Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Art

Sean P. McConnor, Chairperson; Jesse B. Amar; Seth Myers; Ellen Lippert

The art department at Thiel believes that in the rapidly changing world of the arts those students who have mastered basic technical and analytical skills are best prepared to succeed in the creative arts.  This applies to the Fine Arts major and minor as well as the Commercial Arts major offered by the Art Department.  Therefore it is the mission of the art department to provide students with a broad foundational experience in the visual arts and to provide the students an opportunity for in-depth experience necessary for graduate study or employment in arts related fields. 

Students choosing a major in the Art Department will:

- master basic art making skills

- develop a basic knowledge of the history of art and the role of the arts in our contemporary culture

- develop an aesthetic value system and the critical thinking skills

- be provided opportunity for in-depth experience necessary for graduate study or employment in arts related   fields

The art department is instituting a “Sophomore Portfolio” review process where all declared majors must meet with the art faculty to evaluate their progress and establish goals/expectations for their future studies, particularly with Commercial Arts majors and their plan for study at AIP. 

Senior Seminar, meant as a “capstone” for all majors and minors, is a course in which students will focus on creating work for the senior exhibition (required participation for all majors and minors) as well as a generating a thesis statement summarizing their experience at Thiel.

Elementary Teacher Certification
A minor in art may be used to augment a major in elementary education. See Department of Education.

Commercial Art Cooperative Program
Art Institute of Pittsburgh: Thiel College and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh have a cooperative program leading to a baccalaureate degree in art with commercial art emphasis. Study such areas as graphic design, illustration, computer animation, industrial design, interior design, web design, photography, video production, and special movie effects. See Cooperative Programs in the current catalog on page 58.

Drew University Art Semester: The Drew University Art Semester is designed to give interested and highly-qualified students opportunities to become acquainted with major museum collections, and important gallery exhibitions in New York City. See Cooperative Programs in the current catalogue on page 58.