Studio Art

Please note: Changes have been made in the Studio Art curriculum that affect the total number of required credits for the BA and BFA degrees (subject to approval). Students are advised to check with a Studio Art advisor prior to registering for classes.

The department offers major programs in three areas: Art History (BA), Design (BFA), Photography and Imaging (BFA), and Studio Art (BA, BFA). The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs provide training in their disciplines within the framework of a liberal arts curriculum, as does the more intensive Bachelor of Fine Arts program. It is assumed that further professional and scholarly pursuits may need to take place after graduation, according to the needs and objectives of the individual student.

Students majoring in art must fulfill the department requirements outlined below as well as particular prerequisites indicated in the course descriptions. They may apply to be exempted from taking a course required for the major by passing the examination in the course (in Art History) or by obtaining approval of a portfolio from the deputy chair for Studio Art. Exempted students will take a more advanced course instead.

Students with majors other than art concentrations may have the prerequisite(s) waived for an art course. They should, however, consult with a department advisor to ascertain the nature of course demands, and receive advice on what courses are best suited to their interests. They may then enroll in an appropriate course specified by the department.

Department Honors and Awards

The department offers the following prizes and awards: the Art History Prize; the Ayme Eichler Memorial Scholarship; and the Studio Art Prize.

The Majors

All students pursuing a BA or BFA in Studio Art are required to take ARTH 101 and 102, except that students who elect to become Studio Art majors after having taken ARTH 1 should take either ARTH 101 or ARTH 102 in addition. No more than 6 credits from these three courses may be applied to the BA and BFA degrees in Studio Art.

Studio Art

The Fine Arts focus (painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, and photography) gives a balance of theory and practice, an understanding of the intellectual and technical skills required in the fine arts, and preparation for a creative professional life as an artist.

All Studio Art majors must obtain at least a grade of C in any requirements for the major. Also, Studio Art majors may not attempt to satisfy a department requirement more than twice, and credit will be given only once for the same course, unless otherwise indicated in the course description. All Studio Art majors who intend to pursue the BFA must apply to the department with a portfolio. The department schedules a review of portfolios once each semester, shortly before departmental pre-registration, and students may apply at any time after their first semester as a major.

The BA with a Fine Arts concentration also provides part of the necessary background for the teacher of art in secondary schools (see the box on page 97). Students interested in teaching Studio Art at the college level should apply for the BFA program and plan to attend graduate school in an approved Master of Fine Arts curriculum. Students planning to teach one of the design professions at the college level should apply for the BFA program and specialize in one of its areas by electing supplementary design and media courses and then attend an approved Master of Fine Arts program. (See the box on page 97 for the specific requirements for the majors.)

Transfer students who want to major in Studio Art or Art Education must present a transcript, or a transcript and portfolio, to the deputy chair for Studio Art. They may be credited with up to 21 credits toward the major in studio art and 6 credits in art history courses. In addition, a transfer student may receive as many blanket credits in studio work as the deputy chair considers justified. All transfer students must take ARTS 350, 391, and, for BFA students, ARTS 392 at Queens College.