Art
Elena Baskin Visual Arts Studios
Room E-104
(831) 459-2272
visart@ucsc.edu
http://art.ucsc.edu
Program Description
The Art Department offers an integrated program of study in theory and practice exploring the power of visual communication for personal expression and public interaction. The department provides students with the means to pursue this exploration through courses that provide the practical hands-on learning skills for art production in a variety of media within the contexts of critical thinking and broad-based social perspectives.
The art program at UC Santa Cruz is composed of courses in drawing, animation, painting, photography, sculpture, print media, intermedia, critical theory, electronic art, public art, environmental art, social art practice, and interactive technologies. Baskin visual arts studios provide world-class facilities for art production in these areas. The Art Department is committed to pursuing a continuing dialogue about what constitutes basic preparation in the arts while offering students experience in established practices, new genres, and new technologies.
Students graduating with a major in art may become professional artists or pursue careers in such diverse areas as arts administration, arts management, museum education, art direction, communication design, web design, digital imaging, curating, art education, multi-media specialist, industry consultant, model maker, and publishing. Many students who want to teach at the college level continue their education in graduate school.
Art Undergraduate Program Learning Outcomes
Students who earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art will gain the skills, knowledge, and understanding that will enable them to:
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demonstrate proficiency in a range of techniques and media;
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demonstrate the ability to imagine, create, and resolve a work of art;
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demonstrate communication through familiarity with and ability to analyze, both verbally and in writing, issues and forms of contemporary art with a clear understanding of historical precedents; and
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demonstrate critical thinking through the ability to articulate an insightful response and analysis of a work of art in order to participate in discussions and studio critiques.
Declaration of the Art Major—Frosh
Students may apply for admission to the art major after completing two of the following: Art 10D, Art 10E, or Art 10F. While completing this lower-division coursework, it is critical that each student meet with a faculty adviser regarding the student’s potential to proceed to the major level.
Declaration of the Art Major—Junior Transfer
Junior transfer students must pass a portfolio review in early April and be admitted to UC Santa Cruz to declare the art major. Acceptance to UCSC does not guarantee admittance to the major, nor does passing the portfolio review guarantee that UCSC will accept the student to the university. Transfer students must identify themselves as potential art majors when applying to the university in order to receive information on the portfolio review deadlines and the materials required for the review. If a student is admitted to UCSC and does not pass the Art Department portfolio review, it is imperative that this student pursue another major upon admittance. Students will be notified of the results of the review before they need to submit their Statement of Intent to register for UCSC. Students who have not completed three courses articulated to courses in the Art 20 series (in three different media) before portfolio review are rarely selected. It is also highly recommended that junior transfers take history of art and visual culture courses at the community college, including one in Western art and culture and one in non-Western art and culture.
Requirements of the Art Major
The minimum requirements for art majors who were admitted to UC Santa Cruz in their frosh year are completion of nine lower-division and eight upper-division courses and satisfaction of the senior comprehensive requirement. Junior transfer students complete seven lower-division and eight upper-division courses and their senior comprehensive requirement. A maximum of three courses total from outside the Art Department (including UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) courses) may be substituted for regular art courses with the approval of a major adviser. In courses taken outside the UC Santa Cruz Art Department, students must have received a grade of C or higher.
Students plan their course of study in consultation with a faculty adviser.
Lower-Division Requirements
Students complete nine courses as follows:
The Foundation (15 credits required; two of the 10 series are waived for junior transfers)
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10D, 2D Foundation
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10E, 3D Foundation
- 10F, 4D Foundation
Introduction to Contemporary Art Practice (15 credits required; junior transfers should complete at community college)
Frosh complete three courses from the following:
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20G, Introduction to Print Media and Drawing
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20H, Introduction to Sculpture and Public Art
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20I, Introduction to Photography
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20J, Introduction to Drawing and Painting
- 20K, Introduction to Digital Media
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20L, Introduction to Drawing
Digital Tools (5 credits required)
- 80T, Digital Tools for Contemporary Art Practice
Students complete two courses from History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC): one in Western art and culture and one in non-Western art and culture.
