Studio Art (BA, BFA, Minor)
The Studio Art program is committed to an undergraduate education that gives students lifelong skills as artists and prepares them for public lives as active members of communities and professionals in society. Strong faculty mentorship thoughtfully guides students through the conceptualization, production, and critique of their creative works. Beginning with essential foundational coursework in drawing, two and three dimensional design, and art history, students progress into a series of upper division courses, which leads to the development and production of their Senior Thesis Exhibition in Dominican’s San Marco Gallery.
Through a liberal arts education, the Studio Art major can acquire a unique civic, cultural, historical, and moral perspective, as well as receive training in communication, collaboration, and business skills. Communityengaged learning opportunities ask students to think critically and collaboratively about how the arts intersect with other community concerns, and explore methods for addressing a wide range of societal issues through the arts. Students also utilize the artsrich resources of the San Francisco Bay Area to participate in local arts communities and forums.
The Studio Arts Program offers two distinctive degree tracks:
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Art is a liberal arts degree providing a breadth of experience and understanding in the visual arts. The curriculum aims to give students a general background in art/design knowledge and skills as well as access to multidisciplinary issues and studies.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art is an indepth curriculum designed to prepare students for entrylevel professional fine arts practices. Students develop the competencies and skills to create works of art fluently in their chosen area of emphasis. This program is suited to the needs of individuals seeking professional arts training and/or moving on to graduate level arts programs. Major emphases include: Ceramics, Painting/Drawing, and Photography.
Program Learning Outcomes (BA, Minor)
Upon graduation the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate sufficient technical skills, perceptual development, and understanding of principles of visual organization to achieve basic visual communication and expression in one or more media.*
- Make workable connections between concept and media in order to devise a methodology to create original artwork.*
- Identify works and intentions of artists and movements of the past and the present, both in the Western and nonWestern worlds; and think expansively about existing and future roles of artists in society.
- Produce a Senior Thesis Project consisting of a body of work that demonstrates an original concept, developed technical ability and visual acuity; and an oral presentation that describes their work’s influences from and relationship to contemporary thinking in art and design.
*National Association of Schools of Art and Design 20132014 Handbook, Section VII. E.a.b.c.
Program Learning Outcomes (BFA)
Upon graduation the student will be able to:
- Competently employ principles of visual organization including the ability to work with visual elements in two and three dimensions.*
- Create work that demonstrates perceptual acuity, conceptual understanding, and technical facility at a professional entry level in their chosen area of emphasis.*
- Analyze and interpret works of art, and art in historical context using appropriate vocabulary; and demonstrate familiarity with the historical achievements, current major issues, and processes in the visual arts.
- Produce a Senior Thesis Project consisting of:
- A public exhibition of a body of work that demonstrates significant technical mastery, a capability to produce work and solve professional problems, and evidence of a coherent set of artistic/intellectual goals.*
- An Oral Presentation that communicates their ideas and concepts, and forms and defends their value judgments about art and visual arts practice to professionals and laypersons.
*National Association of Schools of Art and Design 20132014 Handbook, Section VIII. B.1., C.1.