In January 2015, the BYU Department of Visual Arts, in the College of Fine Arts and Communications, will become two new departments: Design and Art. The Visual Arts Department’s Art History program will move to the College of Humanities.
With this change, the faculty, programs and students in the Department of Visual Arts will divide into the Department of Design (photography, illustration, graphic design, animation) and the Department of Art (studio art and art education).
Art History faculty and staff will join the College of Humanities’ newly named Department of Comparative Arts and Letters (currently known as the Department of Humanities, Classics and Comparative Literature). George Handley will continue as chair of the department.
While no immediate changes to class schedules or students’ degree progression are expected, this move is the culmination of a two-year process to consider the changing needs of students and faculty.
“We are pleased that Art History is moving to the College of Humanities,” said John R. Rosenberg, dean of the College of Humanities. “We welcome Art History faculty, staff and students and look forward to our association with them.”
“There are very exciting opportunities that will come from this decision,” said Stephen Jones, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications. “We are confident these changes will enable more effective student learning and the continued growth and strengthening of all the programs involved.
The current chair of the Department of Visual Arts, Linda Reynolds, will step down at the end of fall 2014 semester. It is expected that chairs for the two new departments will be named soon.
