General Education

Statement of Purpose

The Liberal Arts Program of the Ringling College of Art and Design offers courses in art history, scientific practices, arts and humanities, literature and media studies, social and behavioral sciences, and writing. These courses, required for the B.F.A. and B.A. degrees, develop the knowledge base and skill-sets essential to the lifelong practice of art and design. Courses are customized for studio artists and designers, emphasizing interconnections between the studio and liberal arts. The Program promotes values crucial to understanding issues of importance for artists and designers, so they can powerfully and sensitively interact with local, national, and global communities.

Student Learning Outcomes

The general education competencies outlined below are the intended outcomes that all students should attain by the time they graduate from Ringling College. Students have multiple opportunities to develop and demonstrate these abilities as creators, communicators and collaborators.

Competency Threads Woven Throughout All Areas

1. Communication Skills: Demonstrate effective skills in visual communication, speaking, writing, reading and computer literacy.

2. Thinking Skills: Demonstrate abilities in conceptual, logical and intuitive thinking within a variety of contexts.

3. Global Perspectives: Demonstrate an understanding of differences in cultures and societies.

4. Artistic Discernment: Show an ability to discern artistic merit of diverse forms of art/design in their contexts. Be able to defend critical interpretations concerning the significance of artistic expression.

5. Self-Directed Learning: Demonstrate responsibility for independent learning and perseverance towards goal attainment.

6. Collaboration: Understand and practice collaboration in appropriate situations.

7. Social Responsibility: Recognize the social and ethical responsibility of creating art and design.

General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degrees in Art and Design

The general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BFA) degrees in Art and Design total 42 credit hours.

First Year Gateway Requirement (3 Credit Hours)

First Year Gateway courses introduce students to the foundational issues of contemporary art and design, providing students with a shared understanding of issues and terminology that are necessary for success in their respective programs. Additionally, the courses provide a general introduction to the experience and goals of the liberal arts.

Liberal Arts Core Requirement (21 Credit Hours)

Core courses combine general content area knowledge with the development of essential competencies. They meet the following criteria:

• Introduce students to important figures, events, works, and ideas, from a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives;

• Offer breadth of context, exhibit multiple methodologies of study, and illustrate the multidimensional complexity of the topics or problems studied;

• Introduce a discipline’s perspective and background knowledge in a problem- or project-based manner.

  Core Requirements for the BFA Degree Include the Following:
  Writing (6 credit hours)
  Arts and Humanities (3 credit hours)
  Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours)
  Literature and Media Studies (6 credit hours)
  Scientific Practices (3 credit hours)

  Art and Design History Requirement (12 Credit Hours)
  Art History Survey (3 credit hours)
  History of the Major (3 credit hours)
  Upper-Level Art History electives (6 credit hours)

  General Education Electives (6 Credit Hours)
  Specific general education electives may be required or recommended by the major.

General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degrees

The general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees total 36 credit hours.

First Year Gateway Requirements (3 Credit Hours)

First Year Gateway courses introduce students to the foundational issues of contemporary art and design, providing students with a shared understanding of issues and terminology that are necessary for success in their respective programs. Additionally, the courses provide a general introduction to the experience and goals of the liberal arts.

Liberal Arts Core Requirement (21 Credit Hours)

Core courses combine general content area knowledge with the development of essential competencies. They meet the following criteria:

• Introduce students to important figures, events, works, and ideas, from a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives;

• Offer breadth of context, exhibit multiple methodologies of study, and illustrate the multidimensional complexity of the topics or problems studied;

• Introduce a discipline’s perspective and background knowledge in a problem- or project-based manner.

  Core requirements for the BA Degree include the following:
  Writing (6 credit hours)
  Arts and Humanities (3 credit hours)
  Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours)
  Literature and Media Studies (6 credit hours)
  Scientific Practices (3 credit hours)

  Art and Design History Requirement (6 credit hours)
  Art History Survey (3 credit hours)
  Upper-Level Art History elective (3 credit hours)

  General Education Electives (6 Credit Hours)
  Specific general education electives may be required or recommended by the major.

General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing Degree

The general education requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Creative Writing total 36 credit hours.

First Year Gateway Requirements (3 Credit Hours)

First Year Gateway courses introduce students to the foundational issues of contemporary art and design, providing students with a shared understanding of issues and terminology that are necessary for success in their respective programs. Additionally, the courses provide a general introduction to the experience and goals of the liberal arts.

Liberal Arts Core Requirement (24 Credit Hours)

     Core courses combine general content area knowledge with the development of essential competencies. They meet the following criteria:

• Introduce students to important figures, events, works, and ideas, from a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives;

• Offer breadth of context, exhibit multiple methodologies of study, and illustrate the multidimensional complexity of the topics or problems studied;

• Introduce a discipline’s perspective and background knowledge in a problem- or project-based manner.
  
  Core requirements for the BFA in Creative Writing include the following:
  Writing (6 credit hours)
  Arts and Humanities (3 credit hours)
  Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours)
  Literature and Media Studies (6 credit hours)
  Scientific Practices (3 credit hours)
  Gender and Sexuality Studies Elective (3 hours)
  
  Art and Design History Requirement (3 credit hours)
  Art History Survey (3 credit hours)
  
  General Education Electives (6 Credit Hours)
  Specific general education electives may be required or recommended by the major.