Bulletin--Art Program

Art

College of Creative Arts
Dean: Keith Morrison

Department of Art
A&I 265
415-338-2176
Chair: Sylvia Solochek Walters

Undergraduate Advisers: Bechtle, Bettelheim, Chadwick, Crockett, deSoto, Foster, B., Hawley, Hunter, Kistemaker, Kuraoka, Legrady, Mann, McLean, Perez, Pratchenko, Raciti, Walters, White, Wilson

Graduate Coordinator: Hunter

Faculty
Professors—Bechtle, Bettelheim, Chadwick, Crockett, Foster, B., Hawley, Hunter, Kuraoka, McLean, Raciti, Walters, Wilson

Associate Professors—deSoto, Kistemaker, Legrady, Mann, Perez, Pratchenko, White

Lecturers—Leighton, Marshall, Nakanishi

Programs
B.A. in Art

Minor in Art

M.A. in Art

M.F.A. in Art

Program Scope
The Department of Art offers a wide variety of courses of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts, to various teaching credentials, to the Master of Arts in Art with emphasis in Art History, and to the Master of Fine Arts in Art with an emphasis in Studio Art. Accredited programs in the fine arts and art history are taught by leading Bay Area artists and scholars. Students in the undergraduate program in Art may choose an emphasis of study from art history, ceramics, conceptual design/information arts, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles. Students in the credential and liberal studies programs with an emphasis in art may select courses from the art education area. Elective courses in glass and metal arts augment the above emphases in studio art. The Department of Art is oriented towards the fine arts and does not offer courses in commercial art, although the courses that are offered make an excellent foundation for further study in applied fields. Students in the department learn to develop their awareness of the visual world through hands-on studio experience and study the history and theory of the visual arts. Some of the courses are offered in cooperation with the General Education program of the university and many are structured for various levels of experience. A Minor in Art is offered for students who want to pursue a secondary interest in art on an organized basis. The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

The Art Department offers two scholarships for studio students. The Jules H. Strauss Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate students in photography. Graduate students in any area may be considered for scholarships awarded through the Leo Douglas Stillwell, Jr. Endowment Fund. Both scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis for creative ability. For further information, contact the Art Department.

Facilities
Art Department facilities are newly remodeled including a new department gallery. All areas of emphasis maintain traditional and technologically current facilities thus affording students, both undergraduate and graduate, the opportunity for research and practicum competitive on a national level. The Department of Art maintains facilities with computer, sound, photographic, and video currency as well as updated equipment for traditional art studio applications (i.e., looms, fine art printing presses, kilns, etc.). The department also maintains a current and well equipped slide library as well as an instructional resource archive of prints, drawings, and photographs. The Art Department Gallery is a 3,800 square foot facility designed for professional and student exhibitions.

Career Outlook
The Art Department at San Francisco State University offers one of the most diverse and vital programs in Northern California for the study of the visual arts. Course work in the history of art, available to majors and non-majors alike, offers training in the history of critical appreciation of works of art. Students are also offered course work in exhibition design and in museum and gallery writing. Skills and problem solving in the fine and applied arts, as well as an understanding of the history and cultural traditions that shape artistic expression, prepare students for careers in a variety of related and unrelated fields.

Opportunities upon graduating with a degree in art vary depending on the student's initiative and inclinations. Students dedicated to creative expression may choose careers as creative artists or elect to further their education through graduate studies in art/art history. Others may apply their skills in related fields such as advertising, computer technology, arts administration and criticism, industrial and fine art printing and graphics, or sculptural/structural applications. Students may select to continue or enhance their degree in art by seeking a teaching certificate with an emphasis in art. Many students have assumed leadership roles in art related organizations. Still others, after receiving graduate degrees, may elect to teach in the visual arts. Those students who elect unrelated careers will find that their training in visual arts has provided them with special creative and cultural experiences that augment a fulfilling work experience. The Art Department trains students to express themselves visually, verbally, and textually.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART

The B.A. provides innovative studio concentrations in varied traditional and new disciplines as well as programs and course work in art education and art history. An art major requires a minimum of 46 units of art courses, including a minimum of 28 units of upper division work. For students transferring from other institutions, a minimum of twelve units in residence is required. Students are expected to choose an Area of Emphasis by their junior year, after they have finished a suitable program of lower division work. The course requirements for each emphasis area are given under the heading "Area of Emphasis" below, following the list of lower division requirements.

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Art discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).

