Undergraduate Programs

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

BACHELOR of ARTS
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Arts Administration

The Arts Administration major is for the student who has a strong affinity for the visual arts and plans to work in arts management. The program combines a dual foundation in both art and business, and provides the student with historical, experiential, practical, critical, and aesthetic information. Courses in business and managerial science, art history and art foundation, and practical experience in museum, gallery, curatorial practices and studies, and historic preservation venues are required. A secondary concentration in Studio Arts, Art History, Corporate Communication, Theatre Arts, or Music rounds out the course of study.

The Maslow Collection (www.themaslowcollection.org)
The Arts Administration major can gain hands on experience in curatorial practices and exhibition studies in contemporary art working with The Maslow Collection, which is conveniently housed at Marywood University. The Maslow Collection focuses on contemporary art, primarily American, with an emphasis on major prints by the most recognized and important American artists of the 60s and 70s, as well as works by emerging painters and sculptors who were exhibiting in New York art galleries during the 80s and 90s. Working directly with the Collection’s curator, the major may have the opportunity to curate an exhibition in the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art. In addition, The Maslow Collection Library and Curatorial Research Library provide opportunities for majors to engage in extended research on the artists in The Maslow Collection as well as the significant areas of curatorial practice since the 1960s.

Three different internships are required of the Arts Administration major and tailored to the student’s interests and career focus. Each internship provides invaluable hands on experience and practice of a minimum of sixty hours. Local fieldwork sites have included the Everhart Museum, The Maslow Collection, Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton Cultural Center, and Wayne County Historical Society (Honesdale, PA); regional fieldwork sites have included Allentown Art Museum (Allentown, PA), Lycoming County Historical Society (Williamsport, PA), Mashantucket Pequot Research and Development Center (Mashantucket, CT), and Sotheby’s in New York. Internship credit has also been given to students who have completed coursework in art conservation at SACI (Studio Art Centers International) in Florence, Italy.

The major in Arts Administration requires 24 credits in the Primary Concentration (art history, art foundation, and fieldwork); 24 credits in Business; and 15 credits in a Secondary Concentration. A total of 63 credits are required for the B.A. in Arts Administration.

For more information on the Arts Adminstration program please contact
Sandy Povse at: povses@marywood.edu

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Art Education
Marywood offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Art Education. The undergraduate program in Art Education leads to a Bachelor of Arts
degree and K-12 certification. Sixty credits in art supplement a strong liberal arts curriculum and education core. Competency in basic studio skills is emphasized through courses in design and studio fundamentals where theoretical and practical applications are made.

Provided with a background in art history from prehistoric to contemporary, students relate their understanding of artistic styles and principles to all major visual arts and the related fields of music, dance and theatre. Social, economic and cultural influences are also interrelated with the visual arts.

Because the future teacher must also develop competencies in professional instruction, education courses and field observation begin in the foundation year and continue throughout the course of study. The study of developmental and educational psychology provides students with required understanding of the cognitive and affective development of the child. Students are provided the opportunity to teach model lessons, to prepare unit plans, to research materials
and to evaluate their own abilities through both audio and video taping of their lessons.

As a requirement for teacher certification, the Art Education student earns twelve credits as a practice teacher in both elementary and secondary school settings. A student chapter of PAEA (Pennsylvania Art Education Association) is active
on campus.

For more information on the Art Education program please contactcastelgrande@marywood.edu.

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Art Therapy
The Art Therapy curriculum is designed to meet the needs of those who are interested in a vocation that includes both a commitment to art-making and a commitment to serving to others. Students are introduced to the human service profession of art therapy on a pre-professional level. While master’s level art therapy training is focused on readiness for professional practice, undergraduate training differs by assisting the student in developing a strong base of necessary studio skills and knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences.

Accordingly, studio art courses are combined with behavioral and social science courses to offer a curriculum that fully prepares a student for graduate level studies in art therapy. Foundation classes also include introduction to Art and Healing, Approaches in Art Therapy and Art Therapy Applications. Our program emphasizes the healing and therapeutic qualities of art, for ourselves as artists, and for the clients we serve. Students are taught and guided by registered and board certified art therapists who are active clinicians and artists. Art therapy coursework is presented through hands-on experiences that encourage creativity as students gain knowledge of current trends in art therapy.

Additionally, students complete an art therapy internship under supervision of an art therapy professional. This experience serves as important exposure to the actual nature of the art therapy process. Students may do internships in a variety of placements, such as mental health, medical, educational, and studio settings. This well-rounded curriculum is essential training for those who are considering future education and work as art therapists.

Above all, the making of art remains central to the spirit of the Art Therapy program. Students leave Marywood University as capable artists and advocates of humanistic engagement with others through the artistic process.

