About

Established in 1927, The Department of Art + Design is one of the original departments at Austin Peay State University. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, APSU’s Art + Design program offers studies in animation, art education, art history, ceramics, drawing, digital media, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The Department is housed in the College of Arts and Letters and consists of 19 full time faculty for approximately 350 students. Three on-campus galleries also support the Art + Design programs. In 2017 the Department moved into a state-of-the-art building. The Department of Art + Design also houses the Goldsmith Press and Rare Type Collection, a remarkable collection of antique and vintage wooden letterforms.

Vision Statement

The Department of Art + Design aspires to provide an accepting environment that empowers students to ask questions, think critically, take risks, and develop intellectual and creative curiousity which fosters the growth of knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary for a meaningful, productive life and work in a global society.

Education Goals for an APSU Art & Design Major

 To facilitate this vision, each student should demonstrate:

• The fundamental skills necessary to implement a concept through technique, material, or discipline-specific strategies;
• The development of a personal style or vision as executed across a variety of media, ideas, and creative activities through critical making and critical analysis;
• The writing and communication skills necessary to effectively translate their personal style into a focused, relevant conversation about the student’s own work and the work of others;
• A basic knowledge of significant works and movements in the canon of world art and design, which includes both formal and iconographic content;
• Advanced comprehension of focused topics in art and design history as a context for the student’s professional creative practice;
• Professional practices within the creative economy.

Welcome Statement

The Department of Art + Design at Austin Peay State University is committed to an active, intentional, and ongoing engagement to foster a welcoming environment for all of our community members. Supporting diverse voices and viewpoints is essential to achieving our mission and vision of educating informed global citizens. We welcome all people, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, political views, or veteran status and we seek to safeguard the safety, dignity, and well-being of all people.