Art and Art History Overview
Art History
Studio Art
Courses of Instruction

Overview

Art Facilities. TCU maintains a number of facilities appropriate to the graduate art student. The Art and Art History Department is housed in one of the best-designed and fully equipped facilities in the Southwest-the J. M. Moudy Building for the Visual Arts and Communication, designed by Roche, Dinkeloo and Associates of Connecticut. The campus library houses a fine collection of art and art-related books, catalogues and journals. The Art Department slide library holds some 150,000 slides and its own collection of art books and periodicals. The University Art Gallery - TCU displays international, national and regional art. Fort Worth's galleries and three major museums-the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Amon Carter Museum and the Kimbell Art Museum-are conveniently located near the campus. Dallas, with its many galleries and excellent art museums, is 40 minutes away by car.

Art History

Available on the Master of Arts degree.

The Graduate Program in Art History
enables students to gain a deeper understanding of the history of art, its objects, and its methods. An integral component of this program, which sets it apart from many others, is "the museum experience": the opportunity to study in art museums and work with museum professionals. Centering on the art object, the program allows students to expand their knowledge of the historical, stylistic, and theoretical dimensions of the visual arts, while having the practical experience of working directly with art objects and in museums with professional staffs. Students participate in courses that utilize the resources of the Amon Carter Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Kimbell Art Museum, and serve internships in these and other art museums. Graduates will be prepared to engage in work at the Ph.D. level and pursue careers in the teaching and art museum professions.

Prerequisites:
In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for admission established by the University, applicants will normally have completed 18 semester hours (6 courses) in art history. The department will consider applications from qualified students in other fields. Applicants are expected to have studied one foreign language-French, German, Italian, Spanish, or one approved by the department-for two years or have reading proficiency. The TOEFL exam is required for foreign students and must be passed at the level set by the university. The application must include: a statement of no more than 250 words describing the applicant's academic and professional objectives; a writing sample (such as an undergraduate paper) of 1250 to 2500 words; three letters of recommendation; GRE General Test scores.

Degree Requirements


Course Requirements:
The program requires 30 hours of course work and 6 hours for the Thesis. Upon approval of the faculty, entering students may transfer up to 6 hours of graduate study in art history earned prior to admittance. Required courses are:
70003 Methods and Issues in Art History (3 hrs)
70013 The Art Museum (3 hrs)
70023 Studies in Connoisseurship (3 hrs)
70100 Museum Seminar (3 hrs)
70983 Internship (3 hrs)
70996 Thesis (6 hrs)

The remaining 15 hours are elective courses; students are strongly encouraged to enroll in courses that reflect chronological and geographical diversity. Generally, a student may not earn more than 3 hours of graduate credit in coursework taken outside of the art history program.

Thesis requirement:
The thesis is to be fulfilled by a paper, or its equivalent, that demonstrates advanced research skills. The thesis should be the result of independent study, the revision and improvement of a seminar paper, or writing generated by the student's museum internship. In all cases, the topic must receive approval of the student's advisor. The thesis will be overseen by department faculty members, in conjunction with a museum professional.

Language requirement:
Students are required to pass a reading proficiency examination in French, German, Italian, Spanish, or another language approved by the faculty upon entering the program. The language examination is administered at the beginning of the fall semester. Students not passing the examination have two options:

Option 1: Retake and pass the examination at the beginning of the following semester.
Option 2: Enroll in two semesters (or an approved intensive equivalent) of second year foreign language study and earn at least a "B" in both semesters (or their equivalent). This option must be completed by the beginning of the student's second year in the program.
Students who do not satisfy the language requirement by the beginning of their second year may be withdrawn from the program.

Oral Examination:
Candidates for the M.A. degree are required to perform satisfactorily in a final oral examination.

