Majoring & Minoring: Studio Art

Entering students who are considering studio art as a major are required to take the beginning studios in ceramics, painting and sculpture in the course of their first three semesters, as well as start the drawing sequence with Drawing I. In order to finish within four years, students must decide upon their focus medium (ceramics, painting or sculpture) and take the first studio in that medium by the fall 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 mediums, as well as 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 have the option of creating a “double focus” by using their department electives (e.g., sculpture and painting, ceramics and sculpture or painting and ceramics).

Students interested in graduate work in fields such as arts administration, arts conservation, or medical illustration should consider combining a major in art with a minor or second major in other fields such as business, chemistry, and biology, or developing an interdisciplinary “area of concentration.”

Upon invitation of the department, an honors project is available to students. An honors project requires at least six semester hours of Senior Research on one project starting spring junior year or fall senior year. Students who are interested in pursuing honors are encouraged to contact the professor who is most likely to act as adviser to the honors work. Honors are awarded on the basis of portfolio review and the vote of the studio art faculty. (Hours count as University electives.)

Major in Studio Art

30 semester hours, including Art 70-203; 70-403 or 413; 70-463 or 473; and 70-503 or 513 in the first three semesters; as soon as possible, 70-213 and one additional course from 70-403, 413, 463, 473, 503, 513; two semesters of studio seminar in the focus medium (offered once a year, and may be taken a third time as a University elective), creating a four-course sequence in one studio area; six additional hours of Studio Art electives.

Additional Requirements for the Studio Art major: (1) Minor in Art History: 18 semester hours, including Art History 71-103, 123; 71-623 or 633; nine additional hours of Art History above the introductory level (three of these hours may be in Studio Art). (2) Portfolio Review: graduating seniors must present a portfolio of their work for review by the sponsoring faculty member in the appropriate focus area. A slide portfolio and a resume are required and will be retained by the department for its permanent records. Works for the portfolio are usually produced in studio seminars in a student’s focus medium. (Capstone)

Minor in Studio Art

18 semester hours, including Art 70-403 or 413; 70-463 or 473; 70-503 or 513;one additional course from 70-403, 413, 463, 473, 503, 513; six additional hours of Studio Art (three of these hours may be in Art History).