										Units
Art History (a minimum of three units must be non-European)			   12
ART 203	Modern Art History
At least three units chosen from:
	ART 201	Western Art History I
	ART 202	Western Art History II
	ART 204	Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
	ART 205	Asian Art History
At least six upper division units. Three of these units must be from the
following list:
	ART 501	Western Art: Special Areas (Generic)
		Women and Art: The 20th Century
		Art in the 80s: The Post-Modern Dilemma
		History of Photography
		Performance and Environmental Art
	ART 506	American Painting and Sculpture: 1940 to Present
	ART 508	African Art History
Explorations: two courses outside area of emphasis (see below)			    6
Art Productions									  1-3
Area of Emphasis (one chosen from the following)				25-27
		Total								   46
Explorations (All are three unit studio courses)
Exploration courses provide studio experiences in selected areas of the Art Department. They focus on perceptual skills, modes of consciousness, and creative expression. Some attention is given to traditions and heritage of the discipline, to contemporary issues and forms, and to imaginative problem solving. Courses are designed to provide a broad experiential and conceptual orientation to the visual arts.

	ART 210	Exploration in Conceptual Design
	ART 222	Exploration in Textiles
	ART 225	Exploration in Metal Arts and Jewelry
	ART 231	Exploration in Drawing and Painting
	ART 235	Exploration in Drawing and Printmaking
	ART 240	Exploration in Sculpture
	ART 245	Exploration in Ceramics
	ART 260	Exploration in Photography
Area of Emphasis
The Area of Emphasis is a program that provides for intensive study in one specialty in the visual arts, with a degree of breadth sufficient for understanding and awareness in other areas. Students are encouraged to decide on their Area of Emphasis by their junior year, and to discuss their choice of emphasis with an adviser in that area. In some instances, the Area of Emphasis will request a portfolio of work completed to date, evidence of preparation for upper division study, etc. Since some areas are very crowded, students transferring at an advanced level from other institutions should contact an adviser in their proposed Area of Emphasis upon application for admission to this institution. The Area of Emphasis programs may be structured to fit individual needs after conferring with an adviser in the area and obtaining the adviser's approval. Under special circumstances, a dual emphasis may be selected or courses from other departments in the university may be included in the major.

Art History

The history of visual form examined in relation to the values, beliefs, and institutions of specific cultures.

Art Education

A program devoted to the place of the visual arts in elementary and secondary education and in general human development. A minimum of 46 units in Art is required for the Single Subject Credential under the Ryan Act. Students must work closely with an Art Education adviser planning their 46-unit major program prior to enrolling in the sequence of courses listed below.

Ceramics

Foundation in ceramic information and techniques affording a base upon which the student can build a professional future in ceramics.

Conceptual Design/Information Arts

A program that stresses integration of intuitive approaches typical of the arts with structured processes of research, planning, and problem solving more characteristic of other disciplines such as the humanities, science, and technology. It promotes non-conventional art media, new media, and the movement of artists into non-art contexts. It teaches students concrete skills related to contemporary theory and technology such as structured problem solving; analysis of biological systems; computers; telecommunications; interactive media; and the electronic synthesis of image, text, and sound. The program places emphasis on the perspectives of critical analysis of cultural systems, language, and media.

Painting and Drawing

Program of studio courses emphasizing visual awareness and understanding. Painting/drawing is seen as a productive endeavor in itself, as well as a means of acquiring visual skills that may be applied to other disciplines. Attention is given to diverse histories and traditions and their effect on contemporary practices.

Photography

Program of studio courses emphasizing contemporary cultural concerns within the context of photographic history and processes. A variety of photographic technologies are engaged, from nineteenth century handmade processes, black-and-white and color formats to digital imaging hardware and software. Students are encouraged to explore and experiment during the development of individual projects and group critiques.

Painting/Printmaking Joint Emphasis

Encourages painting and printmaking students to explore more than one medium. Emphasis on individual development.

Printmaking

A program of studio courses providing in-depth studio practice in one or more of the major processes in fine art printmaking and the extensions of the field. It emphasizes cultural awareness and critical problem solving within the context of historical and contemporary printmaking processes and thought. Students are encouraged to investigate alternative printmaking processes, such as bookarts, mixed media applications, and photographic transferring as planned progress toward advanced work.

Sculpture

A program of study emphasizing cultural awareness, conceptual development, and artistic expression evolved through research, analysis, dialogue, and hands-on investigation utilizing a wide range of traditional and exploratory materials, processes, and creative strategies.

