Art + Design

View Programs and Courses

Faculty

Professor, Mary M. Melilli, Chairperson

Professors: Haig J. Demarjian,Benjamin H. Gross, Richard A. Lewis, Mark J. Malloy, Kenneth J. Reker, John J. Volpacchio

Associate Professors: Brian Alves

Assistant Professors: Rebecca Plummer Rohloff, Gretchen Sinnett

Faculty Emeriti

Professors: Thomas Leary, Francis C. Quimby, Margers Raudzens

Associate Professor: Elissa Ananian

Programs Offered

Combined Bachelor of Arts Art/Master of Education

Bachelor of Arts – Art

Concentrations

Art, Second Major Early & Elementary Education
Graphic Design
Painting
Printmaking
Art History
Interactive Multimedia
Photography
3-Dimensional Studio

Minors

2-Dimensional
3-Dimensional
Art History
Graphic Design
Interactive Multimedia
Photography

Bachelor of Arts – Art

The Art major program is a Liberal Arts curriculum structured to give the student an in-depth experience in the visual arts with an emphasis on studio production.

It encourages students to develop creativity through discovery along with the ability to observe and analyze. Throughout their curriculum students expand their ability to use verbal, written, and visual language effectively; to develop methodologies; to think logically and solve problems practically; to feel comfortable with new technologies and understand their impact on modern society. In addition, students learn to examine issues in an historical context and develop the ability to make ethical judgments. They develop an appreciation for the social, cultural, ethnic, and environmental complexity of the world. They also recognize the plurality within and among cultures, and appreciate the richness in diversity of individuals and groups.

Coursework within the Art major program reinforces these liberal arts goals and makes students aware of how the visual arts fit into, shape, and critique the larger society. Students develop the ability to express their creative ideas through visual means. Emphasis is on focusing the content of their art: expressions of their individual experiences, and critiques of their society as well as issues of importance around the globe. In addition students engage in studies that balance the use of traditional artists’ tools with today’s technology, incorporating high-end equipment and the latest, most sophisticated software. The Salem State University Art + Design Department provides a strong foundation in art, which can serve as the basis for graduate studies in art or for preparation in various creative or professional art fields.

The Art + Design major program is accredited by The National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Admission to Art + Design

Students who wish to declare a major in Art must submit to the chairperson of the Art + Design Department or the Admissions Office a portfolio of 10-15 pieces of their original work. Slides, CD’s of images (jpegs) and online portfolios (emails or websites) are also acceptable. A personal interview is not necessary. If a student does not have a portfolio to present, he/she should enroll in an Art + Design course(s). The student may then submit a portfolio based on the work completed in the course(s) or request a recommendation from the Art + Design faculty member(s) who taught the course(s).

Procedures for Submitting a Portfolio

A good art portfolio demonstrates a wide range of skills. Therefore, it is important to study art and to learn a variety of artistic techniques. Try to work in different mediums. If you include slides or photographs of 3-dimensional art (ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, etc.) please include at lest 2 views of each work. Presentation is important. All of the work should be in sharp focus, clear and bright.

CDROM or slide portfolios can be sent to:

Admissions Office
Salem State University
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970

Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for slide return.

If you do not have slides or a CD of your work, you may drop off and pick up your portfolio at the Art + Design department in Meier Hall 309.

Art History

The Art History concentration prepares the Art + Design major for graduate study in Art History, work in art-related fields, or for entry level work in museums and galleries. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

Graphic Design

The Graphic Design concentration prepares the Art + Design major for a career as a graphic designer in the commercial art and advertising fields. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

Interactive Multimedia

The Interactive multimedia concentration prepares the Art + Design major for a career in interactive multimedia design. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

Painting

The Painting concentration prepares the Art + Design major for a career as a painter or to continue study at the graduate level. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

Photography

The Photography concentration prepares the Art + Design major for a career as a photographer in the art and fine art fields. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

Printmaking

The Printmaking concentration prepares the Art + Design major for a career as a printmaker or to continue study at the graduate level. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

3-D Studio

The 3-D Studio concentration prepares the Art + Design major for a career in the 3-Dimensional studio arts or to continue study at the graduate level. Requirements of this program are included in the appropriate flow sheet.

Combined Bachelor of Arts Art/Master of Education

The Art+Design department also offers an integrated bachelor’s/master’s degree program in Art with an application process occurring in the second year. Students seeking initial licensure to teach in the public schools must apply to the combined program and complete an approved minor in Teacher Education. Students will apply to the licensure program in the spring of their second year and will begin the licensure program in their third year. Students who successfully complete the undergraduate portion will continue to a fifth year and will graduate with a Master of Education with eligibility for initial licensure at the conclusion of the fifth year of study, assuming all academic and licensure standards are met.

Admissions requirements to the licensure program include, but are not limited to:

A passing score on the Communication and Literacy portions of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL);
3.0 minimum GPA in prior college course work;
Demonstrated work with children;
Interview;
Recommendation form from EDC115 Exploring Education instructor (if class was taken at SSU);
In-person writing sample from a prompt.

Exceptions may be made to the above-referenced requirements at the discretion of the admissions committee. Retention in the program is based on satisfactory academic progress (maintenance of a 3.0 GPA) and the passing of specific MTEL tests required for licensure in the chosen field. Students who do not meet these retention guidelines must exit the program and complete a degree without licensure.

Areas of Minor Study for Art + Design Majors

Art + Design majors have an opportunity to pursue interests in other art fields through the selection of a minor area of study. Minor programs particularly applicable to the Art + Design major program include: Business; English with specialization in written communication; Theater Arts with specialization in costume, scene design or lighting; Geography with specialization in cartography, urban or environmental studies. History, literature, music, philosophy and psychology, to name a few, are other possible choices for minor study.

The Art + Design Department strongly recommends that students selecting the Graphic Design, Interactive Multimedia, or Photography minor choose either ART 100A Introduction to World Art , or ART 335 The History of Photography , or ART 338 History of Graphic Design (Not Offered Every Year) as a Distribution Elective.

Art + Design Minor

Non-Art major students wishing to minor in Art have the opportunity to select from six minor programs including 2-Dimensional, 3-Dimensional, Art History, Graphic Design, Interactive Multimedia Design, and Photography.

Internships

Many students in the Art + Design department choose to participate in an internship while at Salem State. Internships are a great opportunity to get professional experience while you are still earning your undergraduate degree. ART 501 Internship in Art is a three-credit course that requires 100-120 hours of working at an internship location. Some internships provide a stipend or salary and some do not. If you want to do an internship, you have to find a company or organization that is willing to sponsor an intern. You also need a Salem State instructor who will meet with you periodically throughout the semester to discuss how your internship is going and review the work you did at the internship. The career services webpage (salemstate.edu/careerservices) provides job postings from employers specifically looking for Salem State students as well as information on how to create your own internship, develop search strategies, and seek internships abroad. You can also contact organizations and companies that have hosted Salem State art + design student interns in the past to see if they have current internship opportunities. For further information about art + design internships, please contact the department to get a PDF or printed brochure.

Honors

Students who achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or above have the opportunity to explore in depth a topic of choice outside the normal pattern of courses.