Art history courses required for the degree may not be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (S/U) basis.
Art history courses can be applied toward minors in Anthropology, American Studies, Classical Studies, Philosophy, and Urban Studies, or certificates in Studies in Religions, Women's and Gender Studies, Photographic Studies and African Studies.
Majors in studio art must meet the college and university general education requirements. A foreign language is not required. Studio art courses required for the degree may not be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. A minimum of 120 hours is required for graduation. Studio art courses do not fulfill the humanities general education requirement.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in Art HistoryArt history majors must complete a minimum of 36, but no more than 45, hours in art history. The following four core courses are required:
ART HS 1100, Introduction to Western Art
One course in non-Western art, chosen from 1104, 1105, or 1108 (may be taken concurrently with 1100):
ART HS 1104, Indigenous Arts of North America
ART HS 1105, The Arts of Africa
ART HS 1108, Introduction to the Arts of Asia
ART HS 3395, Sophomore/Junior Seminar: Research in Art History
ART HS 4495, Senior Seminar: Methods of Art History
Students must take a minimum of three lower-division courses, one from each of the following categories:
Ancient and Medieval
ART HS 2211, Art and Archaeology of the Ancient World
ART HS 2212, Greek Art and Archaeology
ART HS 2213, Roman Art and Archaeology
ART HS 2214, Early Christian and Byzantine Art
ART HS 2225, Medieval Art
Early Modern
ART HS 2235, Italian and Northern European Renaissance Art
ART HS 2238, Italian Renaissance Art
ART HS 2240, French Art and Architecture 1500-1715
ART HS 2245, Baroque Art and Architecture
Modern and American
ART HS 2250, Nineteenth Century European Art
ART HS 2255, Modern Art
ART HS 2265, History of Photography
ART HS 2270, American Art to 1876
ART HS 2272, American Art since 1876
ART HS 2279, American Architecture
ART HS 2281, Art Since 1960
Students must take a minimum of three upper division courses. One course must be a 4000-level Topics course. The other two courses must be chosen from two different categories in the following list.
Media in Art History
ART HS 3303, Media and Technique in Art History
ART HS 3350, Studies in Design
ART HS 3360, Photography and Society
ART HS 3385, Studies in Architectural History
Themes in Art History
ART HS 3365, The Artist and the City
ART HS 3374, Philosophy of Art
ART HS 3376, Women and the Visual Arts
ART HS 3391, Selected Themes in Art History
ART HS 3396, The Nude in Art
ART HS 3398, The Portrait
Topics in Art History
Courses listed as "Topics" at the 4000 level, including but not limited to:
ART HS 4411, Topics in Ancient Art
ART HS 4425, Topics in Medieval Art
ART HS 4435, Topics in Renaissance Art
ART HS 4445, Topics in Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century European Art
ART HS 4455, Topics in Modern Art
ART HS 4475, Topics in American Art
ART HS 4481, Topics in Contemporary Art
ART HS 4490, Special Study
Professional Studies
ART HS 3387, Professional Internship
ART HS 3388, Saint Louis Art Museum Internship
ART HS 3389, Visual Resources Management
ART HS 3394, Art Criticism
ART HS 4393, Art Museum and Gallery Management
ART HS 4492, Museum Studies
Students must also take one course in studio art. Up to nine hours in studio art may be applied toward the B.A. in art history.
Additional hours in art history, up to the maximum of 45, may be completed with electives at the 2000 level or above.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art
Candidates for the B.F.A. degree must complete a Foundation Art Program (which is largely satisfied by the A.F.A. degree) and an emphasis area in one of the following: art education, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking or general fine arts. Studio art majors are required to take 75 hours in studio art (this includes 30 hours in the foundation art program) and 15 hours in Art History. A minimum of 24 hours in Studio Art must be completed in residence at UMSL. Graduating students must also pass a faculty portfolio review.
