Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education

Covid-19 Update: mask policy

Mask Policy and Information for Spring 2021

For general information about health and safety on campus please visit Health Guidelines.

TU is following current federal, state, and local guidelines regarding COVID-19.  With this in mind, TU is requiring everyone (all students, faculty, staff, contractors, and guests) to wear masks when inside buildings — and outside when physical distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible. The Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education has no exceptions to the university's mask requirement.

Learn More about Masking Protocols

Notice to Students

Please know that no student is required to attend in person classes this semester.   All courses have been designed to give students an online option for completing course work. Please contact your instructor if you need to choose this option.  

You can be required to attend a class synchronously online at the scheduled class time. These courses may happen as a hybrid (some students in the classroom and some attending remotely) or as fully synchronous online (all students in the virtual classroom at the scheduled time). 

All of the department’s programs — undergraduate, graduate and certificate — provide a broad understanding of the arts across disciplines, cultures, styles and media. Courses encourage students to embrace new technologies and materials, develop creativity and critical thinking, and seek global perspectives. You can participate in study abroad programs, internships, exhibitions and a monthly lecture series, and art + design undergraduate majors can tailor their course of study by selecting from one of nine different concentrations.

The department provides:

• an enriched learning environment, promoting excellence in the classroom, studio, community and through e-learning
• a professionally oriented arts education program taught by faculty recognized as accomplished teachers, scholars, practicing artists and designers, and leaders in their disciplines
• a forward-thinking art and design curriculum emphasizing innovation, accompanied by an understanding and appreciation of art history, art education, and traditional processes and skills
• a unique metropolitan perspective, taking full advantage of Towson’s location and liberal arts tradition and providing opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary learning

Take a Tour

Currently guided tours of the department are suspended due to COVID-19. For more information about undergraduate programs and the art facilities, please contact Academic Program Coordinator, Ginger Ross gross AT_TOWSON.  For more information about MFA graduate programs and facilities please contact MFA director, Prof. Tonia Matthews, tmatthews AT_TOWSON.

Exhibits On Campus

The Center for the Arts houses three galleries are open for virtual tours only.  No unscheduled in-person visits are currently allowed in response to COVID-19. View a list of current shows and options for virtual viewing.  The galleries exhibit works of living artists of the past 40 years, as well as emerging artists and students.

Virtual Lecture: Curator Kristen Hileman  

Curator Kristen Hileman has over twenty-five years of institutional experience in curatorial, advisory, and advocacy services in the areas of contemporary art, museums and cultural projects.

Virtual Lecture by Artist Siona Benjamin

Open Life Drawing Sessions

Open drawing sessions are limited to current students during the fall and spring semesters due to COVID-19.  Sessions will not be available to the community during the pandemic.  Students only are welcome to draw live models from 2 to 4 p.m., Fridays, usually starting the 3rd week of the term in the Center for the Arts, room 4036.