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 Professor: Brian Alves, Rebecca Plummer Rohloff

Assistant Professors: Gretchen Sinnett

Faculty Emeriti

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

Associate Professor: Elissa Ananian

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Arts – Art

Concentrations

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

Combined Bachelor of Arts Art/Master of Education

Minors

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

Bachelor of Arts – Art

The undergraduate Art major programs are a based on a Liberal Arts curriculum structured to provide an environment for an in-depth experience in areas including fine arts, design, education, and art history with an emphasis on studio production. Students develop their creativity through discovery, observation, and analysis. The Art + Design department courses encourage an appreciation for the social, cultural, ethnic, and environmental complexities of our community and the world. Emphasis is placed on the plurality within and among cultures, and the richness in diversity of individuals and groups.

Courses in art and design guide students to develop their abilities to express ideas, messages, and concepts through visual and verbal means. Factors that play a role in visual expression and problem solving include individual experiences, critiques of society, and balancing the use of traditional artists’ tools with today’s technology. The foundation courses serve as the basis for strengthening critique skills and methods of learning in a studio classroom environment. The concentration-specific courses allow students to focus intensely on one of eight disciplines. In the capstone courses, students build their portfolios and develop supporting documents such as resumes, artist statements, and cover letters in preparation for applying for graduate school or to work in a creative field at places such as museums, design firms, galleries, advertising agencies, photography studios, printing shops, and schools.

Salem State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Admission to Art + Design

Students who wish to be admitted directly into the Art major when applying to Salem State must submit a portfolio to www.slideroom.com as part of the admissions process. Portfolios should consist of 10-15 pieces of original art and design work that are made with a variety of media and demonstrate a range of skills. Written descriptions for each portfolio piece should include the title, date, medium, dimensions, and short explanation of the purpose of the project. Applications will not be considered complete until all required credentials are submitted.

There are two methods that students already at Salem State can use to declare or change to a major in Art. Current Salem State students can either submit a portfolio to www.slideroom.com or enroll in any Art + Design course and then get an instructor’s recommendation to join the major. It’s best to get an instructor’s referral near the end of the semester after a number of projects have been completed. The chairperson’s office has the forms used to enter the major. Whether a portfolio is submitted online or an instructor signs a referral form, students wishing to join the major need to notify the chairperson and get the final approval.

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.

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.

Honors In Art

Senior Art majors with a minimum average of 3.5 in the major may be invited by an Art + Design faculty member to submit a proposal to the department to pursue ART 600H Honors in Art. This course is an opportunity for qualified students to produce a research or studio project that exhibits substantial knowledge and creative achievement outside of the normal pattern of courses. Students must have the ability to work with a minimum of direction and supervision. A proposal must be approved by the chairperson