Art & Design
Graduate Programs
Description
Art and Design provides a diverse educational and professional experience in a stimulating and creative environment. Small classes ensure personalized instruction from a faculty committed to excellence in their various studio and academic specialties. Graduates are placed in education and business, and often pursue additional work toward advanced degrees. The flexibility acquired by students as they develop their ideas and skills is attractive to potential employers.
Students enjoy the advantages of excellent facilities including the Conkling Art Gallery with a versatile, contemporary space providing exhibitions in all media from local, regional and national artists and collections. Student exhibitions, gallery openings, lectures, and workshops contribute to community among students, faculty and patrons. The department's slide collection in Memorial Library provides a number of resources. A vigorous art community in Mankato, southern Minnesota, and Minneapolis-St. Paul offers valuable off-campus stimulation and exhibition opportunities.
Majors |
Program | Locations | Major / Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art MA | MA - Master of Arts |
|
30 / 30 |
Policies & Faculty
Policies
Admission. Candidates must complete departmental admission requirements and the requirements specified by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. An undergraduate major in Art or its equivalent is required to pursue a graduate degree.
Student Work. The department may request the retention of at least one student work from the creative thesis exhibition for its permanent instructional and exhibition collection and the right to use photographs of students and their work. Additionally, the department cannot insure student work, material and equipment or take responsibility for its loss or damage.
P/N Grading. Students from other fields may elect graduate courses in Art for P/N grading if prerequisites have been fulfilled or special consent is given by the instructor. Majors are required to take art courses under the regular letter grade system except as indicated under general Graduate College requirements.
Studio Course Costs. Notations showing the costs of individual courses are included in the semester course schedules. In some cases, student fees are charged for materials used. Verifying such information with the individual instructor is suggested.
Contact Information
136 Nelson Hall
Department of Art & Design
https://hss.mnsu.edu/academic-programs/art/
Faculty
Chair
- Gina Wenger, Ph.D.
Faculty
500 Level
Credits: 3
Advanced level graphic design and graphic communication problems. (F,S) Prerequisite: Art 401, Art 402 and Art 403 or consentPrerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Advanced study of motion, sound, and interactivity in design. Students build on existing skills to create conceptually and technically advanced works of digital communication. (F,S) Prerequisite: Art 402 or consentPrerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Continued in-depth exploration of drawing techniques and concepts.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Advanced experience in drawing from the human figure.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Introduction to art and architecture of Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic world, from the second to the fifteenth centuries. Examination of representative works of art and major styles of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic cultures, including the Romanesque and Gothic periods.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Historical survey of the representation of gender with comparison of the artistic efforts of males and females and examination of art used to present gender-based issues including homosexuality, feminism, censorship and pornography.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Art expression related to child growth, development and teaching strategies. Emphasis on two-dimensional projects. (Required for student teaching and certification.)Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Theory and practice of teaching mentally challenged, physically handicapped and other exceptionals.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
The characteristics and evaluation of junior and senior high art expression: the status, curricula and strategies of teaching. (Required for student teaching)Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Application of instruction in art history and appreciation to elementary and secondary schools.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Theoretical and practical aspects of administering arts organizations. Examines the management, budget, marketing and administration of arts programs and organizations in the postmodern era.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
First course in introductory graduate painting in oil and/or acrylics. May be taken by non-majors.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Advanced experience in watercolor.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
An advanced course which emphasizes individual research in technical, aesthetic and conceptual considerations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Introduction to the art and architecture of the ancient era in its historical and cultural frameworks. Examination of representative works of art and major styles of ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Aegean, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman cultures.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Origins and development of Northern and Italian Renaissance art and architecture as an expression of historical, cultural and religious issues.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Historical survey of art, architecture and urban planning in Europe and America from the late sixteenth to mid-nineteenth century: Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism and Romanticism.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
The study of art museum history, theory and practice, including ethics, collecting, and display. Alongside these studies, students will conceive and realize an exhibition in order to further develop knowledge of and experience in the field.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Historical survey of art, architecture and urban planning in Europe and America from the mid-nineteenth century to the present: Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Op Art, Pop Art and Postmodern issues and trends.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Historical survey of art and architectural developments from Islam's origins through the twentieth century. Course focuses on contextualizing monuments, paintings, and other arts from various regions around the world.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Survey of Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Architecture from historical and theoretical perspectives. Design issues examined from formal and contextual point of view, using analysis strategies that consider style, composition, historical context, functional/propagandistic significance and communicative ability.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Historical survey of the art and architecture of China, India, Korea and Japan from pre-history to the 19th century.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Continued investigation of advanced print making techniques and concepts.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Expanding technical knowledge and visual awareness while building a portfolio in selected areas.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Investigation of developments in sacred and secular art and architecture in various regions of the world, exploring themes such as nation-building, modernization vs. tradition, post colonialism, among others, since the 19th century.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Continuing development of a strongly personal means of aesthetic expression in three dimensions.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3-6
This studio course focuses on the planning and implementation of site-specific work. Students personal interests will be paramount in the development of works that address site and audience. Professional practices necessary to carry out installations will be emphasized, including proposal development, project planning, and documentation. Environmental impact, health, and safety will be addressed. The course will cover a variety of installation artists and related readings. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
Specific problems in art emphasizing both individual research and contributions to the seminar group on advanced, in-depth topics.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Lecture/discussion/studio course on a selected area of discourse relating to the study of Art History, Art Criticism, Art Education or Art Studio. May focus on a specific artist, style period, cultural group or technical or methodological problem.Prerequisites: none
600 Level
Credits: 3
Advanced graduate level graphic design and graphic communication problems. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Introduction to the modes of research appropriate to art including creative research studies and investigative thesis research.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Continued exploration of drawing techniques and concepts at the graduate level. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Graduate painting, emphasizing development of individual vision. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Independent creative development. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
A graduate course emphasizing further development and refinement of a body of work in preparation for a thesis and examination. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Graduate level printmaking. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Refinement of technical skills, seeing, and critical abilities while producing a significant body of work. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Creative and technical problems or research in selected areas. All students must file a special form in department office at time of registration.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-9
Continuing development of a strongly personal means of aesthetic expression in three dimensions. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3-6
This studio course focuses on the planning and implementation of advanced site-specific work. Students personal interests will be paramount in the development of works that address site and audience. Professional practices necessary to carry out installations will be emphasized, including proposal development, project planning, and documentation. Environmental impact, health, and safety will be addressed. May be repeated.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1
Focusing on verbal and written articulation of critiquing skills, the Graduate Review will hold a Portfolio Review critique each semester. Critiques will provide a structured forum with faculty, fellow students, visiting artists, and curators to identify and articulate what they want to express. In each of the four semesters of the MA program, students participate in the Graduate Review course. Learning to express concerns, issues, and motivations, as well as the best strategies to do so, will form the basis of their research and practice. Analytical and evaluative skills develop as students gain experience critiquing and questioning their peers.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
Specific problems in art emphasizing both individual research and contributions to the seminar group on advanced, in-depth topics appropriate for graduate students.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-2
Alternate plan paper in lieu of thesis, done in cooperation with a major professor. (Credit is incomplete until final approval by student's graduate committee.)Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-12
Field experience in professional setting relating to the specialization: graphic design, museum or arts administration, etc.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3-6
Required of all candidates of the MA degree, this course is culmination of the previous sequential graduate studio blocks and reviews. Concepts developed will result in a body of work that constitutes the graduate exhibition or presentation. An oral defense of the ideas presented in the exhibition or presentation is required. Documentation will be submitted by the MA candidate and will become part of the Department of Art & Design¿s files. The candidate will also create and submit appropriate announcements, posters, and descriptions for public relations.Prerequisites: none
