The BA in Art is a liberal arts degree that familiarizes students with the rich tradition of the visual arts, provides them with an understanding of the tools and materials available to the artist as a means of personal expression, shows students that there are fundamental concepts which unify all art yet which allow for infinite variation, and introduces to them alternative ways of looking, seeing, finding, and discovering. While exploring a variety of media, learning the techniques and expressive opportunities unique to each, students have the opportunity to explore other interests throughout the university and are encouraged to incorporate those interest into their artistic production. Primary focus in the program is on students finding their own creative and conceptual voice, and discovering ways to visually communicate their thoughts and ideas.
This program is offered through the Department of Art, Design, and Art History in the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts. Please see the Colleges, Schools, and Departments section of this catalog for further information.
Learning Outcomes
Successful graduates of the BA in Art program will be able to:
Express an individual, creative voice through an artistic practice that engages with contemporary global art and design discourse.
Implement the formal vocabularies of art and design as a foundation for artistic dialogue.
Practice drawing as a means to develop ideas.
Draw upon the history of art and design as a wellspring for ideas, solutions and meaning within one's own artistic practice.
Analyze and discuss art and design through discipline-specific vocabularies and methods.
Display growth and competence in artistry and technical skills across a variety of artistic media and processes.
Special Requirements
All BA in Art majors must register for ART 1900: First-Year Exhibition in the spring of their first year. The First-Year Exhibition is an opportunity for students to display their work with their first-year cohort in a group exhibition with a public reception, offering an opportunity to consider their progress and direction, and celebrating their accomplishments. DADAH faculty review the work and offer feedback.
All BA in Art majors must register for ART 2900 DADAH Critique in the first semester after completing 18 studio credits. For traditional Freshmen this will occur in the fall or spring of their sophomore year. For transfer students this will occur in their first semester at Webster, or when they have a combined total of 18 studio credits. The DADAH Critique is a review of student progress by DADAH full and part-time faculty held on one day during the fall and spring semesters. Following the review, students will meet with their advisor to discuss faculty concerns and recommendations as written on the evaluation form by the advisor during the review. In some cases a student may be advised to undergo a second review in the following semester. The department notifies students of portfolio review dates.
Degree Requirements
For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.
49 required credit hours
30 Global Citizenship Program credit hours
41 elective credit hours
January 2025
St Louis Home Campus
470 East Lockwood Avenue,
ST LOUIS,
Missouri,
63119, United States
Students must completed high school or from a home school program.
Freshman applicants are expected to complete a college preparatory secondary school program with at least 19 units of academic credit. The University strongly recommends the following distribution:
English: 4 units
History/Social studies: 3 units
Mathematics: 3 units
Foreign Language: 2 units
Science (two laboratory): 3 units
Fine Arts: 1 unit
Academic electives: 3 units
Applicants most likely to be admitted will have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and a class rank in the top 50 percent of their high school class, if applicable.
English language proficiency requirement:
TOEFL: iBT: 80
TOEFL: ITP: 550
IELTS: Academic: 6.0
Duolingo: 110
Pearson: 53
Cambridge Academic English: 169
Password: 6.0
GTEC: 1201
iTEP: 3.7
SAT's English-based Reading and Writing Score: 450
ACT composite score: 23
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.