Art (B.A.)
The art program provides an education in diverse media and focuses on creating, studying, and evaluating art. The program capitalizes on Marymount faculty expertise in fine arts and profits from easy access to the many art galleries and museums in the greater Washington, DC, region.
Upon successful completion of the art program, students will be able to
- skillfully differentiate, select, and apply visual arts media, techniques, and processes;
- differentiate and interpret meaning in the visual arts from past to present by researching cultural and historical context;
- integrate academic knowledge with the work environment; and
- effectively present and exhibit portfolio-quality work.
Foundation courses in design, drawing, and art history introduce basic skills of observation and visual communication, and many are open to all Marymount students. The studio courses provide rigorous training in the necessary skills for creating art in any medium, and art history courses supply a background in the traditions of visual art and the opportunity to analyze works of art in greater detail. At the end of the sophomore year, students demonstrate skills from the foundation studio courses by preparing a professional portfolio, which is required to continue in the major.
After completing the foundation curriculum, art majors broaden their studio experience by enrolling in courses that apply their foundation skills in a variety of artistic media. Art majors also take upper-division courses in art history, one of which focuses on art in the modern world, and complete an internship in a regional art agency, gallery, or museum, or an apprenticeship under a professional artist. Students complete their studies at the senior level by creating a body of work that demonstrates their breadth of talent and by assembling a new portfolio of work that highlights their skills and achievements. Their work is evaluated by departmental faculty and invited guests, and it is juried for a group exhibition on campus that is open to the public.
Marymount also offers degree tracks that lead to specific careers in the arts. The arts administration track combines the studio art degree with strong training in organizational and financial management, data literacy, legal and ethical issues, entrepreneurship, and marketing. Together these classes provide students with the skills they need to manage institutions that seek to promote the creation, production, and distribution of the arts.
The pre-art therapy track provides a full curriculum of art classes plus the psychology courses needed for entry into a graduate program to earn the master’s degree that is required to be a practicing art therapist. The undergraduate pre-art therapy degree can also prepare students to pursue graduate studies in related fields such as mental health counseling and counseling psychology.
The art major also leaves a sufficient number of university electives for non-track majors to pursue other minors, allowing students the opportunity to prepare themselves for professional careers in the arts.
Communication, Media, and Graphic Design: Art majors who wish to prepare for non-management positions in art galleries, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies might earn a minor in communication or graphic and media design, which further develops skills in communication, design techniques, new technologies, and their graphic and media applications.
Illustration: Art majors hoping to pursue illustration commissions, employment, and graduate studies should pursue a minor in illustration and consult with their advisor on choosing the proper elective courses in traditional and digital art.
Ceramics: Art majors interested in making and marketing their own ceramics, prototyping and producing ceramics wares, or pursuing graduate-level research in ceramics should add a ceramics minor.
Art History: Art majors interested in museum work should seek an advanced degree in art history. The art history minor can help prepare students for entry into a graduate program. This minor is also an excellent choice for students who are interested in expanding their knowledge of art and engaging with works in the Washington, DC, region.
Students should also consult with a School of Design, Arts, and Humanities 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
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
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 380 Movements in Modern Art, FA 410 Topics in Art History, and a second section of FA 410 or one further Writing Intensive course in the Liberal Arts Core.
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
Design
Drawing
Art History
| FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
Gateway
Fine Arts Requirements
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
| FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
| FA | Nine (9) credits in fine arts studio electives, in three (3) different media | 9 |
Arts Administration Track
Students in the Arts Administration Track should add the following courses:
Required Courses
Required Electives
One (1) economics course from the following:
| ECO 210 | Principles of Microeconomics * | 3 |
| ECO 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics * | 3 |
Required Electives
One (1) advanced business course from the following:
Required Electives
One (1) introductory sociology course from the following:
| SOC 203 | The Global Village * | 3 |
| SOC 204 | Cultural Diversity * | 3 |
| SOC 251 | Working for Justice, Working for Change * | 3 |
Required Electives
One (1) advanced sociology course from the following:
| SOC 306 | Poverty, Wealth, and Inequality * | 3 |
| SOC 350 | Social Justice * | 3 |
| SOC 385 | Global Inequality and Community Development * | 3 |
Required Courses
| PSY 101 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 105 | General Psychology Laboratory | 1 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 330 | Counseling Theories and Process * | 3 |
Pre-Art Therapy Track
Students in the Pre-Art Therapy Track should add the following courses:
Required Courses
| PSY 101 | General Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 105 | General Psychology Laboratory | 1 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology * | 3 |
| PSY 330 | Counseling Theories and Process * | 3 |
Required Electives
One (1) advanced psychology course from the following:
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
Year One — Spring
| FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| FA 210 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
Year Two — Fall
| FA 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
PH 100: PH-1 core course
Year Two — Spring
| FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 295 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
FA 202: FNA core course
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Three — Fall
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | | |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| | Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Three — Spring
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | | |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four — Fall
| FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Three (3) electives | 9 |
Year Four — Spring
| FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
| | Three (3) electives | 9 |
Sample Degree Plan — Arts Administration Track
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
Year One — Spring
| FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| ECO | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (economics) * | 3 |
EN 102: WR core course
TRS 100: TRS-1 core course
Fine Arts studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Introductory economics (SS-1) core course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Two — Fall
| FA 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| MGT 123 | The Business Experience | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (sociology) * | 3 |
PH 100: PH-1 core course
Fine Arts studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Introductory sociology (SS-1) core course: See Major Requirements for course selections.
Year Two — Spring
| FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 210 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| FA 295 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
| ACT 201 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| LA 248 | Business Law I | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | | |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| SOC | Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course (sociology) * | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
Fine Arts studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Advanced sociology (SS-2) core course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Three — Spring
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | | |
| PH 305 | Business Ethics * | 3 |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Four — Fall
| FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
| MGT 291 | Business Communication * | 3 |
| MGT 304 | Organizational Management | 3 |
| | One (1) advanced business elective | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Advanced Business Elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Four — Spring
| FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Two (2) electives | 6 |
Sample Degree Plan — Pre-Art Therapy Track
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
Year One — Spring
| FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
Year Two — Fall
| FA 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| FA 213 | Painting * | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 210 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| FA 295 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
| PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology * | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | | |
| | One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| PSY 330 | Counseling Theories and Process * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab (biology recommended) * | 4 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Fine Arts studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Three — Spring
| FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | | |
| FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | | |
| | One (1) advanced PSY elective | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Advanced PSY elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Four — Fall
| FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
| | Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Two (2) electives | 6 |
Year Four — Spring
| FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
| FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Two (2) electives | 6 |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.