Information and Policies
Introduction
The Art Department's innovative, interdisciplinary studio art program focuses on the power of visual communication for personal expression and public interaction. Students learn hands-on skills in a variety of fine arts mediums alongside rigorous conceptual approaches to critical thinking and art making. Students develop foundational skills in their first and second years, then launch into experimentation across media. Studio art courses at UC Santa Cruz build skills and encourage creative innovation and intellectual rigor. Students explore personal projects alongside broader social, environmental and public projects. The Elena Baskin Visual Arts Studios at the University of California, Santa Cruz provide world-class facilities for art production in drawing, animation, painting, photography, foundry, metal, wood, new media and conceptual sculpture, print media, intermedia, critical theory, digital media art, public art, environmental art and social practice.
The Art Department at UCSC is invested in exploring diverse perspectives, world views, and approaches to art and art making. Diversity, equity and inclusion are core to our curriculum and teaching. Our goal is to prepare students for creative participation in a rapidly changing world.
The bachelor of arts degree prepares students for dynamic careers within the visual arts. Our graduates go on to pursue careers as professional practicing artists, as well as in arts education, arts management, art direction, social design, web design, photography, social practice and environmental art, curation and consulting, multimedia, illustration, animation, among other arts-related fields. Many of our students continue to study art and professional practices in graduate and post-graduate programs.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art will gain the skills, knowledge, and understanding that will enable them to:
demonstrate proficiency in a range of techniques and media;
demonstrate the ability to imagine, create and resolve a work of art incorporating research with an awareness of contemporary and historical practices, approaches and cultural perspectives;
demonstrate the ability to discuss and revise their own and other students’ artistic process and production based on a foundation in forms and ideas with a knowledge of diversity through multiple historical and contemporary contexts, cultural perspectives and approaches;
- demonstrate the ability to communicate in writing analysis of a work of art using vocabulary that reflects a foundational knowledge in the diversity of forms and ideas encompassing multiple historical and contemporary contexts, cultural perspectives and approaches.
Academic Advising for the Program
For more information and advising on the art major, please contact the undergraduate advisor at artadvisor@ucsc.edu. For junior transfer students, please also see more detailed information below under Transfer Information and Policy.
Getting Started in the Major: Frosh
Acceptance to the Art Major
This is a course-intensive and sequential program; students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first year at UC Santa Cruz. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the undergraduate advisor in their first year to develop a plan of study. We recommend that students fulfill the foundations requirement (two of the following courses: ART 10D, ART 10E, ART 10F) in their first year in order to meet the campus deadline to declare the major. A portfolio review is not required for frosh entry students.
Studio Classes
Studio art classes are primarily small (25 students or fewer), making room for both individual attention and instruction as well as opportunities to develop strong relationships and networking with faculty and fellow students.
General Education Requirements
Students are required to complete general education (GE) requirements alongside their major courses throughout their career at UCSC. Students who are unable to enroll in an art course in any given quarter are encouraged to complete general education requirements. It is important to balance major requirements and GE requirements throughout your career at UC Santa Cruz. Focusing exclusively on GEs during frosh and sophomore years could delay your graduation.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
Transfer students interested in the art major should plan to complete two art foundation (ART 10 equivalent) courses listed on assist.org prior to entering UC Santa Cruz. If students have not taken two equivalent foundation courses before arriving at UC Santa Cruz, they have the option of declaring the major through a portfolio review, as summarized in the section below. For full information on the portfolio review process, see our portfolio review page.
In addition to the two foundation courses, it is recommended that students have completed a minimum of three studio art courses prior to entering UCSC. These courses should be comparable to UCSC's ART 20 courses – transferable courses from California community colleges are listed on assist.org. It is also recommended that students complete two art history courses prior to entering UCSC for timely graduation.
Applicants who do not pass the portfolio review (or complete the ART 10 equivalent courses), and are accepted to UCSC must pursue another major if they decide to attend UCSC. Students will be notified of the results of the review before they need to submit their Statement of Intent to Register for UCSC.
Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students
Once a student is accepted to the university and has submitted their Statement of Intent to Register, the undergraduate advisor will be in contact with the student regarding first quarter enrollment and an academic plan. Transfer students qualify to declare the art major by passing two art foundation courses (ART 10 equivalent courses) or by passing the portfolio review. The portfolio review waives the two required foundation courses. A declaration petition can be submitted as soon as a transfer student has completed either option. Winter transfer students follow the same curriculum and requirements.
Portfolio Review
A portfolio review is not required for transfer students if they have taken two art foundation courses (ART 10 equivalent courses listed on assist.org). If transfer students have not taken two art foundation courses, the portfolio review is an option to waive those two foundation courses.
A portfolio is not required for entering frosh students. Frosh students may refer to the Major Qualification section for qualification criteria.
Currently enrolled transfer students who wish to pursue art should contact the art advisor as soon as possible to get information on the portfolio review application.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
All students qualify for the major after completing two courses from the list below or their equivalent.
Transfer students who have successfully passed the portfolio review have these courses waived, and therefore are eligible to declare the major.
How to Declare a Major
Petition to declare your major as soon as you have met qualification requirements and/or reach your declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.
To declare, log into MyUCSC and click the link to submit the Petition for Major/Minor.
If you are eligible to declare, the art advisor will approve your petition and create or update your academic plan. It is recommended to schedule an advising appointment with the undergraduate advisor to review your academic plan.
Appeal Process
Students who have reached their declaration deadline quarter but have not met major qualification requirements should submit the Petition for Major/Minor eForm. A major declaration petition by a student who does not meet major qualification requirements serves as an appeal. The result will be approval, denial, or the setting of conditions that must be resolved within at most one more enrolled quarter. This will be determined by a departmental review of the student’s individual context and potential for success in the major.
