Majors & Minors

Studio Art Majors

Please note: Students beginning the major as of Fall 2019 will be required to take ARTS 2000 for entry into all upper division courses.  ARTS 2610 will still be required for painting and printmaking courses.  If you have questions, please contact a studio major advisor.

Studio Art majors acquire essential artistic skills as well as experience in the handling of a wide variety of ideas and methods. Through critical thinking, students gain experience with the problems of creation and with the ideas and practice of artists in the contemporary world. The Studio Art major requires a concentration in Cinematography, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture, culminating in a thesis exhibition in the spring of the fourth year.

Checklist for Studio Art Majors (coming soon)

Major Requirements

The minimum 30 credits required for the major can be broken down as follows:

  • 3 credits ARTS 2000 Intro to Studio Art
  • 3 ARTH credits of a modern/contemporary art history course (ARTH 2451, ARTH 2470, ARTH 2471, ARTH 2472, ARTH 2751, ARTH 3545, ARTH 3951)
  • 15 additional ARTS credits at the 2000 level (with 6 of those 15 credits in the student’s concentration area)
  • 3 ARTS credits at 3000 level in concentration area
  • 3 ARTS credits at 4000 level in concentration area
  • 3 elective credits (ARTS or ARTH)

ARTS 2000 is required for entry into all studio courses, except for Drawing I (ARTS 2610) or Special Topics courses. A modern/contemporary art history course (ARTH) is required for the major. Painting and Printmaking concentrations require ARTS 2610 (Drawing I) as a prerequisite to all classes.

The minimum requirements for a concentration are two 2000 level intro courses in the chosen concentration area along with one 3000-level and one 4000-level course in that same area. The 4000-level course will be taken in the spring of the Fourth year during which the student will develop his or her thesis exhibition.

Three additional courses at the 2000 level are required for the major and at least one of those classes must be in an area other than the student’s concentration.

An elective is also required for the Studio Art major and consists of either an additional ARTH course, an ARTS Special Topics course, or an additional course at the 3000/4000 level. 

Special Topics courses do NOT meet concentration requirements but can meet 2000 level or elective requirements.

This program is designed for students who declare in their second year. To have the best chance of obtaining all of the necessary requirements for the major in time for graduation, students should have taken ARTS 2000 in advance of their third year. Painting and Printmaking students should also have taken ARTS 2610 in advance of their third year.

Please note: ARTS 4900 (Advanced Project in Art) does not count toward major credit.

Majors must have a minimum GPA of 2.000 in all 30 credits of Studio Major courses or be dropped from the program. A grade of C- or below does not count for major credit. With approval of the Director of the Undergraduate Program, students may transfer up to 9 credits to the major.

Requirements for Minor

The minor in Studio Art requires 18 credits in ARTS courses including ARTS 2000 and 15 credits of ARTS 2000-level or above courses in at least two concentration areas. ARTS 4900 (Advanced Project in Art) does not count toward minor in Studio Art.

Minors must have a minimum GPA of 2.000 in all 18 credits of Studio Minor courses. No ARTS course graded C- or below may count for minor credit. With Approval of the Director of the Undergraduate Program, students may transfer up to 6 credits to the minor.

Descriptions of Concentrations

Cinematography students study technical, historical, and theoretical issues that apply to cinematography and its relationship to the traditional visual arts. It introduces experimental 16mm film production as a practice of visual art. The student work ranges in filmmaking, videography, both cinematic and theatrical lighting, making documentaries, moving camera, etc. Students work with faculty who are professionals in film production and film history, including award-winning filmmakers and internationally recognized film scholars.

Courses in Cinematography

New Media is informed by experimentation and critique. It introduces digital techniques in the context of fine art. Courses explore technologies including digital animation, motion graphics, video art and installation.

Courses in New Media

Painting provides students with the opportunity to explore material, technical, historical, and theoretical issues that reflect the diversity of painting today. Student work ranges in understanding and response, embodying a multiplicity of creative concerns and values. Encourages both medium-specific and interdisciplinary approaches that revolve around material, concept, discursive dialogue, and community building in a studio-based environment.  

Courses in Painting

Photography provides students with a broad knowledge of photographic techniques and their applied methods for contemporary artmaking. The concentration introduces students to a diverse range of contemporary and historic practices in the medium, from traditional silver-based analog photography and alternative photo processes to innovative approaches in digital image making and processing. 

Courses in Photography

Printmaking exposes students to both traditional and innovative methods in print media. It introduces students to various technical possibilities, including relief, intaglio, monotype, and lithography printmaking processes. All levels of printmaking also explore examples from the historical and contemporary worlds of fine art, and include readings including art, philosophy, and science. 

Courses in Printmaking

Sculpture studies technical, historical, and theoretical issues that apply to the discipline and its relationship to the traditional visual arts. It investigates the sculptural process through modeling, carving, fabricating, and casting. The student work ranges in mold making, metal casting, and non-traditional sculpture materials as assigned. It offers the student a program of study to explore interdisciplinary exchanges that revolve around material study, concept, and critical dialogue in a studio-based environment. 

