Art, B.A. Program (120 units)
Program Description
The Art Department offers three programs of study in the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree. The Art History and Visual Studies concentration develops students’ skills in research, visual analysis, and argumentation, leading to a range of careers in the arts or to graduate study. The concentration in Studio Arts and the concentration in Design provide broad survey art and design practices in preparation for continued professional development or creative and design careers.
The B.A. Degree Concentrations:
- Art History & Visual Studies
- Studio Arts
- Design
The program core plus concentrations require 51 units of study in the Department to complete the major. Students of Design or Studio Arts who wish to meet full professional expectations or attend Graduate School are encouraged to choose one of the concentrations in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A). program.
Career Opportunities
Graduates from our Bachelor of Art degree program go on to pursue careers as:
• Artist • Designer • Art Librarian • College Professor • Curator • Development Coordinator • Digital Asset and Rights Manager • Director of Cultural Affairs • Gallery Director • Gallery Sales Consultant • Museum Educator • Museum Visitor Services Specialist • Public Art Program Manager • Registrar or Collections Manager.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficiency in appropriate art-making skills and tools.
- Imagine, ideate and create using an open, confident, and flexible method through creative processes and design thinking.
- Critique and think critically about art works using appropriate concepts from art history and theory, in the context of culture, contemporary art, and in public and global spheres.
- Communicate clearly and persuasively through their work.
- Integrate arts-related skills in developing professional practices and planning for ethical, sustainable civic engagement.
Degree Requirements Unit-Outline
- A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major requirements consists of 51 units;
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free Electives may consist of 12 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).
Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.
Art, B.A. Major Requirements (51 units)
Art Core Coursework
The following 27 core units are required:
Art Concentrations
Students must choose at least one (1) of the following concentrations for 24 units:
Art History and Visual Studies Concentration
The concentration in Art History and Visual Studies trains students in the critical and historical study of art and other visual media. Students in this concentration learn how to approach art objects and images with respect to the socio-political and cultural conditions of their making and reception. This fosters sensitivity for diverse viewpoints and promotes critical awareness of the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of how we see the world. Coursework introduces comparative studies of world cultures, critical investigations of old and new media technologies, and examination of the global impacts of contemporary visual cultures. Students are also encouraged to broaden the scope of their studies by locating cognate courses on visuality and visual practices outside the department. The concentration prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in the arts or for graduate work in art history, film and media studies, law, and education.
Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements
In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Requirements, Exams & Testing chapter of this catalog.
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