Art Major
The Art program at Saint Joseph’s University provides students with valuable problem-solving and technical hands-on skills and encourage students to think creatively, take risks, and be innovative. Studio classes are small, and students receive one-on-one attention.
The program boasts three dedicated buildings that include a digital lab with high-end computers, printers and state-of-the-art software for graphic design and digital photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, and sculpture studios, a darkroom, shooting studio, a kiln house complete with electric, gas, and raku kilns, and lecture classrooms.
Art students have many opportunities to exhibit their work on campus and to pursue internships that help secure jobs after graduation. Saint Joseph's University's proximity to Philadelphia allows studio classes to visit Philadelphia-area museums and galleries for field trips and on-location assignments.
Art students develop careers in a wide range of art-related areas, including advertising, gallery and museum curating, graphic design, pottery, interior design, fashion design, education, and architecture, among others.
Goal 1: To develop a visual awareness through analysis and creative work.
Outcome 1.1: Distinguish the components of a work of art.
Outcome 1.2: Discuss the context of a work of art.
Goal 2: To manifest their visual awareness in their own work.
Outcome 2.1: Produce a body of creative visual works.
Outcome 2.2: Write critical analysis of visual works of art.
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
- 1
Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
General Education Overlays
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: 2 | 9 | |
| Any course from the following Departments: 1 | ||
| Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Communication and Media Studies, English, Environmental Studies, Francophone Studies, History, Italian Studies, Music Theatre and Film, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Theology, French/German/Italian/Spanish/Chinese (303 or higher) | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
- 1
Some courses above may have prerequisites – please consult the appropriate department for further information
- 2
PHL 310 is recommended as an ILC
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Courses | ||
| Select four of the following including one required art history course: | 12 | |
1 ARH course see Art & Art History/Courses or HON 221 | ||
| Introduction to Studio Art | ||
| Drawing I | ||
| Painting I | ||
| 3-D Studio Art | ||
| Pottery I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Figurative Sculpture | ||
| Intro to Sculpture/Mixed Media | ||
| Darkroom Photography I | ||
| Digital Photography I | ||
| Select four additional courses within a specialization, three of which must be taken prior to the capstone courses | 12 | |
| One may "specialize" in ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture or graphic design | ||
| Art Therapy | ||
| Landscape Painting | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Landscape Drawing | ||
| Mosaics I | ||
| Phoneography | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Camera-less Photography | ||
| Historical Photo Processes | ||
| Image Manipulation: Photoshop | ||
| Art Education in the Schools | ||
| Drawing II | ||
| Painting II | ||
| Concepts and Artmaking | ||
| Sculpture II | ||
| Pottery II | ||
| Ceramic Surface Design | ||
| Ceramics II | ||
| Atmospheric Firing: Wood/Salt | ||
| Ceramic Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture Mixed Media II | ||
| Figurative Sculpture II | ||
| Spec. Topics & Ind. Study (SO) | ||
| Darkroom Photography II | ||
| Commercial Photography | ||
| Experimental Digital Photo | ||
| Works on Paper | ||
| Drawing III | ||
| Painting III | ||
| Sculpture III | ||
| Ceramics III | ||
| Spec. Topics & Ind. Study (JR) | ||
| DirectedProjects - Photography | ||
| Photo Essay/Docu Photo | ||
| Adv. Comm. Studio Photography | ||
| Ceramics IV | ||
| Spec Topics & Indep Study (SR) | ||
| Capstone | ||
| ART 495 | Senior Project I (Capstone) | 3 |
| ART 496 | Senior Project II (Capstone) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Independent Study Program
Independent study courses may be taken for upper division credit in a student’s major department. Advanced or specialized work in Art and Art History may be pursued under the guidance of a faculty mentor within the independent study program. Students requesting an independent study should contact the faculty member to be involved in the project at least two weeks prior to the registration period. Students must submit a written project proposal which outlines topics and goals.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| THE 154 | Catholic Theological Tradition | 3 |
| Non-Native Language I | 3 | |
| ART Fundamental | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART Fundamental | 3 | |
| PHL 154 | Moral Foundations | 3 |
| Non-Native Language II | 3 | |
| HIS 154 | Forging the Modern World | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Texts & Contexts | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Math Beauty | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Phil Anthropology | 3 | |
| ART Fundamental | 3 | |
| ART Specialization | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART Fundamental | 3 | |
| ART Specialization | 3 | |
| Religious Difference | 3 | |
| Free-Elective | 3 | |
| Free-Elective or Overlay | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHL 310 | Philosophy of Art | 3 |
| Faith and Reason | 3 | |
| ART Specialization | 3 | |
| Free-Elective or Overlay | 3 | |
| Free-Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Integrative Learning Course | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| ART Specialization | 3 | |
| Free-Elective or overlay | 3 | |
| Free-Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Integrative Learning Course | 3 | |
| Free-Elective | 6 | |
| Free-Elective or 2nd Natural Science | 3 | |
| ART 495 | Senior Project I (Capstone) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Art, M/T/F, or Literature | 3 | |
| Free-Elective | 9 | |
| ART 496 | Senior Project II (Capstone) | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |