Art
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Dean: Paul Sherwin
School of the Arts
Department of Art
FA 265
Phone: 415-338-2176
Fax: 415-338-6537
E-mail: artdept@sfsu.edu (undergraduate)
artgrad@sfsu.edu (graduate)
Website: http://art.sfsu.edu
Chair: Gail Dawson
Graduate Coordinator: Santhi Kavuri-Bauer
Undergraduate Advisors: Allen, Belau, Dawson, De La Rosa, deSoto, Downing, Finley, Johnson, Kavuri-Bauer, Laplante, Levine, Lipps, Mann, Marshall, Mullins, Perez
Faculty
Professors: deSoto, Downing, Foster, M. Johnson, Laplante, Levine, Mann, Marshall, Mullins, Perez
Associate Professors: Allen, Dawson, De La Rosa, Kavuri-Bauer
Assistant Professors: Belau, Finley, Lipps
Programs
Concentration in:
Program Scope
The Art Department offers one of the most diverse and vital programs for the study of the visual arts in Northern California. The program fosters development of specialized skills, encourages personal creative direction, and promotes understanding of the history and cultural traditions that shape artistic expression. The department is oriented towards the fine arts and does not offer courses in graphic art or design; however, many of the courses offered make an excellent foundation for further study in applied fields.
Accredited programs in the fine arts and art history are taught by leading Bay Area artists and scholars. Students in the undergraduate program may choose an emphasis in studio arts, including ceramics, conceptual and information arts (including experimental digital media), painting, photography, printmaking/print media, sculpture, and textiles. Students in the credential and liberal studies programs with an emphasis in art may select courses from the art education area.
Students in the major learn to develop their awareness of the visual world through hands-on studio experience and study the history and theory of the visual arts. Some courses are offered in cooperation with the University’s General Education program and many are structured for various levels of experience.
A Minor in Art is offered for students who wish to pursue a secondary interest in art on a structured basis.
The department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Scholarship Opportunities
The department offers five scholarships for studio students. The Jules H. Strauss Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate students in photography, and the Martin Wong Scholarship in painting and ceramics. Graduate students in any area may be considered for scholarships awarded through the Leo Douglas Stillwell, Jr. Endowment Fund. The Christine Tamblyn Memorial Scholarship for Interdisciplinary Creative Work is available for undergraduate or graduate students.
Scholarships are awarded for creative ability on a competitive basis. Contact the department for further information.
Facilities
The Fine Arts Building features studio spaces for sculpture, wheel and glaze rooms, a hand-building studio for ceramics, a hot glass shop, a textiles dye laboratory, loom and surface design studios, refined spaces for art education, and specialized studios for photography, painting, and printmaking. The building is also home to a 3800-sq. ft. gallery facility, and computer laboratories for conceptual and information arts program, photography, printmaking, and textiles areas.
The Martin Wong Gallery, named in honor of the artist Martin Wong, affords undergraduates the opportunity to exhibit visual works through class projects and installations under the guidance of faculty mentors.
Additional space for graduate studios and outdoor ceramics activities are on the grounds of SF State’s Romberg Tiburon Center in nearby Marin County.
The department maintains a well-equipped slide and digitized visual resource library as well as an instructional archive/collection of historic and contemporary prints, drawings, and photographs.
Career Outlook
Courses in traditional art media, electronic, experimental and multidisciplinary practices, art education practice and theory, and in the history of art provide training for a variety of related careers. These include fine artist and teacher of art as well as potential careers in digital media, sculptural or ceramic fabrication, photo documentation, and art writing. Training in art can prepare students for careers in applied design in diverse fields. Fine Arts trained designers work with textiles, furnishings, book/CD-Rom publishing, fashion, website, digital, and multimedia applications to name a few. Related expressive media such as theater, cinema, and television also rely on trained artists for visual design and direction.
Courses in exhibition design are offered in the professional environment of the department gallery and provide intense, practical, and theoretical training for gallery and art museum careers. Art and art history students with an interest in working with visual artifacts, and with the diverse professional aspects of presenting art and artists elect courses in this popular area.
Opportunities for the graduate with a B.A. in art vary depending on the student’s initiative and inclinations. Students dedicated to creative expression or scholarly research in the history of art may elect to pursue graduate education. Others may find opportunities for technical or on-the-job training in the related fields detailed above. Graduate degrees open the door to teaching positions at the college-university level. Students who elect unrelated careers may find access to more rewarding cultural life experiences through their visual arts education.
Bachelor of Arts in Art
The undergraduate program provides innovative and rigorous concentrations in art education, art history, and studio art and art history/studio art.
