2023-2024 Catalog

Major: Art, B.F.A. (1001), 60 Credits

The MMC Art program provides an integrated study of the practice, theory, and history of art in the context of a robust liberal arts curriculum. Students concentrate in graphic design, illustration & animation, photography, or studio practices and build a unique program based on their individual interests. This approach encourages investigations of materials and methods within the art program as well as across a full range of academic disciplines. From this multifaceted curriculum, students gain diverse perspectives and learn to act creatively, think critically, and make their mark as socially engaged artists and designers.

 

Classes are held in the state-of-the-art studios of the Judith Mara Carson Center for Visual Arts. This remarkable facility supports an array of artistic practices, from the traditional to the experimental. Students build skills in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and darkroom photography as well as the latest digital and time-based media. Beyond the classroom, the unparalleled cultural resources of New York City add immediacy and breadth to the study of visual art. Students visit museums, galleries, auction houses, and artists' studios and work with leading artists, designers, photographers, curators, and scholars. They gain professional experience exhibiting in the Hewitt Gallery of Art and intern in the thriving creative industries and cultural institutions of NYC.

 

We offer a 60-credit Bachelor of Fine Arts degree designed to develop depth in a specific area of inquiry and a 42-credit Bachelor of Arts degree that supports opportunities to pursue a double major or minors. Minor courses of study are available in graphic design, illustration & animation, photography, studio practices, art therapy, arts management, and arts in the communities. 

General Education: 30 Credits; Major: 60 Credits; Electives: 30 Credits

Learning Goals for the BFA Art Major

 

After completing the major in Art, students will be able to:

  • Exhibit conceptual and technical skills in a chosen art or design medium.
  • Demonstrate scope and depth of knowledge in art historical and aesthetic practices.
  • Articulate aesthetic responses through critical observation, reading, writing, and oral presentation.
  • Develop an individual artistic and/or design vision necessary to advance studies and/or enter career in the visual arts.

Foundational Requirements for all BFA Art Majors (12 Credits):

ART 111Drawing I

3

ART 116Color and Design

3

ART 252Survey of Western Art II

3

COMM 112Storytelling Across Media

3

All BFA Art majors must additionally complete one of the following 48-Credit Concentrations.

Graphic Design Concentration (48 Credits)

Required Courses (27 Credits):

ART 119Digital Design: Tools and Practices

3

ART 234Typography and Image

3

ART 237Graphic Design I

3

ART 312A History of Graphic Design and Illustration

3

ART 321Junior Art Seminar

3

ART 338Graphic Design II: Digital

3

ART 343Advanced Typography

3

ART 411Senior Art Seminar

3

ART 480Professional Portfolio

3

Select Five Practice-Based Electives (15 Credits):

ART 114 Painting I

3

ART 121Photography I: An Introduction to Medium, Content and Context

3

ART 206Printmaking

3

ART 215Illustration

3

ART 2202-D Animation

3

ART 224The Fluid Object: 3-D Modeling

3

ART 226Digital Photography

3

ART 228Animal, Human, Monster: 3-D Character Animation

3

ART 240 Drawing on Location: New York City

3

ART 309Silkscreen & The History of the Multiple

3

ART 335Studio Lighting

3

ART 336Sustainable Package Design

3

ART 346Artists’ Books

3

ART 393Special Topics in Art

3

ART 298Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 398Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 498Directed Study

1-6

ART 299 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 399 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 499 Independent Study /Internship

1-6

COMM 225New Media Workshop

3

COMM 233Video Field Production

3

COMM 325 Interactive Media

3

 

 

 

Select Two History and Theory Electives (6 Credits):

AIP 324 Race and Place in Natural Histories of the Americas (CP, REP, UP)

3

AIP 327The Body in American Culture: Pre-Colonial Period to the Present (CP, REP, UP)

3

Any 200 or 300-level ART (Art History) course

3

ART 291/PHIL 251Aesthetics and Criticism

3

ART 310/PHIL 310Philosophy of Art

3

ART 326/PHR 326Photography and Social Engagement: A Road to Activism

3

ART 341/PHIL 341Sublime in Art and Philosophy

3

BUS 333Business and the Visual Arts

3

COMM 230Cultural History of Media

3

PHR 207Visual Culture

3

WRIT 310Professional Writing Across Disciplines

3


 

Illustration & Animation Concentration (48 Credits)

Required Courses (27 Credits):

ART 119Digital Design: Tools and Practices

3

ART 215Illustration

3

or

ART 2202-D Animation

3

ART 301Figure Drawing I

3

ART 312A History of Graphic Design and Illustration

3

ART 316 Digital Illustration

3

or

ART 3523-D Animation

3

ART 321Junior Art Seminar

3

ART 332Narrative Illustration

3

ART 411Senior Art Seminar

3

ART 480Professional Portfolio

3

 

 

Select Five Practice-Based Electives (15 Credits):

ART 114 Painting I

3

ART 121Photography I: An Introduction to Medium, Content and Context

3

ART 206Printmaking

3

ART 215Illustration

3

ART 2202-D Animation

3

ART 224The Fluid Object: 3-D Modeling

3

ART 226Digital Photography

3

ART 228Animal, Human, Monster: 3-D Character Animation

3

ART 240 Drawing on Location: New York City

3

ART 303Watercolor Painting

3

ART 309Silkscreen & The History of the Multiple

3

ART 335Studio Lighting

3

ART 346Artists’ Books

3

ART 393Special Topics in Art

3

ART 298Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 398Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 498Directed Study

1-6

ART 299 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 399 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 499 Independent Study /Internship

