In accord with the mission of Longwood University, the Visual and Performing Arts, Art Program is dedicated to the development of the next generation of confident and innovative artists, designers, and scholars who are citizen leaders in their community.
Our exceptional studio facilities, coupled with our dedicated, supportive, professionally-active faculty establishes Longwood as the premier central Virginia university studio art program in the Commonwealth.
Longwood students graduate with a comprehensive understanding of artistic traditions, a high level of technical proficiency, a keen visual literacy, and a strong knowledge of their place within contemporary art. Graduates not only develop the relevant artistic knowledge and skills but also the confidence and tenacity to forge their own career path in the arts. Our graduates have successful careers in a variety of fields including art education, art galleries and museums, professional art studios, art conservation, arts administration, freelance designers, and creative marketing.
The Studio Arts area offers courses leading to two degrees: The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual and Performing Arts, where students may select Art Education or Art Studio concentration that can focus on Artists’ Books and Printmaking, Design in Craft, Photography, Drawing or Painting; and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual and Performing Arts, with an Art concentration in general art studies. Students in either path will share a basic art core outlined in the specific degree plans that follow.
Student Assessments
As a graduation requirement, all students must participate in, and pass each of the five levels of the Art program’s portfolio assessments. At each of the five assessment levels, students must present work that is predetermined by the faculty. The assessment evaluations are scored as either pass, no-pass, or conditional no-pass.
Zero-credit Portfolio Assessment Class Schedule
ART 183 - First-Year Assessment Zero-Credit Course - The BA student exhibits work from ART 120 or 223, and ART 130 or ART 131. The BFA student exhibits work from ART 120, 130, 223 and 131.
ART 283 - Second-Year Assessment Zero-Credit Course - choose the section specific to the student’s area of study.
ART 383 - Third-Year Student Assessment Zero Credit Course - choose the section specific to the student’s area of study.
(Participation in the Junior Art Show is mandatory to pass third-year Assessment.)
ART 423 - Senior Project Mid-Assessment Zero Credit Course - choose the section specific to the student’s area of study.
ART 483 - Senior Project Final Assessment Zero Credit Course - choose the section specific to the student’s area of study.
(Participation in the Senior Art Show is mandatory to pass Senior Assessment.)
Transfer students must contact the Theatre, Art and Graphic and Animation Design Department Chair, who will route them to the appropriate faculty, who will determine what assessments the students must complete for graduation.
Core Competencies for Art Program
- Communication Skills: Develop and employ the ability to write and speak about art, design and art history with clarity and logic, and be able to form and support critical judgments about art, design and art history.
- Formal and Technical Skill: Acquire and demonstrate technical mastery of the relevant materials and tools, and the terminology, theories, and practices relevant to the student’s field of study.
- Conceptual Skills: Develop and demonstrate the ability to generate, support, and utilize individual thoughts and ideas.
- Critical Thinking and Research Skills: Develop and demonstrate the ability to do research in art design and art history, and the competence and knowledge to analyze and think critically.
- Historical and Contemporary Relevance: Acquire and utilize an expanding knowledge of historical achievements and contemporary thinking, trends, processes, and issues in art and design.
- Thematic Body of Work: conceive, design, and create a coherent, high-quality body of work in the major area of study.
- Professional Skills: develop competencies in professional practice in the student’s field of study.
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