For students transferring from other institutions, a minimum of 12 units in residence is required. Students are required to choose a concentration by their junior year, after they have finished the 12 unit required program of lower division core work. Majors are required to be advised yearly.
All art history and studio courses are integral to each of the concentrations, providing introductory experiences in selected areas, and are core prerequisites to all concentrations. They focus on perceptual skills, modes of consciousness, creative expression, and critical thinking. Attention is given to traditions and heritage of the discipline, contemporary issues and forms, imaginative problem solving, and written English proficiency within the discipline. Courses are designed to provide a broad experiential and conceptual orientation to the visual arts and art history.
All students must complete a course to demonstrate competence in writing. Art majors may satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) by successfully completing ART 602 GW, ART 690 GW, or ART 551 GW.
Area of Concentration
The area of concentration allows for intensive study in one specialty in the visual arts, with a degree of breadth sufficient for understanding and awareness in other areas. Students are encouraged to decide on a concentration by their junior year, and to discuss their choice of concentration with an advisor in that area. In some instances, requirements for a concentration might include a portfolio of work completed to date, evidence of preparation for upper division study, etc. Since some areas are very crowded, students transferring at an advanced level from other institutions should contact an advisor in their proposed concentration upon application for admission to the University. The concentration programs may be structured to fit individual needs after conferring with an advisor and obtaining the advisor’s approval. Students selecting the studio art concentration may declare an emphasis in one of the following areas: ceramics, conceptual information arts, painting & drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or textiles. Under special circumstances and under advisement of studio faculty, a dual emphasis that encompasses study in two areas may be selected in studio art. Six units from departments other than art may be included in the major with advisor approval.
Before advancing to the 300-level or higher courses or declaring a concentration, all majors must have completed the University’s lower division requirements (including GE Segment II) or equivalent, and the core courses for the major, or equivalent. Change of major students must also have proof of art advisor consultation.
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
Core Requirements — 12 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Art History (choose two) | 6 | |
| ART 201 | Western Art History I | |
| ART 202 | Western Art History II | |
| ART 205 | Asian Art History | |
| Studio Art (choose two) | 6 | |
| ART 222 | Textiles I | |
| ART 231 | Drawing I | |
| ART 235 | Printmaking I | |
| ART 240 | Sculpture I | |
| ART 245 | Ceramics I | |
| ART 260 | Photography I | |
Total for Core: 12
Total for the Concentration (see below:) 34
Total for the major: 46 units
Total for the degree: *120 units
*Note: A minimum of 40 upper division units must be completed for the degree (including upper division units required for the major, general education, electives, etc.). A student can complete this major yet not attain the necessary number of upper division units required for graduation. In this case additional upper division courses will be needed to reach the required total.
Concentration in Art Education — 34 units
Explores the place of the visual arts in elementary and secondary education, and in general human development. A minimum of 46 units in art is required for the concentration and to prepare for the Single Subject Credential in Art. Specific courses and a competency assessment are required for admission to a credential program post –graduation, and students interested in the art education concentration should speak to an art education adviser, in addition to their major adviser.
Students must work closely with an art education advisor to plan the 46-unit major program prior to enrolling in the sequence of courses listed below.
Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.
| Units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Core (see above): | 12 | |
| Art History upper division (must include 20th/21st century and non-Euro-based topic) |
6 | |
| Lower Division Studio Courses two more beyond the core | 6 | |
| Upper Division Studio Art Courses from one Area of Emphasis | 9 | |
| Ceramics Conceptual Information Arts Painting/Drawing |
Photography Printmaking Sculpture Textiles |
|
| Upper Division Studio Art | ||
| ART 450 Art for Children | 3 | |
| diversified studio by advisement | 9 | |
| Ceramics Conceptual Information Arts Painting/Drawing |
Photography Printmaking Sculpture Textiles |
|
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Art Productions | 1 | |
| ART 509 | Art Productions: Studio, Art History, Art Education (1) | |
Concentration in Art History — 34 units
The history of visual form examined in relation to the values, beliefs, and institutions of specific cultures.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core (see above): | 12 | |
| Upper Division Art History – must include at least one course from Group A and B |
24 | |
| Group A: Non-European | ||
| ART 500 | Pre-Hispanic Art of Mexico | |
| ART 502 | Asian Art: Special Areas (variable topics) | |
| ART 504 | The Art and Architecture of Islam | |
| ART 507 | Art of China | |
| Group B: Western Art | ||
| ART 303 | The Artist in the 20th-21st Centuries: Cultures in Collision--Cultures in Fusion |
|
| ART 403 | Queer Art History | |
| ART 405 | Art, Literature, and Power in the Renaissance | |
| ART 406 | Renaissance Art | |
| ART 501 | Western Art: Special Areas (variable topics) | |
| ART 506 | American Painting and Sculpture: 1940 to Present | |
| ART 602 GW | Art History Methods – GWAR | 3 |
| Note: ART 701 and/or ART 703 may be substituted for upper division art history course(s) upon advisement | ||
| Upper Division Electives or Foreign Language two semesters of a single Foreign Language (Foreign Language is required for Art History graduate program) |
6 | |
| Art Productions (choose one) | 1 | |
| ART 509 | Art Productions: Studio, Art History, Art Education (1) | |
Concentration in Studio Art — 34 units
Students should select an emphasis within the studio concentration, mastering skills and theory within a specific discipline/area. In special circumstances students may select two areas within the concentration (See Dual Studio Emphasis).
