Studio Art Program

The studio art program offers a rich and diverse range of investigations across the disciplines of art making and art history. Integrating extensive liberal arts offerings with a broad studio experience, majors may choose to balance exploration with focus in a particular area as preparation for graduate school or future work in an art-related field. Critical thinking, imaginative problem solving, and self-reflective evaluation are key components in the development of the theoretical and technical aspects of art making. Through art courses students gain competency in visual language, an increasingly important skill in contemporary culture. Visual and verbal analytical and organizational skills learned in the studio apply to thoughtful practice in many arenas of our complex world.

The studio art major presents students with a four-course foundations program to be completed within the first two years. Students then proceed through exploratory courses chosen from the areas of ceramics, communication design, drawing, fibers, metals, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. In the third and fourth years of study students concentrate in an area of their choice. Faculty participate not only as teachers within their area of expertise but also as advisors, who help students select and pursue the courses and course study best suited to the student.

All studio art courses meet for six hours per week. A cumulative grade of C or better is required for all work in the major.

There are two areas of studio art for which Advanced Placement (AP) credit can be awarded: Studio Art: General and Studio Art: Drawing. A score of 4 or 5 in any one area earns the student six college credits. It is the department's policy that up to four of the six AP credits can be used toward an elective in the student's major or minor. The remaining credits may be treated as general elective credit toward the Skidmore degree. An exception to this policy must have approval from the Department of Art and Art History chair in consultation with appropriate faculty.

THE STUDIO ART MAJOR: A minimum of thirteen studio art courses and three art history courses for a total of sixteen courses and at least sixty credit hours. Requirements for the bachelor of science degree in studio art:

The department recommends the following focus in course selection as preparation for graduate study and professional practice in studio art disciplines.

The Department of Art and Art History reserves the privilege of keeping a part of the work of any student.

STUDIO ART MINOR: Any student choosing studio art as a minor must consult the chair of the Department of Art and Art History for program approval. It is recommended that students begin work for the minor not later than the beginning of the second year. Students electing to minor in studio art are required to take any six studio art courses
and any two courses in art history.
Note: Please refer to the Academic Information Guide regarding double counting of courses between majors and minors.

STUDIO FEES: All studio courses including Advanced Studio Problems and Independent Study carry laboratory fees (see course descriptions). In addition, students must purchase consumable materials and personal supplies.

COURSE AVAILABILITY. The department is committed to having students experience a variety of media. However, space is limited, and, therefore, students cannot be guaranteed enrollment in specific courses during any given semester. As soon as students are confident about their choice of program, they should declare their major.

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