Art engages critical and creative processes, concepts, and research strategies. The Pitzer art major emphasizes generative overlaps between the practices of making, theorizing, writing about, and exhibiting art. The art major is designed to provide students with not only the technical skills for working with a range of materials, but also the historical and conceptual grounding for practice as an artist, as well as for an art historian, critic, curator, or other visual arts-related pursuits. Students will also gain an understanding of the importance of historical and intercultural/global perspectives on art, and that to engage with the visual arts is to enter into an intellectual and object-oriented discourse with a long and varied history. The Pitzer Art Field Group and art majors benefit from a close working relationship with the Pitzer College Art Galleries.
The art major includes:
- An interdisciplinary core (comprising six courses)
- Two specialized tracks (three additional courses each)
- Two-semester senior capstone sequence (a fall seminar and a spring project).
When declaring a major in art, students will choose either the Studio Art or Critical Studies track:
The Studio Art track develops research methods, critical faculties, and technical knowledge preparing students for further work and graduate-level study in studio-based practices.
The Critical Studies track emphasizes historical and theoretical perspectives, writing, and research methods preparing students for further work and graduate study-level in art history and other art-related academic fields including curatorial and museum studies, and art writing.
Art majors are expected to take courses from both tracks as a part of the interdisciplinary core and then choose a track to focus on for their capstone work. In some cases a combination of tracks may prove valuable (see requirements below).
While the Art Field Groups recognize that many students will have prior experience in art classes at the high school level, students will normally take introductory level courses for the interdisciplinary core, and intermediate and advanced level courses for the three courses in each specialized track. Students should work with their advisors to distinguish between introductory level and advanced level classes, and ensure that they have the appropriate prerequisite classes or experience for intermediate and advanced classes, and also that they are progressing beyond the introductory level.
Because the Art major at Pitzer is already interdisciplinary, there is not an option for a combined major. The Art Field Group encourages students who are interested in fields that offer classes cross-listed with Art or Art History (including some classes in Classics, Environmental Analysis, or Media Studies for example) to declare a double major. Up to three classes that fulfill requirements in a second major can be used as part of an Art major.
Capstone
All Art majors complete a two semester capstone sequence during their senior year. The fall semester, ART 189 PZ – Senior Seminar in Art, focuses on developing research and writing skills for all students, and developing individual projects for students in either the Studio or Critical Studies tracks that will be completed in the spring semester, ART 199 PZ – Senior Projects in Art.
Individual senior projects are developed in consultation with the student’s advisor, and reflect the diversity of research and practice in art. For example, majors in the Studio track might choose to show artwork in the spring group exhibition, engage in a collaborative project with other majors, or develop an object-oriented exhibition project. Majors in the Critical Studies track might produce a research paper or other substantial writing project, or develop a historically or theoretically-oriented curatorial project. Normally, senior projects expand on work the student has successfully completed in a previous class or independent study.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Student Learning Outcomes for All Majors in Art:
- Gain knowledge of the vocabularies, histories, theories, and philosophies of art
- Learn appropriate research methods • Learn how to communicate effectively about art, visual, and material culture
- Be able to think critically about their practice, as an artist or researcher, and refine and revise their work
- Define and categorize their practice and research within the context of an art related discipline
- Demonstrate professionalism in the presentation and dissemination of their work
Requirements for the Major
The major consists of 11 courses; which includes a set of core requirements and the completion of a chosen track, Studio or Critical Studies, with course plan:
Core Requirements
Three Studio Art Courses
- Courses should represent breadth of studio experience in three of four different media offered at Pitzer: Ceramics, Painting, Photography, and Sculpture. Students are encouraged to take introductory courses with Pitzer Faculty.
- This may be fulfilled by any course with an ART prefix and any course cross-listed under ART in the course catalog. In addition, some courses in Environmental Analysis, Media Studies, Theatre, Dance, and other creative disciplines may satisfy this requirement with the approval of your advisor.
Three Historical and Theoretical Courses
- Courses should represent breadth of historical and theoretical knowledge of art:
- One course focused on a period before 1800
- One course focused on a non-European culture or cultures (i.e, Asia, Africa, Oceania, or the Indigenous Americas)
- One course focused on the theory or philosophy of art, or contemporary art since 1989
- These may be fulfilled by courses with an ARHI prefix and any course cross-listed under ARHI in the course catalog. In addition some courses in Anthropology, Classics, Media Studies, and other academic fields may satisfy this requirement with the approval of your advisor.
Capstone
ART 189 PZ – Senior Seminar in Art
ART 199 PZ – Senior Projects in Art
Requirements for the Studio Track
Three additional studio courses with focus on competence in a single area. This will include at least one advanced course in the selected media and require you take at least one course with a member of the Pitzer Art Field Group. For advanced level work students should have developed familiarity with Pitzer studio facilities.
Requirements for the Critical Studies Track
Three additional historical or theoretical studies courses, including at least one class focused on a non-European culture or cultures (in addition to the non-European class taken as part of the Art Core Requirements). This will include at least one course with a member of the Pitzer Art Field Group.
Requirements for the Combined Studio and Critical Studies Track
Majors may elect to complete all the requirements for both the Studio and Critical Studies Track, and complete a single capstone (ART 189 and ART 199) with a project appropriate to their interests.
Social Responsibility
Marcus Jackson '22
Pitzer Art Galleries Fellow, Benjamin Godsill ’00 and Anna Burns Student Apprenticeship Award Recipient
Fellows support meaningful dialogue and peer exchange around the social and cultural impact of contemporary art.
Pitzer Art Fellows