For more information on the Arts Therapy program please contact Dr. Barbara Parker-Bell, ATR-BC, LPC, at parkerbell@marywood.edu

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BACHELOR of FINE ARTS - DESIGN
The Bachelor of Fine Arts has majors in Design and Studio Art, with areas of emphasis in Graphic Design, Photography, Illustration, Interior Architecture/Design, Painting, Ceramcs and Sculpture.

All B.F.A. majors must fulfill approximately 78 credit hours in art, including the foundation program, art history and criticism, and specific requirements pertinent to their area of interest.

Graphic Design
The Graphic Design program at Marywood incorporates design history, the study of basic visual elements, conceptual development, research, studio technique and strategies for visual problem-solving. Part of our goal is to prepare students to anticipate, probe and be challenged by the changes within our society. Class critiques and discussions are emphasized to develop dialogue, a working vocabulary and confidence in communication skills. Students will have an opportunity to work independently, with partners and in small groups, to gain an understanding of group dynamics and team problem-solving.

Traditionally, Graphic Design relates to the printed page. Graphic Design also encompasses signage, architectural graphics, package design, film, video and television, as technology is rapidly advancing, it also encompasses computer-related images and information. Students are exposed to a variety of disciplines including publishing, corporate identity, typography, website design, multi-media and packaging.

We provide students with an environment that supports and encourages both personal and professional development, concept and creativity, while stimulating exploration and curiosity as a basis for continuous growth. The student has access to two fully equipped Macintosh computer labs, with access to the internet, and is taught to use industry standard applications including page layout, digital photography, illustration and word processing packages. State of the art darkrooms and photography studios are also available for student use.

Students are required to complete an internship and prepare a professional presentation for exhibition in the Contemporary Gallery as part of their professional contribution. There is also an opportunity to participate in the design and production of the campus literary and visual art publication, Bayleaf.

On the graduate level, an MA degree in Studio Art with concentration in Ad Design is offered. The faculty is made up of top designers of national and international reputation, adding conceptual challenge and technical expertise. For further information on Marywood's Get Your Master's with the Masters Program, please contact the Visual Arts Department at (570)348-6278. This masters program is truly unique and highly successful.

For more information on the Graphic Design program please contact Christine Medley at:cmedley@marywood.edu

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Illustration
The Illustration art faculty at Marywood University are working professionals who have first hand knowledge of opportunities available in the field. Courses are tailored to identify and develop each student’s unique interests and strengths while fostering a broad-based, practical understanding of the wide range of uses for illustration in the national and world market. Class projects are assigned in both
2-dimensional and 3-dimensional media with a strong emphasis on concept development, design principles, craft and color.

Illustration students are taught and guided as individuals. They are encouraged to design assignments around their own areas and subjects of interest, which might include such fields as books, magazines, advertising, greeting cards, record labels, and the artwork needed for television, film and video production.

Students pursue a BFA in Design with an emphasis in Illustration. Foundation courses include drawing, basic color, two- and three-dimensional design and painting. In the following years the scope broadens to include figure drawing, photography, graphic design, intermediate painting, printmaking and art history. This well-rounded curriculum is essential training before the students are able to select their areas of specialization. Also included are courses designed to stimulate creative thinking (visual concepts) and techniques for problem solving.

In their junior and senior years, students specialize in, Book, or General Illustration, and field experience. In the senior year, students undergo intense portfolio evaluation by faculty and students and self-assessment exercises in order to prepare them for future employment, whether it be a staff position in an agency or business or freelance. The student leaves Marywood well equipped and geared for a targeted market.

For more information on the Illustration program please contact Dennis Corrigan at: corrigan@marywood.edu

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Photography
The Photography program at Marywood offers undergraduate and graduate students a diversified experience in fine art as well as commercial applications of this
important medium. As a form of visual communication, photography is a prevalent and powerful force in our society. The demand for highly skilled photographers
continues to grow. There are various and exciting directions open to the enthusiastic, creative, and well-prepared artist. The program at Marywood is designed to meet the individual needs of the aspiring photographic professional.

Formal study of photography is based upon a strong foundation of technical skills acquired as one passes through the course of study. Traditional gelatin silver and chromogenic processes form the basis of this study. Digital imaging and alternative processes open the student to greater possibilities for expression. Fluency in and creative use of the medium is enriched and expanded by the study of aesthetics and art/photographic history. The relationship of photography to other disciplines is explored through projects involving other areas of study. It is expected that students will emerge from the program with a strong portfolio which reflects their strengths and leads them to fulfilling work in the areas they desire.

Our labs and studio facility are substantial in both size and equipment. There are two group black and white darkrooms, a private darkroom for making large projection prints, a color darkroom served by a Hope processor, and an alternative processes room devoted to working with historic printmaking methods such as palladium, cyanotype and gum bichromate. The department has seven 4x5 view cameras which are available for student use, along with a variety of 35mm and 21⁄4 cameras. The spacious lighting studios are equipped with versatile strobe systems. Resources include an adjacent Apple computer lab equipped with negative, slide and flatbed scanners, large format color inkjet printer and PhotoShop image-editing software.