Courses in Sculpture:

Studio Art majors in their third year with superior academic performance are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Majors Program (DMP).  This year-long seminar class is designed for majors in their fourth year who will graduate with a 3.4 GPA or better. They have demonstrated exceptional engagement with their studio work and wish to undertake an extended project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. On admission, students register for ARTS 4450 in the first semester of the program, and for ARTS 4452. A DMP thesis requires the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval; this should be acquired with the help of the primary faculty advisor before beginning the fieldwork. DMP thesis work is exhibited in the spring of the fourth year. 

Courses for Distinguished Majors:

New Declarations

Students who wish to declare a major or a minor in Studio Art should email the Art Department in order to be assigned an advisor. 

Please complete the Major Declaration Form or Minor Declaration Form via DocuSign prior to your advising appointment.

Studio Art Director of the Undergraduate Program
Akemi Ohira 226 Ruffin Hall | email

Studio Art Major Advisor (for those who are planning to concentrate in painting, sculpture and cinematography)
Megan Marlatt 327 Ruffin Hall | email

Studio Art Major Advisor (for those who are planning to concentrate in printmaking, photography and New Media​)
Akemi Ohira Ruffin Hall | email

Additional Information

For more information, contact the Director of Undergraduate Program in Studio Art

Department of Art, Program in Studio Art
Ruffin Hall, 179 Culbreth Road
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4130
(434) 924-6123; Fax: (434) 982-4699
art.as.virginia.edu

Course Decriptions

ARTS 2000 - Introduction to Studio Art Credits: 3
ARTS 2110 - Introduction to Photography I Credits: 3
ARTS 2112 - Color Photography Credits: 3
ARTS 2220 - Introduction to New Media I Credits: 3
ARTS 2222 - Introduction to New Media II Credits: 3
ARTS 2310 - Installation and Performance Art I Credits: 3
ARTS 2312 - Installation and Performance Art II Credits: 3
ARTS 2370 - Introduction to Cinematography I Credits: 3
ARTS 2372 - Introduction to Cinematography II Credits: 3
ARTS 2511 - Special Topics in Photography Credits: 3
ARTS 2520 - Special Topics in New Media Credits: 3
ARTS 2530 - Special Topics in Cinema Credits: 3
ARTS 2532 - Special Topics in Performance Art Credits: 3
ARTS 2559 - New Course in Studio Art Credits: 3
ARTS 2560 - Special Topics in Printmaking Credits: 3
ARTS 2570 - Special Topics in Painting Credits: 3
ARTS 2580 - Special Topics in Sculpture Credits: 3
ARTS 2610 - Drawing I Credits: 3
ARTS 2620 - Drawing II Credits: 3
ARTS 2630 - Life Drawing I Credits: 3
ARTS 2632 - Life Drawing II Credits: 3
ARTS 2670 - Introduction to Intaglio & Monotype Printmaking Credits: 3
ARTS 2672 - Introduction to Lithography & Relief Printmaking Credits: 3
ARTS 2710 - Introduction to Water-Based Painting Credits: 3
ARTS 2712 - Introduction to Oil Painting Credits: 3
ARTS 2810 - Introduction to Sculpture I Credits: 3
ARTS 2812 - Introduction to Sculpture II Credits: 3
ARTS 3110 - Large Format Photography Credits: 3
ARTS 3220 - Intermediate New Media Part I Credits: 3
ARTS 3222 - Intermediate New Media II Credits: 3
ARTS 3370 - Intermediate Cinematography I Credits: 3
ARTS 3372 - Intermediate Cinematography II Credits: 3
ARTS 3559 - New Course in Studio Art Credits: 3
ARTS 3620 - Intermediate Drawing
ARTS 3670 - Intermediate Printmaking I Credits: 3
ARTS 3672 - Intermediate Printmaking II Credits: 3
ARTS 3710 - Intermediate Painting I Credits: 3
ARTS 3712 - Intermediate Painting II Credits: 3
ARTS 3810 - Intermediate Sculpture I Credits: 3
ARTS 3812 - Intermediate Sculpture II Credits: 3
ARTS 4110 - Advanced Photography I Credits: 3
ARTS 4112 - Advanced Photography II Credits: 3
ARTS 4220 - Advanced New Media I Credits: 3
ARTS 4222 - Advanced New Media II Credits: 3
ARTS 4370 - Advanced Cinematography I Credits: 3
ARTS 4372 - Advanced Cinematography II Credits: 3
ARTS 4450 - Distinguished Major Project Credits: 3
ARTS 4452 - Distinguished Major Project Credits: 3
ARTS 4559 - New Course in Studio Art Credits: 3
ARTS 4670 - Advanced Printmaking I Credits: 3
ARTS 4672 - Advanced Printmaking II Credits: 3
ARTS 4710 - Advanced Painting I Credits: 3
ARTS 4712 - Advanced Painting II Credits: 3
ARTS 4810 - Advanced Sculpture I Credits: 3
ARTS 4812 - Advanced Sculpture II Credits: 3
ARTS 4900 - Advanced Project in Art Credits: 3

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found here.