Letter Grade Policy
Students must receive a C/P or higher for an art course to be applied toward the major.
Three-Year Pathway
The Art Department has a three-year pathway designed for students who want to complete their Art B.A. in three years. This is an intensive program that includes all of the courses for the current art B.A. major, as well as all of the general education requirements and electives for the university. Students should begin this pathway in their first year to be able to complete the required courses in three years. Summer Session attendance is required for all three years. For more information, contact the undergraduate advisor.
Course Substitution Policy
A maximum of three courses total from outside the Art Department (including UC Education Abroad Program [EAP] courses) may be substituted for regular art courses with the approval of a major advisor.
Study Abroad
The UC Santa Cruz Global Learning office offers students the opportunity to study abroad or away through a variety of programs. Art students typically participate during their junior year or over the summer, but can participate anytime during their studies after declaring their major. When considering participation in one or more of these programs, the student should be mindful that only three courses may be substituted in the art major and each must go through a review process upon return to UCSC.
Honors
Honors in the art major are awarded to graduating seniors whose academic performance demonstrates excellence at a grade point average of 3.95 or above in their upper-division art and additionally approved studio courses. Highest honors in the art major are awarded to graduating seniors whose academic performance demonstrates excellence at a grade point average of 4.0 in their upper-division art and additionally approved studios.
Materials Fee
A materials fee is required for some art studio courses. Materials fees are noted in the course description when applicable. A majority of courses do not carry an additional materials fee. The fee is billed to the student’s account for specific course materials purchased by the Art Department through the university. Fees range from $120 to $175 per course. Students may incur additional expense purchasing individual supplies.
Requirements and Planners
Course Requirements
The Art B.A. requires a total of eight lower-division courses, eight upper-division courses, and completion of the senior comprehensive requirement. The comprehensive requirement may be fulfilled by ART 190B, Senior Project, or by electing to complete additional work in a studio course taught by art faculty as part of the required seven upper-division studios. The comprehensive requirement may also be fulfilled by a review of the student's artwork by a ladder-rank faculty. If the latter choice is selected, the student must then complete seven upper-division studios. Some courses may be satisfied via exam credit.
Lower-Division Courses
Students complete eight courses as follows. Some courses may be satisfied via exam credit.
The Foundation
Two of the following or their equivalents. Transfer students passing the portfolio review have this requirement waived.
Introduction to Contemporary Art Practice
Three of the following (junior transfers should complete them at a community college):
| ART 20G | Introduction to Print Media and Drawing | 5 |
| ART 20H | Introduction to Sculpture and Public Art | 5 |
| ART 20I | Introduction to Photography | 5 |
| ART 20J | Introduction to Drawing and Painting | 5 |
| ART 20K | Introduction to New Media and Digital Artmaking | 5 |
| ART 20L | Introduction to Drawing | 5 |
Some courses may be satisfied via exam credit.
Digital Tools
Students must take:
| ART 80T | Digital Tools for Contemporary Art Practice | 5 |
Critical Theory and Historical Context
Students complete two courses from the History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC) geographic regions:
One course from Europe and the Americas: HAVC courses numbered 30-49 or 130-149
One course from Africa, Asia, Mediterranean, Native Americas, or Oceania: HAVC courses numbered 10-29, 50-80, 110-129, or 150-179.
A full list of courses by region can be found on the History of Art and Visual Culture program statement.
Note: A score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement (AP) Art History exam will satisfy the Europe and the Americas requirement.
Upper-Division Courses
Students complete eight courses as follows:
Studio Work
Students take seven upper-division studio courses. These include courses numbered ART 101—ART 189, ART 190B, ART 194, ART 196, ART 198, and ART 199. ART 190B satisfies both an upper-division studio as well as the comprehensive requirement.
Transfer students are strongly encouraged to take ART 194 during their junior year.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in art is satisfied by completing:
Comprehensive Requirement
All art majors satisfy the capstone/comprehensive requirement with the following:
Plus one of the following options:
- Presenting an exhibition and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the exhibition; or
- Submitting a portfolio and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the portfolio; or
- Enrolling in an upper-division studio (ART 100-199) course with a faculty member and completing an additional project; or
- Completing the following course:
No course credit is given for either the exhibition or portfolio submission. Consequently, students choosing one of these options must complete seven upper-division studios. Students utilizing ART 190B, Senior Project, for their comprehensive requirement may use this as one of their seven upper-division studios.
Senior majors should meet with their faculty advisor about this requirement.
Planners
Academic planners for this and all majors can be found at programmaps.ucsc.edu.
Planning Notes:
- The ART 10 courses are all quarter specific: ART 10D - fall; ART 10E - winter; ART 10F - spring. Two are required.
- ART 190A and ART 80T are winter only courses.
- Art critical theory and historical context requirements are satisfied through history of art and visual culture (HAVC) courses: one from Europe and the Americas, one from Africa, Asia, Mediterranean, Native Americas, or Oceania; please see HAVC Course List by Geographic Region. California community college courses that can cover the history of art and visual culture requirement can be found on assist.org.
- WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.
- The art senior comprehensive requirement can be fulfilled through four options, students only need to complete one: ART 190B, a senior project class, by completing an additional project during an art upper division studio with a faculty member during a student's senior year, a faculty review of an exhibition, or a faculty review of a portfolio.
- The following general education (GE) requirements are satisfied by the art major requirements: IM, PR, PE. Depending on elective choices, students can fulfill MF and ER GEs as well. In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student must complete courses satisfying the CC, ER, MF, SI, SR, TA, and C General Education requirements.