With an updated curriculum and a brand new logo, the BYU-Hawaii Visual Arts Department is making its big debut this Winter Semester. The department is now separate from the BYUH Fine Arts Department and a mandatory meeting was held for all art majors on Thursday, Jan. 24. Brandon Truscott, a graphic design professor, opened the meeting. “We made a proposal to change the structure of the curriculum and it was approved as of Jan. 1 of this year.” The new department has outlined its purposes and goals. A student within the new program may choose from one of several tracks including graphic design, painting, and sculpture/ceramics. Each track has received curriculum modifications including updated pre-requisites, required internships, etc. Students are encouraged to speak with Betty Nikora, the academic advisor for the arts, to adjust their MAP schedules to comply with the most recent changes. Purposes of the Visual Arts Department 1. To prepare competent professionals in various fields of visual arts. 2. To qualify artists and designers to solve conceptual and technical problems inherent in visual arts.3. To train art students to critically assess and discuss works of art.4. To prepare art educators for teaching the visual arts at the secondary level.5. To generally develop individual’s aesthetic sense by helping them experience art.Five new certificates were announced at the meeting. Certificates will be available for students to add to their majors. “This creates an opportunity for you to do a primary and a secondary focus,” said Truscott. Certificates are available in painting, photography/video, sculpture, graphic design, and ceramics. Speaking about the certificates, Adam Eastburn, a sophomore and art major from California, said, “I’m really excited because it gives me an opportunity to expand my knowledge. I can become a graphic design major and still develop my skills in drawing and painting. The school is on top of their game.” Art majors are typically required to take three additional classes to complete their certificate. Those who are not art majors but are interested can complete a certificate by completing five required classes.New Professor Jay Merryweather formally introduced himself to the art majors and discussed the importance of art majors keeping a running electronic portfolio. “The idea is that, from now on, you will keep a running portfolio of your work in your classes. The likelihood that you will make it to where you want to go in your career relies 80 percent on your portfolio and 20 percent on your personality,” explained Merryweather.The meeting also discussed available scholarships, which are dispersed based upon an assessment of the student’s electronic portfolio. An up-to-date summary of the requirements for each major or certificate as well as scholarship deadlines are visible on the Visual Arts Department section of the university catalog.
Writer: Makenzie Head~Copy Editor
