COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art program requires students to complete a structured curriculum that builds foundational artistic skills while allowing flexibility for specialization and creative exploration. The program begins with 27 units of required lower division core courses that introduce students to essential studio practices and art history. These include courses such as Global Modern and Contemporary Art, Beginning and Intermediate Drawing, Beginning Painting, Beginning Printmaking, Beginning Hand-Built Ceramics, Form, Space and Vision, and Beginning New Media Art. Students must also complete one introductory art history course covering topics such as early global art traditions, Islamic art, Asian art, European visual traditions, or art of the Americas. After completing the foundational coursework, students move into the upper division studio core requirement, where they complete 12 units by selecting four advanced courses from a specific studio concentration or by designing an interdisciplinary studio focus with faculty guidance. Studio concentration areas include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and new media art and animation, allowing students to refine technical skills and develop a personal artistic direction. In addition to studio practice, students must complete an upper division art history elective that explores specialized topics such as Renaissance art, modern art, contemporary art, Asian art, Latin American art history, African American art and visual culture, or global animation history. The curriculum also includes a studio breadth elective, enabling students to expand their experience in another studio area such as ceramics, sculpture, photography, animation, or digital media. Students further complete an upper division breadth elective chosen from studio art, art history, or art education courses, which may include topics such as art education methods, curatorial studies, modern architecture, installation and performance art, or creative coding. Advanced opportunities such as fieldwork, directed research, experimental courses, and senior seminars allow students to gain professional experience and engage with contemporary artistic practices. Overall, the program combines technical training, historical and theoretical study, and creative experimentation to prepare students for graduate study, professional artistic careers, and participation in the broader visual arts community.