| Units | |
|---|---|
| Core (see above): | 12 |
| Art History upper division (must include 20th/21st century and non-Euro-based topic ) |
6 |
| Studio Emphasis – upper division | 18 |
| Studio courses outside emphasis (6 units must be upper division) | 9 |
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Art Productions (choose one) | 1 | |
| ART 509 | Art Productions: Studio, Art History, Art Education (1) | |
Studio emphases are described below.
Ceramics: Offers a foundation in ceramic information and techniques and provides a base upon which the student can build professional skills in ceramics.
Conceptual and Information Arts: Prepares artists and media experimenters to work at the cutting edge of technology. Students learn contemporary digital production skills, but they do so in the context of questioning the cultural context of technology and in experimenting with newly emerging technologies. Courses cover topics such as web art, interactive media, non-linear narrative, digital video, experimental sound, alternative interfaces, electronics and robotics, and art and biology. Students in the conceptual and information arts emphasis are expected to take the ART 410/412 introductory core and ART 610/612 advanced seminars.
Painting: Painting/drawing courses are offered as productive endeavors, as well as a means of acquiring visual skills that may apply to other disciplines. Attention is given to diverse histories and traditions and their affect on contemporary practices, conceptual development, research, and critical dialogue.
Photography: Emphasizes contemporary cultural concerns within the context of photographic history and processes. A variety of photographic technologies are engaged, from nineteenth century handmade processes, black-and-white and color formats to digital imaging hardware and software. Students are encouraged to explore and experiment during the development of individual projects and group critiques.
Printmaking/Print Media: Provides in-depth studio practice in one or more of the major processes in fine art printmaking and the extensions of the field. It emphasizes cultural awareness and critical problem solving within the context of historical and contemporary printmaking processes and thought. Students are encouraged to investigate alternative printmaking processes, such as book arts, mixed media applications, and photographic/digital based print processes as planned progress towards advanced work.
Sculpture: Emphasizes cultural awareness, conceptual development, and artistic expression evolved through research, analysis, dialogue, and hands-on investigation utilizing a wide range of traditional and exploratory materials, processes, and creative strategies.
Textiles: Students learn about textile techniques, their traditions, and contemporary application. Areas of studio focus include 4, 8, and 16 harness loom constructions (both manual and computer assisted), and a variety of surface design processes such as dyeing with fiber reactive dyes, resist dyeing, discharge, painting, and screen printing. Teaching draws on study and physical examples, which emphasize a multicultural approach.
Dual Emphasis in Studio Art Concentration: A dual emphasis is available for students with combined interests in any two-studio areas listed above, such as painting/printmaking. The emphasis consists of a planned combination of courses, approved in advance. Approval must be made by advisors in both areas, one of whom must be a full-time regular faculty member.
Concentration in Art History and Studio Art — 34 units
A concentration in art history and studio art is available for students with combined interests in studio and art history. The concentration consists of a planned combination of courses in both areas, approved in advance by advisors in art history and studio.
To initiate a concentration in art history and studio art, the student is required to consult advisors in the appropriate areas and to draft a contractual proposed course of study on the Concentration Advising Form. The program must be approved by the advisors and the chair of the department in advance. Copies of the form are retained by students and their advisors.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core (see above): | 12 | |
| Upper Division Art History (must include 20th/21st century topic ) |
15 | |
| ART 303 | The Artist in the 20th/21st Century | |
| ART 403 | Queer Art History | |
| ART 501 | Western Art: Special Areas | |
| ART 502 | Asian Art: Special Areas | |
| ART 506 | American Painting and Sculpture: 1940 to Present | |
| ART 602 GW | Art History Methods - GWAR | 3 |
| Upper Division Studio Art elective in one area of emphasis | 12 | |
| Upper Division Studio Art elective out of area emphasis | 3 | |
| Art Productions (choose one) | 1 | |
| ART 509 | Art Productions: Studio, Art History, Art Education (1) | |
Minor in Art
For students transferring from other institutions, a minimum of twelve units in residence is required.
