Art Undeclared
First Year Curricula for All Art & Design Majors
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, general studio art, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture), and a bachelor of arts degree in studio art (with the same concentrations). All majors' first year curriculum will include courses in drawing, 2D, 3D, and 4D practices. Undeclared students will declare their Art & Design major December 1 of their first year of study.
This first year curriculum is shared across all majors and serves as the temporary major declaration for those who enter as “undeclared.”
Courses in the history and appreciation of art and certain courses in studio work are open to students from other colleges of the university. A field of concentration in history of art is also offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The school has studios, computing labs, workshops, classrooms, and offices in several different university buildings.
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.
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
Students majoring in this degree program must complete the First Year Curriculum requirements before beginning other major requirements.
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 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Select one course in 2D Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking (required for Studio Art: Printmaking) | ||
| Fashion Illustration (required for Studio Art: Fashion) | ||
| Beginning Painting (required for Studio Art: Painting) | ||
| Basic Photography (required for Studio Art: Photography) | ||
| Select one course in 3D Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Industrial Design | ||
| Ceramics Sculpture I | ||
| Jewelry/Metals I | ||
| Beginning Sculpture (required for Studio Art: Sculpture) | ||
| Select one course in 4D Category: | 3 | |
| Image Practice | ||
| Time Arts I | ||
| Interaction I | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
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 | ARTD or ARTS ### (3D Category) | 3 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 | ARTS ### (4D Category) | 3 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 | Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTD or ARTS ### (2D Category) | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Comp. 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 office: 143 Art and Design Building, Champaign, IL 61820
contact: Michael Foellmer, Academic Coordinator of Undergraduate Affairs
email: foellme1@illinois.edu
phone: (217) 244-8462
school website: School of Art & Design
school faculty: Art & Design Faculty
overview of college admissions & requirements: Fine & Applied Arts
college website: Fine & Applied Arts