Art

Majoring & Minoring

The Studio Art Department offers courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, and minors in Studio Art, and in Architecture and Design Studies. 

Studio Art (Art) 

The studio art curriculum offers art, design, and architecture courses as expressive media with contemporary cultural relevance. Because art is inherently interdisciplinary, the major in Studio Art is offered as a pre-professional program within a liberal arts context; it intends that each student should produce artworks with technical proficiency in a principal medium supported by knowledge of a variety of media processes as well as liberal arts breadth in critical thinking and verbal skills. In advanced classes, students focus on a body of related creative works, locating their ideas and artworks within a contemporary cultural and theoretical context. The major is preparation both for students intending to apply to Master of Fine Arts programs; for those who wish to pursue professional work as artists; and for students who wish to acquire a liberal arts degree which can lead to work in a wide variety of fields in graduate school both inside and outside the world of art (such as art history, architecture, digital arts, commercial art, design, arts administration, teaching art in elementary and secondary schools, etc.).

There are two studio art degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts. The latter is a more focused degree that requires departmental approval for admittance into the program.

Studio Art Goals:
1. Develop students’ abilities to think critically and creatively about art practice and the influences that inform art as a discipline.
2. Impart a basic knowledge of the central theoretical concepts in contemporary art and art practice.
3. Provide the basis for a life of sustained intellectual and creative inquiry with interdisciplinary frames of reference.

All entering students who are considering studio art as a major are required to take the beginning studios in drawing, ceramics, painting and sculpture in their first three semesters and Drawing II as soon as possible. In order to finish within four years, students must decide upon their focus medium (ceramics, painting or sculpture) and take the second studio in that medium by the end of their sophomore year.

In the visual arts, it is important for the undergraduate studio art major to build a strong knowledge base over a wide variety of media as well as to become proficient in one medium. Students are encouraged to use their electives to develop skills in a number of media other than their focus medium. Students also have the option of creating a “double focus” by using their department electives. 

  • Major in Studio Art (BA): 11 courses

    Foundations (in the first three semesters):

    • ART68-114 Drawing I
    • One course from: ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessel Concepts
    • One course from: ART68-234 Painting: Representational ART68-244 Painting: Abstract
    • One course from: ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract
    • ART68-374 Drawing II (as soon as possible)

    Focus: The BA focus area is a four-course sequence in one focus medium chosen from Intermedia: Ceramics, Design; or Intermedia: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking; or Intermedia: Sculpture, Digital Arts, Photography. To stay on track for a four-year BA degree, the focus medium must be declared by the mid-sophomore year, and the second course in the focus medium must be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

    • One additional course from the chosen focus medium (by the end of the sophomore year) from:
      • ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building
      • ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessel Concepts
      • ART68-234 Painting: Representational
      • ART68-244 Painting: Abstract
      • ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative
      • ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract
    • One course in the intermedia focus area with its co-requisite course (Note: these courses are offered only once per year):
      • ART68-504 Intermedia Seminar: Ceramics and Design, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
      • ART68-514 Intermedia Seminar: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
      • ART68-524 Intermedia Seminar: Sculpture, Digital Arts, and Photography, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
    • One course in the Intermedia Capstone (Note: these courses are offered only once per year):
      • ART68-604 Intermedia Capstone: Ceramics and Design
      • ART68-614 Intermedia Capstone: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking
      • ART68-624 Intermedia Capstone: Sculpture, Digital Arts, and Photography

    Studio elective:

    • One additional course in studio art, chosen from courses in drawing, printmaking, photography, digital arts, design or architecture.

    Art History:

    • One Art History course (Recommend one of the Introductions to Art History)

    Optional senior art exhibition: BA students may seek approval for a senior art exhibition – see the professor in the focus area and the department chair for requirements. Students who are approved must take 68-702 Exhibition Practicum in the semester of their senior exhibition.

    Note on course numbering: 100 level courses are introductory. 200-400 are introductory and mid-level courses listed by medium; 500 are studio seminars and professional practices; 600 are capstones; 700 level courses are practicums. 900 level courses are tutorials, honors, internships, and independent study.

  • Major in Studio Art (BFA): 19 courses  

    The BFA in Studio Art is a pre-professional degree that intensifies work in art and design supported by a program in general studies; normally, the intent is to prepare students for professional practice and graduate study. To be admitted to the BFA degree program, students must submit a formal application and pass a portfolio jury during the sophomore or junior year. BFA students must maintain a specified grade point average and pass regular reviews by the studio faculty as a whole to continue in the program. Contact the department chair for the program requirements.

    The BFA focus area is a four-course sequence in one intermedia area chosen from the following three options: Intermedia: Ceramics, Design; or Intermedia: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking; or Intermedia: Sculpture, Digital Arts, Photography. To stay
    on track for a four-year BFA degree, the focus medium must be declared by the mid-sophomore year, and the second course in the focus medium must be completed by the end of the sophomore year. 

    Foundations (in the first three semesters):

    • ART68-114 Drawing I
    • One course from:
      • ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building
      • ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessel Concepts
    • One course from:
      • ART68-234 Painting: Representational
      • ART68-244 Painting: Abstract
    • One course from:
      • ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative
      • ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract 
    • ART68-374 Drawing II (by the end of the sophomore year) 
    • ART68-384 Drawing III  

    Focus: The BFA focus area is a four-course sequence in one intermedia area chosen from Intermedia: Ceramics, Design; or Intermedia: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking; or Intermedia: Sculpture, Digital Arts, Photography. 