Courses of Instruction

60123 American Art 1914-Present
60173 Early Italian Renaissance Art
60183 High and Late Italian Renaissance Art
60193 Symbol and Reality: Renaissance Art in Northern Europe
60203 17th Century Italian and Spanish Art
60213 Drawing as Artistic Invention
60333 Modern Art I: Romantic Classicism to Impressionism
60343 Modern Art II: Post-Impressionism to Surrealism
60353 Picasso: Artist of the Century
60363 17th Century Flemish-Dutch Painting
60500 Special Topics in Art History
60603 Art since 1945
60613 Modern Architecture
60623 History of the Print
60823 History of Photography

70003 Art History Methods, Theories, and Issues. A seminar focusing on the historiography of art history and current methodologies employed by the discipline. Topics include the origins of art history, research techniques employed to study the production and reception of the art object, the premises and results of contemporary modes of interpreting the art object, as well as current issues in the field.

70013 The Art Museum.
A seminar which assesses a broad range of historical and contemporary issues, practices, and concerns of art museums, and which examines more specifically the collections and philosophies of the Amon Carter Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The class includes numerous museum-site sessions.

70023 Approaches to the Art Object.
A seminar on the physical characteristics of art works, focusing on the science/art of authenticating and identifying art works in terms of authorship and date. Information also on artistic techniques, condition, and conservation. The chronological emphasis of the course may vary, depending on the particular interests of the instructor.

70100 Museum Seminar.
This seminar offers students the opportunity to study an historical topic in depth, within an art museum environment. The course's specific topic varies, but the course always centers on actual works of art. Therefore, the seminar will meet the majority of the time in an art museum and include the participation of museum professionals. (3-9 sem. hrs.)

70300 Special Topics Seminar.
A seminar that offers the opportunity to study various significant topics in depth. (3-12 sem. hrs.)

70983 Internship.
Prerequisite: Completion of the first year of the graduate program in art history. Students must apply and interview for an internship. A semester-long internship in an art museum.

70996 Thesis.
Prerequisite: Completion of 27 semester hours of the graduate program in art history.

Studio Art

Master of Fine Arts degree available in painting, printmaking or sculpture.

TCU offers a two-year (60-semester-hour) program in art leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. Areas of specialization include painting, sculpture, and printmaking. The faculty welcomes applicants whose work displays high quality, originality and sustained visual ideas.

Prerequisites: B.F.A., or equivalent, including concentration in intended specialty as evidenced by appropriate credit, an acceptable portfolio of work, a statement of professional experience and goals, and letters of recommendation. Admission to the program is based on:

-Portfolio acceptable to faculty committee
-Strong G.P.A. in undergraduate art courses
-Statement of professional experience and goals
-Good overall academic G.P.A.
-Three letters of recommendation
Degree Requirements: A total of at least four semesters of graduate work is required. At least 60 semester hours must be earned, including no less than 12 in one area of specialization, and one hour in Thesis Exhibition. Six hours of Graduate Seminar, 12 hours of Art 60120 and 6 hours of Art History are required. Three hours of Art History must be 60603 Art Since 1945 or another contemporary art history course. The other 3 hours in art history may be chosen in consultation with the student's advisory committee. The remaining hours may be selected with the approval of the student's thesis committee, but with no more than 6 hours taken outside the department.

Suggested Credit-Hour Distribution:

First Year:


1st semester
9 studio hours
3 grad. critique hrs.
3 seminar hours
15 total hours

2nd semester
9 studio hours
3 grad. critique hrs.
3 art history hours
15 total hours


Second Year:

1st semester
9 studio hours
3 grad. critique hrs.
3 seminar hours
15 total hours

2nd semester
8 studio hours
3 grad. critique hrs.
1 thesis exhibition hr.
3 art history hours
15 total hours

Sequential Summary: First semester-request appointment of thesis committee; complete sequence of courses as approved by committee; complete any conditions contained in the admission letter from the Graduate Office. Second semester-complete sequence of courses as approved by committee; seek candidacy approval of committee. Third semester-request committee approval for preparation of Thesis Exhibition; complete sequence of courses approved by committee. Fourth semester-enroll for Art 70991 Thesis Exhibition with major adviser as chair of committee; complete approved sequence of courses; give careful attention to the special deadlines for graduating students as they are outlined in the Bulletin or "Information and Deadlines for Graduation" available from the Graduate Office. Students are advised to work at least two weeks ahead of deadlines to avoid disappointments caused by unexpected delays and schedule conflicts.

