Art (B.A.)
The art major 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 major, 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.
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 school faculty and invited guests, and it is juried for a group exhibition on campus that is open to the public.
Students are also encouraged to complete a minor in business, marketing, entrepreneurship, or the pre-professional track in pre-art therapy.
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 non-pre-professional track students a sufficient number of university electives to pursue other minors or a double major, allowing students the opportunity to prepare themselves for professional careers in the arts.
Minimum Grade Requirement: A grade of a C or better is required in all major requirements.
Degree Requirements - Art
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements
See the Liberal Arts Core for details.
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 their advisor.
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 | Psychological Disorders | 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 or track.
Year One - Fall
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| VIS 101 | User Centered Design | 3 |
| VIS 111 | Intro to Color and Design * | 3 |
| VIS 112 | Drawing I * | 3 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
EN 101: WR core course
VIS 111 and VIS 112: FPA core course
Year One - Spring
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| VIS 121 | Intro to Digital Tools | 3 |
| VIS 214 | Three-Dimensional Design * | 3 |
| HI | History (HI) core course * | 3 |
EN 102: WR core course
TRS 100: TRS core course
VIS 214: DHUM core course
Year Two - Fall
| ART 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 211 | Printmaking * | 3 |
| VIS 224 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two - Spring
| AH 101 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| OR | |
| AH 102 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| | |
| ART 107 | Hand-Built Ceramics * | 3 |
| OR | |
| ART 215 | Wheel-Thrown Ceramics * | 3 |
| OR | |
| ART 222 | Mold Making and Slip Casting * | 3 |
| | |
| ART 209 | Figure Drawing | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
| MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
Year Three - Fall
| AH 204 | History of Modern Art * | 3 |
| ART 213 | Painting * | 3 |
| | Depth in Faith and Reason core course * | 3 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Three - Spring
| AH 310 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
| ART 395 | Advanced 2D Studio | 3 |
| OR | |
| ART 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3D Studio | 3 |
| | |
| EN | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
| | Depth in Sciences (DSCI) core course * | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Four - Fall
Year Four - Spring
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the
Liberal Arts Core and
Course Descriptions for further information.