2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Studio Art
The B.A. and B.S. programs emphasize the breadth of experience over specialization in a single medium. Students complete a more diverse curriculum including coursework in two- and three-dimensional disciplines.
Requirements for a Major in Studio Art
Art majors seeking a B.A. or B.S. degree must complete a minimum of 45 credits in art and design.
General Education Courses
In the GVSU general education requirements, the Foundations section lists ART 101 - Introduction to Art as a choice. ART 101 is not required for the B.A. or B.S. in studio art. Some of the material in ART 101 will be duplicated in the required coursework. B.A. and B.S. majors in studio art are advised to take one of the other classes in the general education-Arts category.
Foundations Courses
After completing the Foundations program (ART 150, ART 151, ART 152, ART 155, and ART 157), all studio art students are evaluated by the faculty during Foundations portfolio review for entrance into majors in the Department of Visual and Media Arts.
- ART 150 - Foundations: 2-D Design and Color (3 credits)
- ART 151 - Foundations: 3-D Design (3 credits)
- ART 152 - Foundations: Color and Design (3 credits)
- ART 155 - Foundations: Introduction to Drawing I (3 credits)
- ART 157 - Foundations: Introduction to Drawing II (3 credits)
Additional Requirements
Students seeking a major in studio art can earn either the B.A. or B.S. degree. Requirements include completion of the following.
Art History Electives
Requires nine credits.
Choose three courses from the following. ART 221/ART 222 are recommended for the upper-level art history courses:
- ART 221 - Survey of Art History I (3 credits)
- ART 222 - Survey of Art History II (3 credits)
- ART 218 - Design History (3 credits) OR ART 219 - History of Illustration (3 credits)
- ART 322 - Goths to Gothic: Medieval Art (3 credits)
- ART 323 - Rethinking Renaissance Art (3 credits)
- ART 327 - Art Since 1945 (3 credits)
- ART 380 - Special Topics in Art and Design (1 to 3 credits)
- ART 420 - Asian Art (3 credits)
- ART 421 - Surrealism (3 credits)
- ART 422 - Art and the Worlds of Islam (3 credits)
- ART 423 - Animals in Art (3 credits)
- ART 425 - Depicting a Nation: 19th Century American Art (3 credits)
Studio Art 2-D Courses
Requires six credits.
Choose two courses in different 2-D areas from the following:
- ART 210 - Graphic Design Studio I: Introduction to Typography (3 credits)
- ART 257 - Life Drawing (3 credits)
- ART 260 - Introduction to Painting (3 credits)
- ART 265 - Introduction to Printmaking (3 credits)
- ART 280 - Special Topics in Art and Design (3 credits)
- ART 293 - Image Studio: Art, Production, Meaning, Display (3 credits)
Studio Art 3-D Courses
Requires six credits.
Choose two courses in different 3-D areas from the following:
- ART 245 - Fabricating Adornment: Jewelry Basics and Design (3 credits)
- ART 270 - Sculpture: Creating/Building/Making (3 credits)
- ART 275 - Ceramics: The Basics (3 credits)
- ART 295 - Space Studio: Art, Installation, Environment, Site (3 credits)
Studio Electives
Requires six credits.
Choose two courses from the following:
- ART 307 - Digital Prepress (3 credits)
- ART 310 - Graphic Design Studio II: Typographic Systems (3 credits)
- ART 312 - Graphic Design IV - Experience Design (3 credits)
- ART 313 - Graphic Design for 3D Experiences (3 credits)
- ART 246 - Fluidity in Small Form: Jewelry Casting (3 credits)
- ART 347 - The Functional Metal Object in the Domestic Space (3 credits)
- ART 355 - Advanced Drawing I (3 credits)
- ART 356 - Advanced Drawing II (3 credits)
- ART 361 - Intermediate Painting I (3 credits)
- ART 362 - Intermediate Painting II (3 credits)
- ART 366 - Intermediate Printmaking I (3 credits)
- ART 367 - Intermediate Printmaking II (3 credits)
- ART 371 - Materials and Making: Digital Fabrication in Sculpture (3 credits)
- ART 372 - Mold Making and Casting: Digital Foundry in Sculpture (3 credits)
- ART 376 - Ceramics: Process (3 credits)
- ART 377 - Ceramics: Idea (3 credits)
- ART 380 - Special Topics in Art and Design (1 to 3 credits)
- ART 282 - Fundamentals of Illustration: Materials and Techniques (3 credits)
- ART 383 - Intermediate Illustration: World Building (3 credits)
- ART 391 - Civic Studio: Art in Public (3 credits)
- ART 392 - Curatorial Studio: Art, Exhibitions, Events (3 credits)
- ART 293 - Image Studio: Art, Production, Meaning, Display (3 credits)
- ART 394 - Interactive Studio: Art, Interface, Collaboration (3 credits)
- ART 295 - Space Studio: Art, Installation, Environment, Site (3 credits)
- ART 296 - Time Studio: Art, Video, Sound, Action (3 credits)
Capstone
Requires three credits, including:
Completion of the art history requirements of the B.A. or B.S. program is a prerequisite for ART 495. Students register for a section taught by an art history professor.
B.A. and B.S. Degree Requirements
B.A. Degree Requirements
Students must complete third-semester proficiency in a foreign language.
B.S. Degree Requirements
Students must complete the following:
- CIS 150 - Introduction to Computing (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
AND one of the following:
- STA 216 - Intermediate Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- HST 290 - Research Methods in History (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Studio Art
This suggested order of coursework applies generally to the fine arts curriculum for students working toward a B.S. or a B.A. degree. Students should verify specific major requirements with their assigned advisor.
Year One
Fall Semester:
- ART 150 - Foundations: 2-D Design and Color (3 credits)
- ART 151 - Foundations: 3-D Design (3 credits)
- ART 155 - Foundations: Introduction to Drawing I (3 credits)
- Two general education courses
Winter Semester:
- ART 152 - Foundations: Color and Design (3 credits)
- ART 157 - Foundations: Introduction to Drawing II (3 credits)
- Three general education courses
Year Two
- Two courses from art history (6 credits)
- Four studio courses (12 credits)
- Four general education courses or electives
Year Three
- One course from art history (3 credits)
- Two studio courses (6 credits)
- Seven general education courses or electives
Year Four
- ART 495 - Issues in Art (Capstone) (3 credits)
- Nine general education courses or electives