Department of Art

Website: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/arts-sciences/departments/art/index.html

Faculty

Associate Professor of Art History Kelly Thor, PhD, Department Chair
Professor of Art Marguerite Perret, MFA
Professor of Art Azyz Sharafy, MFA
Professor of Art Yegiang Wang, MFA
Associate Professor of Art Michael Hager, MFA
Associate Professor of Art Danielle Head, MFA
Associate Professor of Art Kwok-Pong Tso, MFA
Associate Professor or Art Wonjae Lee, MFA
Donald B. and Twila Catron Art Education/Public Outreach Lecturer Deena Amont, MFA

Mission

The mission of the Washburn University Department of Art is to provide students with a strong foundation in the visual arts, support their development as artists, designers and art historians, and equip them for post-graduate life. Upon graduation, art and art history majors will be able to draw upon their broad course work, technical knowledge, internship and study abroad opportunities in order to pursue careers and/or further education as knowledgeable global citizens.

The Art Department serves those intending to prepare for professions in art education, graphic design, and the visual arts (BFA degrees) and professions focused on the visual arts, such as museum and curatorial studies, art history, and arts administration (BA degrees). Studio and art history courses are open to anyone with the proper prerequisites. Faculty maintain active professional careers as content for teaching and are exemplars of life-long learning in the visual arts, art history, and museum and curatorial studies.

Department Description

The degree programs in the Art Department are designed to prepare students for a variety of career paths. The BA in Art is a liberal arts degree and may be combined with other degree programs within the College.

The BA in Art History is structured for those interested in pursuing museum and curatorial studies, advanced work in art history, or any field demanding strong skills in research, writing, and critical thinking.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art is designed for the student who intends to follow a career in the visual arts, including but not limited to: graphic design, animation, photography, ceramics, painting, multimedia art, sculpture, printmaking, higher education, and arts administration. BFA graduates are expected to exhibit a high level of technical knowledge and conceptual development and therefore must apply and be admitted to the BFA program, in accordance with Art Department standards. All Studio BFA students prepare a senior exhibition of their artwork as the capstone experience of their degrees.

BFA students in Art Education must meet all competencies and requirements to teach art P-12 in the state of Kansas. The degree requirements are listed separate from the BFA in Studio Art.

Art Department Scholarships

Each year, the Art Department faculty award thousands of dollars in scholarships to incoming, existing, and transferring majors. Students must apply for scholarships each year, regardless of previous award and will be evaluated according to their academic and studio record, depending upon their program.

"Full Ride" Scholarships: 

Incoming Freshmen may apply for the highly competitive Barbara L. Buzick Art Scholarship, which provides tuition, textbooks, art supplies, and on-campus room and board. Buzick scholars in good standing may have this scholarship renewed through graduation.

Incoming Freshmen AND transfer students are eligible to apply for the John R. Adams Endowed Art Scholarship Fund. This scholarship also provides tuition, textbooks, art supplies and on-campus or off-campus room and board. Adams Scholars in good standing may have this scholarship renewed through graduation.

Contact the Art Department for more information.

Credit and Time Requirements in the Art Department

For every credit hour awarded for a course, the student is typically expected to complete one hour of class time, online interaction, or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two additional hours of student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. In studio courses, the amount of class time is usually 6 hours per week, with an additional expectation of at least 3 hours per week of outside class work for a 3-hour course.

Programs

Course Offerings