Art Undeclared
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
This first year curriculum is shared across all majors and serves as the temporary major declaration for those who enter as “undeclared.” Students must complete the First Year Curriculum requirements before beginning other major requirements. Undeclared students will declare their Art & Design major December 1 of their first year of study.
Students in the School of Art and Design must complete the Campus General Education requirements. Some Art and Design courses will also apply toward the General Education requirements.
The School of Art & Design offers bachelor of fine arts degrees in art & art history, art education, graphic design, industrial design, and studio art (with concentrations in fashion, illustration, interdisciplinary practice, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture), and a bachelor of arts degree in studio art.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: Students may not graduate from Art Undeclared. Majors in the School of Art & Design require between 122 and 130 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in Art and Design.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts | ||
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by ARTH 110 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
First Year Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| ARTF 101 | Contemporary Issues in Art | 2 |
| ARTE 101 | Art, Design, and Society | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTF 103 | Design I | 3 |
| ARTF 105 | Design II | 3 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Art & Design Major & Concentration Options
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 101 | 1 | ARTE 101 | 2 |
| ARTF 101 | 2 | ARTF 105 | 3 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTF 103 | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 | Introductory studio course required by your concentration or major | 3 |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 31 | |||
By the end of the First Year Experience Art and Design students will have:
- Gained exposure to a wide variety of art making processes, materials, methods, and presentation strategies.
- Been introduced to critical thinking and knowledge of contemporary issues in art and design.
- Developed a verbal vocabulary that allows for informed criticism and debate in the critique process.
- Gained an ability to use the investigative process to generate new solutions in their work and demonstrates the ability to problem solve using iterative strategies to complete projects.
- An ability to recognize and use various forms of visual organization in their studio work.
- Gained a knowledge of how to generate meaning in a variety of forms.
- An ability to use design and drawing principles such as: (balance, symmetry/rhythm, space/perspective, sequence/time, eye movement, scale/proportion, unity/variety.
School of Art & Design
143 Art and Design Building, Champaign, IL 61820
Academic Coordinator of Undergraduate Affairs: Michael Foellmer
(217) 244-8462
School of Art & Design website
Art & Design faculty
Overview of admissions & requirements for Fine & Applied Arts
Fine & Applied Arts website