Note: Students may use Advanced Placement (AP) in Art History in lieu of the Western-emphasis history of art and visual culture requirement.
Upper-Division Requirements
Students complete eight courses as follows:
Studio Work (35 credits required)
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Seven upper-division (100+ numbered) studio courses (of which Art 190B may be one)
For junior transfers it is strongly recommended that one of the upper-division studios be Art 194, Forms and Ideas, taken in the junior year.
Senior Capstone/Comprehensive Requirement
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190A, Writing for Artists (meets the Disciplinary Communication requirement for the Art B.A.); and
- One of the following options:
- Completing Art 190B: Senior Project; or
- Presenting an exhibition and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the exhibition; or
- Submitting a portfolio and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the portfolio.
Senior majors should meet with their faculty adviser about this requirement.
A total of 85 credits are required for the Art B.A.; students are advised to plan in advance if they are interested in the program. Some requisite courses may be offered during Summer Session.
The last three quarters of coursework for the major must be completed in residence at UC Santa Cruz.
Art Major Planner (Incoming Frosh)
The following is a recommended academic plan for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the art major.
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (frosh) |
ART 10E (IM) | ART 10D (IM) | ART 10F (IM) |
| 2nd (soph) |
ART 20 series | ART 20 series | ART 20 series |
| HAVC* | ART 80T | HAVC* | |
| 3rd (junior) |
UD studio | ART 190A (DC) | UD Studio |
| UD studio | |||
| 4th (senior) |
UD studio | UD studio | UD studio or ART 190B |
| UD studio |
*Courses from history of art and visual culture (one with a Western emphasis, one with a non-Western emphasis)
Western (Europe and the Americas on assist.org): 30-46, 48, 85, 133A-143G, 186, 190P-190S, 191B-191N, 191P-191S
Non-Western (any not listed as Europe and the Americas on assist.org): 10-27, 47, 50-80, 110-127E, 151-190N, 190T-191A, 191O
Check with the Art Department adviser for any updates to these lists.
Art Major Planner (Junior Transfers)
The following is a recommended academic plan for junior transfers who have completed three lower-division studios across three different media and partial IGETC:
|
Year |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (junior) |
UD studio | ART 190A (DC) | UD studio |
| ART 80T (PE-T) | HAVC* | ||
| ART 10E (IM)† | ART 10D (IM)† | ART 10F (IM).† | |
| 2nd (senior) |
UD studio | UD studio | UD studio |
| HAVC* | UD studio | UD studio or ART 190B |
† Only one of the three 10 series courses is required for junior transfers.
*Courses from history of art and visual culture (one with a Western emphasis, one with a non-Western emphasis). It is highly recommended that junior transfers take history of art and visual culture courses at the community college. Western emphasis courses are listed as “Europe and the Americas,” all others are non-Western on assist.org.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
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Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in art is satisfied by completing Art 190A, Writing for Artists
Comprehensive Requirement
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All art majors satisfy the capstone/comprehensive requirement with 190A, Writing for Artists; and
- One of the following options:
- Completing Art 190B: Senior Project; or
- Presenting an exhibition and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the exhibition; or
- Submitting a portfolio and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the portfolio.
Senior majors should meet with their faculty adviser about this requirement.
Study Abroad
The UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) offers students the opportunity for study abroad. Art majors may participate in EAP in their junior year. Art students may not go abroad in their senior year because the last three quarters of coursework must be in residence at UC Santa Cruz. When considering attending EAP, the student should be mindful that only three courses may be substituted in the art major and each must receive a grade of B or better.
Materials Fee
Art students should be aware of the materials fee required for some studio courses. The fee is billed to the student’s account for specific course materials purchased by the Art Department through the university. Fees generally range from $15 to $175 per course. Students may incur additional expense purchasing individual supplies.
Revised: 07/15/18
