Visual communication is among the most basic of human languages. Through the study of art, students acquire a rich understanding of human nature, values, psychology, aesthetics and history. Well-prepared artists, designers and educators are crucial contributors to our increasingly complex visual world -- career opportunities are numerous. Graduates of our program now work in a variety of fields, such as educators at the secondary and collegiate level, art directors, illustrators and graphic designers in advertising agencies, studio photographers and filmmakers, museum and gallery curators, certified art therapists and as independent studio artists with professional gallery representation.
The faculty in Art and Design believe visual literacy should be an essential skill for every well-educated and productive citizen. Since the invention of photography and increasingly in the multi-media environment fostered today by computers, everyone is inescapably subject to both the riches and hazards of visual culture. Thus, we urge every university student to consider taking at least one art course to fulfill a general education requirement in the art, humanities, music and literature area.
Prospective art and design majors are offered a range of courses in several areas of specialization: art education, graphic design, game design, motion graphics and studio art. Regardless of which track a student selects, students are encouraged to gain a broad understanding of the history of their field, to acquire the vocabulary and facility in communicating their understanding and appreciation of art and to develop the skills necessary to create artistic statements of their own.
Admission to the Program
All students are welcome to declare an Art and Design major (Art Education, Art Studio, Game Design and Motion Graphics, or Graphic Design). There is no formal admission process, however, students must receive a C or better in all of their classes and all students are required to submit portfolios every year. Failure to submit an annual portfolio will lead to removal from the department. By the end of the junior year, students choosing the studio, graphic design or art education track will submit another portfolio showing the artistic direction in which they will concentrate for the two-semester Senior Seminar, culminating in a professional group exhibition in the SXU Gallery.
Programs of Study
Art and Design majors must select a track from one of the four options (art studio, graphic design, game design or art education) and earn grades of C or above in all courses required for the major. Art education majors, which is offered through our Education Division, must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in the major.
Art Studio Track
Required courses include:
- ART 101: Drawing I (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics (3)
- ART 201: Drawing II (3)
- ART 202: Design Three-Dimensional (3)
- ART 305: Senior Seminar I (3)
- ART 306: Senior Seminar II (3)
- 100-level Art History course (3)
- ART 222: Art of the Renaissance through the Enlightenment (3)
- ART 223: Modern and Contemporary Art (3)
Choose six electives from the list below:
- ART 105: Painting I (3)
- ART 205: Painting II (3)
- ART 203: Book as Art and Design (3)
- ART 206: Watercolor Painting (3)
- ART 209: Figure Drawing I (3)
- ART 309: Figure Drawing II (3)
- ART 210: Printmaking: Silkscreen and Lithography (3)
- ART 229: Printmaking: Relief and Intaglio (3)
- ART 207: Collage and Assemblage -- Alternative Expressions (3)
- ART 208: Ceramics: Hand Construction (3)
- ART 258: Ceramics: Wheel Throwing (3)
- ART 215: Sculpture: Modeling and Casting (3)
- ART 112: Photo I: Film (3)
- ART 113: Photo I: Digital (3)
- ART 212: Photo II: Digital Dark Room (3)
- ART 119: Digital Imagery (3)
- ART 315: Web Site Art and Design (3)
- ART 317: Photo III: Advanced Photography (3)
- ART 120: Graphic Design I (3)
- ART 124: Portfolio Seminar (3)
- ART 211: Typography (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics (3)
- ART 220: Graphic Design II (3)
- ART 237: Screen Printed Poster (3)
Total credit hour requirement (45)
Graphic Design Track
Required courses include:
- ART 101: Drawing I (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics* (3)
- ART 119: Digital Imagery* (3)
- ART 120: Graphic Design I* (3)
- ART 211: Typography* (3)
- ART 201: Drawing II (3)
- ART 202: 3D Design (3)
- 100-level Art History course (3)
- ART 223: Modern and Contemporary Art (3)
- ART 305: Senior Seminar (3)
- ART 306: Senior Seminar (3)
*These four courses should be taken in this recommended sequence - ART 116, 119, 120, 211.
Choose four electives from the list below:
- ART 113: Digital Photography (3)
- ART 124: Portfolio Seminar (3)
- ART 220: Graphic Design II (3)
- ART 228: Design History (3)
- ART 237: Screen Printed Poster (3)
- ART 241: Illustration (3)
- ART 315: Web Design (3)
- ART 317: Advanced Photography
- ART 322: Advertising and Marketing (3)
- ART 327: Multimedia (3)
- ART 365: Internship (3)
Total credit hour requirement (45)
Game Design and Motion Graphics Track
Required course include:
Introduction
- ART 106: Introduction to Game Design (3)
- ART 113: Photography (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics (Vector Art) (3)
- ART 119: Digital Imagery (Pixel Art) (3)
- ART 108: Art in Virtual Reality (3)
- ART 128: Digital 3D Modeling (3)
- ART 138: History of Animation (3)
Intermediate
- CMPSC 204: Game Design Theory (3)
- ART 238: Intermediate 3D (3)
- CMPSC: elective (200, 206, or similar) (3)
- ART 268: Character Animation (3)
Four electives (chosen from any of the approved elective courses listed below).
