MISSION: The mission of the art department is based on the recognition of the universal human need for visual expression, the necessity of the visual arts and visual communication in contemporary society, and the importance of cultural diversity provided for by exposure to the arts.

Central to the mission is a commitment to high quality undergraduate and graduate education in the visual arts. Quality teaching is enhanced by the creative research endeavors of the faculty who work closely with students to stimulate aesthetic and intellectual inquiry in both theory and application. Art and visual communication students are prepared to become practicing artists who are visually literate, culturally aware, skilled in creative problem solving and aesthetically sensitive. The curriculum provides a balance of art and visual communication history (including art and visual communication theory and craft), studio experiences, and preparation for future study or entry into a career.

The mission of the Art Department includes professional and public service contributions. The expertise unique to the professional artist/designer and teacher serves varied clientele, agencies, and associations in the community, state of Kansas, and the national and international community.

The Art Department at Kansas State University is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences. The mission of the College is fourfold: to take the lead in providing a high quality liberal arts foundation for all Kansas State University students; to promote graduate education and scholarly/research activities; to promote high quality undergraduate programs for its own majors; and to provide service to the disciplines, state and nation. The Department mission follows these College mission objectives very closely.


FACULTY: Twenty-one artist/faculty and two art historians are committed to education in the visual arts. A full-time art advisor also serves the approximately 450 undergraduates and 20 graduate students. These student numbers make us one of the largest departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and one of the most popular in the University. The Department of Art is currently housed in three buildings - Willard Hall, West Stadium and Bluemont Hall. Each of these locations helps us to meet the varying studio needs of the Department. Renovations and a move to consolidate all the art and design classes together in Willard Hall are in the planning stages.

The faculty is committed to teaching and equally devoted to their scholarly work in creative production. The artist faculty exhibits widely throughout the United States and abroad, as the art historians publish original research in highly respected international journals in their fields. Their work exemplifies the diversity of approach to art and design in a global world. See their work at www.ksu.edu/art/faculty.


VISUAL ARTS DEGREES: K-State offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Art, and Master of Fine Arts degrees. The K-State foundations program is one of the most comprehensive in the United States, offering a two-year program of intensive drawing and design fundamentals. Student portfolios are reviewed in their fourth semester for admission into the B.F.A. concentration of their choosing. The B.F.A. and B.A. concentrations include drawing, graphic design, photography, digital imaging, printmaking, painting, metals and jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, and art education. Graduate study leading to the M.F.A. degree represents the terminal graduate degree in visual art. Ceramics, drawing, graphic design, metal and jewelry, printmaking, painting, sculpture are degree concentration options. Most K-State graduate students receive aid in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantships, with a strong teaching mentor program by senior faculty an integral part of the program.

CAREERS: With careful advising and course selection, an art degree can be combined with another academic discipline. Journalism, biology, marketing and management, psychology, education, and history are some unique degree combinations compatible with an art degree. Some career opportunities include graphic design and illustration, museum and gallery work, arts administration, art education, scientific and medical illustration, art therapy, mental health and community service work. Our graphic design and art education students have a 100% job placement record while many studio art majors become self-supporting gallery artists or work in galleries and museums. Our students leave the KSU Art Department with a strong foundation for their future as artists and designers.