Advanced Placement in Studio Art Classes: Studio Art Majors who have professional Graphic Design or Photographic experience may wish to submit a portfolio to a committee of studio art faculty. Depending on the nature and the quality of the student’s portfolio, they may be able to obtain exemptions from selected lower level studio art courses. Students applying for these exemptions must submit their portfolios prior to the first day of class of their first semester in the BFA Program. Students will be notified in writing if an exemption is granted. Students informed of these waivers will be advised of their requirements in the studio art major. All decisions of the portfolio reviews are final.
Foundation Art Program
The following courses are required for the Foundation Art Program:
ST ART 1140, Drawing I
ST ART 1141, Drawing II
ST ART 1142, Figure Drawing I
ST ART 1150, Design I
ST ART 1151, Design II
ST ART 2240, Drawing III or 1143, Figure Drawing II*
ST ART 1030, Ceramics 1, or 1132, Sculpture 1 or 2251, Design III
9 hours of Studio Art Electives
*Those planning an emphasis in drawing or painting must take ST ART 1142.
Students must complete 45 hours in one of the following emphasis areas:
Drawing
ST ART 2240, Drawing III
ST ART 2241, Drawing IV
ST ART 2242, Figure Drawing III
ST ART 2243, Figure Drawing IV
ST ART 2250, Composition or Studio Elective
ST ART 3340, Advanced Problems in Drawing I
ST ART 3341, Advanced Problems in Drawing II
ST ART 4495/4496, Senior Studio Seminar (6 hours)
6 hours of Painting or Printmaking
12 hours of Studio Art Electives
Graphic Design
ST ART 1210, Graphic Design I
ST ART 1220, Graphic Design II
ST ART 2210, Typography
ST ART 2212, Image Making for Graphic Design
ST ART 2220, Computer Design I
ST ART 2221, Computer Design II
ST ART 3310, Graphic Design III
ST ART 3311, Graphic Design IV
ST ART 3383, Advanced Problems in Graphic Design I
ST ART 3384, Advanced Problems in Graphic Design II
ST ART 4497, Senior Seminar in Graphic Design I
ST ART 4498, Senior Seminar in Graphic Design II
9 hours of Graphic Design Electives
Painting
ST ART 1180, Painting I
ST ART 1181, Painting II
ST ART 2250, Composition or Studio Art Elective
ST ART 2280, Painting III
ST ART 2281, Painting IV
ST ART 3380, Advanced Problems in Painting I
ST ART 3381, Advanced Problems in Painting II
ST ART 4495/4496, Senior Studio Seminar (6 hours)
6 hours from the following list:
ST ART 2240, Drawing III
ST ART 2241, Drawing IV
ST ART 2242, Figure Drawing III
ST ART 2243, Figure Drawing IV
12 hours of Studio Art Electives
Photography
ST ART 1060, Photography I
ST ART 2160, Photography II
ST ART 2250, Composition or Photography Elective
ST ART 2262, Color Photography I
ST ART 2263, Digital Photography I
ST ART 3260, Photography III
ST ART 3263, Digital Color Portfolio
ST ART 3391, Advanced Problems in Photography I
ST ART 3392, Advanced Problems in Photography II
ST ART 4495/4496, Senior Studio Seminar (6 hours)
6 hours of Studio Art Electives
6 hours of Photography electives
Printmaking
ST ART 1170, Printmaking I
ST ART 2241, Drawing IV
ST ART 2243, Figure Drawing IV
ST ART 2250, Composition or Studio Art Elective
ST ART 2271, Printmaking II
ST ART 2274, Printmaking and Relief
ST ART 3370, Advanced Problems in Printmaking I
ST ART 3371, Advanced Problems in Printmaking II
ST ART 4495/4496, Senior Studio Seminar (6 hours)
6 hours from the following list:
ST ART 1173, Printmaking: Screen Printing I
ST ART 2272, Printmaking: Lithography I
ST ART 2273, Printmaking: Etching
ST ART 2277, Printmaking: Photolithography
ST ART 3372, Advanced Lithography
9 hours of Studio Art Electives, including one course in photography
General Fine Arts
30 hours of studio art electives must be taken at the 2000 level or above.
