FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)Elective Course plans
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
ART major and minor
Do I need to submit a portfolio to be an ART major (or minor)
No, if you are accepted to SMCM, you can major or minor in ART.
What degrees does the Art & Art History Department offer?
The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in two majors; Art (ART) and Art History (ARTH).
I need help selecting the right classes for me. How do I get an Art Advisor?
Talk to an art professor, or email the Department Chair: Lisa Scheer (lnscheer@smcm.edu)
What are the first art classes I should take in the ART major?
Prospective and declared ART majors should take the ART Core courses in their first two years at the College. These include: ART 205 Introduction to Visual Thinking, ART 204 Introduction to Drawing, ART 206 Introduction to Sculpture, ART 214 Introduction to Digital Imaging, and ARTH 100 Introduction to Art History. While these courses may be taken in any order, we encourage students to take ART 205 as early as possible. Additionally, we recommend taking any 200 level course in an area of your special interest.
I am a transfer student and have questions about how to plan what courses to take. What should I do?
TWe want to help you choose the courses you are interested in and to assist you in developing a course plan to graduate in a timely manner. Contact the department chair: Lisa Scheer (lnscheer@smcm.edu)
Can I double-major within the Art & Art History Department?
Yes, you can major in ART (art) and ARTH (art history). Check out the major requirements in each major:
https://www.smcm.edu/art/academic-offerings/what-you-learn-art/requirements/
https://www.smcm.edu/art/academic-offerings/what-you-learn-art-history/requirements/
I am thinking about majoring (or minoring) in Art – what should I do?
If you are already taking an ART or ARTH course, talk to your professor, or email the Department Chair: Lisa Scheer (lnscheer@smcm.edu)
How do I declare the Art major or minor?
It is easy to do – go to My Portal, and you will see a link to declare your major or minor.
Can I study abroad with an ART major or minor?
Yes, we encourage students to study abroad, and many ART students study for a semester, full-year or on a study tour. SMCM has sponsored programs to study art in Italy (Rome, Florence, and Perugia) and there are many other study abroad opportunities in other countries. Ask your art advisor and visit the Office of International Education: https://www.smcm.edu/academics/study-abroad/
How do I learn about the visiting artists, lectures and workshops?
The department sponsors many events each academic year. Check out this year’s events at:
https://www.smcm.edu/art/events/
The department also sponsors visiting artists through the Artist House Residency Programs:
https://www.smcm.edu/art/artist-house/about-artist-house/
Does the Department offer exhibition opportunities for students?
Yes, there are several exhibition spaces including the Boyden Gallery and Hallwalls. The Annual All Student show takes place each spring semester in the Boyden Gallery, and SMP in Art exhibitions also take place in the gallery. The Department’s Hallwalls exhibition space is scheduled by faculty to show work from courses and special exhibitions, including student-organized pop-up shows.
What scholarships and awards does the Department offer?
The Department grants a number of scholarships and awards annually. View the list here.
How much will I spend on art materials and supplies?
Each ART course has an academic fee which covers basic materials expenses. Depending on the nature of a particular course, academic fees range from $75-$150. Your professor often orders materials in bulk ahead of time to save you money. Academic fees also cover materials that are used communally. There will still be some art materials that you will need to purchase on your own. Typically for art courses there are no textbooks that need to be purchased separately.
Where can I purchase art supplies?
Art professors will provide a list of materials in the course syllabus. Materials can be purchased at the Campus Bookstore, at local art supply stores, and online.
I am interested in doing an internship in art – how do I find out more information?
Talk with your ART advisor, and visit the Office of Internships. https://www.smcm.edu/academics/internships/ Also subscribe to the department’s Facebook page where you will find occasional postings of internship opportunities, https://www.facebook.com/StMarysARTH/
Is it possible to double major in Art and another discipline?
Yes, many ART majors have a second major or minor. To find out what is best for your academic and post-graduation plans, make an appointment with your ART advisor to learn about the possibilities.
Does the department sponsor field trips?
Yes, the department organizes an annual art trip to a city with museums, galleries and artist studios. In recent years trips have been to New York City. Individual professors sometimes will organize field trips related to a particular course in the mid-Atlantic region including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD.
I am interested in art education. How do I find out more information?
Professor Carrie Patterson offers several courses that introduce students to the field, and she can advise students interested in art education (ccpatterson@smcm.edu). Courses include: ART 369 Art for Educators and ART 269 Community Arts. Students may also serve as a course teaching assistant for specific courses with permission of the instructor by enrolling in ART 307 Practicum in Art Instruction. The College also offers a minor in Educational Studies, and an M.A.T. (Masters of Teaching). Students with an interest in art education should consider minoring in Educational Studies. Students are encouraged to set up an appointment with the department chair of Educational Studies as early as possible:
https://www.smcm.edu/educationalstudies/
Do SMCM ART graduates find jobs?
TYes, check out our alum page to find out about the diverse jobs and careers our graduates pursue. The department offers ART 410 Professional Practices in Art which is a course that helps prepare students for life after graduation. The College’s Career Center also has many resources for current students and alumnae.
What careers will an Art major prepare me to do?
Commercial photographer, magazine editor, curator, art buyer, photo editor, photojournalist, social media marketer, fine artist, graphic designer, illustrator, animator, graphic novelist, public or private school art teacher, community arts organizer, designer, landscape architect, architect, government-related arts jobs, historic preservation, radio production, interior design, art criticism, nonprofit management, academic/ scholar, and museum arts educator, and more!
