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The art program provides an education in diverse media and focuses on studying, interpreting, creating, and evaluating art. The program capitalizes on Marymount faculty's expertise in fine arts and is enhanced by easy access to the many art galleries and museums in the greater Washington, DC region.
Upon successful completion of the art program, majors will be able to
Foundation courses in design, drawing, painting, ceramics, and art history introduce the formal elements of observation and visual communication skills, and many are available to all Marymount students. The studio courses provide rigorous training in the basics of making visual art, and art history courses supply both a background in the traditions of visual art, and the opportunity to analyze works of art in greater detail. Other foundation courses introduce art majors to skills necessary for preparing their portfolios in a professional manner. At the end of the sophomore year, students will demonstrate their skills in the foundation's studio courses by preparing a portfolio, which is necessary to continue in the major.
By the end of the foundation curriculum, art majors choose a fine arts concentration: a group of courses in related artistic media where they will focus their studies. Art majors also take further upper-division fine arts courses. These include courses in art history, one of which focuses on art in the modern world. Students also complete an internship in a regional art agency, gallery, or museum, or an apprenticeship under a professional artist, and complete their studies by creating a body of work at the senior level, which is evaluated by faculty and artists from the chosen field.
The art major leaves a sufficient number of university electives to pursue a minor. The program recommends many possible minors, including:
Art History: Students interested in expanding their study of art history or those who hope to seek an advanced degree in art history should choose elective courses from the list of interdisciplinary courses that comprise the art history minor.
Business: Students wishing to pursue a career in art galleries, museums, and other arts organizations should consider earning a business minor, which will give them an integrated application of art, marketing, and management theories. They should consult with their advisor to choose elective courses in management, management science, marketing, and fine arts.
Communication Media Design: Students who wish to prepare for positions in a variety of settings such as art galleries, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies might consider a minor in communication media design, which further develops skills in communication, writing design techniques and new technologies, and their graphic and media applications.
Illustration: Students who wish to diversify their portfolio to pursue illustration commissions, employment, and graduate studies should pursue a minor in illustration, and should consult with their advisor to choose elective courses in traditional and digital art.
Psychology: Students who hope to find entry-level positions in organizations that employ art therapists, or to pursue an advanced degree for a career as a practicing art therapist should consider earning a psychology minor. They should consult with their advisor to choose elective courses in psychology and fine arts.
Students should also consult with a School of Arts and Sciences advisor about the interdisciplinary plan for liberal studies majors and the interdisciplinary media and performance studies minor.
Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C is required in any fine arts course that counts toward the art degree. Students also must pass FA 295 Sophomore Portfolio in order to continue in the major.
Degree Requirements — Art
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Art majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: FA 422 Senior Project and at least two (2) courses from FA 345 Renaissance Art, FA 365 Baroque Art, FA 370 19th-Century Art, and FA 380 Modern Art.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of this major, all students in this program will take the following courses in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor.
Foundation Courses
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design
FA 104 Color Theory
FA 105 Drawing I
FA 107 Ceramics I: Introduction to Hand-building
FA 201 Introduction to Art History I
FA 202 Introduction to Art History II
FA 205 Drawing II
FA 210 Three-Dimensional Design
FA 211 Printmaking I
FA 213 Painting I
CMD 103 Adobe Photoshop
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
Fine Arts Requirements
FA 295 Sophomore Portfolio
Three (3) credits in upper-division art history, after 1800
Three (3) additional credits in upper-division art history
Three (3) credits in fine arts electives (studio or art history)
FA 400 Internship
FA 427 Senior Portfolio
Concentration Courses
All art majors will also take three fine arts courses (9 credits) in a single media concentration. One course (3 credits) will be the senior project, which must be in the same media as the other concentration classes.
Drawing/Painting Concentration
FA 209 Figure Drawing
FA 395 Advanced Studio
FA 421 Project
FA 422 Senior Project
Printmaking/Book Arts Concentration
FA 395 Advanced Studio
FA 421 Project
FA 422 Senior Project
Sample Degree Plan — Art
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections. This plan will differ for students who wish to pursue any minor.
Year One — Fall
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design §
FA 105 Drawing I §
EN 101 Composition I (WR) core course*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
FA 104 Color Theory §
FA 210 Three-Dimensional Design §
EN 102 Composition II (WI) core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1) core course*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Two — Fall
FA 205 Drawing II §
FA 201 Introduction to Art History I (FNA) core course§ *
FA 213 Painting I §
CMD 103 Adobe Photoshop§
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing §
Introductory English Literature (EN-1) core course*
Year Two — Spring
FA 107 Ceramics I: Intro to Hand-building
FA 202 Introduction to Art History II §
FA 211 Printmaking I §
FA 295 Sophomore Portfolio & Presentation §
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Year Three — Fall
One (1) upper-division art history course (WI) § *
One (1) fine arts concentration course § **
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course *
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Year Three — Spring
One (1) upper-division art history course (WI) § *
One (1) fine arts concentration course § **
Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course*
Natural Science (NS) or Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
One (1) elective
Year Four — Fall
FA 422 Senior Project (WI) § *
One (1) fine arts elective § **
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TR-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course *
Two (2) electives
Year Four — Spring
FA 400 Internship (EXP) § *
FA 427 Portfolio §
Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*
Two (2) electives
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.
