Studio Art (B.F.A.) - Painting Specialization

Program Coordinator/Contact
Mark A. Stemwedel, Studio Art Program Coordinator
School of Design
Grove Hall 101, Box 2802
605-688-4103
E-mail: SDSU.SchoolofDesign@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/art
Click here for additional information.  

Program Information
A degree in Studio Art prepares majors for careers as fine artists, graduate study in fine arts, and entry-level positions in art and graphic design. The degree focuses on the breadth of general studies combined with visual arts studies where majors receive certificates in one or more of the following areas: Animation, Art History, Ceramics, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture. A 30-hour visual arts core supports the degree and creates a foundation of success in art related fields.

Student Learning Outcomes
The study of studio art is both a body of knowledge and a series of activities. Upon completion of the Studio Art major, as defined by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), students demonstrate through advanced writing and senior exhibition the following outcomes:

• Understanding of basic principles of design and color, concepts, media and formats, and the ability to apply them to a specific aesthetic intent. This includes functional knowledge of the traditions, conventions, and evolutions of the discipline as related to issues of representation, illusion, and meaning. The development of solutions to aesthetic and design problems should continue throughout the degree program.
• Ability to synthesize the use of drawing, two-dimensional design, and color. These abilities are developed by beginning with basic studies and continuing throughout the degree program toward the development of advanced capabilities.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes sufficient to work from concept to finished product, including knowledge of paints and surfaces.
• Exploration of the expressive possibilities of various media, and the diverse conceptual modes available to the painter. This may deal with direct painting from nature or with alternative approaches to the making of traditional or innovative two- and, at times, three-dimensional images.

Academic Requirements
Studio Art students must maintain at least a major GPA of 2.6 and an overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the duration of the program.  A grade of “C” or better is required in all ART, GDES, ARTE, ARTH, as well as any course taken in the School of Design courses required for the major.

Course Delivery Format
Course content is delivered through hands-on studio work combined with lectures, demonstrations and critiques.