The UW-Parkside Art Department
The Art Department of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside offers three distinct majors, each formulated to help students achieve their artistic and academic goals. The broad-based general art major allows the students varied studio experiences across the curriculum. The digital arts major and the studio arts major are more focused, each with a distinct specialization:
- Digital Arts – animation, graphic design and illustration.
- Studio Arts and Art Education – ceramics, crafts, drawing, interdisciplinary art, painting, printmaking and sculpture.
No matter the area of study, students have the opportunity to learn from a committed team of professional educators whose primary objective is to offer individuals an excellent education in the visual arts. All instructors are experts in their specific fields, and unlike larger universities there are no teaching assistants responsible for a student's training. Beyond a quality classroom experience with more than 80 course possibilities, the Art Department uses its proximity to major art collections in Chicago and Milwaukee to augment the curriculum. The smaller department size allows a closer relationship between students and faculty through classes, the Art Club, guest lectures and demonstrations, and student art shows.
The UW-Parkside Art Department is unique in offering:
- A broad range of degree options, with a general art major (45 credits) and specific concentrations in either digital or studio arts (59 to 62 credits). The art education concentration offers specialist certification in teaching in public and private schools. There are also certificates in art history, museum studies, and arts management.
- Studios and computer labs are well maintained with state-of-the-art equipment and are accessible to all serious art students. Each concentration has a media-specific laboratory with a designated faculty member with a master's degree to guide students through their UW-Parkside experience.
- Faculty members are professionals in studio and art history fields and exhibit and publish in major venues.
- The university houses an excellent research library with a strong collection of art books, periodicals, slides, videos and DVDs.
- UW-Parkside is unique among other universities in the UW System because of its close proximity to major museums in Chicago and Milwaukee as well as superb art museums in Racine and Kenosha.
- The Communication Arts Gallery hosts a minimum of six exhibits annually, from student shows to the prestigious National Small Print Exhibition that, for 20 years, has displayed the work of contemporary printmakers. Another highlight is the opportunity for the art major to have a senior capstone show to culminate the UW-Parkside art experience.
- Graduates are well recognized as working artists and art educators on both regional and national levels.
- Not only is UW-Parkside an excellent education value, the Art Department also offers many merit-based scholarships for entering and continuing students.
