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Major/Minor

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

Students who entered Wellesley in Fall 2021 and earlier must complete a minimum of 11 units to fulfill the major, comprised of:

  • ARTH 100 or CAMS 101. Advanced Placement or transfer credit will not be accepted in fulfillment of this requirement.
  • ARTS 105 (Drawing I)
  • Any two of the following: ARTS 106, ARTS 108/CAMS 138, ARTS 109, ARTS 110, ARTS 111, ARTS 112, ARTS 113, ARTS 115/WRIT 115, ARTS 165/CAMS 135
  • An Art History course addressing twentieth-century or contemporary art.
  • At least five studio courses above the 100 level. At least two of these must be at the advanced (300) level. Note that some 300-level Studio Art courses may be elected more than once for credit in the major.
  • Formal presentation of an independent, thesis, or advanced studio project in a senior exhibition. 
  • The capstone seminar, ARTS 317H-ARTS 318H, is required for senior majors and strongly encouraged for senior minors.

Students entering Wellesley in Fall 2022 and later must complete a minimum of 10 units to fulfill the major, comprised of:

  • ARTH 100 or CAMS 101. Advanced Placement or transfer credit will not be accepted in fulfillment of this requirement.
  • ARTS 105 (Drawing I)
  • Any one of the following: ARTS 106, ARTS 108/CAMS 138, ARTS 109, ARTS 110, ARTS 111, ARTS 112, ARTS 113, ARTS 115/WRIT 115, ARTS 165/CAMS 135
  • An Art History course addressing twentieth-century or contemporary art.
  • At least five studio courses above the 100 level. At least two of these must be at the advanced (300) level. Note that some 300-level Studio Art courses may be elected more than once for credit in the major.
  • Formal presentation of an independent, thesis, or advanced studio project in a senior exhibition. 
  • The capstone seminar, ARTS 317H-ARTS 318H, is required for senior majors and strongly encouraged for senior minors.

ARTS 317H-ARTS 318H is a yearlong capstone overlay offered as a half-credit seminar in the fall and spring semester, leading up to a senior exhibition. Students considering majors in Studio Art should plan to enroll in this course during their junior or senior year.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

Studio Art minors who entered Wellesley in Fall 2021 and earlier must complete a total of 7 units to fulfill the minor, comprised of: an art history course (normally ARTH 100 or CAMS 101), two studio courses at the 100 level, plus four additional units in Studio Art, one of which is at the 300 level (ARTS 250s and ARTS 350s excluded). It is strongly recommended, but not required, that students take at least one semester of the ARTS 317H-ARTS 318H seminar during their senior year.

Studio Art minors who enter Wellesley in Fall 2022 and later must complete a total of 6 units to fulfill the minor, comprised of: an art history course (normally ARTH 100 or CAMS 101), one studio course at the 100 level, plus four additional units in Studio Art, one of which is at the 300 level (ARTS 250 and ARTS 350 excluded). It is strongly recommended, but not required, that students take at least one semester of the ARTS 317H-ARTS 318H seminar during their senior year. Studio Art minors must participate in the senior show in their graduation year.

 

HONORS IN STUDIO ART

See information at the Studio Art thesis link.

For the 2020-21 academic year, special circumstances led to a new approach to honors in studio art. We asked all seniors pursuing honors to focus on advanced projects within the framework of their 300-level studio courses and enroll in ARTS 318 (our capstone seminar) in term 4.  During this final term students expanded or refined the projects begun in 300-level courses, developed an artist’s statement and project statement, and co-organized a publication and exhibition of their work in a senior show. A faculty committee met to conduct a final review of this show, assess the senior projects, and determine who shall receive honors in the major.  

 

GRADUATE STUDY IN STUDIO ART

Students considering M.F.A programs in the visual arts should aim to develop a deep major (more than the minimum 11 units for students for students who entered Fall 2021 and earlier, more than the minimum 10 units for students for students who enter in Fall 2022 and beyond) and pursue affiliated course work in Art History, Philosophy and Visual Culture whenever possible. Since contemporary art is often interdisciplinary, students are encouraged to discuss the breadth of their course selections with their studio advisors.

 

 

UPDATED 2/24/2022