1-6

COMM 216/DANC 216/MUS 216Digital Sound Workshop

3

COMM 225New Media Workshop

3

COMM 325 Interactive Media

3

CRW 201Introduction to Creative Writing I 

3

THTR 235Scenic Painting and Treatments

3

THTR 253Scenery and Prop Technology

3


 

Select Two History and Theory Electives (6 Credits):

AIP 324 Race and Place in Natural Histories of the Americas (CP, REP, UP)

3

AIP 327The Body in American Culture: Pre-Colonial Period to the Present (CP, REP, UP)

3

Any 200 or 300-level ART (Art History) course

3

ART 291/PHIL 251Aesthetics and Criticism

3

ART 310/PHIL 310Philosophy of Art

3

ART 326/PHR 326Photography and Social Engagement: A Road to Activism

3

ART 341/PHIL 341Sublime in Art and Philosophy

3

ART 366/THTR 366/DANC 366Devising Performance Events

3

ART 370/PSYCH 370Art Therapy: Principles and Practices

3

BUS 333Business and the Visual Arts

3

HIST 332History of Comics and Cartoons

3

PHR 207Visual Culture

3

WRIT 310Professional Writing Across Disciplines

3

 

 

Photography Concentration (48 Credits)

Required Courses (27 Credits):

ART 121Photography I: An Introduction to Medium, Content and Context

3

ART 205History of Photography

3

ART 213Photography II: An Intermediate Exploration of Medium, Content and Context

3

ART 226Digital Photography

3

ART 321Junior Art Seminar

3

ART 330Advanced Photography Practices

3

ART 335Studio Lighting

3

ART 410Advanced Studio Production

3

ART 411Senior Art Seminar

3

 

 

Select Five Practice-Based Electives (15 Credits):

ART 114 Painting I

3

ART 119Digital Design: Tools and Practices

3

ART 206Printmaking

3

ART 2323-D Practices: Material, Form and Process

3

ART 309Silkscreen & The History of the Multiple

3

ART 334Advanced 3-D Practices: Focus and Investigate

3

ART 347Advanced Photography Studies Seminar

3

ART 346Artists’ Books

3

ART 393Special Topics in Art

3

ART 298Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 398Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 498Directed Study

1-6

ART 299 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 399 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 499 Independent Study /Internship

1-6

COMM 216/DANC 216/MUS 216Digital Sound Workshop

3

COMM 225New Media Workshop

3

COMM 233Video Field Production

3

COMM 325 Interactive Media

3

COMM 359Directing Video

3

 

 

Select Two History and Theory Courses (6 Credits):

AIP 324 Race and Place in Natural Histories of the Americas (CP, REP, UP)

3

AIP 327The Body in American Culture: Pre-Colonial Period to the Present (CP, REP, UP)

3

Any 200 or 300-level ART (Art History) course

3

ART 291/PHIL 251Aesthetics and Criticism

3

ART 310/PHIL 310Philosophy of Art

3

ART 326/PHR 326Photography and Social Engagement: A Road to Activism

3

ART 341/PHIL 341Sublime in Art and Philosophy

3

ART 370/PSYCH 370Art Therapy: Principles and Practices

3

BUS 333Business and the Visual Arts

3

COMM 230Cultural History of Media

3

PHR 207Visual Culture

3

SOC 210/PHR 210Anthropology at Museums in New York City

3

WRIT 310Professional Writing Across Disciplines

3

Studio Practices Concentration (48 Credits)

Required Courses (27 Credits):

ART 114 Painting I

3

ART 211 Drawing II

3

ART 2323-D Practices: Material, Form and Process

3

ART 250 Survey of Western Art I

3

ART 301Figure Drawing I

3

ART 315Painting II

3

or

ART 334Advanced 3-D Practices: Focus and Investigate

3

ART 321Junior Art Seminar

3

ART 410Advanced Studio Production

3

ART 411Senior Art Seminar

3

Select Five Practice-Based Electives (15 Credits):

ART 119Digital Design: Tools and Practices

3

ART 121Photography I: An Introduction to Medium, Content and Context

3

ART 206Printmaking

3

ART 215Illustration

3

ART 2202-D Animation

3

ART 224The Fluid Object: 3-D Modeling

3

ART 226Digital Photography

3

ART 228Animal, Human, Monster: 3-D Character Animation

3

ART 240 Drawing on Location: New York City

3

ART 302Figure Drawing II

3

ART 303Watercolor Painting

3

ART 309Silkscreen & The History of the Multiple

3

ART 315Painting II

3

ART 334Advanced 3-D Practices: Focus and Investigate

3

ART 346Artists’ Books

3

ART 350Watercolor Painting II

3

ART 393Special Topics in Art

3

ART 298Directed Study

1-6

or

ART 398Directed Study

1-6

ART 299 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 399 Independent Study / Internship

1-6

or

ART 499 Independent Study /Internship

1-6

THTR 235Scenic Painting and Treatments

3

THTR 253Scenery and Prop Technology

3

Select Two History and Theory Courses (6 credits):

AIP 324 Race and Place in Natural Histories of the Americas (CP, REP, UP)

3

AIP 327The Body in American Culture: Pre-Colonial Period to the Present (CP, REP, UP)

3

Any 200 or 300-level ART (Art History) course

3

ART 291/PHIL 251Aesthetics and Criticism

3

ART 310/PHIL 310Philosophy of Art

3

ART 326/PHR 326Photography and Social Engagement: A Road to Activism

3

ART 341/PHIL 341Sublime in Art and Philosophy

3

ART 366/THTR 366/DANC 366Devising Performance Events

3

ART 370/PSYCH 370Art Therapy: Principles and Practices

3

BUS 333Business and the Visual Arts

3

PHR 207Visual Culture

3

SOC 210/PHR 210Anthropology at Museums in New York City

3

WRIT 310Professional Writing Across Disciplines

3