Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Art Department's purpose is to educate students about the images that influence our perceptions of contemporary life and to prepare artists and designers to actively participate in shaping our world. Whatever your major, your ability to understand visual images is essential to your education and the Art Department is the focal point for this discussion on campus. With a core of full-time faculty who are also active artists, designers and scholars, we offer an environment in which students can develop the creative, analytical, and technical skills necessary for a career in the arts. Supported by a strong liberal arts curriculum, art students at Chapman learn to draw on diverse disciplines and are taught to look at things from a variety of perspectives. These skills are essential for developing strong critical thinking and an independent voice.

The Art Department takes advantage of Chapman's location in a major metropolitan art center by bringing artists, scholars and design professionals to share their varied experiences with students both as instructors and as part of its lecture series each semester. The Guggenheim Gallery regularly hosts exhibitions that bring to campus the work of local and nationally known artists and designers.

The Art Department offers the following degrees and emphases:

Bachelor of Arts in Art

art history

photography

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art

graphic design

studio art

The Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is a first-year program for all freshmen who intend to major in art. During this year, students take a mix of art classes that exposes them to a wide range of techniques and philosophies, as well as building analytical and critical thinking skills.

The requirements are listed below.

In addition, throughout the year students will attend several group meetings where the art department faculty will discuss the various emphases offered within the department.

Foundation Year Requirements (12 credits)

requirements (6 credits)

Art 110 Foundation Course in Design 3

Art 120 Foundation Course in Photography 3

one of the following (3 credits)

*Art 111 Foundation Course in Drawing I 3

*Art 112 Foundation Course in Painting 3

Art 211 Foundation Course in Drawing II 3

*Required for the graphic design emphasis

one of the following (3 credits)

Art 260 Ancient to Medieval Art 3

Art 261 Renaissance to Modern Art 3

Bachelor of Arts in Art

The B. A. in Art is designed for those students who wish to explore a wide variety of areas within the visual arts. Students work with their art advisor to design a specialized course of study that provides vital foundation studio and critical thinking skills, while also allowing them to pursue their interests in fields such as animation, set design, new media in conjunction with the more traditional studio arts.

requirements (24 credits)

Art 110 Foundation Course in Design 3

Art 111 Foundation Course in Drawing I 3

Art 112 Foundation Course in Painting 3

Art 120 Foundation Course in Photography 3

Art 213 Foundation Course in Sculpture 3

Art 366 Seminar in Art Criticism 3

Art 400 ArtCore 2

Art 410 Advanced Seminar 3

Art 497 B. A./ B. F. A. Exhibition 1

When selecting from the choices below, please choose at least 12 upper-division credits (300-400 courses).

studio courses five of the following (15 credits)

With the consent of an advisor students may substitute two studio courses (6 credits) in subjects such as visual story-telling,
animation, cinematography, multi-media, theatre technology, stagecraft, etc.

Art 211 Foundation Course in Drawing II 3

Art 215 Foundation Course in Ceramics 3

Art 230 Introduction to Computer Graphics 3

Art 231 Lettering 3

Art 232 Perspective Drawing 3

Art 310 Special Studies Studio 3

Art 311 Life Drawing 3

Art 312 Advanced Painting 3

Art 313 Advanced Sculpture 3

Art 314 Colors 3

Art 315 Advanced Ceramics 3

Art 320 Color Photography 3

Art 321 Special Topics in Photography 3

Art 322 Advanced Photography 3

Art 323 Photoshop 3

Art 324 Video 3

Art 331 Advertising Design 3

Art 332 Graphic Design 3

Art 334 Rendering for Graphic Design 3

Art 336 Illustration 3

Art 433 Advanced Computer Graphics 3

Art 450 Teaching the Visual Arts 3

art history
three of the following (9 credits)

With the consent of an advisor students may substitute one art history course (3 credits) in disciplines such as film, theatre, media, etc.

