Studio Art
Degree: B.A., Studio Art
Department of Art and Art History
The Studio Art major, leading to a bachelor of arts degree in Studio Art, fosters artistic and scholarly connections through creative inquiry and analytical problem solving. Exploration fuels the creative mind and our studio “incubators” provide technical expertise while embracing risk-taking and conceptual development. Students learn and work in well-equipped studios that focus on a variety of disciplines, including Digital Media, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. Faculty members who are actively exhibiting artists, researchers and dedicated teachers lead each discipline, and our flexible curriculum supports a more interdisciplinary approach to thinking about and making art.
UMW’s location between Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia provides students with ample resources to experience top quality artwork in person, and to undertake optional internships and apprenticeships in the field. Visiting artist lectures and field trips support our commitment to visual and cultural literacy and our faculty members work closely with students to better understand the impact of art and technology in the professional world. The UMW Galleries bring exciting exhibitions and events to campus while advancing the educational goals of the University through the collection, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art. The course of study culminates in a student-organized senior exhibition (or exit portfolio) that highlights the work of our majors while adding to the cultural life of the university and the greater Fredericksburg community.
A degree in Studio Art at UMW prepares students to become active artists, creative thinkers, and engaged citizens. Our graduates are successful professional artists, teachers, university professors, gallery owners and graphic designers. Many earn MFA degrees at competitive institutions. Others go on to apply what they have learned to careers in film, art therapy, furniture design, and arts management to name a few. The studio art major provides a foundation of creative problem solving, idea generation, studio technique and critical discourse that prepares students for success in whatever field they pursue.
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ARTS 104 | Digital Approaches to Fine Art | 3 |
ARTS 105 | Design Principles | 3 |
ARTS 120 | Drawing I | 3 |
ARTS 474 | Professional Practices in Studio Art | 3 |
ARTS 475 | Senior Thesis Seminar | 3 |
or ARTS 491 | Individual Study | |
Select 6 credits in Art History | 6 | |
Select 9 Studio Art credits at the 200-level | 9 | |
Select 12 Studio Art credits at the 300-level or above | 12 | |
Total Credits | 42 |
Studio Art majors are required to participate in the major assessment and senior exhibition/senior portfolio.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Art and Art History Department
Jon F. McMillan, Chair
Suzie Kim, Career Advisor, Art History
Jason M. Robinson, Career Advisor, Studio Art
Faculty
(The person’s subject field is indicated in parentheses.)
Professors
Julia Anne DeLancey (Art History)
Joseph G. Dreiss (Art History)
Carole A. Garmon (Studio Art)
Jon F. McMillan (Studio Art)
Associate Professors
Suzie Kim (Art History)
Jason M. Robinson (Studio Art)
Assistant Professors
L. Ashe Laughlin (Studio Art)