Major Programs
The studio arts and the art history programs are a balance of studio work, art history, criticism and aesthetics. Both programs have a foundation composed of studio arts and art history courses: a two-semester sequence of Western traditions in art history, and drawing in studio arts.
The studio major is designed for the student who plans to undertake graduate studies in any field of studio arts or design, or otherwise intends to establish a career as a professional artist. Foundation courses consist of: ART 1130: Drawing; ART 1140: Life Drawing; ARTH 1200 and 1210: Western Traditions (2 semesters); and ARTH 3910: Twentieth-Century Art in Europe and the United States. Foundation courses are complemented with a range of courses in the major studio areas (painting, sculpture, and printmaking). Students must select advanced coursework in painting, sculpture, or printmaking for their area of concentration. In addition, studio arts majors participate in the senior seminar and the senior exhibition program.
The art history program is designed to prepare students for future graduate studies in art history or related fields, or employment in museums and galleries. The curriculum incorporates a developmental progression of courses, ranging from foundation courses that cover a broad array of historic material to specialized electives, and finally, to advanced seminars and an independent research project that prepare students for graduate level study in the field. Foreign language study is also strongly recommended for art history majors and minors, as it is an essential component of art historical research at graduate and professional levels.