Return to: Departments and Programs

Adriane Little, Director
Main Office:  R2110 Richmond Center
Telephone:  (269) 387-2436
Fax:  (269) 387-2477

Melis Agabigum
Karen Bondarchuk
Jessica Brandl
Jacklyn Brickman
Christina D. Chin
Cat Crotchett 
William Davis
Andrew Hennlich
Joyce Kubiski
Nicholas Kuder
Ryan Lewis
Nichole Maury
Ginger Owen
Paul Solomon
Eric Souther
Yuanliang Sun
Vince J. Torano
Mary-Louise Totton
Kyle Triplett
Patricia E. Villalobos
Patrick Wilson

The Gwen Frostic School of Art provides education in the visual arts to the students of Western Michigan University. An innovative foundation program integrates traditional skills with recent computer technologies, while rigorous upper-division coursework allows students to specialize in one or more media while completing research toward well-developed concepts. The faculty fosters the technical skills, critical thinking, and creative freedom necessary to prepare students for careers in the competitive fields of studio art, graphic design, art education, and art history. Through our programs, we also provide visual arts education to the broader university population to enhance art appreciation and visual literacy.

The Gwen Frostic School of Art also acts as a regional resource, advancing the arts and their roles in our community. Through the exhibitions in our galleries, visiting artists, designers, and scholars program, and a campus-wide sculpture tour, we provide the community access to local, national, and international artists, designers, and scholars.

Our faculty exhibit and publish creative work and research in national and international publications and venues. Through these activities, they advance our respective fields in the visual arts. Still, they are better equipped to mentor our students in a world of constantly changing methodologies, technologies, and expectations for Art and Design.

Programs
The Gwen Frostic School of Art offers the following degree programs: Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Art and an emphasis in either Ceramics, Metals/Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmedia, or Sculpture; Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Graphic Design; Bachelor of Science with a major in Kinetic Imaging with tracks in Animation, Game Art, and Video Art; Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art; Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art History; Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art Education; and Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Product Design. All programs are within the Art curriculum, which is composed of the WMU Essential Studies requirements of the University and the Art major requirements of the B.A., B.S., or B.F.A. degrees. The School of Art also offers five minors: Animation, Art, Art History, Game Art, and Video Art.

The Frostic School of Art offers several WMU Essential Studies courses for non-Art majors across the University. These courses include ART 1200: Introduction to Art, ART 1300: 3D Studio Experience, Art 1400: 2D Studio Experience, ART 1480: Direct Encounter for the Arts, ART 2900: The Skilled Observer in Art, Science, and Engineering, ART 2200: Cave to Cathedrals, ART 2210: Modern and Postmodern, ART 2220: Africa, Oceania, Americas, and ART 2230: Intro to Asian Art History.

Accreditation
Western Michigan University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and subscribes to the recommendations of this organization.

Admission
Enrollment in the Bachelor of Arts in Art curriculum is contingent upon admission to the University and acceptance from the Gwen Frostic School of Art, which is achieved through the portfolio review process. The student should begin by applying to the University and gathering a portfolio for application to the Gwen Frostic School of Art. Both applications should be commenced early in the senior year of high school or early in the final year at a community college.

Acceptance as an art major is based on the student’s art background, as demonstrated in the portfolio application. A portfolio includes samples of visual and written work. Information regarding the portfolio process is located on the School of Art’s website or by calling the art advisors at (269) 387-2440. The school welcomes the opportunity to confer with prospective students, parents, and counselors regarding educational goals and plans. Enrolled students in the Frostic School of Art have the opportunity to apply to one of our many programs; Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Art and an emphasis in either Ceramics, Metals/Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmedia, or Sculpture; Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Graphic Design; Bachelor of Science with a major in Kinetic Imaging with tracks in Animation, Game Art, and Video Art; Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art; and Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art Education. Art History students are accepted from the University application and do not need to apply to the Frostic School of Art.

Transfer Credit
Transfer credit may be used to fulfill no more than half the number of credit hours required for the student’s Art major or minor. Art credits earned at a college or university accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, or a regionally recognized accrediting agency, will transfer in most cases in which a grade of “C” is earned. Successful art course transfer depends on the degree of positive content relationship to existing WMU courses, particularly at the foundation level.

If you receive general art credit for any course you feel would fulfill a required art course, or for any course needed to satisfy a prerequisite for a course you wish to take, you must present a portfolio for consideration. Based on the results of this portfolio review, the course in question will either receive a direct course equivalent number or remain general art credit. General art credits can be used to fulfill the art elective category or be used as electives you may need to complete the minimum number of 122 hours required for graduation.

If you do not wish to show a portfolio for any courses in which you have received general “art credit,” you do not have to do so. These credits will automatically be used as electives wherever needed. For portfolio guidelines, please visit the Frostic School of Art website at wmich.edu/art

Advising
All art majors and minors are required to see an art advisor as soon as they are on campus and at least once each Fall and Spring semester after that. To make an appointment, please call (269) 387-2440 or visit the website at wmich.edu/art/admissions/advising

Computer Labs
The Gwen Frostic School of Art utilizes computers in virtually all aspects of the visual arts. Our computer lab is open to all Art majors and minors. Computer usage and design play a vital role in our
Graphic Design Program, and our Design Center is fully equipped for the exclusive use of Graphic Design students. Several computer labs across the College of Fine Arts also have open hours for student use throughout the school year.

Studios
Advanced undergraduates art typically are given studios when registered for ART 4830 Senior Project I and ART 4840 Senior Project II. All other students may work in the regular classroom studios during monitors hours when classes are not in session throughout the day, evenings, or weekends. The School of Art and its instructors cannot be responsible for student work left in studios after the end of each semester or term.

Grading
Art majors and minors receiving a grade below a “C” in a required course must repeat the course.

Return to: Departments and Programs