    • One additional course (by the end of the sophomore year) from:
      • ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building
      • ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessel Concepts
      • ART68-234 Painting: Representational
      • ART68-244 Painting: Abstract
      • ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative
      • ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract
    • One course in the intermedia focus area with its co-requisite Professional Practices (note: these classes are offered only once per year): 
      • ART68-504 Intermedia Seminar: Ceramics and Design, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
      • ART68-514 Intermedia Seminar: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
      • ART68-524 Intermedia Seminar: Sculpture, Digital Arts, and Photography, and ART68-502 Professional Practices 
    • One course in the Intermedia Capstone (note: these courses are offered only once per year):
      • ART68-604 Intermedia Capstone: Ceramics and Design
      • ART68-614 Intermedia Capstone: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking
      • ART68-624 Intermedia Capstone: Sculpture, Digital Arts, and Photography

    Art History:

    • ARH71-024, -034, -044, or -054 Introduction to Art History
    • One modern Art History course from:
      • ARH71-524 19th Century Art in Europe and the United States
      • ARH71-534 Modernism and the 20th C. Avant-gardes
      • ARH71-544 Art After 1945 (recommended)
    • ARH71-200s (a course in East Asian art history); or ARH71-300s (a course in Latin American art history) 

    Exhibition Practicum:

    • Two semesters (one of which must be in the semester of the senior exhibition) of ART68-702 Exhibition Practicum

    Studio and Art History Electives:

    • Four additional courses (3-4 credits each) in studio art; one art history elective course may be taken in the place of a studio elective. A total of four credits of Independent Study may count as studio art electives; any additional Independent Study credits count as university electives. 

    BFA Exhibit Capstone:

    • BFA Capstone Exhibition: The capstone exhibition must be sponsored by a faculty member in the appropriate medium; and must be approved by the full-time studio art faculty for graduation. BFA students present a senior art
      exhibition to the public and give a formal talk to the studio faculty for a jury grade. See the Department Chair for details.
  • Paired Major in Art History and Studio Art (BA): 18 courses

    Introductory courses:

    • One Introduction to Art History course (any ARH71-0X4 course)
    • ART68-114 Drawing I

    Distribution/Focus courses*:

    • One 200 level East Asian Art and Architecture Art History course.
    • One 300 level Latin American Art History course (only Latin American themed 304-Selected Topics courses will count).
    • One 400 level Pre- or Early Modern Europe or Architectural History course.
    • One 500 level Modern Art History course.
    • One Ceramics focus course from:
      • ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building
      • ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessels Concepts
    • One Painting focus course from:
      • ART68-234 Painting: Representational
      • ART68-244 Painting: Abstract
    • One Sculpture focus course from:
      • ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative
      • ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract
    • One additional Studio Art focus course (must be from chosen focus area taken no later than the end of the sophomore year) from:
      • ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building
      • ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessel Concepts
      • ART68-234 Painting: Representational
      • ART68-244 Painting: Abstract
      • ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative
      • ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract

    Upper level courses:

    • ART68-374 Drawing II (as soon as possible)
    • ARH71-614 Special Topics in Art History (to be taken before the capstone seminar.)
    • One course in the chosen intermedia focus area with its co-requisite course (Note: these courses are offered only once per year)
      • ART68-504 Intermedia Seminar: Ceramics and Design, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
      • ART68-514 Intermedia Seminar: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking, and ART68-502 Professional Practices
      • ART68-524 Intermedia Seminar: Sculpture, Digital Arts, and Photography, and ART68-502 Professional Practices

    Elective courses:

    • One additional course in studio art, chosen from courses in drawing, printmaking, photography, digital arts, design or architecture.
    • One additional upper level course in Art History (level 200+)

    Capstones:

    • ARH71-824 Capstone Research Seminar (Fall senior year)
    • One course in the chosen Intermedia Capstone focus area (Note: these courses are offered only once per year):
      • ART68-604 Intermedia Capstone: Ceramics and Design
      • ART68-614 Intermedia Capstone: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking
      • ART68-624 Intermedia Capstone: Sculpture, Digital Arts, and Photography

    *Explanation of Focus courses for Studio Art: The BA focus area is a four-course sequence in one medium chosen from the following Intermedia areas: Ceramics, Design OR Painting, Drawing, Printmaking OR Sculpture, Digital Arts, Photography. To stay on track for a four-year BA degree, the focus medium must be declared by the mid-sophomore year, and the second course in the focus medium must be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

    Optional senior art exhibition: BA students may seek approval for a senior art exhibition – see the professor in the focus area and the department chair for requirements. Students who are approved must take ART68-702 Exhibition Practicum in the semester of their senior exhibition. 

  • Minor in Studio Art: 5 courses 

    • One course from:
      • ART68-204 Ceramics: Hand-building
      • ART68-214 Ceramics: Vessel Concepts 
    • One course from:
      • ART68-234 Painting: Representational
      • ART68-244 Painting: Abstract 
    • One course from:
      • ART68-254 Sculpture: Figurative
      • ART68-264 Sculpture: Abstract
    • Two additional courses (3-4 credits) in any studio medium offered in the department: either one additional course in the above focus media plus one in any other medium; or two additional courses in the above media; or two courses in the same medium selected from any offered in the department (e.g., printmaking, photography, digital arts, drawing, architecture/design, and may include one advanced intermedia course). 
  • See the Education Department for information regarding teacher certification in Art.