Requirements for Major
Studio Art majors acquire essential artistic skills as well as experience in the handling of a wide variety of ideas and methods. Through critical thinking, students gain experience with the problems of creation and with the ideas and practice of artists in the contemporary world. The Studio Art major requires a concentration in Cinematography, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture, culminating in a thesis exhibition in the spring of the fourth year.
The minimum 30 credits required for the major can be broken down as follows:
- 3 credits ARTS 2000 Into to Studio Art
- 3 ARTH credits of modern/contemporary art history course (ARTH 2451, ARTH 2470, ARTH 2471, ARTH 2472, ARTH 2751, ARTH 3545, ARTH 3951).
- 15 additional ARTS credits at the 2000 level (with 6 of those 15 credits in the student’s concentration area).
- 3 ARTS credits at 3000 level in concentration area
- 3 ARTS credits at 4000 level in concentration area
- 3 elective credits (ARTS or ARTH)
ARTS 2000 is required for entry into all studio courses, except for Drawing I (ARTS 2610) or Special Topida courses. A modern/contemporary art history course (ARTH) is required for the major. Painting and Printmaking concentrations require ARTS 2610 (Drawing I) as prerequisite to all classes.
The minimum requirements for a concentration are the 2000 level intro courses in the chosen concentration area along with one 3000-level and one 4000-level course in that same area. The 4000 level course will be taken in the spring of the Fourth year during which the student will develop his or her thesis exhibition.
Three additional courses at the 2000 level are required for the major and at least one of those classes must be in an area other than the student’s concentration.
An elective is also required for the Studio Art major and consists of either an additional ARTH course, an ARTS Special Topics course, or an additional course at the 3000/4000 level.
Special Topics courses do NOT meet concentration requirements but can meet 2000 level or elective requirements.
This program is designated for students who declare in their second year. To have the best chance of obtaining all of the necessary requirements for the major in time for graduation, students should have taken ARTS 2000 in advance of their third year. Painting and Printmaking students should also have taken ARTS 2610 in advance of their third year.
Please note: ARTS 4900 (Advanced Project in Art) does not count toward major credit.
Majors must have a minimum GPA of 2.000 in all 30 credits of Studio Major courses or be dropped from the program. A grade of C- or below does not count for major credit. With approval of the Director of the Undergradaute Program, students may transfer up to 9 credits to the major.
Requirements for Minor
The minor in Studio Art requires 18 credits in ARTS courses including ARTS 2000 and 15 credits of ARTS 2000-level or above courses in at least two concentration areas. ARTS 4900 (Advanced Project in Art) does not count toward minor in Studio Art.
Minors must have a minimum GPA of 2.000 in all 18 credits of Studio Minor courses. No ARTS course graded C- or below may count for minor credit. With Approval of the Director of the Undergraduate Program, students may transfer up to 6 credits to the minor.
Additional Information
For more information, contact the Director of Undergraduate Program in Studio Art, McIntire Department of Art, Program in Studio Art, Ruffin Hall, 179 Culbreth Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4130; (434) 924-6123; Fax: (434) 982-4699; www.virginia.edu/art.
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