Art
The Art major at SMCM provides a supportive environment in which a broad range of creativity is fostered. Our curriculum introduces students to techniques and concepts that build progressively towards a self-determined artistic practice. In addition to developing art-making skills, students learn critical thinking, reflective self-evaluation, articulation of creative intentions, and art historical contexts. Because our curriculum values interdisciplinary thinking, many of our students complete second majors, and minors in other fields of study, and are encouraged to integrate these diverse interests into their work.
The core courses for the major teach basic technical skills, while emphasizing visual literacy and analysis as fundamental tools for both understanding and making art. Beyond this core, studio art majors choose electives from a range of mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital art, and photography.
Advanced courses expand students’ understanding of contemporary art and the interdisciplinary relationships between mediums, while continuing to improve their technical abilities. These upper-level courses include self-directed projects that lead to focused explorations of content relevant to each student. Students continue to build their historical understanding by taking additional courses in art history. The Art Major culminates in a yearlong capstone experience in which students create a body of work for exhibition or presentation accompanied by a written artist statement, and public talk.
The flexible requirements of the Art Major allow students to tailor their coursework to serve a variety of post-graduation goals. Our program prepares students for graduate school and careers in the arts including practicing artist, art education, community arts, graphic design, media production, and architecture, as well as a wide range of professional and personal activities for which practical skills, analytical abilities, and visual literacy are key components.
Learning Outcomes
- Create works of art that effectively communicate through a coordinated use of form, content, and process
- Execute basic art making techniques in a range of visual media, execute advanced artmaking techniques in at least one visual media area, and employ productive art-generating practices
- Create artworks that demonstrate an artistic point of view, and explain their artistic intentions in context
- Articulate their artistic intentions in effective written and oral form
- Assess their work and the work of others through critical analysis
- Explain the expressive effect of a work of art through visual analysis
Degree Requirements for the Art Major
General College Requirements
- General College Requirements (see “Curriculum” section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major:
- At least 13 courses carrying art history, art theory or studio art credit and a minimum of 48 credit hours, in all of which the student must earn a grade of C- or better and a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00, including the following:
Two Core Courses
- ART 205: Introduction to Visual Thinking
- ARTH 100: Introduction to Art History
Seven Art Electives
Introductory Skills and Concepts
FOUR 200-level ART courses chosen from: ART 204, 206, 208, 212, 214, 223, 224, 240, 233. 239, 269, 223, 224
Advanced Skills and Concepts:
THREE 300-level ART courses chosen from: ART 304, 306, 308, 309, 312, 314, 333, 338, 339, 347, 367, 369, 390
Two courses in Art History
- One 200 level art history (ARTH) course
- One 300 level art history (ARTH) course
Senior Capstone Experience totaling 8 credit hours
ART 430 Capstone 1: Creative Practices in Art
ART 431 Capstone 2: Professional Practices in Art
Note
With the exception of ARTH 100 and ART 205, courses taken as part of the degree requirements for the art major will not count for a major or minor in art history.
Degree Requirements for the Art Minor
General College Requirements
- General College requirements
- All requirements in a major field of study other than art.
Required Courses
At least six courses carrying art and art history credit that total no less than 22 credit hours, in all of which the student must earn a grade of C- or better, including the following:
- ART 205: Introduction to Visual Thinking
- Three 200-level ART courses chosen from: ART 204, 206, 208, 212, 214, 223, 224, 240, 233. 239, 269, 223, 224
- Two 300-level ART courses chosen from: ART 304, 306, 308, 309, 312, 314, 333, 338, 339, 347, 367, 369, 390
Note: With the exception of ARTH 100 and ART 205, courses taken as part of the degree requirements for the art minor will not count for a major or minor in Art History.”
Requirements for Teacher Certification
A master of arts in teaching degree with a concentration in art education can be earned at St. Mary’s College. Completion of the combined requirements for the art major and/or art history major and a minor in educational studies is recommended for any interested student; students could then pursue the college’s Masters of Arts in Teaching. Because careful attention to course selection is necessary as early as the first semester of the first year, students interested in teaching art should consult with the chair of the Department of Educational Studies and their art and art history faculty advisers as soon as they are accepted for admission to the College. Completion of ART 269, ART 369 and ART 307 are highly recommended for any student preparing for graduate study in art education.
Faculty
Tristan Cai, Emily Casey, Sue Johnson, Joe Lucchesi, Jessye McDowell, Carrie Patterson (Chair)