Departments use different assessment techniques to determine whether their students are acquiring the knowledge and skills they need. Over the year, different "best practices" will be highlighted on this page.

Below is a copy of the Art Department Assessment Report with commentary. The use of a table format makes the report clear and concise.

The Assessment Report from the Department of Art has many of elements we are looking for. The report clearly states the Mission, outlines learning outcomes, and provides a list of assessment tools. It would be useful if the department would also include some of the General Education outcomes at UM, especially those from Perspective 1 (Expressive Arts) and Perspective 2 (Literary and Artistic Studies). In updating the reports, General Education Learning outcomes should be included.

University of Montana
Art Department
Assessment Report
Spring 2007

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Art is to provide a comprehensive instructional program in the visual arts that will develop professional artists, art historians and critics, gallery and museum professionals, art educators, and an informed public.  Visual images are a powerful means of communication, and we strive to set a high standard of literacy in this dominant cultural language.  Central to this mission are opportunities to create original works, critically analyze artworks and images past and present, and research the history of art/culture and the contexts in which art is produced.  Through these processes our students develop critical and creative thinking skills, cultivate an informed aesthetic, and obtain the ability to make judgments about artworks and images.

The Department of Art offers professional and liberal arts education in the visual arts.  Our goal is to provide comprehensive and integrated instruction in studio art, to include art history and criticism.  Course work in the Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Master of Fine Arts strives to render intensive professional training for students interested in a career in the field of art.  Students interested in a liberal arts education with an emphasis in the visual arts are served by our Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.  Teaching Certification is offered as an option for students seeking licensure to teach in the public schools K-12.

Student Learning Goals 

Visual Art by nature is driven by assessment. Producing art is a process of attacking a problem, using the visual language to communicate your solution and critically analying that solution with your audience. The refinement of this process over time (four years for undergraduate work) results in artwork that is visually engaging, unique to its creator, technically well wrought and presented, and meaningful.

The Art Department faculty has identified five student-learning goals, which are reflected in the department's mission statement, and which represent what our majors should know and be able to do upon completion of their degree.

Creative Thinking/Visual Communication

•  Knowledge and competence in creative problem solving and meaningful visual communication.

Visual Literacy/Language/Informed Aesthetic

•  Knowledge and competence of the visual language in both the production and analysis of art.

•  Knowledge and competence in technical skills and basic processes in a variety of media.

•  Knowledge and competence of professional standards used to develop and present works for exhibition.

Art History

•  Knowledge of art history/culture and the ability to place their studio work within an historical/contemporary context.

Critical Thinking

•  Knowledge and competence in the ability to critically analyze visual images, past and present, and their relevance to society through informed discource, both verbal and written.

Commentary:

Notice that the department has selected a diverse set of measures. Indirect measures include surveys, exit interviews, retention and transfer rates, time to degree, graduate rates, placement and acceptance data, as well as SAT/ACT scores. The department of Art has chosen a number of direct measures. These typically include the capstone experience, portfolio assessment, standardized tests, certification and licensure exams, locally developed exams, essay exams that are blind scored by a number of faculty, juried review of performance in internships. Art has used a number of these. Unless the exams/tests/quizzes listed below are standardized or graded by multiple scorers, they are not fully acceptable as direct assessments, however.

Assessment Methods

1. Exhibitions
2. In-process individual critiques
3. Full class final critiques
4. Written assignments:

• Research papers
• Artist statements
• Self and Peer Reflections
• Critical reviews of lectures and exhibitions
• Lesson plans

1. Exams, tests, quizzes
2. Presentations
3. Interviews
4. Field experiences
5. Full faculty and area faculty reviews

Commentary:

The Art Department has created a useful table below that shows has each learning outcome is measured using a selection of the methods outlined above.

The Department of Art offers professional and liberal arts education in the visual arts.  This modification coincides with the clarification of degrees throughout the School of Fine Arts. The Board of Regents approved a level 1 change, streamlining of degrees. Please see the changes underlined below.

Bachelor of Arts; Major in Fine Arts; Options in Art and Art Education
Changed to:
Bachelor of Arts in Art; Areas of Specialization: Art, Art Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts; Major in Fine Arts; Options in Ceramics, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture
Changed to:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art; Areas of Specialization: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture

Master of Arts; Major in Fine Arts; Options in Art and Art History
Changed to:
Master of Arts in Art; Areas of Specialization: Art, Art History

Master of Fine Arts; Major in Fine Arts; Options in Ceramics, Painting & Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture
Changed to:
Master of Fine Arts in Art; Areas of Specialization: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture

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