The academic discipline of art exposes students to a rigorous program of undergraduate courses that are designed to prepare majors for advanced study and professional careers. Many graduates undertake careers in teaching, lecturing, studio, museum studies, film animation, editorial cartooning, architecture, fashion design, and graphic illustration. Also, theatrical and motion picture set decoration, urban design, interior design, industrial design, computer graphics, museum conservation, museum education and administration, gallery entrepreneurship, and other related areas. The discipline's curriculum is in keeping with the mission of Fisk University as a liberal arts institution and is taught in the spirit of the traditional academy wherein solid foundational training and sound philosophical values are highly prized.
The primary objectives of the academic discipline of art are designed so that students who successfully complete the undergraduate major in the art will be able to demonstrate an:
Requirements - B.A.
Required Major Courses
Major Electives
3 hours of additional credits in art. Cognate courses – 8 credits selected from offerings of the School of Humanities and Behavioral Social Sciences or any of its academic disciplines other than art.
| ART | ART ELECTIVE | 3 |
| ART | ART ELECTIVE | 3 |
| ART | ART ELECTIVE | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
CORE Requirements
| | CORE Required [22-23] | 22-23 |
| | CORE A-E [12-24] | 14-24 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-47 |
Other Requirements
| | Foreign Language | 12 |
| | General Electives [29-40] | 29-40 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 41-52 |
General electives may change depending on Foreign language placement and the selection of CORE courses.
Total Credit Hours: 120
Requirements - B.S.
Required Major Courses
Elective coursework in Art
8 hours of additional credits in art. Cognate courses – 12 credits selected from offerings of the School of Humanities and Behavioral Social Sciences or any of its academic disciplines other than art.
| | Art Elective [8] | 8 |
| | Art Cognate [12] | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
CORE Requirements
| | CORE Required [22-23] | 22-23 |
| | CORE A-E [12-24] | 14-24 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-47 |
Other Requirements
| | Foreign Language | 12 |
| | General Electives [13-24] | 13-24 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25-36 |
General electives may change depending on Foreign language placement and the selection of CORE courses.
Total Credit Hours: 120
Requirements - Graphics Design Concentration
Fisk University, through a collaborative agreement with Watkins College of Art, Design & Film offers a concentration in graphic design. This agreement allows students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at Fisk University to complete a concentration in graphic design by cross-registering for courses offered at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film Participating students must be enrolled in good standing in the Bachelor of Science in Art degree program at Fisk University, and must submit an application to enroll in the concentration in graphic design program. This program is not available to students who have already earned the Bachelor’s degree, or who are enrolled in other programs of study. Students do not have to apply for admission to or register at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. The Bachelor of Science in Art degree earned through participation in this program will be awarded by Fisk University.
In addition to the University degree requirements outlined in this Bulletin, requirements for the concentration in graphic design are as follows:
Required Courses
Required concentration courses [48 credits]
Total Credits: 48 credit hours.
General Elective Courses are 28 to 40 credits, depending on foreign language placement. Coursework indicated by an asterisk (*) above is to be taken at Fisk University. All other courses listed are to be taken at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. Completion of the concentration is not intended to provide a credential in graphic design, nor will it qualify a student as eligible to apply for certification examinations. After credit is earned and reported for each class, the Registrar of Watkins College of Art, Design & Film will transmit the proper documentation to the Registrar at Fisk University so that the academic credit can be properly entered on the student’s transcript record.
While taking classes at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, Fisk University students are responsible for understanding and complying with the policies and procedures described in the Watkins College of Art, Design & Film Student Handbook. A copy of this document is available to Fisk students upon registration into the concentration and in the Office of the Registrar at both institutions.
Requirements for the Joint Major
Students wishing to combine art with another major may do so in accord with University regulations. Such arrangements require the cooperation of both departments involved, and the art component must total 24 hours, as follows:
Required Major Courses
Major Electives
3 hours of additional credits in art. Cognate courses – 9 credits selected from offerings of the School of Humanities and Behavioral Social Sciences or any of its academic disciplines other than art.
| ART | ART ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | Art Cognate [9] | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
CORE Requirements
| | CORE Required [22-23] | 22-23 |
| | CORE A-E [12-24] | 14-24 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36-47 |
Other Requirements
| | Foreign Language | 12 |
| | General Electives [29-40] | 29-40 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 41-52 |
General electives may change depending on Foreign language placement and the selection of CORE courses.
Total Credit Hours: 120
Suggested Program Plan for Art Majors:
First Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]
| CORE 100 | NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR | 1 |
| CORE 150 | COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| CORE 131 | ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD | 3 |
| | | |
| ART 101 | LIFE DRAWING AND COMPOSITION | 3 |
| | Or | |
| ART 111 | ELEMENTARY DESIGN | 3 |
| | FOREIGN LANGUAGE 101 - FRENCH OR SPANISH | 3 |
First Year, Spring Semester [16 credits]
| CORE 160 | COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| CORE 120 | CRITICAL THINKING | 2 |
| CORE 132 | ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD II | 3 |
| ART | ART ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | FOREIGN LANGUAGE 102 - FRENCH OR SPANISH | 3 |
Second Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]
| CORE 201 | INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
| | | |
| ART 201 | METHODS AND MATERIALS OF PAINTING I | 3 |
| | Or | |
| ART 111 | ELEMENTARY DESIGN | 3 |
| | | |
| SPAN 200 | INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE SPANISH | 3 |
| | Or | |
| FREN 200 | INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE FRENCH | 3 |
CORE A, Cultural Exposure:
| ART 291 | AFRICAN AMERICAN ART | 3 |
| | Or | |
| ART 292 | AFRICAN ART | 3 |
| | Or | |
| ENG 275 | AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1919 | 3 |
| | Or | |
| HIS 180 | AFRICAN HISTORY | 3 |
| | Or | |
| HIS 270 | AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 200 | WORLD MUSIC | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MUS 206 | CROSSCURRENTS IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC | 2 |
Second Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]
Third Year, Fall Semester [16 credits]
Group E, Social Science:
Third Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]
| ART | ART ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | Cognate Elective | 3 |
| CORE 240 | NATURAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
Fourth Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]
| ART 401 | SENIOR PORTFOLIO | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
Fourth Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]
| ART 402 | SENIOR PORTFOLIO | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |