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Program Codes:
BAARTTH
Bachelor of Arts
Introduction
The University offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Art Education, Art Therapy, Graphic Design, and Studio Art.
Mission Statement
Art and Design is the universal language of expression delivered through visual communication. The mission of the Art, Media, and Design Department at Mercyhurst University challenges our students in their pursuit of proficient visual literacy, and fluency. We believe that learning is a change in behavior brought about through experiences. To achieve this goal, we begin by setting a sound, comprehensive foundation with thorough exploration of the elements and principles of art and design.
Our hands-on studio courses exercise the rigor, resilience, grit, and professionalism required for success in all visual fields. Learning in the professional environment, where students interact with clients and professionals and can apply theoretical principles, is very effective in developing professional proficiency along with the classroom/studio-oriented education. We impress upon students the value of the Human Centered Design plus the Design Thinking process and stress its part in producing successful technique, refined craftsmanship, and socially responsible solutions with exceptional results. This foundation provides students the stability and vocabulary to present and critique their work within a professional arena.
With these technical and traditional roots set in place, students gain the confidence, terminology, empathy, and compassion to speak and write about their art in a critical and academic manner within multiple, diverse contexts. By melding art-making with coursework steeped in historical, cultural, and contemporary research, students will evolve into empathetic learners capable of multidimensional views. Faculty and students are further challenged to integrate social responsibility with career competence and a commitment to human centric values. Broadening student perspectives is key to creating ethical, versatile professionals that embrace an equitable, inclusive, and diverse workforce in their field.
By their senior year, students will have discovered their personal creative voice and its value to the universal conversation of art and design. We facilitate this discovery into action through one-on-one mentoring, independent studio, internship, senior thesis exhibition, student teaching, portfolio review, study abroad, and beyond. Upon graduation, students will be well-equipped for the professional challenges or post-graduate studies necessary to serve, exceed, thrive, and contribute with sensitivity, self-reliance, social concern and genuine compassion for others to the vocation of their choosing within the visual and applied arts.
Artful Discipline
Students of Art will realize true progress in their artistic lives when their art becomes part of their daily lives. Students are encouraged to use journals and/or sketchbooks to document their work. We have found that through this activity concepts will arise for exploration; progress will be documented; research stored; and media and designs can be explored, tested, nurtured and developed.
Creativity
Students within the Art Department are concept, process, and product oriented. They learn about creativity and develop ways to investigate challenging problems or areas of interest through the use and practice of a variety of approaches including mind-mapping, CPS (creative problem-solving method), brainstorming, matrix systems, analogy, listing methods, free-expression, etc.
Design
Using the full spectrum of study from “nature as builder” through Math as system, art students learn to organize, form, plan and create art through the use of the elements, processes, and principles of design.
History of Art
Understanding the past is necessary to future success. Art students study, apply, and explore social, cultural, aesthetic, and historical perspectives of Western and Non-western Art including artists, movements, artifacts, and styles.
Social Responsibility
Art students are trained in the powerful tools of visual communication and service. With training in design, communication theory, and media selection, students are challenged to create responsible Art, reflect on its impact, and to make ethically sound decisions that benefit local and global communities. Students participate in numerous art exhibitions, voluntary art projects, and political and social action efforts.
Professional Practice
Integral to the discipline of Art, students are trained in the standards and practices of their chosen field. They are called upon to uphold the integrity of the profession.
Art Department Student Learning Outcomes
The Art curriculum is designed to develop the whole artist. Students within the Department are concept, content, process, and product oriented. They study, apply, and explore social, cultural, aesthetic, and historical perspectives of art.
Students in the Department will:
Describe the historical, geographic, cultural and contemporary contexts of works of art and design.
Present, critique, and write about works of art and design using appropriate terminology.
Generate works that demonstrate a productive creative process, and exhibit a high level of craftsmanship and technical facility.
Develop artworks that use elements and principles of art and design.
Create works of design that solve the visual problem as presented.
Effective communication and presentation of self and work to clients both internal and external to the University.
Departmental Requirements
A student who wishes to graduate with this major must complete the following requirements:
Sophomore Review
Students are reviewed by an evaluation committee in the spring semester of the sophomore year.
Students must:
After departmental review and under special circumstances, if a student has not made the 2.5 grade requirement, a full-time art faculty member’s recommendation may be used in lieu of grades.
Art Minor
ART 100 Drawing I 3 credits
ART 122 Ancient to Medieval Art History 3 credits
OR ART 123 Renaissance to 20th Century Art History 3 credits
ART 125 2-Dimensional Design 3 credits
ART 126 3-Dimensional Design 3 credits
ART 128 Basic Computer Design 3 credits
Two (2) Approved Art Electives 6 credits
Art History Minor
ART 122 Ancient to Medieval Art History 3 credits
ART 123 Renaissance to 20th Century Art History 3 credits
ART 128 Basic Computer Design 3 credits
ART 223 History of Modern Art 3 credits
ART 224 History of Photography 3 credits
ART 230 Graphic Design History 3 credits
IA 220 History of Interior Design 3 credits OR IA 221 History of Architecture 3 credits
Art Therapy Minor
ART 100 Drawing I 3 credits
ART 102 Ceramics I 3 credits
ART 128 Basic Computer Design 3 credits OR ART 101/105 Painting 1: Watercolor or Acrylic 3 credits
ARTH 125 Art Therapy: Introduction I 3 credits
ARTH 225 Art Therapy II: Materials and Methods 3 credits
ARTH 325 Art Therapy III: Practices 3 credits
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
Graphic Design Minor
ART 128 Basic Computer Design 3 credits
ART 220 Typographic Foundations 3 credits
ART 221 Digital Imagery 3 credits
Four (4) Electives from the Graphic Design Major 12 credits
Photography Minor
ART 106 Photography I 3 credits
ART 128 Basic Computer Design 3 credits
ART 206 Intermediate Photography 3 credits
ART 306 Color Photography 3 credits
ART 223 History of Modern Art 3 credits
ART 224 History of Photography 3 credits
ART 305 Digital Photography 3 credits
Art Therapy majors investigate the healing potential of the arts through selfreflective art directives, research, and service learning in the community. The program includes classes in: art therapy, studio art, and psychology.
