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Art in Context: Composition, Content, Culture
The Art, B.A. combines theoretical and practical approaches to studying the arts through diverse global and historical perspectives, interpretation, critical thinking, and creative expression. Students select a concentration in one of the following areas:
With a BA in Art, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the practical and theoretical principles, challenges, and problem-solving strategies of artistic practice and/or fashion design.
- Identify features in works of art and/or fashion that reflect the cultural beliefs, values, identities, and stylistic trends of their time and place.
- Describe processes of making for expressive communication, functional need, or any other roles in which works of art and fashion have and continue to prove vital to the human experience.
Curriculum and Courses
In each concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in Art, students consider works of art and fashion from the perspective of their formal and material compositions, their content, and their context of use–all crucial for navigating today’s complex and dynamic visual culture. Required courses in writing, artistic and design practice, historical investigation, and business and entrepreneurship, as well as opportunities for both reflective and collaborative learning, allow students to achieve marketable competencies for a range of career paths
Students are encouraged to combine the BA in Art with other majors, co-majors, or minors. No more than nine (9) credits can count simultaneously with another program of study.
Concentrations
Click below to view more information about each concentration.
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Study the Arts, Understand the World
Art history is the study of human civilization across time and culture through the physical objects that we make–paintings, sculptures, architecture, graphic and decorative arts, film, performance, and others. As a discipline, art history considers how these works of art signify ideas, beliefs, practices, and social identities of the groups and individuals that made, viewed, or used them. Students of art history learn how to understand these works of art through research and analysis of aesthetic issues, cultural contexts, and artistic practices. They ultimately acquire specialized expertise in the important roles played by visual media in our own society and that of cultures from around the globe.
Art History Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the defining characteristics of major styles, historical periods, and artists in the history of art.
- Analyze basic methodologies of art historical investigation and apply them to their own original research.
- Communicate their own art historical arguments to a specialized audience in a way that demonstrates their own understanding of the history of art and their own creative thinking about that material.
- Collaborate with peers to present art historical arguments to a public audience.
Skills
The B.A. in Art with a concentration in Art History prepares students for a wider range of career options than what many might realize. The content of the history of art will be essential knowledge for anyone looking to work in museums, galleries, or cultural institutions; attend graduate school in art history or related fields; and teach art history at the high school and college level. However, the skills acquired through the study of art history are highly desired by a much broader range of employers, whether related to the arts and humanities or not. Consider the following skills and how they are honed through the study of art history:
Visual Analysis
Developing tools to assess the function of images in an increasingly visual world.
Comparatively analyzing works of art to understand their styles, functions, and artistic value.
Recognizing why works of art look the way that they do and how they communicate information.
Human Relations
Understanding the functions of created objects from various times and across cultures.
Identifying a culture’s values and beliefs by studying the objects created in that culture.
Explaining our own contemporary culture by exploring those of others.
Research
Gathering, examining, and analyzing evidence in images and primary sources.
Assessing information and judging its relevance and importance.
Expanding the horizons of knowledge through novel interdisciplinary investigations.
Communication
Writing and speaking critically about topics related to created objects.
Interpreting and organizing complex and often ambiguous information.
Developing sound arguments supported by logically ordered evidence.
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Fashion Design: A Journey Through Creativity, Craft, and Context
Fashion emphasizes creativity and experimentation and offers students the opportunity to develop basic skills in product-making, historical contexts, materials, design foundations, and the opportunity to build skill depth in fashion design.
Fashion Design Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate how fashion products are made using appropriate processes and materials.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively as a fashion professional.
- Students will analyze with a global perspective how fashion cycles influence and are influenced by factors
- Students will develop and execute one’s own personal creative vision while documenting the process.
Opportunities for Fashion Design Students
- Apply for Miami’s Study Abroad programs at locations such as Luxembourg and Florence.
- Apply to our NYC Fashion and Study Away trip
- Apply to the MUF & D Annual Fashion Show and design a collection for the show
- Gain experience in the industry by obtaining an Internship in Fashion
- Study fashion garments from our Fashion Costume Collection
Fashion Design Related Student Organizations
In addition, fashion students can join the Miami Fashion Community by joining a fashion-related student organization:
Miami University Fashion and Design (MUF&D)
MUF&D is the largest student organization on campus with 750+ members and numerous leadership opportunities, including the production of an annual student-led fashion show.
MUSE MGMT
MUSE MGMT provides access to personal brand consulting, portfolio building opportunities, and a vast access to industry professionals and established alumni in the spaces of modeling, makeup, hair, wardrobe, photography, and videography.
UP Magazine
UP Magazine provides opportunities relating to strategic communications, media and culture, publishing, and social media in preparation for fashion industry careers.
Futures in Retail
Futures in Retail (National Retail Federation (NRF) affiliated) develops awareness of data analytics, supply chain, finance, accounting, merchandising, marketing, management, and interactive media studies careers in the retail sector.
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Explore Your Creative Side
Studio Art prepares students to explore human and intellectual experience through visual expression, developing critical thinking, conceptual depth, and technical skill. Through foundational studio and Art History courses, students engage with areas such as ceramics, metals and jewelry design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture, creating a personalized, contemporary studio practice that integrates their artistic and liberal arts interests.
