Art & Design Learning Outcomes

Art & Design Program Learning Outcomes

The primary goals of the Art & Design program are to educate students in creative production skills, critical and historical knowledge, and professional practices vital to careers in art and design related fields.  

Learning Outcomes 

The Learning Outcomes for the Art & Design program are guided by the professional practices of artists in a multitude of creative fields. These standards are embedded in courses and assessments throughout each Art & Design major’s journey. 

Upon completion of the Art & Design major graduates will: 

  • Manage a complete creative project from conception, to proposal, to pitch, to production, through presentation and evaluation. 
  • Employ the concepts, principles, and techniques of art and design. 
  • Develop a self-directed creative practice. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze their work and the work of others. 
  • Articulate histories of art and design and how their work relates to them.  
  • Develop professional practices related to art and design, including public speaking skills.  
  • Create and assemble necessary materials to apply to a professional art and/or design opportunity, including a creative portfolio. 

Assessment 

Direct 

Through the course of the major, students are directly assessed in two ways: 

  1. an accumulative 2.0 GPA or higher in their A&D and Art History courses; 
  2. a C or higher in required courses for the A&D major; and  

Further assessment for studio courses and art history courses differ, while collectively building towards the learning objectives.  

Art & Design Studio  

Students are directly assessed in seven ways during the course of their practical, studio classes:  

  1. evaluation of creative works in progress;  
  2. evaluation of finalized creative works;  
  3. review of topic and reaction papers; 
  4. active participation in peer critique sessions; 
  5. presentation of research and/or creative works;  
  6. successfully exhibiting a body of creative work in a public setting; and 
  7. delivery of artist talk at the Academic Symposium 

In studio classes, assessment is continuous throughout the semester. Faculty conduct critique sessions every few weeks at a minimum. In these sessions they meet individually with students, in small groups, and/or as a whole class to evaluate, give feedback, and discuss their progress. 

Additionally, faculty use course and/or project specific grading rubrics to conduct individual evaluations of students’ creative work.  

Art History 

Students are directly assessed in five ways during the course of their art history classes: 

  1. review and evaluation of topic papers 
  2. short exams  
  3. final exams 
  4. review and evaluation of research papers and presentations 
  5. active participation in debates and discussions 

Indirect

The A&D program uses two main routes of indirect assessment: Course Evaluations once a semester; and Seniors submit a self assessment survey at the end of the program.  

Many courses use additional forms of assessment at mid-term and/or the end of semester, including surveys, portfolio presentations, and written self assessments.