Thesis Committees:
Students admitted to the program will be assigned a temporary adviser in their major or specialty area until an ultimate area of specialization is determined. In the first six weeks of study the student must request, in writing, that the department chair appoint a faculty member as a permanent major adviser. The student must confer with the proposed major adviser, and ensure that the faculty member is prepared to accept the student before requesting the chair to appoint the major adviser. The student may also suggest the names of two other faculty members to serve on the thesis committee. The thesis committee is formally appointed by the Graduate Office on the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

While every effort will be made to compose a committee of the student's first choices, it may be necessary to make changes in light of the student's field of concentration, and the load or commitments of the faculty members.

A student may request, in writing, to the chair of the department, that a change be made of the major adviser, or committee members, if the field of specialization changes, or if other justifiable reasons arise that would make the continuation of the existing committee contrary to the best interests of the student or the program.

The major adviser will be responsible for committee activities, for aiding the student in matters of the program and for informing the chair of the department, in writing, of the progress of the student.

Colloquia:
Colloquia are offered by the faculty of the department. These are intended to serve the specific purpose of establishing a personal and informal means of communication between students and faculty. The colloquia will feature presentations and discussions by on and off-campus speakers, faculty and members of the Department of Art and Art History.

Candidacy:
Admission to candidacy requires the approval of the thesis committee of each student. Admission to candidacy is expected no later than the end of the first academic year of graduate study. Those who have not been admitted to candidacy by the beginning of the second academic year may not earn additional credits. Those who wish additional elective credits may continue for a probationary period of not more than 12 semester hours as a 'non-degree' student. Further enrollment will be permitted only if a student is re-admitted to the degree program.

Exhibition:
Thesis exhibition enrollment requires admission to candidacy as a prerequisite. Actual installation of the thesis exhibition requires approval of the thesis committee. The written portion of the thesis exhibition also requires committee approval. This written portion, and the format of the permanent record of the thesis exhibition, will be determined by the committee. The written portion of the MFA requirement is to be called 'Thesis Exhibition Statement' and will contain the following: 1) Title page; 2) Approval (signatures) page; 3) Index to the written portion; 4) Curriculum Vitae of the student; 5) List of illustrations (with title, media, dimensions); 6) Narration; 7) Illustrations in the form of photographs.

The narration (6 above) will take one of the following formats: a) program notes of an explanatory nature from the student's work in the exhibition, b) student's personal evaluation of the art forms contained in the exhibit or c) contemporary or historical perspectives supporting the student's exhibit.

Three bound copies of the Thesis Exhibition Statement are required. Two of these are retained by the Library and one by the Department of Art and Art History. Each copy will contain photographs mounted on separate sheets, with details of title, media and dimensions. The departmental copy is to be accompanied, separately, by 35mm color slides.

Graduate Assistantships:
Graduate assistantships are offered each year to qualified candidates. Graduate assistants have an obligation of eight hours a week in service to the Department. They are given a full tuition waiver. Departmental assistants are given a full tuition waiver plus a stipend. Graduate and departmental assistants are assigned a private studio space.

Studio Art

60100 LIFE STUDIES (1-21 hours)
60120 GRADUATE CRITIQUE (3-12 hours)
60140 PAINTING (1-21 hours)
60160 PRINTMAKING (INTAGLIO) (1-15 hours)
60170 PRINTMAKING (LITHOGRAPHY) (1-15 hours)
60180 PRINTMAKING (SCREENPRINTING) (1-15 hours)
60420 SCULPTURE (1-21 hours)
60903 SEMINAR IN ART CRITICISM
60913 SEMINAR IN ART PROFESSIONS
60970 SPECIAL PROBLEMS (1-21 hours)
70991 THESIS EXHIBITION Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy.

