The mission of the Department of Visual Arts is to provide quality education in the areas of art education, art history, fine art studio, photography, and visual communication design. The Department cultivates high standards for creativity, craft, conceptual understanding, critical analysis, historical scholarship, and pedagogy in all these areas as they relate to the visual arts and visual culture. Central to these pursuits are the artistic practice and scholarly research of faculty, the dedication of support staff to the department's educational objectives, and engaged teaching, learning, and scholarship. The Department of Visual Arts is a thriving learning community grounded in the Marianist tradition of educating the whole person.  It is fully integrated with the College and the University and contributes significantly to our institutional commitment to excellence. 

The department offers the following degrees:

Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.)
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is intended for those interested in a broad liberal arts education as an overarching part of their chosen visual arts major (Art History, Fine Art, Photography, Visual Communication Design). Approximately forty percent of the degree requirements are taken in the creation and study of visual arts particular to the chosen major. With this degree option it is possible for students to earn a minor, or even a second major, in another university offered discipline.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A)
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.) is an intensive "professional" program of study specifically tailored to prepare students to enter the field of their chosen major (Art Education, Fine Art, Photography, Visual Communication Design) or to continue their studies in graduate school. Approximately sixty-five percent of the degree requirements are in the creation and study of the visual arts particular to the chosen major.

Majors include:

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a Major in Art History
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a Major in
            Fine Art
            Visual Communication Design
            Photography
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a Major in:
            Fine Art
            Visual Communication Design
            Photography
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with Teacher Licensure 

Visual Arts Minors

A minor in fine arts consists of twenty-one semester hours.

A minor in visual communication design consists of twenty-one semester hours.

A minor in photography consists of twenty-one semester hours.

A minor in art history consists of eighteen semester hours.

Transfer students seeking a visual arts minor must complete at least nine of the required semester hours in the visual arts department while in residency at the University of Dayton.

Visual Arts Foundations

Visual arts foundation courses introduce students to fundamental principles, practices, materials, and vocabulary common to all visual arts disciplines. These courses provide a common background of skill development along with an understanding of primary concepts in the visual arts and a basis for critical evaluation. All foundation courses share the objective of preparing students to face the challenges of their specific disciplines.

Second Year and Scholarship Review

Near the end of their second year, all Visual Arts majors are reviewed by the Visual Arts faculty. Participation in the Second Year and Scholarship Review is mandatory for all Visual Arts majors. Students must receive a satisfactory review rating before graduating with a visual arts degree. Also included in the review are first and third year students who have been awarded Visual Arts Scholarships. The review process is a valuable learning experience for the student and it helps the faculty to recommend ways in which students may build upon their assets and overcome their liabilities. Monetary awards applied toward future tuition are available to a limited number of students whose performance in the review is judged by the faculty to be outstanding.

Senior Capstone Courses

These courses, required in all majors, bring together the skills, education, ideas, and goals of senior students. They stress an integrated approach to learning and working and they focus on preparing students for their futures beyond the University. They provide a logical continuity that begins with the Visual Arts Foundations and the mid-point evaluation of the Second Year and Scholarship Review.

Faculty

Joel Whitaker, Chairperson
Professors: Crum, Niles, Wilkinson, Zahner
Associate Professors: Clarke, Gooch, Huacuja, Marcinowski, Matlack-Whitaker, J. Whitaker, Wilbers
Assistant Professors: Holscher Almazan, Jones, Kwon, Phelps
Lecturer: LaMarche

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a major in Fine Arts is a professional degree program that provides an intensive, in depth exploration of selected fine art media.  Fine art studio and art history requirements constitute approximately sixty-five percent of the Fine Arts B.F.A. degree. Students choose an emphasis in ceramics, drawing, illustration, painting, printmaking, or sculpture.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in Fine Arts is a program of study that combines fine arts studio courses with the richness of a broad liberal arts education. Students are introduced to a variety of media and approaches to fine arts production. Studio and art history requirements constitute thirty-five to forty percent of the Fine Arts B.A. degree. Students pursuing the B.A. degree are encouraged to select courses outside the major that enhance their fine arts studies and to consider a minor or second major in another discipline.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a major in Photography is a professional degree that provides an intensive, in depth exploration of photographic media. Photography studio and art history requirements constitute approximately sixty-five percent of the Photography B.F.A. degree.  Photography electives allow students to choose an emphasis in photography for advertising, fine art, photojournalism or digital imaging.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in Photography offers a program of study that combines photography studio courses with the richness of a broad liberal arts education. Photography studio and art and photography history requirements constitute thirty-five to forty percent of the Photography B.A. degree. Students are encouraged to select courses outside the major that enhance their photography studies and to consider a minor or second major in another discipline.