ORIENTATION 2021 Q&A
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE ART & DESIGN DEPARTMENT!
Orientation 2021 Student Work Presentation HERE
The answers to the following questions may be found at each program specific webpage: https://artdesign.buffalostate.edu/programs
Q. What is the student’s academic roadmap?
Q. What should students expect from their major?
Q. What degree requirements will be met by each class in their first semester schedule and future academic requirements and opportunities within their chosen area of interest?
Q. What type of co-curricular experiences (e.g., clubs, organizations) are available through the department?
A. The Visual Arts Board (VAB) is dedicated to positively igniting involvement of the visual arts community on campus. This organization strives to enrich the community by having guest artists, lecturers, open figure drawing, and trips to galleries/museums and other art venues and maintaining the Dr. Margaret E. Bacon Gallery in Upton Hall for showcasing student student work. The Visual Arts Board strives to circulate artistic ideas and visions hoping to be put forward on campus and throughout the community.
You will find a list of all Student Recognized clubs here: https://sle.buffalostate.edu/recognized-organizations
Academic expectations and keeping on track for graduation:
Q. What does a student need to do to keep on track for graduation? How can students address possible transitional issues they may encounter, specifically adjusting to academic expectations, developing positive academic behaviors, taking ownership of college-level learning, and developing purposeful relationships with faculty?
A. Each program in Art and Design has individual expectations that can be found on the program’s webpage: https://artdesign.buffalostate.edu/programs.
A. It is also required to meet with the advisor before every semester to discuss course you will register for in the upcoming semester. Advising is the most important process in order to complete all required courses on time and graduate in a timely manner. As you (the student) are the sole person that registers for classes, your schedule and the classes you take are always YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. You will be assigned a faculty advisor at the beginning of your academic career. Each semester your advisor will SUGGEST courses that meet your academic goals, but it is your responsibility to ensure that those courses do indeed meet your plans and are to your benefit, and you must register for those courses yourself. Keep all your paperwork from advising, and each semester make an appointment with your faculty advisor as early as possible (usually the seventh or eighth week of the semester). If for any reason you choose not to take the courses you and your advisor agreed upon, tell your faculty advisor as soon as possible.
For a complete list of Art and Design faculty and contact information: https://artdesign.buffalostate.edu/directory
Q. How many hours a week should a student spend on work in major classes?
Workload: For students to be academically successful in studio classes (in addition to the required class time) you must show evidence that demonstrates a MINIMUM of at least two hours each week on assignments outside of class for each hour of on-campus class time. Additional hours may vary by individual Program requirements. For some assignments you will be putting in much more time. Please note; this minimum is for the time you spend actually working on your assignments. You should expect to spend adequate time in reading, researching, writing, working on projects, preparing homework, studying, and so on. This is known as independent learning, a hallmark of an educated person. Please read syllabus handouts to find an individual area’s additional outside of class hour requirements.
Applied learning opportunities and life after graduation:
Q. What careers should a student expect to obtain with a 4-year degree?
Q. What internships are available?
Q. What partnerships does the department have with industry?
Q. What are some research projects underway in the department?
Art and Design majors cultivate talents that make them desirable in numerous professions. Many careers directly involve design work, but a graduate from a liberal arts program in design enters the workforce with a highly developed sense of aesthetics, an aptitude for working alone or as part of a team, and the abilities to exercise critical judgment and respond positively to criticism.
Graduates also have valuable experience in planning projects and seeing them through to completion. These qualities are highly sought after by many employers. Some design graduates, particularly those in the Crafts areas, maintain studios from which they exhibit or sell their work.
Design majors are prepared for careers in businesses that require design or art professionals. Advertising, fashion, publishing, e-commerce, and consumer product industries all required designers/artists to create, contribute to, or package their products.
Graduates have been hired as ceramic designers, jewelry designers, textile designers, furniture designers, model makers, package designers, type designers, graphic designers, web page designers, consultants for industry as lab technicians, model makers, sales representatives, public relations, production manager, product designers; teachers or administrators for schools, art schools, art centers, college/university, continuing education programs, museum, gallery, arts council, or government agencies. Others have gone on to working for arts publications, curators, art librarians, restorers, gallery director/owners, art/craft promoters. Design majors may become self-employed as freelance designers or maintain studios from which they produce, exhibit and sell work.
Additionally, a design degree from Buffalo State prepares our students for graduate programs in their chosen discipline.
Careers and Alumni News: https://artdesign.buffalostate.edu/careers-and-alumni-news
Helpful resource for careers in the Art and Design field: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and design/home.htm