Art 260 Ancient to Medieval Art 3

Art 261 Renaissance to Modern Art 3

Art 360 Renaissance Art 3

Art 361 Baroque Art 3

Art 362 Nineteenth-Century Art 3

Art 363 Modern Art 3

Art 364 Art Since 1945 3

Art 365 American Art 3

Art 367 History and Æsthetics of Photography 3

Art 368 Art of India, the Himalayas and Southeast Asia 3

Art 369 Art of China and Japan 3

Art 443 History of Design 3

Art 464 Women in Art 3

Art 465 Topics in Art History 3

Art 467 Modern Russian Art 3

total credits 48

Emphasis in Art History

requirements (33 credits)

Art 110 Foundation Course in Design 3

Art 120 Foundation Course in Photography 3

Art 260 Ancient to Medieval Art 3

Art 261 Renaissance to Modern Art 3

Art 360 Renaissance Art 3

Art 361 Baroque Art 3

Art 362 Nineteenth Century Art 3

Art 363 Modern Art 3

Art 364 Art Since 1945 3

Art 366 Seminar in Art Criticism 3

Art 400 ArtCore 2

Art 498 Senior Thesis 1

one of the following (3 credits)

Art 368 Art of India, the Himalayas and Southeast Asia 3

Art 369 Art of China and Japan 3

three of the following (9 credits)

Art 365 American Art 3

Art 367 History and Æsthetics of Photography 3

Art 410 Advanced Seminar 3

Art 464 Women in Art 3

Art 465 Topics in Art History 3

Art 467 Modern Russian Art 3

Art 469 Special Studies in Art History 3

Art 490 Intern Program 1-3

one of the following (3 credits)

Art 111 Foundation Course in Drawing I 3

Art 112 Foundation Course in Painting 3

Art 211 Foundation Course in Drawing II 3

Art 213 Foundation Course in Sculpture 3

Art 215 Foundation Course in Ceramics 3

Art 450 Teaching the Visual Arts 3

total credits 48

Emphasis in Photography

requirements (36 credits)

Art 110 Foundation Course in Design 3

Art 120 Foundation Course in Photography 3

Art 320 Color Photography 3

Art 322 Advanced Photography 3

Art 323 Photoshop 3

Art 324 Video 3

Art 363 Modern Art 3

Art 364 Art Since 1945 3

Art 366 Seminar in Art Criticism 3

Art 367 History and Æsthetics of Photography 3

Art 400 ArtCore 2

Art 410 Advanced Seminar 3

Art 497 B. A./ B. F. A. Exhibition 1

two of the following (6 credits)

Art 260 Ancient to Medieval Art 3

Art 261 Renaissance to Modern Art 3

two of the following (6 credits)

Art 111 Foundation Course in Drawing I 3

Art 112 Foundation Course in Painting 3

Ftv 130 Introduction to Visual Storytelling 3

Ftv 140 Introduction to Film Æsthetics 3

Art 213 Foundation Course in Sculpture 3

Art 215 Foundation Course in Ceramics 3

Art 230 Introduction to Computer Graphics 3

Ftv 244 History of Film (1889Ð 1940) 3

Ftv 245 History of Film (1941Ð present) 3

Ftv 250 Introduction to Multi-Media (FTV) 3

Art 310 Special Studies in Art 3

Art 311 Life Drawing 3

Art 312 Advanced Painting 3

Art 313 Advanced Sculpture 3

Art 321 Special Topics in Photography 3

total credits 48

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art

Emphasis in Graphic Design

requirements (47 credits)

Art 110 Foundation Course in Design 3

Art 111 Foundation Course in Drawing I 3

Art 112 Foundation Course in Painting 3

Art 120 Foundation Course in Photography 3

Art 230 Introduction to Computer Graphics 3

Art 231 Lettering 3

Art 232 Perspective/ Rendering 3

Art 331 Advertising Design 3

Art 332 Graphic Design 3

Art 333 The Business of Graphic and Advertising Design 3

Art 335 Advanced Computer Graphics 3

Art 400 ArtCore 2

Art 430 Advanced Graphic Design 3

Art 434 Portfolio Preparation: Graphic Design 3

Art 443 History of Design 3

Art 492 Internship Seminar: Graphic Design 2

two of the following (6 credits)