For more information on the Photography program please contact Sam Olfano at: olfano@marywood.edu

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BACHELOR of FINE ARTS - STUDIO
All B.F.A. majors must fulfill approximately 78 credit hours in art, including the foundation program, art history and criticism, and specific requirements pertinent to their area of interest.

Ceramics
The Ceramics program offers graduate and undergraduate courses in the general areas of clay construction, ceramic sculpture, wheel-throwing, mold-making, architectural ceramics, clay and glaze chemistry and kiln-building and firing, all of which the Marywood ceramics studio is equipped to offer.

Undergraduate students may pursue a BFA degree with an emphasis in ceramics or they may take various required and elective ceramic courses as supplements to their Sculpture, Interior Design, Art Education, or other studio major. Graduate students may pursue an MFA degree with an emphasis in ceramics or take ceramics courses while working towards an MFA or MA degree
in Art Education or other studio arts.

Ceramics attracts and involves the art student whose career objectives may involve architecture, interior design, art education and the related applied arts industry. The commercial world of clay covers a myriad of products such as dinnerware, architectural ceramics (tile, trim and other building accessories), lamps and various industrial/technical ceramic products. As an independent potter, producing utilitarian ware, you would enter a viable vocation and market that grows annually in size, scope, quality and earning potential.

Marywood’s ceramics studio is equipped to present a wide variety of techniques working with various clays. Kickwheels, electric wheels, a slab roller, clay extruder, clay mixer, in addition all necessary hand tools and equipment, offer the technical vehicle to go off in any direction that would suit the students’ particular needs. The clay studio is accessible throughout the week and weekend, from morning to evening, to all enrolled ceramics students.

For more information on the Ceramics program please contact Matt Povse at: povse@marywood.edu

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Painting
The Marywood Painting program endeavors to recognize and cultivate the various and particular strengths of each student. Limited enrollment and a devoted and diverse faculty of working artists ensure individual attention and a broad range of ideas and approaches to painting. Graduate students may pursue an MFA or MA in painting.

The basic courses offered in beginning painting are designed for the development and refinement of necessary technical and perceptual skills. Classes focus on problems of pictorial construction and color theory through direct observation of still life, landscape and the figure. At the intermediate level, the student is encouraged to engage in a more personal exploration of sensibility and the painting language, and artistic development depends increasingly on the student’s own drive and imagination. At the advanced levels, faculty-to-student interaction is primarily one-on-one as the student develops more focused concerns and a more coherent and personal visual vocabulary. Studio activity is supported by regularly group critiques, and periodic reviews by a faculty panel.

A comprehensive awareness of contemporary and historical artworks and artists is fostered by frequent trips to galleries and museums in New York City and Philadelphia. Painting majors are encouraged to apply for a semester of study in the Marywood/SACI program in Florence, Italy, offering a first hand experience of the richness of cultural history and the global nature of art activity. An ongoing program of visiting professional artists helps the student gain insights into the aesthetic and practical realities of a career and life as a fine artist. Marywood’s Visual Arts Center houses a contemporary gallery and a small museum quality collection, contributing to the overall program quality, professionalism and creative vitality.

For more information on the Painting program please contact Pamela Parsons at: parsons@marywood.edu

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Sculpture
The Sculpture program at Marywood University exposes students to disciplines within a field which is both exciting and challenging. The program prepares students for careers in Sculpture through a strong foundation based on traditional and highly technical skills and creative direction. The BFA degree in Sculpture equips students to meet an ever-changing, demanding and competitive field through a commitment to creative thinking and endeavor. Students experience a broad range of activities involving them in a thorough examination of three-dimensional form and space. All Sculpture courses stress a high level of creativity as well as professionalism. Technical areas to which students are exposed include modeling, carving, forging and fabrication, moldmaking and casting.

The Sculpture foundation includes thorough involvement with the figure (life modeling). Studios for these disciplines are well equipped and maintained. Metalworking areas are highly developed and include a state-of-the-art physical plant. The foundry is equipped for bronze and aluminum casting, resin bonded sand and investment mold making. The forging area provides hot metalworking for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The welding and cutting area includes arc-welding, MIG (Metal Inert Gas), TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), as well as plasma arc and flame cutting (both mechanized). These processes help prepare students for the pursuit of an increasingly technical field. Field trips to major sculpture museums and collections provide further exposure for students to the contemporary sculpture scene. Visiting professional sculptors are also part of the Marywood Sculpture program. Presentations are made on an ongoing basis.

The Sculpture program at Marywood is designed for the student of Studio Fine Art. It recognizes the contributions made by three-dimensional art to the applied arts such as three-dimensional illustration. It also demonstrates the relationship of art and craft in areas such as furniture making, jewelry, ceramics and the recognition of these as fine art as applied by the contemporary sculptor.

For more information on the Sculpture program please contact Robert Griffith at: griffith@marywood.edu

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