The aim of the Department of Art is to prepare and empower students
to use their artistic abilities to make a difference in society. A
comprehensive multi-studio approach encourages independent
thinking, strengthens creativity, and develops a knowledge of the
critical and historical aspects of art.

Students acquire technical skills and gain confidence to work with a
variety of materials while exploring and evaluating a broad heritage of
past and contemporary art and design.

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts
will be able to demonstrate:

• Effective communication and fiscal skills to be a practicing artist as applied to art proposals, exhibitions and business matters.
• The expression of ideas in a cohesive body of work.
• Critical thinking, writing and research skills allowing the discovery of original approaches to creative problem solving.
• Mastery of techniques, composition, and the use of materials.

Students choose from several areas of study:

• BA in Art — Creative problem solving in a liberal arts context
• BFA in Art — Professional art training in the following areas of emphasis: Ceramics, Drawing, Digital Art and Graphic Design, Fibers, Jewelry/Metalsmithing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture.
• Art Education — The Department of Art offers a minor in Art Education for students interested in working in educational settings. The minor does not lead to initial teacher certification. UAA does not currently offer a teacher certification program in art. Students interested in becoming K-12 art teachers may complete the BA or BFA in Art at UAA and pursue teacher certification through the UAF School of Education post-baccalaureate licensure program.
• Continuing Education — Either as a pre or post-baccalaureate student.

The Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts are accredited by the
National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Students must note the following:

• Some courses do not apply to degree programs.
• Some courses may be taken for repeat credit.
• Many art courses require completion of certain prerequisite art courses. Non-art majors who wish to enroll in an art class without first having completed the recommended prerequisites are free to do so with appropriate instructor permission, but may find the classroom experience difficult or unrewarding.
• Art majors must obtain pre-registration approval from art faculty for upper division art course work undertaken each semester.

The Art Department Faculty are here to mentor and advise you regarding the requirements needed to graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts, Art or Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art degree. The first step is to make certain that you have been accepted as a Pre-BFA student and provided the necessary documents (e.g. transcripts, letters and other pertinent information). These documents should be sent to the Arts Information Secretary. Her office is located at the Information Center on the 3rd Floor of the Fine Arts Building. Room 302. Her phone number is (907) 786-1783. If you have any other questions contact the Art Administrative Assistant at (907) 786-1321. The second step is to make sure that you have an advising file on record. Once your documents have been sent to the Arts Information Secretary a file will be made for you and an advisor will be assigned to you. Make sure you set up an appointment with a professor at the very outset of the semester to discuss what courses you should take as an incoming Freshman or Transfer student, or if you have been in the university system without an advisor. It is important to have strategies to survive the university experience. A faculty advisor will prove to be a mentor of inestimable value. Your advisor will use worksheets to plan and follow your progress and discuss any problems you might have regarding your course of studies. Another excellent source for advising is through the College of Arts and Sciences. Contact one of the Student Success Coordinators and they will also guide you through he labyrinth of procedures that can be confusing. The Student Success Coordinators work with the various departments and have been of great value in advising our Art students. The contact number is 786-1357 and the e-mail is andmg@uaa.alaksa.edu. The Art Department faculty can advise any Art major, but are usually assigned to students interested in their area.