Highly individualized experience in studio practice
Majors work towards the development of a cohesive body of work that demonstrates a distinctive personal style. The program emphasizes the mastery of a broad range of fundamental skills, with a focused experience in one technique or medium. Majors are well versed in historical and contemporary art, and are given numerous opportunities to exhibit their work, travel, and receive feedback from faculty and peers.
Prior to graduation, students will professionally mount a public exhibition of the work in The Lore Degenstein Gallery, where they will gain experience in a professional gallery with museum standards.
Required independent coursework and a cross-disciplinary approach allow students to investigate and experiment with multiple ways of creating art. Students are encouraged and given ample time to develop a distinctive and personal visual style.
Career options
There are numerous opportunities following graduation for those with a degree in the studio arts. Our students normally enroll in Master of Fine Arts programs to further develop and nurture their skills. However, graduates may also choose a career in a gallery or museum, or as a professional artist or illustrator, artist-in-residence, art buyer, or corporate consultant.
Learning Goals
Studio Art majors will prepare a cohesive body of work that demonstrates artistic proficiency in either Painting and Drawing or Photography.
Studio Art majors will be able to critically analyze the relationship of form and content in a work of art.
Studio Art majors will develop an awareness of art history from prehistoric times to the contemporary era.
Double-counting rules within the department of Art and Design
Students may double count 16 SH BA to BA;
Students may double count 8 SH department minor to BA or BFA;
Students may double count 4 SH department minor to department minor;
Students may not have a photography minor and a studio art major
Students may not have a BA and BFA within the department.
Double-counting restriction
Students in the Art and Design Department may, with department head approval, complete more than one major and/or minor in the department.
Departmental Honors
The department awards honors status for graduation for students receiving a 3.70 or higher GPA in the studio art, graphic design or art history major.
Off-Campus Study
Junior and senior studio art and art history majors are encouraged to spend a semester studying away from campus as part of the university’s GO program. Susquehanna studio art and art history majors have access to art centers all over Europe, particularly in London, Florence, the south of France and Paris. A liberal arts program at Regent’s College in London is one of the special programs available to art majors. Others may choose extended off-campus study in New York or Washington, D.C. This experience enriches the artistic spirit and opens up avenues for future careers. Students with modern language interests can combine language and art studies abroad.
Art History, Studio Art and Graphic Design Internships
The department encourages its majors to complete internships, which provide a valuable introduction to the professional art world. Studio art and art history majors typically complete internships at museums and galleries, while graphic design majors are expected to pursue internships at design firms, publishing houses and advertising agencies. All students may receive major credit for approved internships.
Requirements for the Major in Studio Art
The Bachelor of Arts in studio art requires 46 semester hours of art department courses with grades of C- or better.
20 General Requirements
4 ARTH-101 Introduction to World Art I: Prehistory to 1400
4 ARTH-102 Introduction to World Art II: 15th to 20th Century
4 ARTS-111 Foundations of Art I
4 ARTH-300 or higher Art History Elective
4 ARTS-402 Senior Portfolio
6 Art Electives:
Choose 6 semester hours from art department courses.
Additional independent study and internship credits are applicable.
Painting and Drawing Concentration: 20 hours
4 ARTS-112 Foundations of Art II
4 ARTS-113 Drawing
4 ARTS-221 Painting
4 ARTS-314 Topics in Studio Art
4 ARTS-400 Independent Study (combination of two- or four-semester-hour sections)
Introduces the principles, theories and aesthetics of two-dimensional artwork. Emphasizes the exploration of a variety of artistic media, development of creative concepts, and understanding of form and composition. Required as a beginning course for all art and graphic design majors. 4 SH.
Introduces the principles, theories, and aesthetics of three-dimensional artwork. Emphasizes conceptual expression, as well as understanding of the physical world of form, space, and texture as related to art objects. 4 SH.
Introduces the principles, theories and aesthetics of drawing. Focuses on visual perception and delineation incorporating traditional and nontraditional drawing media. Also addresses life drawing and conceptual expression. 4 SH.
Introduces the principles, theories, and aesthetics of painting. Focuses on understanding color, composition, light, illusion, abstraction, and other visual expressions using oil and/or acrylic paint. Prerequisite: ARTS-111. 4 SH.
Introduces the principles, theories, and aesthetics of printmaking. Focuses on aesthetic intentions and techniques of producing multiple prints through various processes such as woodcut, linocut, monotype, collograph, and etching. Prerequisite: ARTS-111. 4 SH.
Introduces the principles, theories and aesthetics of black and white photography. Focuses on the fundamentals of observation, composition, camera use and darkroom work, including film processing and printing. Requires a 35mm camera (SLR) with manual override. 4 SH.
Introduces the principles, theories, and aesthics of digital photography. Focuses on the fundamentals of observation, composition, and camera use, as well as digital image manipulation and printing using computer software. Requires a minimum 5-megapixel digital camera. 4 SH.
Advanced course that expands upon the principles, theories, and aesthetics of photography and photographic processes introducted in ARTD-241 or ARTD-243. Requires a 35mm camera (SLR) with manual override or a 5-megapixel digital camera. Prerequisite: ARTS-243. 4 SH.
This course will vary in content with each offering as areas of particular relevance in studio art are explored. Each course title under this offering will bear a specific subtitle indicating the content to be presented. May be repeated with permission of the department head when course content changes. Prerequisite: ARTS-111. 4 SH.
This course will vary in content with each offering as areas of particular relevance in photography are explored. The course will require either a 35mm SLR camera with manual override or a 5-megapixel minimum digital camera, depending on the nature of the course topic. Each course title under this offering will bear a specific subtitle indicating the content to be presented. May be repeated with permission of the department head when course content changes. Prerequisite: ARTS-243. 4 SH.
Independent work in advanced studio art or graphic design projects with faculty supervision and guidance. (May be repeated.) Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and department head’s permission. 1-4 SH.
Required capstone course for studio art majors, to be taken during the senior year. Students will complete a cohesive body of artwork and exhibit to the public. Students will work with a faculty member to select and professionally present their art, write an artist statement and produce an exhibition catalog and announcement. Prerequisite: Senior standing. 4 SH. Capstone. CC: Team Intensive.
Internships offer a valuable experience for all art department majors and are traditionally taken during the summer between the junior and senior years or during the academic year. Art history majors may work with a museum, gallery or other art institution; studio art majors may intern at professional studios, galleries or museums; and graphic design majors normally take internships with design firms or advertising agencies. Some interns work for the university’s Lore Degenstein Gallery. Prerequisite: Department head’s permission.
