Artists help maintain and develop the cultural life of a society by means of their
unique expression of the basic truths of existence. The experience and practice of
visual art creates an awareness of these basic truths, and especially of the imaginal
and creative aspects of life, which is vital in the formation of the complete human
being. The art program therefore seeks to develop the critical aesthetic faculties
within the student and to nurture that knowing and judging capacity of the human spirit.
Students from other academic disciplines gain breadth and insight from courses in
studio art and art history, which share common ground with the other humanistic disciplines
and creative arts, and which complement the sciences.
The department views the experience and practice of the visual arts, particularly
at the undergraduate level, as an interdisciplinary pursuit. Within the art major,
the five areas offered are art history, ceramics, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. The art student is involved in the artistic and scholarly environment of the Haggerty
Art Village, with stimulation provided by independent study offerings, the presence
of graduate students, and on-campus and Dallas/Fort Worth area exhibitions and collections,
as well as visiting artists and lecturers. All of these construct the real environment
needed for growth in the arts.
The University of Dallas's graduate art curriculum pairs the study of visual art from
historical, theoretical and critical perspectives with disciplined studio practice
in an effort to define a clear understanding of the work and its evolution. Students
work with the entire graduate art faculty through independent studies, one-on-one
critique sessions and group evaluations to diverse perspectives on his/her work. A
strong commitment and dedication to the process of creating art and sound critical
thinking are characteristic of our students.
“The Quest: The Way of Beauty” is a collaborative effort of UD faculty in several disciplines, including art, theology, modern languages and literature.