Advanced
- ART 248: Motion Graphics (3)
- ART 327: Multimedia (Capstone) (3)
Recommended General Education Courses
- HIST 201: Digital Humanities (3)
- ANTH 105: Archeology (3)
- ANTH 101: Cultural Anthropology (3)
- MUS 100: Fundamentals of Music Theory (3)
- MATH 110: Geometry for Art and Design Students (3)
- PHYS 101: Physics for Non-scientists (3)
Approved Electives for Game Design and Motion Graphics
- ART 209: Figure Drawing I (3)
- CMPSC 200: Virtual Worlds (4)
- CMPSC 202: Programming I (4)
- CMPSC 203: Programming II (4)
- CMPSC 311: Data structures (4)
- CMPSC 206: Web Apps I (3)
- CMPSC 309: Issues in computing (3)
- MATH 112: College algebra (3)
- MATH 113: Trigonometry (3)
- MATH 201: Calculus I (4)
- MATH-200: Discrete math (3)
- MATH 110: Geometry for Art and Design (3)
- MGMT 330: Diversity in Organizations (3)
- MGMT 364: Entrepreneurship (3)
- MGMT 370: Organizational Behavior (3)
- MKTG 350: Digital Marketing (3)
- MUS 160: Music Production Techniques (3)
- COMM 220: Digital Audio Production (3)
- COMM 221: Digital Video Production (3)
- ENGL 210: Creative writing (3)
- PHYS 101: Physics for nonscientists (3)
- PHYS 201: General Physics I (4)
- PHYS 211: University Physics I (5)
Total credit hour requirement (51)
Applied Graphic Design (Adult Degree Completion Program)
Applied Graphic Design is designed to offer Adult Degree Completion students a relevant contemporary knowledge of graphic design tools, theories and skills. Students will study the designed world at the intersection of print, web, motion and interactive graphics.
Graphic design conveys visual information with meaning and significance. Every aspect of our day-to-day world is designed. The careful integration of image and type create graphics that instruct, inspire, promote, and entice. Using typography, illustration, symbolism, and photography, graphic designers communicate ideas in visual terms. At Saint Xavier University, the development of a design vocabulary, knowledge of theory, technique and a philosophy of problem-solving methodologies make up the Graphic Design specialization. Studio projects stimulate the creative exploration of concepts in both traditional and contemporary media.
Students in the Applied Graphic design program must complete 11 courses for a major totaling 33 credit hours.
- ART 101: Drawing I (3)
- ART 103: Introduction to Art (3)
- ART 202: 3D Design (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics (3)*
- ART 119: Digital Imagery (3)
- ART 120: Graphic Design I (3)*
- ART 211: Typography (3)*
- ART 113: Digital Photography (3)
- ART 315: Web Design (3)
- ART 327: Multimedia (3)
- FOSEM 350: Capstone Course or Internship or Alternate Capstone in consultation with advisor
*Computer Graphics is a prerequisite for Graphic Design I and Typography
Total credit hour requirement (30)
Minors
Art Studio
A minor in art and design will be awarded for the completion of any six courses (18 credit hours) selected from the regular offerings of the Art and Design program. Students should consult with a program advisor when planning their minor.
*No more than 15 credit hours in transfer credit will be accepted toward the studio track minor in Art and Design.
*At least 9 credit hours must be earned beyond your major requirements.
Game Design
A minor in game design requires six specific courses (18 credit hours), three of which should be taken in the recommended sequence. This minor has significant career potential as it provides grounding in digital and web design.
*At least 9 credit hours must be earned beyond your major requirements.
Required courses to be taken in suggested this sequence:
- ART 104: Intro to Game Design (3)
- ART 113: Photography (3)
- ART 116: Computer Graphics 3)
Choose three of the following elective courses:
- ART 119: Digital Imagery (3)
- ART 128: Digital 3D Modeling (3)
- ART 138: History of Animation (3)
- ART 209: Figure Drawing (3)
- ART 248: Motion Graphics (3)
- ART 268: Character Animation (3)
- ART 327: Multimedia (3)
- CMPSC 204: Game Design and Theory (3)
Graphic Design
A minor in graphic design requires six specific courses (18 credit hours), four of which should be taken in the recommended sequence. This minor has significant career potential as it provides grounding in digital and web design.
*At least 9 credit hours must be earned beyond your major requirements.
Required courses to be taken in suggested this sequence:
- ART 116: Computer Graphics (3)
- ART 119: Digital Imagery (3)
- ART 120: Graphic Design I (3)
- ART 211: Typography (3)
Choose two of the following courses:
- ART 113: Digital Photography (3)
- ART 220: Graphic Design II (3)
- ART 315: Web Site Art and Design (3)
- ART 322: Advertising in Marketing (3)