I want to take an art class but during registration all the seats were filled in the classes I wanted to take. What can I do?
Email the professor of the course to ask to be placed on the wait list. Also, let your Art advisor know you are trying to register for a course that is currently closed.
How do I choose art elective courses that are the best for me and my interests?
See the list of Elective Course Plans that focus in these areas: Fine Arts and Design; The Natural World; Time, Sequence and Story; New Genres and Technology; and Art Education and Social Practice.
Elective course plans for the ART major and minor
When choosing elective courses to fulfill ART major and minor requirements, consider taking courses under a heading of special interest that will help focus your overall course of study. Note: Special topics and experimental courses are offered as ART 233 Topics and ART 333 Advanced Topics courses – consult the Schedule of Classes for classes being offered in a given semester.
Fine Arts and Design
This Elective Course Plan is appropriate for students with a diverse set of art interests as it provides a wide distribution of course experiences across the media areas of photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, design, illustration, digital imaging, and printmaking. Courses at the upper level often focus on a topic or an applied area of study. For students planning to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) meet with an Art advisor to plan a course of study that will best prepare them, and consider taking additional elective Art and Art History courses beyond the minimum requirements for the B.A. in Art including ART 410 Professional Practices in Art.
ART 204 Introduction to Drawing
ART 206 Introduction to Painting
ART 208 Introduction to Sculpture
ART 212 Introduction to Photography
ART 214 Introduction to Digital Media: Motion
ART 214 Introduction to Digital Media: Image
ART 233 Topics in Studio Art: Alternative Processes in Photography
ART 304 Advanced Drawing: Drawing Through Architecture
ART 306 Advanced Painting: Color in Painting
ART 307 Practicum in Art
ART 308 Advanced Sculpture
ART 309 Advanced Drawing and Printmaking
ART 309 Advanced Drawing and Printmaking: The Expanded Field
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Creative Documentary
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Conceptual Photography in the Studio
ART 333 Advanced Topics in Studio Art
ART 347 Book Arts
ART 367 Color
ART 390 The Artist Naturalist
ART 398/498 Off-Campus Internship
ART 410 Professional Practices in Art
The Natural World
This Elective Course Plan is for students who have interdisciplinary interests that combine a creative studio practice with an emphasis on study of the natural world and observation from life, including interests in environmental studies, environmental literature, and the sciences. Students may wish to consider double majoring or minoring in Environmental Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and/or taking courses of interest in these areas.
ART 204 Introduction to Drawing
ART 205 Introduction to Visual Thinking: Art & Nature
ART 212 Introduction to Photography
ART 233 Topics in Art: Alternative Processes in Photography
ART 233 Topics in Art: Nature Forms
ART 239 Painting and Drawing from Life
ART 239 Painting and Drawing from Life: Fieldscapes
ART 239 Painting and Drawing from Life: Fieldscapes – Nature-Journal-Sketchbook
ART 339 Advanced Painting and Drawing from Life
ART 338 Figure Sculpture
ART 390 The Artist Naturalist
ART 333 Advanced Topics in Art: The Natural Virtual
ART 398/498 Off-Campus Internship
Time, Sequence and Story
This elective course plan will provide students with the tools and experiences to focus their interests in narrative in art, which might include the fields of illustration; animation, film, and video; books and publishing; documentary photography; and painting. Students may wish to consider double majoring or minoring in English, and/or Theater, Film and Media Studies.
ART 212 Introduction to Photography
ART 214 Introduction to Digital Media: Motion
ART 233 Topics in Art: Animation
ART 304 Advanced Drawing: Drawing and The Photographic Eye
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Creative Documentary
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Conceptual Photography in the Studio
ART 314 Advanced Digital Media: Digital Storytelling
ART 347 Book Arts
ART 233 Video Art
ART 398/498 Off-Campus Internship
Courses recommended from other disciplines that will augment a student’s overall coursework, however these courses will not count directly for the ART major:
TFMS 220: Introduction to Film and Media Studies
TFMS 346: Screenwriting
New Genres and Technology
This Elective Course Plan will provide students with course experiences that introduce them to trans-disciplinary approaches to cultural production, incorporating hybrid and emerging art forms at the intersections of technology, image making, object making, and scientific and creative research. Students may wish to consider double majoring or minoring in Computer Science, and/or Theater, Film and Media Studies.
ART 233 Topics in Art: Alternative Photography Processes
ART 233 Topics in Art: Animation
ART 304 Advanced Drawing: Drawing and The Photographic Eye
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Creative Documentary
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Conceptual Photography in the Studio
ART 333 Advanced Topics in Art: The Natural Virtual
ART 398/498 Off-Campus Internship
Art Education and Social Practice
This Elective Course Plan will provide students with an interest in art education, documentary projects, and community-based art practice with the tools and experiences to become effective art educators, community art activists, photojournalists, and social practice artists. Additionally. this course plan will help prepare future art educators for graduate school.
ART 212 Introduction to Photography
ART 269 Community Arts
ART 307 Practicum in Art
ART 312 Advanced Photography: Creative Documentary
ART 369. Art for Educators
ART 398/498 Off-Campus Internship