Departmental Advisor: Dianne Debeixedon VAB 203, 683 5182
Checklists which provide the curriculum for each major and concentartion are provided below (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).
Art History (B.A.) pdf
Art Education (B.A.) pdf
Studio Art (B.A.) pdf
Studio Art (B.F.A.)
— Crafts: Fibers pdf
— Drawing & Design pdf
— Graphic Design pdf
— Metalsmithing & Sculpture pdf
— Painting pdf
— Print & Photo Media pdf
Studio Art with Licensure (B.F.A.) pdf
Advising FAQ
Who is my advisor?
When you first enter the art program as a freshman or a transfer student you must see the Chief Departmental Advisor (CDA) who will explain the curriculum and your options. The CDA will also lift your “advising block” so that you can register for classes. This block is in place each semester until you are advised. Once you have declared a major and/or a concentration, the CDA will assign you to a faculty member in your program for further advising.
How do I access my screen with LeoOnline?
Go to www.odu.edu and choose LeoOnline from the drop down menu. Access your screen by using either your social security number (SSN) or your university identification number (UIN). Your password is your birth date until you change it.
What is the difference between the BA and BFA?
The BA degree is a liberal arts degree offered by the College of Arts & Letters in which you choose a major. The Art Department offers three majors: Art History, Art Education, and Studio Art with a minimum requirement of 42 credit hours in the major. In addition to the university general education requirements you must fulfill the college requirements which are (1) foreign language at the 201/202 level, (2) an additional history course, and (3) an additional course in social sciences. (Note that the courses in social sciences should be in different disciplines.)
The BFA degree is considered a professional major degree and is recommended anyone intending to go on to graduate study (MFA). For the BFA you select a concentration in one of the following areas: (1) Drawing & Design, (2) Graphic Design, (3) Fibers, (4) Metalsmithing & Sculpture, (5) Painting, or (6) Print & Photo Media. You may only declare one concentration. This should be done when you finish your studio foundation courses. A minimum of 75 hours in art courses is required. The additional College of Arts & Letters academic requirements for general education as listed above for the BA are not required.
When should I declare my major? Should I wait until I have completed my lower level general education courses to declare?
You may declare your major upon successful completion of ENGL 110C, and 111C, English Composition, which you should take in your freshman year. It is advisable to declare your art major as soon as possible and begin taking studio courses along with your academic courses. Do not wait until your junior year to declare and take art courses if you plan on graduating in four years. Students intending to take a BA in Art Education or the BFA should begin taking foundation studio courses in their freshman year prior to declaring a major. Many of the studio concentrations have course sequences of prerequisites that span up to five semesters. It is always advisable to take a balanced load (3:2 ratio) of academic and studio courses each semester.
How do I declare a major?
See the CDA who will go over the requirements for your intended degree. The CDA will submit your declaration of major to the Registrar’s Office through LeoOnline. This usually takes several days to be entered. Check your personal screen on LeoOnline to verify that the declaration has been properly recorded.
Once I have declared my major may I take courses at another institution and transfer them back for credit for my degree?
Yes, but only with the approval of the CDA, and the courses must be initialed on your checklist. Normally, approval for 300/400 level classes will not be granted unless your concentration advisor will permit the substitution. Transfer students should be very aware that there are minimum requirements for on campus hours in the major to earn a degree from ODU (BA: 21 hours of art history or studio art; BFA: 36 hours of studio art).
What is a checklist?
A program checklist will be given to you when you first see the CDA to declare your major. It outlines all the course requirements and options for your particular degree, major and/or concentration that are in effect for your catalog year. Any waivers, transfers, substitutions, IB or AP credit, or professional advanced placement are noted and initialed by the CDA or authorized faculty on the checklist. The CDA uses your checklist to monitor the accuracy of your computer records and to check for discrepancies. A copy of the checklist must be given to the CDA in the semester you expect to graduate so that you may be certified. Keep the checklist in a secure place and take it with to your advising appointments. It is advisable to keep a copy of it in your file in the Art Office.
What catalog year am I under?
You are responsible for completing the requirements of the University Catalog for the year and semester when you first matriculated full time. Each Catalog covers a two-year period. While you are a student you have the option of choosing a later Catalog, but not an earlier one. You have six years to finish your degree requirements under the Catalog with which you entered. After six years, you move to being responsible for the requirements of the next two-year Catalog.
