Studio Art, B.A

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Studio Art

Member of the Division of Humanities

Chairs(s):

Matthew Kluber

Faculty:

Jeremy Chen
Andrew Kaufman
Nich Perez
Robin Strangefeld
Nicky Tavares

The Department of Studio Art provides curricular opportunities for the development of technical skills, aesthetic judgment, and historical understanding. Participation in studio art stimulates critical thinking and refines creative potential in the visual arts. The Grinnell College Art Collection of approximately 6,000 original works of art and the changing exhibitions of the Grinnell Museum of Art and the Print and Drawing Study Room supplement formal course study.

Students elect a studio art major, with opportunities for advanced work in 300- and 400-level courses. Majors are expected to enrich their concentration through selected courses offered by other departments. Furthermore, computer science, cultural studies, history, film, G.W.S.S., creative writing, and the sciences, especially chemistry, contribute to the study of studio art.

Students are encouraged to consider the advantages of a semester abroad in an approved program. Off-campus programs in this country also are available to majors with adequate preparation for advanced study. There are opportunities for academic internships at the Grinnell Museum of Art and others as arranged. A competitive scholarship in studio art allows for a ninth semester of portfolio preparation for graduate study.

Major Requirements: A minimum of 32 credits

At least 20 credits of coursework must be taken with the Department of Studio Art at Grinnell.

The senior project in studio art will be considered ART 499 and must follow the College’s procedures for Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs) as well as departmental procedures. Only one ART 499 (4 credits) may count toward the major. Pre-architecture students must include one semester each of laboratory physics and calculus and are advised to fulfill the studio concentration, though other majors are possible.

Core Requirements: 28 credits

ARH 103 - Introduction to Art History 4 credits
ART 111 - Introduction to the Studio 4 credits (Does not count towards studio art major)
ART 134 - Drawing 4 credits
Three 200-level courses in Studio Art: 12 credits
Two 300-level courses in Studio Art: 8 credits

Non-Studio Requirement: 4 credits

Any 100 or 200 level Art History (ARH) course (excluding ARH 103 Introduction to Art History )
Any of the following courses:
- ART 155 Introduction to Film Studies 4 credits
- HUM 213 Media and the Middle East 4 credits or the cross-listed SST 213 - Media and the Middle East
- REL 228 Gods of Bollywood 4 credits
- THD 140 Introduction to Performance Studies 4 credits
- Special Topics Courses 195 or 295 (as approved by Studio Art department)
- OCS Courses (as approved by Studio Art department

Additional Requirements

Students must complete a public exhibition under the advisement of studio faculty in their senior year.

Honors

To be considered for honors in Studio Art, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must submit for review to the Studio Faculty a digital portfolio of artwork that demonstrates superior performance in coursework combined with superior breadth and/or depth of individual creative research. For more information please visit the Studio Art page on Grinnell.edu.

Course List

Click here to see a list of Studio Art Courses.