Art Major & Minor
The art major fosters the student’s effort to develop a personal creative style, encouraging exploration of various artistic media and appreciation of the work of artists working in other times and places. Students acquire a foundation in studio art, art history, and design while learning to express themselves formally, skillfully and with creativity.
Learning Objectives
Students graduating as art majors at Southern Virginia University are expected to have achieved the following:
- Undergraduate level proficiency in a chosen medium.
- Competence in creating and presenting a coherent, intelligent body of work.
- Basic knowledge of contemporary art and art history.
Program Coordinator: Prof. Jacob Ricks
Major Requirements (30 credit hours)
Major Core (18 credit hours):
- ART 120 Drawing I (GE) (3)
- ART 210 Art History I (GE) (3)
- ART 215 Art History II (GE) (3)
- ART 263 Design Principles (GE) (3)
- ART 298 4th Semester Portfolio Review (0)
- ART 497 Artist Business and Marketing (3)
- ART 498 Senior Show (3)
Major Electives: 12 credit hours from among the following, including at least 6 credit hours from 300- or 400-level courses and including at least two courses in one of the following three areas: drawing, painting, and printmaking:
- ART 125 Figure Drawing Studio (1)
- ART 214 Ceramics I (3)
- ART 225 Figure Drawing I (3)
- ART 230 Oil Painting I (3)
- ART 240 Printmaking I (3)
- ART 244 Book Arts I (3)
- ART 246 Digital Photography I (3)
- ART 250 Watercolor I (3)
- ART 263 Design Principles (GE) (3)
- ART 275R Topics in Art (Var.)
- ART 298 4th Semester Portfolio Review (0)
- ART 300 Field Studies: Italian Renaissance (3)
- ART 311 Museum Studies (3)
- ART 315 Non-Western Art (3)
- ART 317R Sculpture (3)
- ART 320R Drawing II (3)
- ART 330R Painting II (3)
- ART 331 Quick Sketches (3)
- ART 340R Advanced Printmaking (3)
- ART 341 Printmaking II: Relief (3)
- ART 342 Sculpture Topics (3)
- ART 344 Book Arts II (3)
- ART 346 Digital Photography II (3)
- ART 350R Watercolor II (3)
- ART 352 Mixed Media (3)
- ART 353 Color & Composition (3)
- ART 375R Topics in Art (Var.)
- ART 385R Directed Study in Art (Var.)
- ART 399 Internship/Practicum in Art (Var.)
- ART 446 Digital Photography III (3)
- ART 485R Directed Study in Art (Var.)
- ART 497 Artist Business and Marketing (3)
Download the Art Major Checklist
Minor Requirements (18 credit hours)
Minor Core (12 credit hours):
- ART 120 Drawing I (GE) (3)
- ART 210 Art History I (GE) (3)
- ART 215 Art History II (GE) (3)
- ART 263 Design Principles (GE) (3)
Minor Electives: an additional 6 credit hours from among the major core or electives at the 200- or 300-level.