If I had three years of a foreign language in high school (or two years each of two languages), will that satisfy the general education requirement?
It will qualify as 101F and 102F, but it will satisfy the general university lower level general education requirements for the BFA only. BA students must take 201F and 202F to satisfy college lower level requirements (placement test required), or test out of these courses.
How do I fulfill the computer literacy (D) and oral skills (R) requirements for general education?
These requirements may be fulfilled through the major. ARTS 279, Fundamentals of Digital Art, will fulfill the computer literacy requirement. ARTS 400, Senior Show; ARTS 401, Design Portfolio; ARTH 350W, Introduction to Art Criticism; ARTH 351W, Research Methods; and the oral critiques and reviews held in studio classes will satisfy the oral skills requirement.
What are “W” courses and which ones do I need?
Courses designated with a “W” are writing intensive courses. Every student is required to have at least one in the major. The Art Department offers two: ARTH 350W, Introduction to Art Criticism; and ARTH 351W, Research Methods. Art Education and Teaching Licensure students must take ARTH 350W. Art History majors must take ARTH 351W. Studio art majors (BA and BFA) must take their choice of either one.
What do I have to do to complete the upper level general education requirement?
The University Catalog gives you three options (A, B, or C) for completing this requirement. (A) You may choose to complete a minor in another discipline, a second major (for the BA and BFA teaching licensure is considered a second major), a second degree altogether (BFA, BA, or BS). You may choose (B) a “Cluster.” Clusters consist of studying a focal topic from the perspective of different subject fields. There are eleven to choose from, and they are listed in the catalog with the course options for each. There is also an option (C) which is the International Certificate program. You will find details for this program in the Catalog following the list of clusters.
What about minors? If I’m a BFA student may I take another studio concentration as a minor?
Consider taking a minor that is in a field of interest to you, and one that will complement your professional goals. The most common minors taken by art students are: marketing, business management, creative writing, technical writing, communications, film and video studies, theater, psychology, and philosophy. Art history is also a favorite minor for BA studio art majors and BFA candidates. BA art history majors often take a studio art minor. However BA studio majors and BFA candidates cannot take a studio concentration as a minor; they must take a minor in a non-studio discipline. Art history is an acceptable minor since it is an academic research field. The studio art minor requires four courses at the 330/400 level exclusive of any prerequisites that might be required. Non-majors who wish to minor in studio art or art history should consult with the CDA for selection and approval of courses. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses for both the art history and studio minors.
I am a BFA student and want to minor in Art History. How many additional courses in art history do I need?
You need two more 300/400 level courses art history courses (6 credit hours) in addition to the five (15 credit hours) required for the BFA degree.
Are there scholarships available? How do I apply for one?
The Art Department offers several scholarships based on both merit and need. A faculty review of scholarship applicants’ work is scheduled each spring, usually on a Friday in late March or early April. Be sure to look for the announcement for the date. To be eligible for a scholarship you must fill out the standard FAFSA form which is available online or from the Financial Aid Office. This completed form is usually due in the Financial Aid Office before the middle of February. The Financial Aid Office can also assist you with applying for college and university scholarships, as well as with applications for loans.
How and when do I apply for graduation?
You apply for graduation in the semester before your anticipated graduation date. Application deadlines are published in the fall, spring, and summer schedule books; you can also check the ODU online calendar. You may register after the deadline, but your name will not appear in the commencement booklet. Application for graduation can be made via LeoOnline. Also, when you apply, you must give a copy of your checklist to the CDA who will certify you for your major, concentration and/or minor. If you are minoring in a field other than art, you must fill out paperwork; declare your minor, and request certification through the department that offers the minor you are seeking.
What are the minimum requirements for graduation?
You must complete a minimum of 120 hours with a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. You must have a minimum cumulative GPA in your studio art or art history major and/or concentration of 2.0. You must have a minimum of grade of C in your major/concentration courses. Any course in which you get a grade of F, D-, D, D+, or C- must be retaken. For the BA in Art Education you must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall with no grade less than a C in the content area (art history and studio art), and no less than a C- in the professional area (education). All students must pass the Writing Exit Examination and complete the online Senior Assessment.