Department of Visual Arts

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Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Special Requirements for the Department of Visual Arts

1. Visual Arts majors must have completed all VIAR courses required in their freshman year (VIAR 101 -VIAR 102 , VIAR 111 -VIAR 112 , VIAR 121 ), MATH 102   or MATH 105  or equivalent, ENGL 101 -ENGL 102  or equivalent, one of the required sciences courses, and must have a GPA of 2.0 before registering for 300-level Visual Arts courses.
2. All VIAR Students must enroll and complete VIAR 209 , Sophomore portfolio review, before they complete 60 credit hours of University courses. To be eligible for the Sophomore review students must have completed the following VIAR courses: VIAR 101 , VIAR 102 , VIAR 111 , and VIAR 112 .
3. The Department of Visual Arts embraces and teaches the latest software and hardware technology used in professional settings and in private artistic expression. In order to maintain these standards, students concentrating in Computer Art and Animation, Graphic Design, New Media and Digital Art, and Photography are required to purchase specific computer hardware relevant to their respective curricula. Graphic Design is the only concentration that specifically requires that only Macintosh laptops may be used for the course curriculum. Computer Art and Animation and New Media require PCs, and Photography students may use either PCs or Macintosh laptops for their respective curriculums. Additional software/hardware may be required, and will be outlined by each faculty member once a student begins their respective courses in their concentrations.

   Due to the rapid advancement of both hardware and software, the Department of Visual Art recommends students avoid purchasing anything until a student starts their concentration; typically, the second semester of their sophomore year. Purchasing any form of technology too soon will render it outdated before a student reaches their chosen concentration. To that end, the department generally recommends its students to use campus computers and/or an inexpensive home computer for things such as writing papers or using the internet during the first year-and-a-half of their studies. At the end of the Fall Semester of their sophomore year students should then inquire with the head of their chosen concentration for specific requirements.

4. The VIAR curriculum has many courses listed as electives. However, various concentrations in that curriculum have specific courses students must complete for these electives. Students should carefully follow the departmental concentration sheets for their chosen concentration (available in the departmental office) in order to fulfill graduation requirements and to avoid taking unnecessary courses. Students should work in close consultation with advisor.
5. To insure a timely graduation, students should make themselves aware of the recommended electives of each concentration (obtainable in the departmental office) and, with their advisor, plan a schedule for their completion. Though students may wish to choose other electives they should be advised that the courses listed were recommended because they enhance or augment in some way the specific concentrations.
6. In addition to the degree requirements of the College for transfer students that a minimum of 12 semester hours must be taken in their major at UL Lafayette, the Visual Arts Department requires an additional 6 semester hours at or above the 300 level. Of this total of 18 hours, 12 must be in the VIAR 409 -VIAR 410  sequence with accompanying concentration courses.
7. VIAR 409 -VIAR 410  must be taken in consecutive semesters. Permission must be obtained from the professor and the department head to do otherwise.
8. Transfer students may be required to participate in a portfolio review for course placement and/or for a transfer studio course to be applied toward the degree.
9. Visual Arts majors are not allowed to pursue a minor in Art History.

Programs

• Visual Arts, BFA, Ceramics Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Computer Art and Animation Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Graphic Design Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Metalwork and Jewelry Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, New Media and Digital Art Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Painting Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Photography Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Printmaking Concentration
• Visual Arts, BFA, Sculpture Concentration

• Art History Minor
• Visual Arts Minor

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