** See Major Requirements for course selections
This program of study allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in art and also be licensed to teach art, levels K-12, at the end of four years. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experience and student teaching.
Admission Requirements: Students in this program must seek admission to the teacher licensure program and apply for student teaching. See the education section for admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses as specified to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements. In addition to working with an art advisor, students should see an education advisor in the School of Education and Human Services for further information.
Also, course rotations vary and not every course is available each semester. Individual advising is important to ensure meeting all major and teaching licensure requirements.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C is required in all education courses.
Degree Requirements — Art with K-12 Teaching Licensure
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Art education majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: FA 422 Senior Project and at least two (2) courses from FA 345 Renaissance Art, FA 365 Baroque Art, FA 370 19th-Century Art, and FA 380 Modern Art.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements. Some coursework fulfills teaching licensure requirements as specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
ED 250 Introduction to Teaching and Learning
ED 327S Curriculum Design
ED 337 Literacy in the Content Areas
ED 452 Managing the Classroom #
ED 460 Student Teaching #
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design
FA 104 Color Theory
FA 105 Drawing I
FA 107 Ceramics I: Introduction to Hand-building
FA 201 Introduction to Art History I
FA 202 Introduction to Art History II
FA 205 Drawing II
FA 210 Three-Dimensional Design
FA 211 Printmaking I
FA 295 Sophomore Portfolio
FA 385 Approaches to Teaching Art
FA 422 Senior Project
FA 427 Senior Portfolio
Three (3) credits in upper-division art history, after 1800
Three (3) additional credits in upper-division art history
Six (6) credits from one (1) concentration
CMD 103 Adobe Photoshop
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
PSY 110 Human Growth and Development
PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities
# ED 452 and ED 460 must be taken at the same time.
Sample Degree Plan — Art with K-12 Teaching Licensure
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design §
FA 105 Drawing I §
EN 101 Composition I (WR) core course*
Mathematics (MT) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
FA 104 Color Theory §
FA 210 Three-Dimensional Design §
EN 102 Composition II (WI core course*
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1) core course*
Natural Science (NS) core course*
Year Two — Fall
FA 205 Drawing II §
FA 201 Introduction to Art History (FNA) core course § *
FA 213 Painting I §
CMD 103 Adobe Photoshop §
CMD 200 Electronic Publishing
Introductory English Literature (LT-1) core course*
Year Two — Spring
FA 107 Ceramics I: Intro to Hand-Building
FA 202 Introduction to Art History II §
FA 211 Printmaking I §
FA 295 Sophomore Portfolio & Presentation §
ED 250 Introduction to Teaching and Learning §
PSY 110 Human Growth and Development (SS-1) core course § *
Year Three — Fall
One (1) fine arts concentration course § **
ED 327S Curriculum Design §
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
One (1) upper-division art history course(WI) § *
Year Three — Spring
One (1) fine arts concentration course § **
One (1) upper-division art history course (WI)§
ED 337 Literacy in Content Areas §
PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities (SS-2 core course) §
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Year Four — Fall
FA 422 Senior Project (WI) § *
FA 385 Approaches to Teaching Art § **
Natural Science (NS) or Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course *
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Year Four — Spring
ED 460 Student Teaching (EXP) § *
ED 452 Managing K-12 Classroom §
FA 427 Senior Portfolio §
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
§ Requirement for the major and/or teaching licensure
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.
** See Major Requirements for course selections
Minor Requirements
FA 201 Introduction to Art History I
FA 202 Introduction to Art History II
Fifteen (15) additional credits from the following (at least 9 credits must be in art history courses with an FA prefix): AA 361 Survey of Fashion, AA 412 Great Designers, EN/IS 220 The Movie or the Book?, EN/IS 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies, FA 305 Pre-Classical Art, FA 315 Classical Art, FA 325 Medieval Art, FA 345 Renaissance Art, FA 365 Baroque Art, FA 370 19th-Century Art, FA 380 Modern Art, FA 410 Topics in Art History, CMD 301 History of Graphic Design, ID 350 History of Interiors I, ID 351 History of Interiors II, PH 370 Philosophy of Art
Minor Requirements
FA 105 Drawing I
FA 205 Drawing II
FA 209 Figure Drawing
CMD 202 Illustration I
Nine (9) additional credits, choosing from the following: FA 211 Printmaking I, FA 213 Painting I, FA 395 Advanced Studio, FA 421 Project, CMD 421 Project
Minor Requirements
FA 103 Two-Dimensional Design
FA 104 Color Theory
Fifteen (15) additional credits from the following: FA 105 Drawing I, FA 107 Ceramics I: Introduction to Hand-building, FA 110 Cross-Cultural Visual Thinking, FA 205 Drawing II, FA 209 Figure Drawing, FA 210 Three-Dimensional Design, FA 211 Printmaking I, FA 213 Painting I, FA 215 Wheel-Thrown Ceramics, FA 251 Jewelry Design, FA 395 Advanced Studio, FA 421 Project
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