Art Department

Artists help maintain and develop the cultural life of a society by means of their unique expression of the basic truths of existence. The experience and practice of visual art creates an awareness of these basic truths, and especially of the imaginal and creative aspects of life, which is vital in the formation of the complete human being. The art program therefore seeks to develop the critical aesthetic faculties within the student and to nurture that knowing and judging capacity of the human spirit. Students from other academic disciplines gain breadth and insight from courses in studio art and art history, which share common ground with the other humanistic disciplines and creative arts, and which complement the sciences.

Undergraduate BA Programs in Art

The department views the experience and practice of the visual arts, particularly at the undergraduate level, as an interdisciplinary pursuit. Within the art major, the five areas offered are art history, ceramics, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. The art student is involved in the artistic and scholarly environment of the Haggerty Art Village, with stimulation provided by independent study offerings, the presence of graduate students, and on-campus and Dallas/Fort Worth area exhibitions and collections, as well as visiting artists and lecturers. All of these construct the real environment needed for growth in the arts.

Graduate Programs in Art

The University of Dallas's graduate art curriculum pairs the study of visual art from historical, theoretical and critical perspectives with disciplined studio practice in an effort to define a clear understanding of the work and its evolution.  Students work with the entire graduate art faculty through independent studies, one-on-one critique sessions and group evaluations to diverse perspectives on his/her work. A strong commitment and dedication to the process of creating art and sound critical thinking are characteristic of our students.