Art Studio - Major (BS)

The BS in Studio Art major provides a liberal arts framework for a studio orientation in painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, or metalsmithing. Specific objectives include providing technical skills and aesthetic understanding of chosen media, as well as a breadth of experiences connecting the fine arts to general studies in the arts and humanities, the natural and physical sciences, or the social sciences. Through individual and group critiques and mentorship from faculty members, students are guided through their development of personal artistic style, content, and aesthetic vision. The liberal arts framework enables students to develop critical thinking, research, and communication skills necessary for the development of informed works of art. The program prepares students for interdisciplinary research or careers requiring artistic understanding, or for entry into graduate school.

The BS curriculum can accommodate a minor, general electives in a supportive area(s), or a study abroad experience.

The full-time faculty, composed of studio artists, art historians, and art educators, is supplemented by a number of practicing professionals who are highly respected in their areas. The University has strong working relationships with many local museums, schools, and design firms, providing students with an active internship program.

Students must have an AP score of 5 to place out of any Art Foundation courses (Art 101, 102, 106, 107). The use of any art AP credit toward completion of the art major is discouraged. An AP score of 4 or 5 may be used as studio art elective credits.

Note - Transfer students in studio art must complete a minimum of five studio art courses at Nazareth University.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Competency in studio practice: Attain competency in composing the elements of art and principles of design in two and three dimensions.
2. Development of conceptual process in formulation of art and design works: Articulate idea development, develop visual communication strategies, and demonstrate technical facility in a range of media to convey concepts through a personal aesthetic.
3. Exhibit and analyze art with regard to cultural context: Understand and apply knowledge of significant historical, global, and contemporary achievements and issues in art.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Learning Outcomes
Students in the Art and Design Department will show respect for all forms of diversity, practice, inclusivity, and engage in a continual process of education and critical self-reflection & dialogue.  Students will be able to: 

• Acknowledge that individuals of diverse racial & ethnic, gender & sexuality, religious, class & cultural backgrounds create art.
• Recognize that artmaking is an expressive practice comprising not only individual perspectives, narratives and experiences but also cultural, social, economic and political issues.
• Synthesize knowledge from multiple disciplines including diverse traditional and contemporary art movements with their own artistic and/or scholarly vision to create unique and meaningful works of art, design or scholarship.
• Analyze, reflect upon, discuss and/or write about their own and others’ works of art and design using culturally sensitive and inclusive language.
• Understand the ways in which traditional art associations (including collections, apprentice workshops, museums, galleries and academies) embody institutionally biased practices.
• Assess the symbiotic dialogue between artists and their culture, recognizing that they both reflect and influence each other.