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. At the end of the sophomore year, students demonstrate skills from the foundation studio courses by preparing a professional portfolio, which is required to continue in the major.
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 departmental faculty and invited guests, and it is juried for a group exhibition on campus that is open to the public.
Marymount also offers pre-professional degree tracks that lead to specific careers in the arts. The arts administration track combines the studio art degree with strong training in organizational and financial management, data literacy, legal and ethical issues, entrepreneurship, and marketing. Together these classes provide students with the skills they need to manage institutions that seek to promote the creation, production, and distribution of the arts.
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. Current majors and interested students should consult with the chair of the Department of Fine Arts for advising on career paths and a complete list of recommended minor programs related to different professions.
Students should also consult with a School of Design, Arts, and Humanities advisor about the interdisciplinary plan for liberal studies majors and the interdisciplinary media and performance studies minor.
Minimum Grade Requirement: A minimum grade of C is required in any fine arts course that counts toward the art degree. Students also must pass FA 295 Sophomore Portfolio in order to continue in the major.
Degree Requirements — Art
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Art majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: All majors must take FA 410 Topics in Art History and FA 380 Movements in Modern Art. Art majors and students completing the pre-art therapy track must take an additional WI course from the Liberal Arts Core or as a university elective (a second section of FA 410 is recommended). Students completing the arts administration track will also complete MGT 291 Business Communication and MGT 304 Organization Management as WI courses.
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 a faculty advisor.
Foundation Courses
Design
Drawing
Art History
FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
Gateway
Fine Arts Requirements
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| | |
FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | |
FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
FA | Nine (9) credits in fine arts studio electives, in three (3) different media | 9 |
Arts Administration Track
Students in the arts administration track should add the following courses:
Required Courses
Required Electives
One (1) economics course from the following:
ECO 210 | Principles of Microeconomics * | 3 |
ECO 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics * | 3 |
Required Electives
One (1) advanced business course from the following:
Required Electives
One (1) introductory sociology course from the following:
SOC 203 | The Global Village * | 3 |
SOC 204 | Cultural Diversity * | 3 |
SOC 251 | Working for Justice, Working for Change * | 3 |
Required Electives
One (1) advanced sociology course from the following:
SOC 306 | Poverty, Wealth, and Inequality * | 3 |
SOC 350 | Social Justice * | 3 |
SOC 385 | Global Inequality and Community Development * | 3 |
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 | Abnormal Psychology * | 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.
Year One — Fall
Year One — Spring
FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
FA 210 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
Year Two — Fall
FA 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
PH 100: PH-1 core course
Year Two — Spring
FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| | |
FA 295 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course in a second discipline * | |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
FA 202: FNA core course
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Three — Fall
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
| Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective - GP course required if not already completed * | 3 |
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
FA 380 or FA 410: WI core course
Year Three — Spring
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | |
PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
FA 380 or FA 410 (should be a different topic than previously taken): WI core course
FA 395 or FA 396: DSINQ core course
Year Four — Fall
FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| Two (2) electives | 6 |
| One (1) elective - 3rd WI course if not already completed * | |
Year Four — Spring
FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
| Two (2) electives | 6 |
| One (1) elective - 3rd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Sample Degree Plan — Arts Administration Track
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.
Year One — Fall
Year One — Spring
FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | |
ECO 210 | Principles of Microeconomics * | 3 |
| OR | |
ECO 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics * | 3 |
EN 102: WR core course
TRS 100: TRS-1 core course
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
ECO 210 or ECO 211: SS-1 core course
Year Two — Fall
FA 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
MGT 123 | The Business Experience | 3 |
PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| | |
SOC 203 | The Global Village * | 3 |
| OR | |
SOC 204 | Cultural Diversity * | 3 |
| OR | |
SOC 251 | Working for Justice, Working for Change * | 3 |
PH 100: PH-1 core course
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
SOC 203: GP core course, SS-1 core course
SOC 204: WI core course,SS-1 core course
SOC 251: DSINQ core course,SS-1 core course
Year Two — Spring
FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| | |
FA 210 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
FA 295 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
ACT 201 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
LA 248 | Business Law I | 3 |
EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| | |
SOC 306 | Poverty, Wealth, and Inequality * | 3 |
| OR | |
SOC 350 | Social Justice * | 3 |
| OR | |
SOC 385 | Global Inequality and Community Development * | 3 |
| | |
HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
SOC 306: SS-2 core course
SOC 350: SS-2 core course
SOC 385: GP core course, SS-2 core course
Year Three — Spring
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | |
PH 305 | Business Ethics * | 3 |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) core course * | 3 |
| Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Four — Fall
FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
MGT 291 | Business Communication * | 3 |
MGT 304 | Organizational Management | 3 |
| One (1) advanced business elective | 3 |
| One (1) elective - GP course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Advanced business elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
FA 422: DSINQ core course
MGT 291: WI core course
MGT 304: WI core course
Year Four — Spring
FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
| Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (psychology or politics) or a second Natural Science (NS) core course * | |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
| One (1) elective - 3rd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Sample Degree Plan — Pre-Art Therapy Track
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.
Year One — Fall
Year One — Spring
FA 104 | Color Theory * | 3 |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
MA | Mathematics (MT) core course * | 3-4 |
Year Two — Fall
FA 205 | Drawing II | 3 |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective - FA 213 recommended | |
PSY 110 | Human Growth and Development * | 3 |
PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
PH 100: PH-1 core course
FA 213 (recommended course): DSINQ course
Year Two — Spring
FA 202 | Introduction to Art History: Renaissance to Modern * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 201 | Introduction to Art History: Ancient to Medieval * | 3 |
| | |
FA 210 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
FA 295 | Sophomore Portfolio | 1 |
PSY 230 | Abnormal Psychology * | 3 |
HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (economics, politics, or sociology) * | 3 |
Year Three — Fall
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
| One (1) fine arts studio elective | 3 |
PSY 330 | Counseling Theories and Process * | 3 |
| Natural Science (NS) core course with lab (biology recommended) * | 4 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
FA 380 or FA 410: WI core course
PSY 330: WI core course
FA studio elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Three — Spring
FA 380 | Movements in Modern Art * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 410 | Topics in Art History * | 3 |
| | |
FA 395 | Advanced 2-D Studio * | 3 |
| OR | |
FA 396 | Advanced Ceramics and 3-D Studio * | 3 |
| | |
| Introductory Social Science (SS-1) in a third discipline or Second Natural Science (NS) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) advanced PSY elective | 3 |
| One (1) elective - GP course required if not already completed * | 3 |
FA 380 or FA 410 (should take a different topic than previously taken): WI core course
FA 395 or FA 396: DSINQ core course
Advanced PSY elective: See Major Requirements above for course selections.
Year Four — Fall
FA 422 | Senior Project * | 3 |
| Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| One (1) elective | 3 |
| One (1) elective - 3rd DSINQ course required if not already completed * | 3 |
Year Four — Spring
FA 400 | Internship * | 3 |
FA 427 | Senior Portfolio | 1 |
PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| Three (3) electives | 9 |
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.