The Goals and Outcome Assessment of

All Graduating Majors In

Art and Art History

 at The Catholic University of America

The Academic Goals of the Art Department

The Department of Art is devoted to nurturing the production and understanding of artistic expression, one of the oldest, most vital and human of endeavors. The department offers programs in art history and studio art leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. An interdisciplinary B.A. in studio art for secondary education is also offered in cooperation with the Department of Education. Together, these programs are dedicated to the proposition that art and culture are one, and that exposure to the visual arts is an essential component of every liberal education. Our goal of fostering a greater appreciation of the arts is especially fitting at The Catholic University of America, given both the historic tradition of brilliant art patronage by the Catholic Church, and the outstanding resources of Washington, D.C. Among the many nearby institutions that offer world-class art collections are the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Phillips Collection, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress, Hillwood Museum, and Dumbarton Oaks. Students in the department are encouraged to utilize these resources through study, institutional internships and sponsored research, whenever possible.

The Courses of Study offered by the Art Department

Through courses both within and outside the department, art majors are provided with a broad introduction to the humanities, as well as a sophisticated initiation into the practice, theory, and critical evaluation of the arts.

The major in the studio art program takes two courses each in the fundamentals of design, drawing and composition, and art history, followed by a three-course sequence in either painting, sculpture or digital arts, plus two additional studio art electives. Studio art majors are also required to take Contemporary Art History and Conceptual Art. Art studio majors begin their matriculation with a series of core courses, designed to emphasize fundamental studio skills and expand their knowledge of art’s historical and cultural context. After completing the core curriculum requirements, studio majors select courses that emphasize their individual studio focus. Studio majors may choose to focus on painting, sculpture or digital arts. All studio majors must take Senior Seminar in the fall semester.  This Senior Seminar enhances the students’ understanding and analysis of advanced issues in contemporary art, while the senior project hones research and writing skills.

The major in the art history program begins by taking two survey courses in the history of Western art, architecture, and art theory, followed by at least one specialized course from each of the three following periods: Ancient and Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern and Contemporary.  The art history major then elects at least four courses from these three chronological periods, and one studio course in either drawing or painting.  Majors in art history are required to take Contemporary Art (preferably during their junior year), and a Senior Seminar in the Fall of their senior year.  These courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. The Senior Seminar is designed to enhance the art history major’s ability to comprehend, critique, and employ advanced methodological research into the history of art and culture, historiography, and critical theory.  It is also intended to refine the student’s research and writing skills.  

The Requirements of Every Graduating Studio Art and Art History Major

Art history majors take comprehensive examinations in their senior year, which must earn a grade of “Pass” or “High Pass.” Studio art majors produce a creative project under the direction of an art faculty member to fulfill this requirement. Seniors in art history who qualify for honors have the opportunity to earn further distinction by writing a senior honors thesis under the supervision of their faculty adviser.

The Senior Comprehensive Examination for Art History Majors

The principle instrument used to measure whether or not each art history major has achieved the goals of the university’s art history program is a comprehensive examination administered every Spring over the course of two-days.  This six-hour written examination is divided chronologically into three parts that correspond to the three major periods of art history taught at Catholic University: Ancient and Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern and Contemporary. 

For each of the three component parts of the examination, the art history major has two hours to answer three specific essay questions related to the given chronological period in a manner that is articulate and accurate.  These questions (selected by the student from a list of four or more questions distributed at the start of each section of the examination) are designed to test the breadth and depth of the student’s understanding of the history and critical theory of art throughout the ages.  The questions are also structured to evaluate each art history major’s ability to write synthetic, coherent, and persuasive essays on focused subjects, which may vary annually but which always center on themes central to the discipline.  Each student’s set of essays is read and graded by a panel of professors in the field drawn from the department; when relevant, this panel may include professors from related departments, such as Greek and Latin.  A grade of “Pass” or “High Pass” for at least seven of the nine essay questions is required for the art history major to fulfill this Senior Assessment requirement.

The Senior Art Project for Studio Art Majors

The principle instruments used by the Art Department to ascertain whether or not a student has achieved the goals of the Art Studio Program are the Senior Seminar and the related Senior Art Project, which is the studio equivalent of the written comprehensive exam in the Art History major.

The Senior Project measures the Studio Major’s ability to focus on and achieve a long-term goal by developing and executing artwork for the senior exhibition. 

The Senior Project is a year-long undertaking, overseen by a faculty advisor from the student’s area of concentration.  Initial planning for the project begins at the end of the junior year, when students begin their research and write a proposal. Proposals are written on a contemporary topic within the student’s area of concentration. Proposals are reviewed by Art Department faculty. If the concept is found to be strong enough, approval is given and students proceed with their projects in the fall. If proposals are found conceptually weak, the student is encouraged to find another idea and write a new proposal, which will undergo the same review process. Upper level studio art majors participate in three critiques during the academic term in both their Junior and their Senior years. The entire studio faculty attends these critiques, where each student’s work is analyzed and discussed in depth. Following this critique, students meet with their advisors to review the results of the critique, to discuss the faculty’s critical suggestions, and to determine what the student will do to improve and enhance his or her work.  The senior project culminates in an exhibition of the completed work(s) as part of the Senior Art Exhibition in April, where the entire art faculty reconvenes to grade the projects. All art students must complete their senior projects by the exhibition date. A grade of “pass” or “high pass” must be received on the senior project in order for students to complete the comprehensive assessment required to graduate.