Degree Programs
Selecting the Major
Upon successful application to the university, students wanting to major in art may choose one of the following areas:
Bachelor of Arts
- Art Studio (areas of emphasis below):
- 2D: Painting, Printmaking, and Works on Paper
- 3D: Sculpture, and Ceramics
- Photography and Media Art
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Photography
Entering freshmen or lower-division transfer students will be accepted by the university in the status of art major in the B.A. program. Upper-division transfer students who have fulfilled requirements equivalent to those for lower-division art majors at Sonoma State University will be accepted as art majors in the B.A. program. Information on admission to the B.F.A. program is listed on the B.F.A. web site.
Courses in the major cannot be taken for CR/NC. A maximum of 3 courses may be challenged for credit toward the major: 2 lower-division and 1 upper-division. Most studio courses require payment of lab fees at time of class registration.
Majors pursue studies leading to the bachelor of arts degree in art history or the bachelor of arts degree in art studio. The art studio degree emphases are available in 2D, 3D and Photo/Media. Minors in art history, studio art, museum and gallery methods, and applied arts are also available. Several art and art history courses meet general education requirements
Art Studio
This major is comprised of a group of core courses representing minimum requirements for all areas of emphasis, plus course offerings in studio which allow for the development of an emphasis in one or more of the following: ceramics, media art, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and works on paper.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
The B.F.A. is often considered to be the degree of choice for students wishing to pursue graduate or professional studies. It enhances the artist’s opportunity to perform at a higher level and fulfills the need for additional artistic growth in an intensive studio environment. The B.F.A. degree is a 138-unit program requiring 90 units of course work in art.
Art Studio Minor
The art studio minor is intended for any student willing to add a studio experience to their undergraduate studies. It offers creative opportunities that complement many majors at SSU, strengthen critical thinking, creative problem solving, and visual communication.