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 Senior Gallery, in which student and faculty work is shown

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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.

Transfer Preparation
Transfer students who plan to major in art at UC Santa Cruz will find it helpful to complete courses that fulfill campus general education requirements before coming to Santa Cruz. Furthermore, they should complete introductory survey courses in art history as well as three of the lower-division studios noted below before transferring to UC Santa Cruz.

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 mid-April) and the materials required for the review. All junior transfers will be required to take Art 60, Forms and Ideas, and one art seminar in their junior year at UC Santa Cruz in lieu of the freshman foundation program requirements. Prospective transfer students should contact the Art Department office for detailed information. UC Santa Cruz lower-division requirements for junior transfers in art are:

• Three courses from the following list: Art 20, Introduction to Drawing; Art 21, Introduction to Computer Art; Art 22, Introduction to Electronics for Intermedia; Art 23, Intermedia I; Art 24, Introduction to Painting: Oil; Art 25, Relief Printmaking; Art 26, Introduction to Printmaking; Art 27, Monoprinting/Mixed Media Printmaking; Art 28, Figurative Sculpture; Art 30, Introduction to Photography for Art Majors; Art 39, Public Art I; and Art 40, Sculpture I

• Two lower-division courses from the History of Art and Visual Culture Department (one course may be from the 80 series), one with a Western focus and one with a non-Western focus, upon consultation with the Art Advisor

 

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.

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

Careers

• Professional art
  
• Advertising
  
• Art and law
  
• Art criticism
  
• Art marketing
  
• Art therapy
  
• Arts administration
  
• Commercial art
  
• 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 Declaring the Pre-art Major
Students must declare the pre-art major in order to enroll in introductory studio courses via UC Santa Cruz’s advance enrollment system. Students should declare the pre-art major in their first quarter at UC Santa Cruz if they intend to enroll in art courses their freshman year, as art courses are restricted to pre-art majors. However, if they were undecided about their major in their first year of study, they should declare by winter quarter of their sophomore year, at the latest, if they are to complete the art major requirements on time. Students must begin taking the lower-division requirements, especially the foundation courses, in their sophomore year. Students may complete the paperwork to declare the pre-art major at any time during the year, including summer. Students may not declare the pre-art major in their junior year. Please note that students who have declared the pre-art major still need to follow the procedure for acceptance to the full major, as students may not graduate as pre-art majors.

Freshman Foundation Requirements (2 Courses)
• Art 80C, Introduction to Visual Arts AND
• Art 10H, 3-D Foundation OR Art 10G, 2-D Foundation

Freshman Acceptance to the Art Major
Acceptance into the art major is contingent on completing at least three lower-division studio courses (excluding Foundation Series courses) with a grade of B or better. (a B- grade is not acceptable). Students cannot take more than four lower-division studio classes to obtain the requisite B grades. While completing this lower-division course work, it is critical that each student meet with a faculty adviser regarding the student’s potential to proceed to the major level.

Education Abroad Program
The UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) offers students the opportunity for study abroad. Art majors may participate in EAP in their junior year. Pre-art majors are not approved to study abroad. Art students may not go abroad in their senior year, as the last three quarters of course work must be in residence at UC Santa Cruz.

Comprehensive Requirement
Senior majors should meet with their faculty adviser about this requirement. Students may satisfy the comprehensive requirement with one of the following two options:

1) completing 10 credits of senior studio course work in the area of focus;
2) completing 10 credits of upper-division studio in the area of focus, and:
            a) presenting an exhibition and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member           for review and critique of the exhibition; or
            b) presenting a portfolio and, by appointment, meeting with a faculty member for review and critique of the portfolio.

Baskin Visual Arts Center
Baskin Visual Arts Center provides excellent studio facilities for drawing, painting, installation, photography, casting and sculptural construction, and printmaking. Computer art facilities are located at both Baskin Visual Arts Center and Porter College.