Studio Art Learning Outcomes:
- Students develop competency and experience in a broad range of studio art media.
- Upon graduation, students will have developed a visual sensitivity.
- Students develop the technical skills, perceptual capacity, and understanding of principles of visual organization sufficient to achieve basic visual communication and expression in one or more media.
- Students develop the ability to make workable connections between concept and media.
- Students will develop a general familiarity with the works and intentions of major artists/designers and movements of the past and the present, both in the Western and non-Western worlds.
- Students develop a basic understanding of the nature of contemporary thinking on art and design, and gain the ability to recognize quality in design projects and works of art.
Skills
Through foundational studio and Art History courses, students engage with areas such as ceramics, metals and jewelry design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture, creating a personalized, contemporary studio practice that integrates their artistic and liberal arts interests.
Ceramics
Our ceramics program moves from the foundation courses to an introduction of the various construction, decoration, and firing processes as part of the ceramic curriculum. Our curriculum provides you with a background in hand-building; wheel-thrown construction methods; low- and high-temperature firing processes; oxidation/reduction atmospheres and raku, soda, and wood firings; and ceramics materials and their contributions to clay bodies, slips, and glazes.
Metals and Jewelry Design
Our metals program offers introductory through advanced study in metalsmithing and jewelry design at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. You will develop a strong design and technical foundation in a broad range of metalworking processes and experimental applications, such as basic fabrication, casting, die-forming, enameling, and stone-setting to raising, lathe-spinning, anodizing, and plating.
Painting
Our painting program introduces you to the various materials and issues related to the process of painting. You will learn to engage the fundamental formal syntaxes of traditional painting through such resources as still life, landscape, and human figure.
You are presented with current ideas and images important for understanding form and content in the visual arts. Painting is understood as both a traditional context and an extension of procedures and practices to a wide variety of art structures.
Photography
Photographic study at Miami University emphasizes fine art practice, including craftsmanship and creativity. Technical proficiency with black and white and color processes is where we begin to understand the language of traditional and alternative photographic practice. The use of this complicated and powerful visual language is the primary focus of the program. There is also growing experimentation with digital imagery and all the technological advances surrounding that technology. We explore photographic history, theory, and criticism throughout the sequence of courses in the concentration.
Printmaking
Our printmaking program provides in-depth studio work in etching and lithography with an emphasis on the development of drawing and individual imagery. You may also work in related fields such as photo-etching and papermaking, leading to the development of a cohesive and mature body of work for a professional portfolio and exhibition. Such possibilities lead to careers as printmakers, as teachers, as well as to museum and gallery work. Many of our printmaking students have exhibited work at regional and national professional exhibitions.
Sculpture
Our sculpture program instills the confidence, direction, and technical skills necessary to sustain a productive and professional artistic career. Studio courses at all levels emphasize a process of making art with an awareness of contemporary sculpture, as well as the history of sculpture. As you develop techniques and skills relating to the discipline, you will work toward developing professional standards. Throughout the program, we encourage you to work toward a more significant personal expression while developing a portfolio.
The professors’ passion for art history created an inspiring environment that led me to pursue at career within the art industry. I was able to utilize my education to obtain a position with Artsy, a leading online fine art brokerage firm. I’ll be forever grateful for my education in art history provided by the Miami University professors.
Carmen Perez ’21
One of the reasons I like the fashion co-major is because it’s so broad. You take classes in making, drawing, textiles, business, history. Having exposure to everything makes me well-rounded.
Eva Savovich ’20
Additional Opportunities for Art Students
The Visual Arts Club
Visual Arts Club is a group of student artists committed to professional development and fostering a thriving, interdisciplinary arts community on campus. Our aim is to give art students continued opportunities to have experiences that will prepare them for a future career in creative arts.
Effusions
Effusions is the official student-run art journal of Miami’s Art Department. We promote and publish an annual art journal exemplary of all works, visual and written, from students attending Miami University. Our journal aims to highlight the importance of the visual arts/ study of art on the Miami University campus.
Follow us on Instagram:
@effusions_mu
Study Abroad
Students can participate in the Florence University of the Arts Study Abroad program at The American University of Florence.
Facts and Stats
Your college experience here will be one of the most exciting times of your life. To make sure of this, we’ll provide you with a powerful support system.
First-to-second year retention
Miami University Data
Among Public Universities in the United States for Four-Year Graduation Rate
OIRE
of 2021 CCA graduates employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation
Miami University Data
This is Where Your Journey to Miami University Begins
Explore what it means to be a college student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where students prepare to go anywhere and everywhere. We’ll be here to help every step of the way as you prepare for college admission, enrollment, and success.
Contact Us
Art History
Andrew R. Casper
Professor of Art History
Department of Art
Art Building 124
400 S. Patterson Ave.,
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2910
casperar@MiamiOH.edu
Fashion Design
Natalie Reed
Assistant Teaching Professor
Fashion Program Coordinator
Department of Art
Boyd Hall 222
551 Western College Dr.
Oxford, OH 45056
reednl@MiamiOH.edu
Studio Art
Rob Robbins
Professor of Studio Art
Department of Art
Art Building 124
400 S. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2900
robbinrv@MiamiOH.edu