Art: Studio Art (BA, BFA)

The Department of Art is committed to an undergraduate education that gives students life-long skills as professional artists and art scholars. The programs offered by the department are designed to give students a broad background in art theory, technique, and craftsmanship. Its purpose is to provide knowledge that furthers aesthetic sensitivity, visual acuity, and critical dialog. Fundamental skills are required through the core curriculum courses of drawing, two and three dimensional design, and color theory. Equal emphasis is placed on the student's ability to think deeply and critically about their work, and understand the pertinent issues that inform their concepts. Through its degree program, the Department of Art is able to cultivate a student's individual growth and development, and instill confidence to realize their vision and goals.

The Department of Art's programs offer the following emphases:

• Ceramics/Sculpture
• Drawing/Painting
• Graphic Design
• Analog and Digital Photography
• Printmaking/Mixed Media

The Studio Art Major offers two distinctive degree tracks. The Bachelor of Arts degree prepares students for graduate study in art and art related fields such as teaching, museum studies, art management and studio art production. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is a professional track program requiring an additional 15 units of studio work. This program is uniquely suited to the needs of the fine artist, the commercial artist, and for those interested in graduate programs in studio art.

All of the major emphasis programs stress both the practical and intellectual requirements needed for the creative process. This is accomplished through a sequential progression of coursework that gives students the facility to work with both formal and conceptual approaches in art. Students are highly encouraged to pursue their studies in both studio and graphic arts courses, integrating their concepts across mediums. This combination allows a student to develop the most comprehensive and creative problem solving abilities.

All students are required to develop a personal career plan prior to graduation. To facilitate this, students are offered unique opportunities to work with local artists and art organizations through the Dominican Internship Program. This program offers a wide variety of art experiences in both the fine art and commercial art fields. In addition, professional artists are invited to the campus to discuss career opportunities for art majors.

Combined with the University's General Education program and liberal arts electives, our students will have a unique sense of cultural, historical, and moral perspective. Students study both historical and contemporary art theories and utilize the San Francisco Bay Area's galleries, public art venues, museums and the local arts community to increase their knowledge of current art forms. The Department of Art hosts an art gallery that exhibits nationally known artists.