If you thrive on creative expression through art, you may very well find your desired major in the Department of Art. Our department has the outlets you’ll need to explore your creativity—from our strong curriculum, Ferguson Art Gallery's visiting artists program to student art exhibits across campus. Concordia’s location near downtown Chicago provides access to world-class museums, galleries and internship opportunities.
Art Department Purpose Statement
The Art Department integrates the University’s liberal arts education among our general student population fostering appreciation and critical awareness for the visual arts and provides quality professional training to our visual arts majors, minors and art education students.
Art Department Core Values
Nurtured community;
Respect for students;
Education of the whole person;
High academic standards;
Critical and creative thinking skills;
Discipline-Based art education (art aesthetices, art criticism, art history and art production);
Cross cultural diversity;
Chicago as classroom;
Regular curricular evaluation and improvements;
Servant leadership.
Art Department Critical Targets and Goals
Critical Target: Student Recruitment and Retention
Recruit, retain and graduate academically competent and diverse art students;
Critical Target: Curriculum
Provide a progressive and rigorous curriculum with experiences that ground students in the visual arts holistically, increases individual creativity and cultivates critical thinking;
Critical Target: Interns and Teacher Candidates
Offer challenging professional work experiences for our interns (studio art, graphic arts, arts administration) and teacher candidates (methods courses and student teachers);
Critical Target: Partnerships
Foster Partnerships with stakeholders that will increase the art program support and visibility;
Critical Target: Increased Resources
Strengthen viable physical, human and financial resources and maintain accountability to the University;
Critical Target: Ferguson Art Gallery
Foster art appreciation and critical and cultural awareness by showcasing the works of established and upcoming Chicago-area artists;
Critical Target: University Art Collection
Develop, preserve, restore and exhibit the University Art Collection.