The top 5 things to consider when planning a major in studio art
- The four Studio Essentials courses are the prerequisites for all upper division courses in the major or minor. Completing these requirements in the first year is best. However, the discipline is willing to split the sequence over two years. Speak with faculty in Studio Art for assistance with accommodations in scheduling. There are also 3 required courses to schedule in the second year. While the major can be completed in three years, four is optimal to refine skills and spread out the required coursework.
- General Education Requirement courses are best spread over the whole college experience. Studio Art majors need a balance of studio and lecture courses. Students may also consider an additional major or minor—especially in Art History, because of the overlap in course requirements and interest in the subject. Also, be aware that teaching licensure requires a few more courses to meet state requirements.
- Studio Art requires committed studio time to complete the work; set a studio work schedule to maintain constant progress on your work. The studios foster wonderful friendships because of that shared work environment, too!
- While the discipline works hard to keep costs of materials low by doing bulk purchasing through lab fees assessed in courses, students will be required to purchase additional materials as needed.
- There are a variety of Studio Art-related co-curricular opportunities to consider: gallery exhibits, internships, teaching assistant (TA) positions for lower division courses, work-study employment, study abroad programs, research partnerships with faculty artists, student project grants, and Art Club activities.