The following courses are required:
ST ART 2250, Composition or Studio Art Elective
ST ART 4495/4496, Senior Studio Seminar (6 hours)
Select 6 hours from the following:
ST ART 3340, Advanced Problems in Drawing I and
ST ART 3341, Advanced Problems in Drawing II or
ST ART 3370, Advanced Problems in Printmaking I and
ST ART 3371, Advanced Problems in Printmaking II or
ST ART 3380, Advanced Problems in Painting I and
ST ART 3381, Advanced Problems in Painting II or
ST ART 3391, Advanced Problems in Photography I and
ST ART 3392, Advanced Problems in Photography II
Students must complete 15 hours of Art History, with at least 9 hours taken in residence at UMSL.
Students choosing a double major in two studio art emphasis areas must complete all the requirements for each emphasis area. If the double major includes Graphic Design, students must take four semesters of Senior Studio Seminar. This includes ST ART 4490, ST ART 4491, ST ART 4495, ST ART 4496, ST ART 4497, and ST ART 4498.
Art Education
An art education emphasis leading toward K-12 Art teacher certification is available. Students choosing this option must complete degree requirements for the B.F.A. The General Education Requirements (G.E.R.) of the College of Education as well as the College of Fine Arts and Communication must be fulfilled. A foreign language is not required.
Students will take a specialized program of Foundation Art (30 hours) that includes courses required for certification to teach art. They will also take studio art electives, including a minimum of three courses in one of the studio emphasis areas: drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, or printmaking. A minimum of 50 credit hours must be completed in studio art. Students must also complete 15 hours of art history.
I . Foundation Art for Art Education
(10 courses; 30 hours if taken at UMSL):
ST ART 1030, Ceramics I
ST ART 1133, Introduction to Fibers and Textiles
ST ART 1140, Drawing
ST ART 1141, Drawing II
ST ART 1142, Figure Drawing I
ST ART 2240, Drawing III
OR
ST ART 1143, Figure Drawing II
ST ART 1150, Design I
ST ART 1151, Design II
ST ART 1170, Printmaking I
OR
ST ART 1173, Printmaking: Screen Printing I
ST ART 1180, Painting I
II. Studio Art for Art Education (7 courses; 21 hours if taken at UMSL):
ST ART 1061, Intro to Digital Photography
OR
ST ART 2220, Computer Design I
ST ART 1132, Sculpture I
At least three courses in one of the following areas: drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, or printmaking. Two studio art electives.
Required art education, Level II and III teacher education, and secondary education courses must be taken in residence at UMSL. Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education program of the College of Education. Students should check with the Office of Teacher Education for the most complete and current admission information. Professional education courses must be completed with a grade point average of 2.5, and no grade lower than a C is acceptable.
Art Education certification candidates must complete the following courses:
Level I: Exploring Education as a Profession
TCH ED 2209, Foundations of Teaching and American Schools
TCH ED 2212, Introduction to Learners and Learning
Level II: Analyzing the Nature and Process of Education
TCH ED 3310, Introduction to Instructional Methods
TCH ED 3312, Psychology of Teaching and Learning
TCH ED 3313, Introduction to Learners with Disability and Inclusive Education
TCH ED 4391, Teaching Reading in Secondary School Content Areas
OR
TCH ED 3315, Literacy, Learning, and Instruction
ART ED 3328, Art Education: Theory to Practice (same as SEC ED 3328)
ART ED 4260, Art Museum as Teaching Resource
Level III: Synthesizing Theory and Practice in Education
ART ED 4273, Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Art (same as SEC ED 4273)
SEC ED 4496, Student Teaching in Elementary Art
SEC ED 4497, Student Teaching in Secondary Art
SEC ED 4989, Secondary Education Professional Internship
Minors
Minor in Art History
A minor in art history requires the completion of at least 18 hours in art history courses. Students must take ART HS 1100 and at least one course in non-Western art. They must also take at least 2 courses at the 3000 level or above. A maximum of 3 hours of internship can be applied toward a minor in art history. The GPA for the courses for the minor must be 2.0 or better. Nine of the 18 hours must be taken in residence at UMSL.
