The Department of Art at Bradley offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in studio art and art history. The department also coordinates cultural programs, exhibitions and lectures. Facilities are located in the Heuser Art Center and the Caterpillar Global Communications Center. Heuser Art Center is a 33,000 sq. ft. facility with fully-equipped studios for ceramics, painting, printmaking and photography and sculpture..

Heuser Art CenterHeuser Art Center

The Caterpillar Global Communications Center houses multiple computer labs, video conference facilities, and the David Horowitz Auditorium, giving students access to the latest technology for creating and learning.

graphic design classroomgraphic design classroom

Take a tour of the Art Department at Bradley University. See what makes Bradley one of the best education bargains in the nation and the Art Department at Bradley one of the best places to develop creatively. Call 309-677-2967 to schedule a tour of our facilities or to talk to someone in our department.

Degree Programs

Graduate Degree Programs

  • MA (Studio Art)
  • MFA (Studio Art)

Undergraduate Degree Programs:

Undergraduate Admissions: Admission to the BA and BS studio art, art history, and Art Education degree programs are the same as for the University in general. (see University Admissions) There are no special admission requirements and no portfolio submission is necessary. Admission to the BFA program is not made until the Sophomore or Junior year and requires the submission of a portfolio. (see BFA application procedure)

General Requirements:

1. All art majors must complete the studio and art history core requirements. Often, these courses are prerequisites for higher level courses.

2. Candidates for the BFA degree are required to participate in a senior exhibition. BA and BS candidates may participate in a senior exhibition if there is time and space available. A written request must be submitted to the department chair for approval before midterm of the semester prior to the one in which the exhibition is to be held. The request must include examples of the work to be exhibited. If the quality and appropriateness of the work is approved by the faculty, the request for exhibiting will be honored if scheduling permits. In no case should such permission be viewed as automatic or guaranteed even if the work is of high quality. All students participating in senior thesis exhibitions must register for ART 420/421.

3. An overall gradepoint average of 2.5 must be maintained in the major.

4. The department reserves the right to retain some student work for the University permanent collection. Films produced by the department are retained by the University at the discretion of the instructor.


Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a Major in Studio Art (application procedure)
    
Studio CoreArt 101
Drawing I
3
 Art 102
Drawing II
3
 Art 105
Two-Dimensional Design
3
 Art 106
Three-Dimensional Design
3
 MM 113 Introduction to Multimedia
3
 Art 220/222Professional Lecture Series
1
 Art 230
Life Drawing
3
    
Art HistoryArt 141/142
Survey of Art History I & II
6
  Art History Electives
9
   
Area of Concentration
Six studio courses in one of the following areas of concentration: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography*, printmaking, sculpture (see below for further information on areas of concentration). 18
Required Studio Courses Five courses, one each from five areas other than the student's concentration area, including at least one from the 2-D areas and at least one from the 3-D areas. 15
Art Electives* Five Course from any studio area 15
SeminarArt 420/421BFA Seminar I and II 3
    

Total Art Credit Hours Required for Major85

* Students with a photography concentration are required to take ART 390 History of Photography in place of an art history elective. Because 24 hours of studio are required in the photography concentration (instead of 18), the number of free studio electives for the BFA is reduced by 6 hours.

 


Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Studio Art
    
Studio CoreArt 101
Drawing I
3
 Art 102
Drawing II
3
 Art 105
Two-Dimensional Design
3
 Art 106
Three-Dimensional Design
3
 MM 113 Introduction to Multimedia
3
 Art 220/222Professional Lecture Series
1
 Art 230
Life Drawing
3
    
Art HistoryArt 141/142
Survey of Art History I & II
6
  Art History Electives
6
   
Area of Concentration
Six studio courses in one of the following areas of concentration: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography*, printmaking, sculpture (see below for further information on areas of concentration). 18
Studio Electives* Courses from areas other than the student's concentration area, including at least one from the 2-D areas and at least one from the 3-D areas. 9
    
    

Total Art Credit Hours Required for Major58

Bachelor of Arts Degree or Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Studio Art

*Students with a photography concentration are required to take ART 390 History of Photography. Areas of Concentration - 15 hrs. (select courses in consultation with advisors)

Areas of Concentration:

Ceramics Concentration - 18 credit hours

ART 201, 202 Ceramics Studio 6 hrs
ART 301, 302 Ceramics Studio 6 hrs
ART 401, 402 Ceramics Studio 6 hrs

Drawing Concentration – 18 credit hours

ART 203, 204 Drawing Studio 6 hrs
ART 303, 304 Drawing Studio 6 hrs
ART 403, 404 Drawing Studio 6 hrs

Graphic Design Concentration

ART 205 Typographic Design 3 hrs
ART 206 Graphic Design Methods and Processes 3 hrs
ART 305 Editorial Design 3 hrs
ART 306 Corporate Standards and Information Systems 3 hrs
ART 405 Information Design 3 hrs
ART 406 Graphic Design Portfolio 3 hrs

Painting Concentration

ART 209, 210 Painting Studio 6 hrs
ART 309, 310 Painting Studio 6 hrs
ART 409, 410 Painting Studio 6 hrs

 

Photography Concentration

ART 207 Experimental Filmmaking Studio 3 hrs
ART 225 Photography I 3 hrs
ART 226 Photography II 3 hrs
ART 325 Intermediate Photography I .3 hrs
ART 326 Intermediate Photography II 3 hrs
ART 327 Studio Lighting and Illustration Photo 3 hrs
ART 425 Non-Silver Photo Processes 3 hrs
ART 426 Photographic Portfolio 3 hrs

 

Printmaking Concentration

ART 211, 212 Printmaking Studio 6 hrs
ART 311, 312 Printmaking Studio 6 hrs
ART 411, 412 Printmaking Studio 6 hrs

 

Sculpture Concentration

ART 213, 214 Sculpture Studio 6 hrs
ART 313, 314 Sculpture Studio 6 hrs
ART 413, 414 Sculpture Studio 6 hrs

 

Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Art History

The art history major is intended to provide a thorough and broad background as a basis for concentrated study and research. Although one foreign language is required to meet the University requirements for the B.A. degree, those intending to go on to graduate art history study are advised to become proficient in a second foreign language.

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History
Studio CoreArt 101Drawing I 3
 Art 102Drawing II3
 Art 105Two-Dimensional Design3
 Art 106Three-Dimensional Design3
    
Art HistoryArt 141/142Survey of Art History I & II6
 ART 243Survey of Non-Western Art History3
 Art 245American Art History3
  Art History Electives18
 chosen from the following: ART 240, 250, 260, 270, 350, 360, 380, 390, 316, 416, 470. 
    

Total Art Credit Hours Required for Major42

Art Education Major Teacher Certification
K-12 or secondary certification Teaching in the public schools requires a certificate issued by the State of Illinois. Art education majors desiring to teach art at the elementary or secondary level must complete the same requirements as those for a BA or BS degree with a major in studio art, as well as professional education requirements. (Consult the Teacher Education section of this catalog.) The State of Illinois requires content area competency tests for certification. Students will be assigned advisors in art and in the Department of Teacher Education. Regular consultation with both advisors is extremely important.

NOTE: This degree requires 139-146 hours to complete. It is also possible to earn a BFA degree with teacher certification. However, both options will require more than four years of study.