College of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
Bachelor of Arts in Art and Graphic Design

Betty Friedman, Chair, Department of Art
(650) 508-3631, bfriedman@ndnu.edu

Art

Student in art studio The Art Department at Notre Dame de Namur University offers both a BA and BFA degree in Art. The Art programs at NDNU are known for their rigorous studio practice and the Madison Art Center, which includes the Wiegand Gallery. The quality of the NDNU Art Department is made up of a combination of the working artists who are the faculty, small class sizes and excellent studio facilities. Students begin coursework in the Art major as a freshman. This allows students to have significant individual interaction with faculty. The BFA in Art provides students with further studio concentration to prepare their portfolios for admittance to graduate programs.

The Art curriculum includes studio courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography as well as design fundamentals. Study of art history and experience in art gallery practice are also part of the Art curriculum. Students exhibit their work in the Wiegand Gallery every year during the Student Show. In the required Gallery Techniques course, students also have the opportunity to work with artists exhibiting in the Wiegand Gallery. Students also learn art gallery business and marketing as well as installation, lighting, and preparation techniques.

Students earning the BFA degree spend additional time in the studio prior to graduation to prepare a more extensive portfolio for entrance into MFA programs. Our graduates have been accepted in MFA programs at Boston University, U.C. Davis, Hunter College, California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, San Jose State, and Art Center College of Design. Students who receive BA degrees in Art are allowed entry into teaching credential programs, art therapy programs, or art gallery/museum/appraiser professions.

Art and Graphic Design

The Art Department at Notre Dame de Namur University offers a BA degree in Art and Graphic Design that gives students a state-of-the-art education in graphic design concepts, production, and web design for a practical career path in the graphic design field. Design students benefit from experience in Fine Art in their curriculum along with current design technology. Graphic design students in Mac lab The Art programs at NDNU are known for their rigorous studio practice and the Madison Art Center, which includes a dedicated Macintosh computer lab for graphic design, and the Wiegand Gallery. The quality of the NDNU Art Department is made up of a combination of the working artists who are the faculty, small class sizes and excellent studio facilities. Students begin coursework in the Art and Graphic Design major as a freshman. This allows for significant faculty individual interaction with students.

The Art and Graphic Design curriculum includes studio courses in graphic design, typography, print production, web design and design fundamentals as well as drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photography. Students are required to do an internship and produce a senior portfolio in their senior year. Art history and installation experience in the Wiegand Gallery round out the Art and Graphic Design major. Students have access to labs and studios in the Madison Art Center 24/7.

Recent internships undertaken by our graphic design students include positions at Siemen’s, San Mateo Daily Journal, Parents Press, Keyboard Magazine, and Communication Arts, S.F. Red Cross and various individual professional designers.

See the NDNU General Catalog for the program requirements and course descriptions.

Emerging Artist Talent Scholarship

NDNU offers this scholarship to all students who wish to become Art majors. It is worth up to $9500 each year for four years. To apply, send a portfolio of 15 pieces (can be slides, CD, photographs or actual work) in any media plus a short statement about your work. Send your portfolio to the Art Dept. Chair, NDNU, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont CA. 94002 by February 1. Your portfolio will be returned if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Art Therapy Psychology Articulated Program

The Art Department offers a special articulated program with NDNU's graduate program in Art Therapy Psychology. This program allows qualified students in their last year of undergraduate work to begin study for the master's degree, while completing the bachelor's degree. They are allowed to enroll in up to six units of selected graduate coursework in Art Therapy that fulfills part of the undergraduate general elective requirement, while also counting those graduate units toward the master's degree. Undergraduate Art majors who are interested in NDNU's Art Therapy Psychology graduate program are encouraged to also minor in Psychology.

Admission Process

NDNU admits students throughout the year for fall, spring and summer semesters. Please review the NDNU General Catalog for complete admission requirements.

Faculty

Betty Friedman, Professor of Art and Chair, Department of Art, at NDNU since 1995
BFA, MFA, California College of Arts and Crafts

Robert Poplack, Professor of Art, at NDNU since 1991
BA, University of California, Santa Cruz; MA, MFA, University of California, Berkeley

Paul Bridenbaugh, Lecturer in Art, at NDNU since 1999
BA, University of California, Santa Cruz; MFA, Columbia University

Ellen Chong, Lecturer in Art, at NDNU since 1998
BFA, Credential, College of Notre Dame

Linda Covello, Lecturer in Art, at NDNU since 2003
BA, University of California, Santa Cruz; MFA, Parson's School of Design

Leon Kortenkamp, Senior Lecturer in Art, at NDNU since 1982
BA, Loras College; MA, MFA, University of Notre Dame

Robert Simons, Senior Lecturer in Art, at NDNU since 1978
BFA, MFA, California College of Arts and Crafts

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