In art therapy classes, students learn the history and theory of the field as well as develop a non-judgmental approach toward art made by themselves and others. This approach enables an ability to support the use of art to address goals and problems. Internships provide students with opportunities to witness and encourage art-making as a transformational process. Art therapy students must have an overall GPA of 2.75 to begin an internship.
Introductory art foundations course focused on the exposure and study of elements and principles of design, creative processes, synthesis and the technical aspects of art production including
media, tools and methods.
ART-100
An introductory 3-dimensional design course. Emphasis is on elements and principles of design. The components of production, art history, aesthetics, and criticism will be introduced relevant to 3-dimensional art. Taken in freshman year.
ART-100
This foundational course introduces students to basic design concepts, computer literacy and software competency. Through various design exercises, students will experience three of the basic types of publishing tools used by designers -- Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
This course is designed to explore artistic methods and materials that lend themselves to psychological reflection, insight and use in therapeutic settings. Through art therapy experientials, discussion, historical reference, service learning opportunities, and assessment of acquired knowledge, the art therapy student will realize the factors that can encourage therapeutic art making.
ARTH 125
In this course, various community and agency settings, and therapeutic art making approaches are studied. These studies, along with previously attained information and service learning experiences prepare students for an art therapy internship.
ARTH 125, ARTH 225
ARTH 325
This course provides a survey of art and architecture from Prehistoric times to the Medieval Ages. Recommended for Juniors and Seniors.
Readings, research, presentations and discussion of contemporary art provide context for idea generation and execution of a variety of focused art projects as practice to thesis work. This course in conjunction with Senior Art Thesis Individualized Studio will lead to the selection, development, design, production, and presentation of an original art thesis. Senior art majors.
ART-223
A general introduction to the science of behavior and mental processes. Topics considered include learning, memory, perception, motivation, personality, psychopathology and social interaction.
This course covers an area in psychology known as developmental psychology, which is the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior, thinking, emotions and social relationships. The focus is on childhood, from conception to the teenage years. Areas of development include physical, cognitive and socio-emotional. The role of biological, maturational and socio-cultural influences on development are considered. This course is solidly grounded in psychological theory. Basic issues in development are explored, and research methodologies and findings are emphasized.
PSYC-101
This course covers the area of developmental psychology and will focus exclusively on that part of the lifespan know as adolescence (or, "the second decade of life"). A multi-disciplinary approach is utilized to examine how individuals develop from childhood into mature adulthood. Grounded in theory and empirical research, the course will cover fundamental changes (e.g., puberty, social transitions), contexts (e.g., families, peer groups), and psychosocial developmental issues (e.g., achievement, intimacy) associated with adolescence. In addition, basic issues in development are explored, and research methodologies and findings are emphasized.
PSYC-101
In this course, we will examine how the elements of culture affect psychological processes including values, traditions, socialization, education, language and politics. We will explore which psychological theories and findings apply across cultures and which do not, and why. This course will also explore the psychological effects of moving between cultures and will address the immigrant and refugee experience. Finally, this course also aims to develop cross-cultural communication skills.
The major forms of psychopathology that appear in childhood and adult life. Topics include the symptomatology of mental disorders; their etiology from psychological, biological, and sociocultural perspectives; and issues pertaining to diagnosis, treatment, ethics, and the legal system.
This course is designed to provide students with a knowledge base concerning human diversity from a sociological perspective. Diversity is broadly defined to encompass many aspects of social life, including gender and sexuality, social class, race and ethnicity, and ability. Students will learn how to use each of these concepts in conversation and in writing, and to view them in combination using an intersectional lens. Phenomena such as stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination will be studied. The dynamics of oppression will be examined and ways to create a more just society explored.
Human beings are inherently cultural, moreso than any other species. This course explores the ways in which humans are uniquely built for cultural learning and how different cultural experiences affect perceptual processes, cognition, emotion, personality, self, social interactions, and physical and mental health.
This course introduces students to the discipline of sociology-the scientific study of human behavior as shaped by collective forces and self-reflections. The primary aim of this course is to enhance students' ability to interpret and evaluate the social and cultural influences around us. To achieve this aim, the course compares and contrasts sociological theoretical paradigms, as well as discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
This course examines the social foundations of human thoughts, feelings, and behavior by addressing the following aspects of social life: (a) social influence; (b) social roles and public behavior; (c) inferences about other people; and (d) interpersonal relations and groups. Among the topics to be considered are: the influence of public behavior on social norms, persuasion, impression management, social emotions, judgment of responsibility and character, interpersonal attraction, aggression, altruism, group dynamics, and inter-group conflict. The course will concentrate on the level of analysis of the individual, but will include sociological and evolutionary perspectives where appropriate.
Introduction to the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the structure and function of membranes and organelles, especially mitochondria and chloroplasts. Also included are studies of the molecular structure and function of DNA, with emphasis on the organization of the eukaryotic genome, transcription and translation.
BIO 143
Introduction to the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the structure and function of membranes and organelles, especially mitochondria and chloroplasts. Also included are studies of the molecular structure and function of DNA, with emphasis on the organization of the eukaryotic genome, transcription and translation.
BIO 143