Courses of Instruction

ART 60100 Life Studies. Life Studies (may be taken for 1-21 hours.)

ART 60120 Graduate Critique. Graduate Critique. 3-12 hours.

ART 60123 American Art 1914 to the Present. American Art from 1914 to the present.

ART 60140 Painting. Painting. 1-21 hours.

ART 60160 Printmaking (Intaglio). Printmaking (Intaglio) 1-15 hours.

ART 60170 Printmaking (Lithography). Printmaking (Lithography) 1-15 hours.

ART 60173 Early Italian Renaissance Art. Early Italian Renaissance Art

ART 60180 Printmaking (Screenprinting). Printmaking (Screenprinting) 1-15 hours.

ART 60183 High and Late Italian Renaissance Art. High and Late Italian Renaissance Art

ART 60193 Northern Renaissance Painting: Van Eyck - Bruegel. Symbol and Reality: Renaissance art in northern Europe.

ART 60203 17th Century Italian and Spanish Art. 17th century Italian and Spanish art.

ART 60213 Drawing as Artistic Invention. The history and technique of drawings from the 15th through 18th centuries. Emphasis on Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Elisabetta Sirani, Rubens, and Rembrandt.

ART 60333 Modern Art I: Romantic classicism to Impressionism. Modern Art I: Romantic Classicism to Impressionism.

ART 60343 Modern Art II: Post-Impressionism to Surrealism. Modern Art II: Post-Impressionism to Surrealism

ART 60353 Picasso: Artist of the Century. Picasso: Artist of the Century

ART 60363 17th Century Flemish-Dutch Painting. 17th Century Flemish-Dutch Painting

ART 60420 Sculpture. Sculpture

ART 60500 Special Topics in Art History. Special Topics in Art History

ART 60603 Art Since 1945. Art since 1945.

ART 60613 Modern Architecture. Modern Architecture: 1750 to the present.

ART 60623 History of the Print. History of the Print

ART 60823 History of Photography. History of Photography

ART 60903 Seminar in Art Criticism. Seminar in Art Criticism

ART 60913 Seminar in Art Professions. Seminar in Art professions.

ART 60970 Special Problems. Special Problems (1-21 hours.)

ART 70003 Art Historical Methods, Theories and Issues. A seminar focusing on the historiography of art history and current methodologies and theories employed by the discipline. Topics include the origins of art history; research techniques employed to study the production and reception of the art object; the premises and results of contemporary modes of interpreting the art object, as well as current issues in the field.

ART 70013 The Art Museum. A seminar which assess a broad range of historical and contemporary issues, practices, and concerns of art museums, and which examines more specifically the collections and philosophies of the Amon Carter Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The class includes numerous museum-site sessions.

ART 70023 Appproaches to the Art Object. A seminar on the physical characteristics of art works, focusing on the science/art of authenticating and identifying art works in terms of authorship and date. Information also on artistic techniques, condition, and conservation. The chronological emphasis of the course may vary, depending on the particular interests of the instructor.

ART 70100 Museum Seminar. This seminar offers students the opportunity to study an historical topic in depth, within an art museum environment. The course's specific topic varies, but the course always centers on actual works of art. Therefore, the seminar will meet the majority of the time in an art museum and include the participation of museum professionals. (3-9 semester hours)

ART 70300 Special Topics Seminar. A seminar that offers the opportunity to study various significant topics in depth. (3-12 semester hours)

ART 70983 Internship. Prerequisite: completion of the first year of the graduate program in art history. Students must apply and interview for an internship. A semester-long internship in an art museum.

ART 70991 Thesis Exhibition. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy.

ART 70996 Thesis. Prerequisite: Completion of 27 semester hours of the graduate program in art history.

Texas Christian University