NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

7/28/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES ­An advanced degree in art has become more convenient to obtain, as Northwestern State University will begin offering most of its Master of Arts in Art program online as an option for busy professionals.

According to head of Fine and Graphic Arts, Dr. Roger A. Chandler, NSU will be one of a select number of institutions in the country and the only public university in the south to offer this degree online. Chandler said 12 hours of the program will available online this fall. Up to 24 hours of the 30-hour degree program could be offered online. A graduate seminar and thesis exhibition will be taught on campus. These classes can be completed during the summer semester.

Some of the problems Chandler and his faculty have worked through included how to determine scale on a sculpture, texture on a painting and other related problems when one is not viewing visual art in person.

"Developing this program online has really stretched us," said Chandler. "We have had to develop methods of delivering hands-on courses through electronic media. Now we can do that by manipulating the software we have and adding other multimedia components."

Because of Northwestern's regional nature, the university has often found it difficult to recruit students for its graduate program in art. The online offering of the program should place it on firmer footing.

"This opens a lot of doors for us to attract students nationally and internationally," said Chandler. "There are a large number of working artists who would like to obtain a master's degree to further their ability as educators or professionals but are not able to relocate for up to two years to earn the degree. This will provide a great opportunity for them."

For more information on the program, contact Chandler at chandlerr@nsula.edu.

Main Menu