Art + Media + Design
College of Arts and Sciences
The Faculty of Arts and Letters
Fine and Performing Arts Center, Room 233
570-422-3759
www.esu.edu/art
About the BFA and BA Programs
The Art + Media + Design Department offers two programs: the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Art + Design and the Bachelor of Arts in Art + Design. These programs prepare you for success in three areas of concentration: Design, Fine Arts and Art History.
The Bachelor of Arts in Art + Design is a 42 credit general program that develops skills in the areas of Design, Fine Art and Art History. Selected courses in these areas provide you with a foundation for careers or further study in these fields.
Concentrations in Art + Design
The Graphic and Product Design concentrations develops creativity, innovation and skills in the fields of graphic design and object/product design. A combination of hands on techniques and up to date industry standard digital design software prepare you for careers in visual communication and product design. Hands on studio projects and integrated design history and theory as well as courses in studio art and art history develop your aesthetic and cultural literacy, highly valued by professionals in the field. A required internship gives you real-world experiences and potential employment opportunities. The BFA program provides increased flexibility to integrate courses across the concentrations as well as from other disciplines as part of your major credit requirements.
The Fine Art and the Fine and New Media Art concentrations allows you to create your own individualized program in studio art by taking courses in a variety of artistic disciplines, whether your interest is in a traditional studio art or in the area of new media art which combines multiple disciplines in digital, installation, performance based art. If you plan a career as a studio or fine craft artist, in art therapy, teaching, or any field that values creativity, you may choose this concentration. A senior capstone project allows you to create a consummate record of your achievement that can be used for exhibition opportunities or entrance to graduate school. The BFA program provides increased flexibility to integrate courses across the concentrations as well as from other disciplines as part of your major credit requirements to prepare you for entering a Master of Fine Arts.
Required art history courses strengthen both the studio and design components by developing your aesthetic literacy, a highly valued qualification in all creative careers.
The Art History concentration (BA program only) develops your knowledge of major periods in art and architecture of the past to the present and an acquaintance with the art of non-Western cultures. Art history majors may develop careers in museums, galleries, restoration, journalism, education or arts administration. Art History majors are valued in areas as diverse as cultural consultancies to real estate to law for their strong research and writing skills. A senior capstone project requires you to complete a written thesis and/or curatorial experience.
Highly qualified faculty and small class sizes provide individualized instruction that fosters creative and artistic growth.
New Mind Design, the student design agency is a student run, faculty mentored business where you will meet with real world clients to provide an array of design services, such as digital, graphic, display and product design, rendering and prototyping. The Student Art Association is a student run organization that provides art and creative activities and service to the university and the community.
About the BS Program
The Art + Media + Design department prepares students to create media through a blend of hands-on teaching and applied theory of digital media. Ten foundation and production courses in interactive media, video and television production, graphics, audio, photography, web design, animation and media theory are required. Advanced level elective courses offer students specialization in media production and design or exploration into new and emerging technologies.
Our students use industry standard equipment, including a six camera 4k TV studio, audio recording studio, portrait photography studio, multiple computer labs with powerful Mac and PC computers, 4k video cameras, VR Headsets, a VR Motion Capture Lab and all the production equipment needed to succeed in the major.
Student-run and DMT faculty-supervised television and photography clubs are available. Students from the Television Club and AMD are engaged in media productions that support local athletic, non-profits and other agencies. Productions are aired over the ESU Warrior TV channel and Blue Ridge cable television.
Internships
The DMET internship provides a unique learning experience that allows students to use the knowledge they have obtained in the classroom in a real-world setting. The internship experience takes place in a professional environment where the course work competencies are applied and refined. In planning for an internship, students are advised to discuss career goals, qualifications and potential internships with their academic adviser and department faculty. Ideally students should have completed basic and advanced courses in the media production area in which they plan to intern (12 credits). A 2.75 grade average in DMET courses, no incompletes in DMET courses, and faculty approval are required before enrolling in an internship. The internship application process must be supervised by the student's adviser.
Career Potential
- Multimedia producer and/or director
- Television, video, and post production
- Commercial Photographer
- Interactive and Social Media Creator
- Computer Graphics and Web design
Career Settings
- Television and audio studios
- Graphics firms
- Photography studios
- Web design and web media companies
- Interactive Media studios
- Multimedia companies
- Print publications
Choose Art + Media + Design at ESU
- Qualified, experienced faculty
- Small class size
- Exhibition opportunities in the Madelon Powers Art Gallery
- Professional level software and hardware
- Specialized art studios and computer lab
- 3D printing and fabrication "Stratasys SuperLab"
- Student design agency
- Student created media productions
- Professional full semester internship experiences
Career Opportunities
- Graphic, Web Designer
- Fine Artist
- Package Designer
- Illustrator
- Art therapist
- Display designer
- Art residencies/teaching
- Product Designer
- Cartoonist
- Fine craftsman
- Concept artist
- Arts administrator
- Art conservationist
- Graduate school
- Audio, video, and digital television production
- Graphics, interactive and social media
- Web design and web media publishing
- Photography
More information is available from the department.
Facilities
The Art + Media + Design Department is proud to have been designated one of 3 "SuperLabs" on the East coast for our acquisition of a Stratasys J750 3D printer. This multi material, multi color printer will allow our students and lab collaborators to create the next generation of 3D printed prototypes in areas as diverse as art, design, architecture, geographic mapping, medical and scientific research. Our 3D lab also includes several other kinds of 3D printers, CNC and traditional shop equipment. Other facilities include well equipped specialized art studios, Mac and PC laptop labs, and “smart classrooms” for lectures. The Madelon Powers Art Gallery features a series of professional and student exhibitions. Trips to design companies, galleries, museums and conferences are scheduled every semester and artists and designers are often invited to speak and/or offer workshops.