With passions for both art and science, Karissa Locke knew she wanted to combine the two fields for her chosen path of study. Research led her to discovering a perfect match for her interests with career opportunities in medical illustration. There was just one problem—there is not currently a medical illustration program offered at Missouri State. Rather than letting this stop Karissa from pursuing a perfect intersection of art and science, she proposed her own individualized major in order to work towards a degree aligned with her career goals.

Since beginning her individualized major journey, Karissa’s coursework has consisted of classes ranging between art and design, biology, and biomedical sciences. Karissa explains that the process, especially the beginning stages of getting started on her custom coursework, has required some extra effort to organize, “I had to first find advisors from each of the three departments my major is composed of . . . With their assistance, I had to write a proposal, create a personalized curriculum, decide on a senior project, and come up with a title for my degree before it was approved by the university.”

While there are challenges that an individualized major can present, Karissa has had plenty of help along the way, too. In the Art and Design Department, Professor Sean Lyman and Associate Professor Duat Vu have worked with Karissa on courses and assignments that will help her prepare for pursuing a master’s degree in medical illustration. “I have worked with one other individualized major while I have been at Missouri State. Each of these majors are unique based on the students needs. It allows for a wonderful opportunity to work across disciplines with other colleagues across the University. The assignments for Karissa’s degree currently are in line with the guideline requirements for the master’s programs Karissa is applying to,” Lyman adds.

Practice in many areas of art and design have been an important aspect to Karissa’s individualized major. “Medical Illustration graduate programs are looking for detailed drawings and paintings from direct observation, as well as a solid understanding of the human figure. To prepare, I have taken Life Drawing to practice with live models and used still life set-ups in other drawing and painting classes. I have also taken computer animation and design classes to familiarize myself with creating digital images and animations,” Karissa explains.

This semester, an especially unique class experience in Sean Lyman’s ART 497 has given Karissa a new way of studying and drawing the human form. The class allows Karissa to visit the cadaver lab on Missouri State’s main campus to draw human anatomy from direct observation. Through collaboration with Nicole Corley, the coordinator of the cadaver lab, accommodations have been made for Karissa to have access to open lab hours, permission to work in the lab on weekends, and has even been able to bring an easel with her to the lab.

While Lyman’s approach to teaching the human form has not changed, he explains that working with Karissa in the cadaver lab has simply allowed for a new way of teaching the techniques of his other classes, “Meeting with Karissa in the lab has allowed me to continue to utilize the approach I use in all of the other classes I teach, we always talk about the importance of working general to specific. Working from observation from the donors in the lab allows for these similar conversations to occur that happen in a typical classroom environment.”

“Biomedical Art is not just about creating art—it is about conveying accurate and important information. I will need a strong foundation in the life sciences to be able to grasp complex information, distill it down, and communicate it in a clear visual narrative. Because of this, I have taken classes in biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, biomedical science, embryology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, chemistry, plant taxonomy, calculus for the life sciences, and I plan to take histology this summer.” With the strong foundation she needs well underway, Karissa plans to graduate in fall 2023 with an Individualized Bachelor or Science in Biomedical Art, with minors in design and biomedical science.

For more information about individualized majors within the Art and Design Department, email the department at ArtandDesign@missouristate.edu or call 417-837-2330.

Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art + Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture, and food.