Minor in Studio Art
Students who wish to minor in studio art must take a minimum of 18 hours with a grade point average of 2.0 or better. Six hours must be taken at the 2000 level or above, in residence at UMSL. The requirements for the minor are as follows:
ST ART 1140, Drawing I
ST ART 1141, Drawing II
ST ART 1150, Design I
and two consecutive courses (6 hours) in any single area to be selected from the following (students should be aware that courses are not always available in all areas):
Painting
Printmaking (any one subfield)
Photography
Graphic Design
Advanced Drawing
plus a studio art elective: one three-hour course.
Photographic Studies Certificate
UMSL students, graduates, and post-baccalaureate candidates may obtain a certificate in photographic studies by coordinating courses in and related to photography. To be eligible for the certificate, undergraduates must complete a degree in a chosen major field. A faculty member of the Interdisciplinary Photographic Studies Committee will act as adviser to all students and will consult with the faculty adviser in the student's major to plan appropriate credits.
Requirements
The following courses are required:
ST ART 1060, Photography I
ST ART 2160, Photography II
ART HS 2265, History of Photography
ST ART 3260, Photography III, or INTDSC 3390, Independent Studies in Photographic Studies
ART HS 3360, Photography and Society
Students must also take at least one 3-hour course selected from the following departmental offerings.
ART HS 1100, Introduction to Western Art
ST ART 2262, Color Photography I
ST ART 2263, Digital Photography
ST ART 2264, Non-Silver Photography
ST ART 2268, Video Art I
ST ART 2277, Printmaking: Photolithography
ST ART 3260, Photography III
ST ART 3263, Digital Color Portfolio
ST ART 3363, Color Photography
ST ART 3364, Video Art II
ART HS 3374, Philosophy of Art
ST ART 3390, Special Studies
ST ART 3391, Advanced Problems in Photography I
ST ART 3392, Advanced Problems in Photography II
BIOL 4784, Techniques in Electron Microscopy
COMM 1050, Introduction to Mass Media
COMM 1070, Introduction to Cinema
COMM 2210, Television Production
ENGL 3140/COMM 3214, News Writing
ENGL 3150, Feature Writing
INTDSC 3390, Independent Studies in Photographic Studies
PSYCH 2213, Principles of Perception
Pre-Professional Graduation: Architecture
The Department of Art sponsors the 3+4 Program for the School of Architecture at Washington University. A student who transfers to the School of Architecture, Washington University, at the end of the junior year may graduate from UMSL after the satisfactory completion of the first year of professional school upon meeting one or more of the following conditions:
- The student has completed all general education requirements and all requirements for a major and lacks only the total hours (electives) necessary for a degree.
- A student who has not completed required courses for a degree must remedy the deficiency with courses taken at the University of Missouri-St. Louis within three years of entering the professional school. At the time of graduation the student must remain in good standing in the professional school or have successfully graduated from the professional school.
- A student who has not completed all the courses required for a major may, if the major department at UMSL agrees, substitute up to six hours of appropriate course work from the professional school. For advising, please contact a pre-professional advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences at 314-516-5501, 303 Lucas Hall
The residency requirement that 24 of the last 30 hours of course work for a degree be taken at UMSL will be waived where necessary for students graduating under this procedure.
Career Outlook
Study in art history broadens and enriches a general education, offering insight into the visual, architectural, and cultural artifacts left by earlier, as well as modern, civilizations. Art history graduates have found career opportunities in teaching, museums, galleries, libraries, historical societies, sales and auction houses, historic preservation, and arts administration.
Students with degrees in studio art find careers in teaching, advertising, public relations, graphic design, illustration, film and video production, arts administration, art restoration, product and industrial design, framing, and commercial photography.
Art education has been identified by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as an area of critical need. With over 300 art teachers in the greater St. Louis region alone, there is a demand for art teachers statewide each year.