Art 260 Ancient to Medieval Art 3

Art 261 Renaissance to Modern Art 3

Art 364 Art Since 1945 3

three of the following (9 credits)

Ftv 130 Introduction to Visual Storytelling 3

Art 211 Foundation Drawing II 3

Ftv 250 Introduction to Multimedia Production 3

Art 290 Independent Internship 1-3

Art 310 Special Studies in Art 3

Art 311 Life Drawing 3

Art 312 Advanced Painting 3

Art 314 Colors 3

Art 320 Color Photography 3

Art 321 Special Topics in Photo 3

Art 322 Advanced Photography 3

Art 336 Illustration 3

Art 337 Experiments in Computer 3

Art 338 Advanced Lettering/ Typography 3

Com 360 Copy Writing 3

Ftv 366 Animation Workshop 3

Ftv 417 Computer Graphics II 3

Ftv 466 Animation Workshop II 3

Ftv 476 Animation Workshop III 3

Art 490 Independent Internship 1-3

total credits 62

Emphasis in Studio Art

requirements (39 credits)

Art 110 Foundation Course in Design 3

Art 111 Foundation Course in Drawing I 3

Art 112 Foundation Course in Painting 3

Art 120 Foundation Course in Photography 3

Art 211 Foundation Course in Drawing II 3

Art 213 Foundation Course in Sculpture 3

Art 260 Ancient to Medieval Art 3

Art 261 Renaissance to Modern Art 3

Art 363 Modern Art 3

Art 364 Art Since 1945 3

Art 366 Seminar in Art Criticism 3

Art 400 ArtCore 2

Art 410 Advanced Seminar 3

Art 497 B. A./ B. F. A. Exhibition 1

five of the following (15 credits)

Art 215 Foundation Course in Ceramics 3

Art 310 Special Studies in Art 3

Art 311 Life Drawing 3

Art 312 Advanced Painting 3

Art 313 Advanced Sculpture 3

Art 314 Colors 3

Art 315 Advanced Ceramics 3

Art 320 Color Photography 3

Art 321 Special Topics in Photography 3

Art 322 Advanced Photography 3

Art 323 Photoshop 3

Art 324 Video 3

Art 450 Teaching the Visual Arts 3

one of the following (3 credits)

Art 368 Art of India, the Himalayas and Southeast Asia 3

Art 369 Art of China and Japan 3

one of the following (3 credits)

Art 360 Renaissance Art 3

Art 361 Baroque Art 3

Art 362 Nineteenth Century Art 3

Art 365 American Art 3

Art 367 History and Æsthetics of Photography 3

Art 464 Women in Art 3

Art 465 Topics in Art History 3

Art 467 Modern Russian Art 3

total credits 60

Upper-division studio courses may be taken twice for credit.

Special studies courses in any given area may be repeated for credit.

Minor in Art

A minimum of 24 credits, nine of which must be 300-400 level, are required for a minor in art. Course distribution must be coordinated with an art department faculty member and approved by the department chair.

Teaching Credential

Students interested in becoming secondary school teachers in art should contact the School of Education.

Departmental Honors

Departmental honors are awarded by the art department faculty to students who have produced outstanding work in their emphasis. Requirements for consideration are: recommendation by their exhibition committee or thesis adviser and a GPA of 3.33 in the major.

Capstone Courses and Exhibitions

In the junior year art majors with a studio, photography or graphic design emphasis are required to mount an exhibition of recent work.

In the senior year every art major enrolls in a capstone course, as follows: Art 497 BA/ BFA Exhibition for studio and photography students; Art 434 Portfolio Preparation for graphic design students; Art 498 Senior Thesis for art history students.

All majors are expected to serve on at least one departmental exhibition hanging committee.