| Program | Units |
|---|---|
| Art History (3 units must be upper division) | 6 |
| Units selected from the 200-level studio courses listed above | 3 |
| Units of upper division electives | 15 |
Total: 24
Graduate Programs in Art
Two graduate programs are offered–Master of Arts with an emphasis in art history and a Master of Fine Arts in Art. The three-year professional M.F.A. curriculum is an integrated course of study across a spectrum of studio arts and their adjunct fields of theory, history, and criticism. The M.A. prepares students for doctoral studies and for careers in galleries, museums, and other community institutions.
Master of Arts in Art
General Information
The Master of Arts in Art is designed to provide professional training for the student preparing to enter a doctoral program or to work in jobs requiring a master's level of work in art history. Those jobs can include art gallery work, museum, community and educational programs, neighborhood arts programs and secondary and community college teaching. The curriculum culminates in a thesis with a concentration in Arts of Asia; Renaissance/Baroque Art; Arts of Spain; Modern and Contemporary Art; Asian American Art; New Media Art; History of Prints; or Queer Art History. Individual programs of course work and independent study are arranged to meet the needs of the specific student.
Admission to Program
Applications for the M.A. program are accepted November 1 through January 15 for admission the following fall. Applicants are required to file two separate applications, one to the University, and one to the art department. Applicants who do not complete both requirements cannot be considered for admission. Both the University’s Graduate Studies Division and the art department must accept applicants. Admission to the program is highly competitive and it is not possible to admit all fully qualified individuals.
Admission to the M.A. program requires an undergraduate degree, which includes 18 units of upper division course work art history, or related fields, with a 3.5 grade point average in the major and a 3.0 overall average.
The department’s admission application requirements are listed below. All application materials must be submitted to the department as a single package. Application procedures and the M.A. admissions application can be found on the department website.
- A completed Art Department M.A. Admissions Application Form.
- Transcripts (official or unofficial) from all institutions of higher learning attended must be submitted with the application. The department’s transcript requirements are in addition to the official transcripts required in the application to the University. Applicants should note that transcripts will not be forwarded to the department from the Graduate Admissions Office and vice versa.
- One copy of your current resume/cv.
- A two-page double-spaced statement of purpose describing your interests and background in art history, reasons for pursuing the M.A. degree, and reasons for seeking to attend SF State.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to testify to your capabilities and readiness to enter graduate study in art. The three letters should be signed, sealed and included with all other application materials.
- A sample of your art history writing (a previous term paper may be submitted - exam answers may not be submitted for consideration).
- Graduate Record Exams (GRE) General Test scores are required and will be evaluated in conjunction with other qualifications (http://www.ets.org). The S.F. State ETS code is 4684; the art history major code is 2301. Additionally, an unofficial photocopy of the GRE score report should be included in the department's application package in order to expedite application review.
No more than six units of work taken in unclassified post-baccalaureate status at this University may be transferred towards credit for the M.A. degree. All transfer of credit is done on a course-by-course basis by a graduate advisor and through the Division of Graduate Studies. This transfer should be arranged before the first semester of graduate studies begins.
A departmental review of each student's progress is required at the end of each year in the program.
Written English Proficiency Requirement
All students in graduate programs at SF State must demonstrate Level One (entry) and Level Two (exit) writing proficiency in accordance with university, departmental and or programmatic guidelines.
Level One is satisfied with a paper written an ART 701.
Level Two is satisfied with the successful completion of the thesis requirement.
The Foreign Language Examination is satisfied by a written translation with dictionary or a satisfactory score on GRE examination. Examination must be taken before ART 898.
Completion of Degree
In order to earn the M.A. in Art, students must satisfy all University and department requirements. Students who anticipate completing the thesis in one semester, and graduating the same semester, should enroll in ART 898 (Master's Thesis). If an additional semester is required to complete the degree requirements, the student must enroll in ART 897 (Research Projects in Art) the next semester. Any additional time required to complete the thesis which includes advising and/or re-submission of the thesis must be accompanied by enrollment in ART 897. Students are required to be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate.
On-line course descriptions are available.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ART 700 | Seminar in Art Theory | 3 |
| ART 701 | Art History: Images and Meaning | 3 |
| ART 702 | Seminar: Art History Methods | 3 |
| ART 703 | Seminar in Art History Research Applications | 3 |
| Upper division (400 level or above) and graduate art history courses by advisement | 12 | |
| Electives (may include art history or other subjects on advisement) | 3 | |
| ART 898 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
Minimum Total: 30
Master of Fine Arts in Art
The three-year Master of Fine Arts in Art degree program is designed to provide professional competency for the student pursuing a career as an artist including working in a range of public roles. Students are accepted into the program in the following areas of emphasis: ceramics, conceptual and information arts, new practices, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or textiles. While affiliation with a single emphasis is the norm, a broad approach to art-making and the development of a coherent, informed understanding of issues relevant to many forms of expression is encouraged throughout the program. The emphasis of new practices is available to students who work across media.
Studio related seminars and individually supervised tutorials form the core of the program. Special seminars in adjunct academic fields complement the studio focus of the program. Approximately two-thirds of the program is dedicated to studio and one-third to academically related courses. While all students can expect to experience a similar range of studio, seminar and tutorial classes, individual paths through the program are worked out through consultation with a graduate advisor/mentor.
Admission to Program
Applications for the M.F.A. program are accepted November 1 through January 15 for admission the following fall. Applicants are required to file two separate applications, one to the University, and one to the Art Department. Applicants who do not complete both requirements cannot be considered for admission. Both the University’s Graduate Studies Division and the Art Department must accept applicants. Admission to the program is highly competitive and it is not possible to admit all fully qualified individuals.
- An undergraduate art degree or equivilent preparatory degree, with three units of contemporary art history taken within the last five years. If the applicant does not complete this upon admission to the program, enrollment in a contemporary art history class during the first semester is required.
- A 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 units completed in undergraduate degree.
The department’s M.F.A. admission application requirements are listed below. All application materials must be submitted as a single package. Application procedures and the M.F.A. admissions application can be found on the department website.
- A completed art department M.F.A. Admissions Application
- One copy of either official or unofficial transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended. These must be included in your application package. (The department‘s transcript requirements are in addition to the official transcripts required in the application to the University.) Note that transcripts will not be forwarded to the art department from the Graduate Admissions Office and vice versa.
- One copy of your current resume/cv.
- A two-page double-spaced Statement of Purpose describing your interests and background in art, reasons for pursuing the M.F.A. degree, and reasons for selecting San Francisco State University.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to testify to your capabilities and readiness to enter graduate study in art. The three letters should be signed, sealed and included with all other application materials.
- Creative work portfolio.
Up to 12 classified graduate units taken while completing a Master's degree in Art at any accredited institution may be transferred towards credit for the M.F.A. degree. No more than 12 units (a maximum of six units in studio courses) of work taken in unclassified post-baccalaureate status may be transferred towards credit for the M.F.A. degree. All transfer of credit must be approved on a course-by-course basis by a departmental graduate advisor, graduate coordinator, and the Office of Graduate Studies.
A departmental review of each student's progress is required at the end of each year in the program.
Written English Proficiency Requirement
All students in graduate programs at SFSU must demonstrate Level One (entry) and Level Two (exit) writing proficiency in accordance with university, departmental and or programmatic guidelines.
Level One is satisfied with the successful completion of ART 700.
Level Two is satisfied by the successful completion of ART 705.
Completion of the Degree
In order to complete the M.F.A., students must satisfy all university and art department requirements. Department requirements are described in detail in the M.F.A. General Information brochure. In addition to satisfactory completion of the course of study, other requirements include satisfactory performance on yearly departmental reviews, a creative work exhibition and review, and creative work documentation. The department accepts transfer units on a course-by-course basis, only upon advisement, and in accordance with the limits established in the section entitled Transfer of Credit for Previous Graduate Work of the M.F.A. General Information brochure. If the creative work project is not complete in the final semester of the program, students must enroll in ART 899 in the semester they intend to graduate. Students are required to be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate.
Studio Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ART 704 | Seminar in Art (taken each of six semesters at 3 units/semester on advisement.) |
18 |
| ART 780 | Graduate Visiting Artist/Scholar Studio (taken twice at 3 units/semester) | 6 |
| Studio electives: two courses of 3 units each. May be taken in Art or in any other department, by advisement. | 6 | |
| ART 882 | Tutorial in Studio (taken twice at 3 units/semester) | 6 |
| ART 890 | Creative Work Research | 3 |
| ART 894 | Creative Work Project | 3 |
Minimum Studio Total: 42
Academic Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ART 700 | Seminar in Art Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| ART 705 | Seminar in History of Art | 3 |
| ART 850 | Directed Experience in Public Roles for Artists | 3 |
| Academic electives: may be taken in any department and may include additional academic art courses/seminars in theory, criticism, history, and directed experience, including teaching of art practices (ART 750) by advisement. | 9 | |
Minimum Academic Total: 18
Minimum Degree Total: 60
