Academic Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Oct 03, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Visual Arts (Art History/Studio Arts Dual Concentration), B.A.


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Requirements for the Art History/Studio Arts Dual Concentration:


Students who wish to major in a combined dual concentration of studio art and art history must take seven courses in each area.

In Studio: Students take one course in three of the disciplines of the studio arts offered by the department (drawing and painting; photography; printmaking; sculpture and three-dimensional design; digital arts). Students may not exceed four introductory courses. Two 200-level intermediate-numbered courses are required in at least two studio art disciplines. Two advanced courses are required in a single discipline (300 or above). For honors requirements, see below.

In Art History: Students take four 100 or 200 numbered courses which must include three of the four cultural areas: The Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East/Central Asia; three courses from the 300 and 400 numbered courses. The WS requirement for combined dual concentration may be fulfilled by an Art History seminar taken in the senior year or a combined senior project. For honors requirements see below.

Requirements for Honors in the Art History/Studio Combined Dual Concentration:


Honors for the combined concentration requires (1) a cumulative grade point average of 3.3; (2) a 3.3 grade point average for all courses counting toward the combined concentration; (3) one of three project options: option A) Successful completion of a two-term art history honors thesis (“A” or “A minus”), which also requires successful completion of a paper by the end of the junior year (“B plus” or above), a proposal approved by the advisor, approval of the final product by a second faculty reader, and an oral presentation at The Steinmetz Symposium in the spring term of the senior year; or option B) A two-term independent study project focusing on the student’s particular area of interest in the studio arts, culminating in participation in the spring senior exhibition (“A” or “A minus”); or option C) a two-term project that combines Art History and Studio Arts, which must be planned in consultation with an advisor from each discipline, and which must be proposed by the end of the junior year. For those doing a written work, a copy must be left with the department’s collection and archives. For those completing a studio project, documentation of the project, a one-page abstract, and one original work must be left with the department. These requirements for project option C will be negotiated with the advisors on a case-by-case basis. All students must complete the WS requirement or an equivalent during the senior year.

Course Selection Guidelines


Placement: Incoming first-year students with strong Studio background from high school who are interested in the Visual Arts-Studio Fine Arts courses should contact the department chair to arrange for a portfolio review placement beyond an introductory course should contact the department chair to arrange for a portfolio review. Under certain circumstances, students may place into courses beyond the 100-level.

100-level courses: These courses are introductions to the study of Studio Fine Arts, and cover specific disciplines. Some are cross-listed or approved for credit in other departments or interdisciplinary programs. These courses are suitable for first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Many are pre-approval courses, and serve as the prerequisites for 200-level courses. 

200-numbered courses: These courses are intermediate courses in a specific Studio discipline in Studio Fine Arts. They may be medium-specific or thematic. Most require prerequisites or permission of the instructor, and they may be cross-listed or approved for credit in other disciplines or interdisciplinary programs. These courses are suitable for first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

300-numbered courses: These courses concentrate on specific disciplines at an advanced level. They typically have prerequisites drawn from the 100- and 200-level Studio Fine Arts courses or require permission of the instructor. These courses are generally suitable for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

400-numbered courses: These courses are for Visual Arts majors in their junior and senior years. They involve advanced work in one or more media on a specific topic, theme, and body of work.

Internships, Independent Studies, and Thesis: These courses are generally reserved for advanced Visual Arts students, who must consult with the Studio faculty and arrange for academic sponsorship prior to registering for them.

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