College of Arts & Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to come in for advising?
How do I contact my advisor?
What can I expect during my first year of study in the Department of Visual Arts?
What is the Foundations Core?
What degrees are offered in the Department of Visual Arts?
What classes does the Department of Visual Arts offer for Non-Art Majors?
What is the difference between a BA degree and a BFA degree in Art or Design?
How long does it take to earn a degree in the Department of Visual Arts?
What is the Department of Visual Arts attendance policy?
What is an Area of Concentration?
What is an Area of Emphasis?
I still have more questions.  Who do I ask?

1. When do I need to come in for advising?

All students with less than 30 hours earned in the Department of Visual Arts will be required to meet with Candice van Loveren Geis prior to registration each semester.  A registration hold will be placed on student accounts until communication has been made with Candice van Loveren Geis regarding plans for the next semester.  After 30 credits earned, students will still have registration holds placed on their accounts, but it is up to the individual advisor if students are required to meet with them prior to registration.  Advising for summer and fall semesters takes place February-April.  Advising for spring semester takes place September-November.

2. How do I contact my advisor?

Students can find out who their advisor is by looking in MyNKU.  Contact each professor individually by email, phone, or office to set up appointments.  It is important to note that all freshmen and transfer students are advised by Candice van Loveren Geis for their first year in the program.  After a successful first year, each student will receive a mentor advisor, which is a full-time faculty member in his or her area of study.

3. What can I expect during my first year of study in the Department of Visual Arts?

  • All students take the Foundations Core during their first year in the Department of Visual Arts.  That includes Art, Graphic Design, Art Education, and Art History Majors.  Students will need to dedicate their lives to going to college, if they want to succeed long-term in the program.  We do accept part-time students, but the programs and course-offerings are designed with full-time students in mind.  All majors will also be expected to complete one art history course during their first year of study.  For each studio class you are enrolled in, you can anticipate approximately 15 hours of homework a week.  The large majority of students take two studio courses each semester, which indicates a minimum of 30 hours a week to commit to out of class study and work time for projects.
  • Students in the Department of Visual Arts also take between two and three general education courses each semester.  In order to graduate on time, students must successfully complete five to six classes each fall and spring semester.  Students should keep non-college related commitments to a minimum during their study in the Department of Visual Arts.  It is highly recommended that students do not work outside of school.  If it is required for a student to have an outside job, the department recommends limiting work hours to less than 20 hours per week.
  • All first year students are invited on the annual Chicago trip.  This trip is subsidized by the university to keep the student costs low.  Faculty and students travel to Chicago by bus and stay to study the local art scene for 2-3 days.
  • The Department of Visual Arts sponsors artist lectures, exhibition openings, student organizations, juried exhibitions, and the career forum each year.  It is especially important that first year students invest the time in these events to get a clear picture of the lives of working artists prior to graduation.

4. What is the Foundations Core?

The Foundations Core consists of four studio courses that are taken over the course of two semesters in the Department of Visual Arts.  The first semester will include Art 132, Two Dimensional Studies, and Art 131, Basic Drawing.  These two classes are co-requisites, so must be taken at the same time.  The second semester will include Art 133, Three Dimensional Studies, and Art 134, Four Dimensional Studies and Color.  These two classes are also co-requisites and must be taken together.  Students can chose to take an additional third studio during their second semester in the visual arts, if they are willing to commit the time and effort to such a heavy workload.

Upon completion of the Foundations Core at NKU students majoring in the Department of Visual arts will: 

  • Gain an understanding through art creation, discussion, research, critiques, historical and contemporary analysis of the role of artists in society, and what constitutes an artist.
  • Be able to understand and utilize the formal Elements and Principles of Design and the Principles of Gestalt in the art making process relative to our culture and the world in general.
  • Develop critical thinking skills and creative problem solving skills through a variety of strategies.
  • Clearly articulate verbally and visually what they are learning, how this builds on prior knowledge, and how they intend to expand that knowledge in the future. 
  • Develop an understanding of the art world and its historical and contemporary practice as it relates to their own work.
  • Demonstrate and embrace a sense of curiosity, experimentation, and investigation through participation in short and long-term projects and involvement in all class activities.
  • Understand the differences between BA, BFA, and MFA degrees related to career paths and how the art world functions as a separate entity and as a part of the whole of society.
  • Have an awareness of the interconnectedness of the liberal arts education, the self, and real world experiences in relation to art making.
  • Demonstrate active involvement in the art community and an ability to guide their own learning through attendance at art events and the Department of Visual Arts Lecture Series.
  • Understand the variety of learning styles, where you as a student excel and how each individual can utilize aspects of other learning styles to continue success long term.
  • Have a foundation in self-evaluation and investment in self-guided learning.
  • Be able to see the world with an understanding of perception, utilizing the basic elements and building blocks of art making.
  • Broaden your personal ability to pay attention, observe, and an internalization of goals prior to completion of projects.
  • Have the ability to express internally and externally your personal voice and individual approach to art and process of self-discovery.

5. What degrees are offered in the Department of Visual Arts?

The Department of Visual Arts offers Bachelor of Arts degrees (BA) in Graphic Design and Studio Arts.  Within the Studio Arts area you may chose to four options of study: 

  • Art Education
  • Art History
  • Applied Photography
  • Studio Art. 

Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees are also offered upon passing the Portfolio Review, which is encouraged for students at the end of sophomore or beginning of junior year.  Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees are offered in:  Applied Photography, Art History, Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, Intermedia, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

Minors in Studio Art and Art History are also offered in the Department of Visual Arts.  Current department majors cannot pursue minors in the Department of Visual Arts.

Areas of Concentration may be pursued by Non-Art Majors.  Areas of Concentration include completion of 12 upper-division credits in courses with the same prefix.  Students cannot mix course prefixes, such as two courses in ArtH with two courses in ArtD.

6. What classes does the Department of Visual Arts offer for Non-Art Majors?

  • Art 100 Art Appreciation
  • Art 130 Painting for Non-Majors
  • ArtH 101 Survey of Western Art I
  • ArtH 102 Survey of Western Art II
  • ArtH 103 Survey of Western Art III
  • ArtH 104 Survey of Asian Art

7. What is the difference between a BA degree and a BFA degree in Art or Design?

In brief, the BA degrees are for a breadth of study.  Students have flexibility in what studio classes to take and can spend more time studying outside the visual arts while in college.  The BFA degrees are the nationally accepted professional degrees in visual arts. 

These degrees are restricted admissions and carry a high level of expected growth and involvement on the student’s part.  BFA students are not required to earn a minor outside of the visual arts, so spend more time studying in studios.  BFA Graphic Design Majors are required to do a full-time one-semester internship.  All BFA Majors are guaranteed a senior exhibition at Northern Kentucky University, while BA candidates must exhibit through juried opportunities.  Students are strongly encouraged to discuss degree tracks with their advisor and other faculty members in order to make the decision that is right for each student.

8. How long does it take to earn a degree in the Department of Visual Arts?

For a full-time traditional student (non-transfer) a BA degree can be earned in four years of study.  In order to graduate in four years, students must dedicate themselves to successfully completing 5 classes every fall and spring semester, except for two semesters, which must include a load of 6 classes.  This amount of work is necessary to fulfill university graduation requirements of 128 total credits earned and 45 of those credits must be at the upper-division level (classes listed at the 300 or 400 designators).  Students with a BA in Studio Arts, Art History, and Graphic Design are required to complete an area of concentration or minor outside of the Department of Visual Arts.

The BA in Art Education is designed as a five-year degree.  Students pursuing a BA in Art Education are admitted as pre-majors and must apply to the College of Education after 48 hours earned at the university.  BA Art Education majors are not required to earn a minor or area of concentration outside of art.

All of the BFA degrees are designed for a five-year course of study. In order to graduate in five years, students must dedicate themselves to successfully completing 5 classes every fall and spring semester, except for two semesters, which must include a load of 6 classes.  This amount of work is necessary to fulfill university graduation requirements of 128 total credits earned and 45 of those credits must be at the upper-division level (classes listed at the 300 or 400 designators).  Students pursuing any BFA degree are only admitted after a successful Portfolio Review (Art 299).  It is important to select a desired degree path early (beginning of sophomore year) in order to continuously progress with studio courses in the students desired area of study.

For transfer and part-time students an individualized timeline can be created upon meeting with an advisor.  Graphic Design and some studios in other areas are only offered during particular semesters.  Thus, students must be aware of rolling course offerings when creating an estimated graduation timeline.


9. What is the Department of Visual Arts attendance policy?

Study in any arts field requires a commitment and dedication to a constructive learning environment and continuous practice.  The Department of Visual Arts holds a required attendance philosophy.  Students in general are permitted 2-3 unexcused absences.  Professors have the freedom to alter this down to 0-1 excused absences depending on the nature of the class and how many times the class meets during the semester. 

In general, many professors allow for 3 unexcused absences, after which a letter grade may be dropped from the students final earned letter grade for each additional absence.  Thus, if you earned an A in the class but missed 4 class meetings without a doctor’s note, you will receive a B for your final grade.

At the beginning of each semester the professor will present their attendance policy to the class.  By remaining registered for the course, students agree to the attendance policy laid out by the professor.  Students move as a cohort through the Department of Visual Arts.  Mandatory attendance increases students’ grades and provides dedicated time to work with professors and other students in the class.  A professor or fellow student will have great difficulty catching up students when classes are missed because many classes meet for 2 hours and 40 minutes each day.


10. What is an Area of Concentration?

An Area of Concentration consists of 12 credit hours at the 300-400 level in one area of study.  Students are not permitted to have an Area of Concentration in the same department as their major.


11. What is an Area of Emphasis?

An Area of Emphasis is the area of art in which you would like to study.  Options for an Area of Emphasis for Department of Visual Arts Majors include:  Art Education, Art History, Applied Photography, Ceramics, Drawing, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.  BA and BFA candidates are encouraged to choose an Area of Emphasis by the beginning of sophomore year.


12. I still have more questions.  Who do I ask?

Interested transfer and new students can contact Candice van Loveren Geis with additional questions or to discuss their personal college education.  Email is preferred, but phone and walk-ins are also welcomed. 
 Email:  vanloverec1@nku.edu
 Phone:  (859) 572-1521
 Office:  FAC 333