Art Studio Major
Major Description
The Art Studio Major enables students to become fluent in visual languages—their analytical and critical vocabularies and the rigors of their techniques and methods—to explore intellectual issues and human experience. Students learn techniques associated with various media while developing a personal creative vision, beginning with basic studies in drawing and introductory art history. More focused studies train students in the practices of Architecture, Drawing, Ecological Design, Product Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. The program seeks to reflect the diversity of technical and intellectual approaches of current artistic practices and is open to interdisciplinary experimentation. Ultimately, each student will work closely with a dedicated faculty advisor over two semesters towards the major’s comprehensive thesis requirement—the development of a focused body of work and a solo exhibition in the spring of their senior year.
Students who gravitate towards the Art Studio major tend to be creative, visual thinkers with a passion for art and ideas, an experimental mindset, and a desire to develop their technical aptitude. They are self-motivated, open to criticism, and dedicated to investing the time and effort to formulate their unique, creative vision.
Art Studio majors develop broad awareness of current and historical art practices and their theoretical concerns and social impacts and acquire the ability to analyze art from diverse intellectual traditions. Critical thinking, technical proficiency, and observational skills are used to communicate ideas through artistic means and are applicable to a wide range of creative fields and careers in fine art, arts education, advertising, design, business, curation, art conservation and many others.
Admission to the Major
At the time of application for major status, a student is expected to have completed ARST131 (Drawing I) and one art history course, along with another art studio course. The prospective major must consult with an art studio faculty member (in the proposed area of study) who is willing to serve as advisor. Most faculty expect the student to have completed outstanding work in a second-level course within a particular medium (for example, ARST352 or ARST340) before agreeing to advise a major applicant. Together, student and major advisor devise a program of study for the final two years. Admission to the major requires a review by the art studio faculty and a minimum academic average of B and an average of B+ for at least three courses in the department, two of which must be in the Art Studio Program.
Major Requirements
Students majoring in art studio must satisfactorily complete 11 courses in the department.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARST131 | Drawing I | 1 |
| Studio Courses (200-level or above) * | 4 | |
| ARST350 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Art History (3 courses in different geographic areas) ** | 3 | |
| The Americas | ||
| Europe | ||
| East Asia | ||
| South Asia | ||
| Africa | ||
| Senior Thesis *** | 2 | |
| Total Hours | 11 | |
- *
one must be a three-dimensional course
- **
A global survey course or a multi-continental course may substitute for one of the geographic area courses.
- ***
In the rare case a student finishes all of their graduation requirements in December of their senior year, they may complete the major with only one semester of thesis tutorial, still exhibiting in the Spring.
That breaks down to six art studio courses, three art history courses, and two semesters of thesis. Further course study in art studio and art history is recommended. Majors are required to fulfill their general education as described by the University guidelines, since all majors are required to complete a senior thesis for honors. Teaching apprentice tutorials in the department will not be counted toward the major.
In the final year of study, each student will develop a focused body of work and mount a solo exhibition. That exhibition is the culmination of a two-semester thesis tutorial and is developed in close critical dialogue with a faculty advisor. The exhibition is critiqued by the faculty advisor and a second critic and must be passed by a vote of the faculty of the art studio program. The senior thesis exhibition provides a rare opportunity for the student to engage in a rigorous, self-directed, creative investigation and in a public dialogue about their work.
All art studio majors are required to complete an honors thesis, the senior thesis exhibition. The studio faculty vote to determine high honors, honors, pass, or fail, on the criteria of originality, mastery of medium, depth and range of investigation, and coherence of the exhibition.
General Education
Art studio majors are required to fulfill their general education requirements as described by the University guidelines, since all are required to complete a senior thesis for honors.
Student Learning Goals
The art studio program faculty has set the following goals for student achievement or success in the major:
- Exploration of and proficiency with a wide range of media and technique, at the introductory level and beyond
- Honing observational skill
- Fluency in visual language
- The development of technical facility enabling students to explore their personal visions through making art
- Broad awareness of current and historical art and its theoretical and historical context
- Critique methodologies, and the ability to analyze art from diverse intellectual traditions and technical approaches
- Development of independent studio practice, ideation, and methodology, culminating in a one-person exhibition senior year
Advanced Placement
No Advanced Placement credit is accepted in art studio.
Prizes
Jessup Prize • Awarded to two undergraduates each year who are deemed to show the greatest talent and promise for even greater excellence in sculpture, printmaking, architecture, photography, painting, or drawing. The prize is given in memory of Pauline Jessup, a noted interior designer, who practiced her craft for over 60 years throughout the United States. Mrs. Jessup was noted for her unerring eye, her extraordinarily refined taste, and her steadfast commitment to her clients—many of whom she served over three generations. The award is determined by the Department of Art and Art History.
Elizabeth Verveer Tishler Prize—Art • Established in 1981 by a gift from Mrs. Tishler. Awarded annually for an outstanding senior exhibition in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, or architecture.
Transfer Credit
A major is obliged to consult with his/her advisor and receive approval for off-campus study, leaves, or addition of a second major. Off-campus study in the senior year is not encouraged and requires additional approval of the program director. Students should also consult carefully when planning off-campus study before they have been accepted to the major. An art studio faculty member must approve coursework taken outside of Wesleyan in advance, and a portfolio review is required after the course is completed to transfer credit toward the major. Transfer of course credit toward the major is not automatic, even from a Wesleyan-approved program. A student may count no more than three art studio and art history courses taken outside the Wesleyan department toward the major without specific permission of the faculty. Students transferring to Wesleyan who wish to receive credit toward the major for art studio courses taken at another institution should seek approval from the department prior to enrollment; portfolio review is required, transfer of course credit is not automatic.
Honors
All art studio majors are required to complete and pass an honors thesis, the senior thesis exhibition. The studio faculty vote to determine high honors, honors, pass, or fail, on the criteria of originality, mastery of medium, depth and range of investigation, and coherence of the exhibition.
There are two pathways to pursue honors in Art Studio: