The Art Department offers an integrated program of study in theory and practice exploring the power of visual communication for personal expression and public interaction. Students are given the means to pursue this exploration through courses that provide the practical skills for art production in a variety of media within the contexts of critical thinking and broad-based social perspectives. 

Study and Research Opportunities

• B.A.
• Opportunities to study abroad during the junior year through the UC Education Abroad Program
• Two on-campus galleries, the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery and the Eduardo Carrillo Senior Gallery, in which faculty and student work is shown
• Digital Arts Research Center – A multimedia complex housing extensive digital printmaking/photography facilities, faculty studios, and exhibition/media labs for the Digital Arts and New Media graduate program

High School Preparation

High school students who plan to major in art at UC Santa Cruz need no specific preparation beyond the high school courses required for UC admission. AP Art History (with a score of 3, 4, or 5) may be used as the lower-division Western art history requirement. AP Drawing (with a score of 4 or 5) may be used in lieu of Art 20E, Concepts and Practice in Drawing.

Transfer Preparation

Transfer students who plan to major in art at UC Santa Cruz should complete two introductory survey courses in art history (one with a Western focus and one with a non-Western focus,) as well as the three lower-division studios (in different disciplines) noted below before transferring to UC Santa Cruz. Although it is helpful to undertake general education requirements before coming to UCSC, it is critical that sufficient studio classes are undertaken to prepare for the portfolio review.

Junior transfer students are accepted into the art major after passing the portfolio review. The UC Application and the Art Department Portfolio Review Application are separate processes that are independent of each other. Being accepted to UC Santa Cruz does not guarantee that a student will pass the portfolio review, and passing the portfolio review does not guarantee admission to UC Santa Cruz. More information on the portfolio review can be found at art.ucsc.edu. Transfer students must identify themselves as potential art majors when applying to the university in order to receive information on the portfolio review deadlines (usually early April) and the materials required for the review. All junior transfers will be required to take Art 194, Forms and Ideas, their first quarter at UCSC. Prospective transfer students should review the detailed information on the Art Department web page: art.ucsc.edu. UC Santa Cruz lower-division requirements for junior transfers in art are:

• Three courses from the following list:  Art 20A: Concepts and Practice in Drawing, Art 20B: Concepts and Practice in Digital/New Media, Art 20C: Concepts and Practice in Photography/Print Media, Art 20D: Concepts and Practice in Sculpture/Public Art, or Art 20E: Concepts and Practice in Painting. Appropriate classes from community colleges are listed on ASSIST.ORG. Courses taken MUST be approved on ASSIST.ORG to be accepted as transferable to the art major, NOT just transferable to UCSC.
• Two lower-division courses from History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC) -- if taken at UCSC, one with a Western focus and one with a non-Western focus.

While it is not a condition of admission, students from California community colleges may complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) in preparation for transfer to UC Santa Cruz. In addition, please note the portfolio review requirement (above). Please note: The portfolio review is a highly competitive review. It is advised that students complete all three of their lower-division studios at the community college, PLUS extra studios in their area of interest to be able to submit a high level portfolio. Applicants who do not pass the portfolio review, and are accepted to UCSC, will NOT be allowed to take art classes at UCSC during the fall, winter, or spring quarters and must realize that they need to pursue another major if they decide to attend UCSC.

Transfer course agreements and articulation between the University of California and California community colleges can be accessed on the ASSIST.ORG web site.

Careers

• Professional artist
• Art and law
• Art criticism
• Art marketing
• Art therapy
• Arts administration
• Display
• Edition printing
• Multimedia production
• Museum and gallery management
• Museum exhibition design
• Photography
• Teaching

These are only samples of the field’s many possibilities.

Freshmen Interested in the Art Major

Students should contact the Undergraduate Art Advisor if they are interested in pursuing an art major. Students should meet with the advisor in their first quarter at UC Santa Cruz if they intend to enroll in art courses their freshman year. Students are required to pass two foundation courses in their freshman year to be eligible to declare the art major. These classes are only offered once each year, so delaying taking these classes until the sophomore year may delay a student's graduation.

Freshman Foundation Requirements (3 Courses)

• Art 10A: Foundation I: Create/Interact (Winter 2013) and
• Art 10B: Foundation II: Think/Invent (Spring 2013)

One of the following:

• Art 80E: Tangible Memory: Artists in the Archive (Fall 2012) or
• Art 80D: Introduction to Photography (Winter 2013) or
• Art 80C: Introduction to Visual Art (Spring 2013)