Courses in the art and art history department cultivate skills in the visual arts as well as an understanding of them as part of the liberal arts. Many art courses have no prerequisites and are open to all students. They also provide a background for those students who plan to continue their study of art at a graduate or professional school. To supplement classroom and studio experiences, Career and Professional Development and senior projects can provide internships and other opportunities for experiential learning such as arts management, commercial arts, museums, galleries, and the lives of professional artists.

Three programs are available for those who major in a visual arts field: a major in Studio Art, a major in Art History, and a combined major in Studio Art and Art History. A student may not have more than one major within the art and art history department.

A Senior Individualized Project in art for a non-major is possible only if the student has taken the relevant courses in the department (usually at least two courses in the area of the SIP; additional art courses are advisable.)

Potential Art Majors

All students considering a major or minor in studio art should contact the Art Department Chair as soon as possible in order to be enrolled in the required courses.

AP, Dual Enrollment, Transfer and Study Abroad Credits

Majors

Students who major in Studio Art, Art History, or Studio Art and Art History can use a total of only three units of transfer, dual enrollment, AP, and credits from study abroad combined to count toward their major, with approval of the department. Only two units from study abroad can be used toward the major.

Minors

Students who minor in Studio Art or Art History can use a total of only two units of transfer, dual enrollment, AP, and credits from study abroad combined to count toward their minor, with approval of the department. Only one unit from study abroad can be used toward the minor.

Senior Individualized Project (SIP)

All SIPs must be advanced-level work. Students must seek out a SIP advisor for a studio SIP prior to the fall of their senior year. A faculty member will agree to supervise the student only if the quality of the proposal and the student's preparation meet department expectations.

Studio Art SIP Guidelines

SIPs in Studio Art are one unit, typically executed in the senior winter.
Students should have considerable experience, equivalent to at least two
courses in the medium or area of the SIP. Sculpture students must take at least
two sculpture courses in addition to the required ARTX 135. All Studio Art
majors must enroll in ARTX450 (Advanced Studio) in the fall before the SIP;
this may also be required for non-majors who plan to do studio art SIPs.

Art History SIP Guidelines

SIPs in Studio Art are one unit, typically executed in the senior winter. Students should have considerable experience, equivalent to at least two courses in the medium or area of the SIP. Sculpture students must take at least two sculpture courses in addition to the required ARTX 135. All Studio Art majors must enroll
in ARTX450 (Advanced Studio) in the fall before the SIP; this may also be required for non-majors who plan to do studio art SIPs. The SIP usually consists of an exhibition, a presentation, and a narrative description of the project from nascent stage to completion with the addition of other support materials and images.

Art History SIP Guidelines
SIPs in Art History are one unit and may be either a research project or an internship.

The research SIP (summer, fall, or winter quarter) is a paper of about 40 to 50 pages on a topic in which the student has sufficient background to do advanced research. Students are required to write a tentative bibliography and outline the quarter before the SIP and to meet regularly with the supervisor and turn in draft sections during the SIP quarter.

The internship SIP is normally begun in the summer with the museum or gallery internship (typically about two months and 20-30 hours a week.) The SIP internship documentation (detailed daily journal, descriptions of the institution and personnel, 15-page research paper, reflective essay) is completed during the quarter of registration, either the summer or a subsequent quarter.