In what ways is writing important to your profession?
The Art Department offers three separate undergraduate majors: art education, art history and studio art. Across these areas, students will learn to write clearly and analytically about works of art, whether they are made by the students themselves or by other artists.
If you are pursuing the studio art major (BA or BFA), you must be able to write clear and interesting artist statements, job applications, and grant and commission proposals.
If you are pursuing the art history major, especially if you are interested in graduate studies, you must be able to write research papers. Jobs in museums and galleries require the ability to write clearly and concisely, including descriptions of artworks, business letters and grant applications.
If you are pursuing the art education major, you must be able to write lesson plans and other kinds of documents specific to the education field.
Which courses are designated as satisfying the Writing in the Discipline (WID) requirement by your department? Why these courses?
Two courses satisfy the WID requirement for all three majors in the Art Department: Art 231: Prehistoric to Renaissance Art and Art 232: Renaissance to Modern Art. If you are an art studio major, area-specific writing in upper-level studio classes complements the writing in art history. If you are an art education major, you will write in numerous upper-level courses, as well.
What forms or genres of writing will you learn and practice in your WID courses? Why these genres?
The genres of writing students in the Art Department learn to write vary by major. In Art 231 and 232 students write descriptions, analyses and comparisons of individual artworks – these are the most basic components of writing in art and must be mastered to develop either as an artist, art educator or art historian.
In advanced and upper level courses, art students write research papers and responses to art historical scholarship, learning to integrate the ideas of other writers into their work and to deepen their understanding of artworks and art movements.
What kinds of teaching practices will you encounter in your WID courses?
You will encounter many different kinds of teaching practices, including scaffolded writing projects, peer review, in-class writing, writing-to-learn exercises and discussions of and lectures on writing and writing assignments.
When you have satisfied your WID requirement, you should be able to:
Write interpretive descriptions and comparisons of artworks, thesis papers based on artworks, research papers, artist statements, cover letters and project proposals.​​
