Undergraduate Catalog

2008-09 Academic Year

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Department of Design

Main Office
Art Building, Room 237
Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-3621
Fax: 940-565-4717
E-mail: design@unt.edu

Web site: www.art.unt.edu

Cynthia Mohr, Chair

Faculty

Professors Sprague, Walker. Associate Professors Blow, Gibson, Ligon, Mohr, Nacke, O’Rourke-Kaplan, Stidham. Assistant Professors Chang, Owens, Park, Reed, Stark, Wong Kung Fong.

Introduction

The Department of Design offers the BFA degree with majors in communication design, fashion design and interior design. The MFA degree with a major in design is offered with concentrations in communication design, fashion design and interior design. Students interested in these degrees may contact the department chair.

Mission/Vision Statement

The three professional programs in the Department of Design share a common mission that prepares students not only to meet, but also to define and re-invent solutions for the fundamental challenges that impact their respective professions in an increasingly changing world. The curricula in each of these programs have been designed and are being taught to help future designers develop the conceptual, aesthetic, analytical and technical skills necessary to achieve these objectives.

Communication Design

The BFA degree program with a major in communication design is structured to help students who complete the program become effective conceptual thinkers and, most importantly, effective problem solvers who learn how to design (among other things) books, web sites, advertising campaigns, corporate identity systems, posters, electronic motion graphics, interactive information delivery systems and retail packaging. Students emerge from this program with the ability to generate original, creative messages and ideas, and the skills necessary to visually communicate them to specific audiences. They learn to do this by thoughtfully manipulating typography and imagery within carefully constructed systems and structures to direct, inform, educate, clarify, evoke, expose and beautify in both print and electronic media.

Fashion Design

The fashion design program prepares its students for successful careers in the fashion industry. In this pursuit, they develop a thorough understanding of the fashion design industry, historically and present day, and the technical skills necessary to design, develop, and merchandise womenswear or menswear lines for the ready-to-wear market. They are also trained in the technological proficiencies necessary to function in the current-day apparel design and manufacturing business. The students acquire the ability to design and create, applying conceptual design practices through a rigorous series of courses.

Interior Design

The interior design program is structured to provide students with a complete exposure to residential and commercial interior design practice. Our curriculum prepares students for analyzing interior design problems, assessing existing conditions, researching and synthesizing solutions, visually and verbally presenting solutions, and reviewing the process for insights on future improvements, all with the goal of creating interior design solutions that are beautiful, conceptually relevant and safe.

Entering Students

Entering students interested in majoring in the College of Visual Arts and Design will initially be advised by the office of Student Services. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the major. It is strongly recommended that students not attempt advanced art program courses before being admitted to the major. For full details see an academic advisor in the Art building, Room 111.Portfolio Reviews

Each major has a review system. Some majors require an entry-level portfolio review and a mid-point portfolio review, which the student must pass to continue in the major. All majors require that seniors pass an exit review and/or a capstone course prior to graduation. It is the students’ responsibility to familiarize themselves with all requirements for their major. Further information regarding the review system for each major is available from the Department of Design Office, Art Building, Room 237. Students who do not pass one or another of the successive required reviews should consult with their faculty advisor and/or the department chair regarding further options.

Students are responsible for notifying faculty that they need to participate in the exit review. A faculty advisor in the student’s major should be contacted at the beginning of the student’s last fall or spring term/semester prior to graduation. Exit reviews are conducted only in fall and spring terms/semesters. Students who anticipate summer graduation must have their work reviewed during the previous spring term.

Note: Students should contact a faculty advisor in their major for specific expectations and procedures for all portfolio reviews.

Programs of Study

The department offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:

Bachelor of Fine Arts with majors in communication design, fashion design and interior design.

The department also offers an MFA degree:

Master of Fine Arts with a major in design.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

General Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will meet the following requirements.

1. Hours Required and General/College Requirements: A minimum of 120 to 123 total semester hours (depending on the design major) of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as specified in the “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Visual Arts and Design requirements.

2. Major Requirements: Completion of at least 66 hours of art to include 18 hours of art core (required for all studio majors): ART 1200, 1440, 1500, 1510, 2350, and 2360; plus the following courses, according to major:

Major in Communication Design

Completion of at least 57 hours of art to include: ASTU 2200; ASTU 3200 or 3215; 3 hours of printmaking, painting, watercolor, ceramics, jewelry and metalsmithing, fibers, photography, or sculpture; AEAH 4842; 6 hours of advanced art history; and ADES 1500, 1510, 2500, 2510, 2520, 2530, 3500, 3510, 3520, 3530, 4520 or 4530, 4522 or 4532, and 4525 or 4535.

Other required course work: 3 hours from ART 4450, MKTG 3650, ANTH 3100, ANTH 3350, BEHV 3150, ENGL 3100, JOUR 4050 or JOUR 4052.

Electives: 9 hours (6 hours advanced).

Major in Fashion Design

Completion of at least 54 hours of art to include: ART 1450; ADES 1550, 1560, 2550, 2555, 2560, 2570, 3550, 3555, 3570, 3575, 3580, 3585, 4550, 4555 and 4580; ASTU 2120 or 2130 or 3120; SMHM 2650 and 3650. Must also take one of the following: ART 4120, 4450; ADES 3565 or 4590.

Major in Interior Design

Completion of at least 54 hours of art to include: ART 1450 and 4450; ADES 1625, 2630, 2640, 3610, 3620, 3630, 3635, 3640, 3645, 4615 (6 hours), 4625, 4630 and 4640; AEAH 4815 and 4841.

Students are also required to take the following professional support courses: SMHM 2655; MGMT 3820; MKTG 3650.

3. Minor Requirements: No minor is required.

4. Electives: Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum Requirements. Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement (42) and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information see an academic advisor in the College of Visual Arts and Design Student Services Office, Art Building, Room 111.

5. Other Requirements:

24 advanced hours must be completed at UNT.
36 hours of art (including at least 12 advanced hours) must be completed at UNT.
Transfer course work substituted for required UNT art courses must be approved by a student’s faculty advisor during the degree audit process.
A 2.5 grade point average must be maintained in all art courses; only a grade of C (2.0) or better in art courses will count toward degree requirements.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Fine Arts program in interior design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (146 Monroe Center NW, Suite 1318, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2822; 616-458-0400), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

Graduate Degrees

The department offers a degree program leading to the Master of Fine Arts with a major in design. For complete information, consult the Graduate Catalog.

Courses of Instruction

All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.

Course and Subject Guide

The “Course and Subject Guide,” found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.

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