Textiles

A hands-on program designed to allow students to learn about textile techniques, their traditions, and contemporary application. Areas of studio focus include 4, 8, and 16 harness loom constructions (both manual and computer assisted), and a variety of surface design processes such as dyeing with fiber reactive dyes, resist dyeing, discharge, painting, and screen printing. Teaching draws on study and physical examples which emphasize a multicultural approach.

Dual Emphasis I

A dual emphasis is available for students with cross-over interests in any two studio areas listed above. It is also available for students who wish to work in metal arts, glass, or other media where a full range of specialized courses is not currently offered. The emphasis consists of a planned combination of related courses, approved in advance. Approval must be by advisers in both areas, one of whom must be a full-time regular faculty member. Courses in Dual Emphasis I must total a minimum of twenty-four units, including at least twelve upper division units in one area and nine upper division units in the other. An elective related course (three units) is possible. In addition, the student is required to take three lower division exploration courses. All other requirements for the B.A. in Art, as listed above, must be satisfied. A minimum of 46 units in the major must be completed.

Dual Emphasis II

A dual emphasis is also available for students with cross-over interests in Studio and Art History. The emphasis consists of a planned combination of courses in both areas, approved in advance by advisers in Art History and Studio. Courses in Dual Emphasis II must total 46 units to be distributed as follows.

To initiate a dual emphasis, the student is expected to consult advisers in the appropriate areas and to draft a contractual proposed course of study on a Dual Emphasis Advising Form. The program must be approved by the advisers and the chair of the department in advance. Copies of the form are retained by the student, the advisers, and the department. Students should seek continued advising each semester to assure satisfactory progress in the proposed course of study.

MINOR IN ART

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Art discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).

										Units
Three units chosen from: ART 201, 202, 204					 3
ART 203	Modern Art History							 3
Six units selected from the Explorations listed above				 6
Twelve units of upper division electives which may include three units 
of production courses								12
		Total								24

GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN ART

Two graduate programs are offered—an M.A. with an emphasis in Art History and an M.F.A. in Studio Arts. The three year professional M.F.A. curriculum is an integrated course of study across a spectrum of studio arts and their adjunct fields of theory, history, and criticism. The M.A. prepares students for doctoral studies and for careers in galleries, museums, and other community institutions. Specializations are available primarily in modern and contemporary—including feminist—art, a variety of Western European topics, and the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, including the Caribbean.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ART

General Information
This program leads to an M.A. in Art with an emphasis in Art History. The degree is intended to prepare students for higher degree work in art history and for jobs in community art programs and museums. The curriculum culminates in a thesis with a concentration in one of the following areas of specialization:

Within each area of concentration, individual programs of course work and independent study are arranged to meet the needs of the specific student.

Admission to Program
Applications for classified status in the M.A. program are accepted beginning November 1 for admission the following fall. Applicants are required to file two applications, one to the university and one to the Art Department.

The university Graduate Admissions Application and the Art Department M.A. application are due by mid-February for the following fall. Call the Art Department for the exact date. Admission requirements are described in the Master of Arts General Information brochure. Application forms and the brochure may be obtained by writing to: Art Department, M.A. Admissions, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132.

In addition to these two applications, the requirements for admission to the M.A. in Art History include the following:

Only upper division courses approved on advisement are acceptable for the degree.

Acceptance of an applicant for an M.A. degree in the Art Department is contingent upon acceptance to classified standing. No more than six units of work taken in unclassified post-baccalaureate status at the university is applicable towards M.A. degree credit.

A departmental review of each student's progress is required after the end of the first year in the program or after fifteen units have been completed—whichever comes first.

Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One: satisfied with the written application to the department for acceptance into the program. It must include a written Statement of Purpose and a sample of the applicant's art history writing. Level Two: satisfied with the thesis requirement. Foreign Language Examination: written translation with dictionary or a satisfactory score on GRE examination. Examination must be taken before ART 898.

Completion of Degree
In order to complete the M.A. in Art History, students must satisfy all university and Art Department requirements. Students who anticipate completing the thesis in one semester, and graduating the same semester, should enroll in ART 898 (Master's Thesis). If an additional semester is required to complete the degree requirements, the student must enroll in ART 897 (Research Projects in Art) the next semester. Any additional time required to complete the thesis which includes advising and/or re-submission of the thesis must be accompanied by enrollment in ART 897. It is an Art Department requirement that students be enrolled during the semester in which they graduate.

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Art discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).

										Units
ART 700	Seminar in Art Theory							 3
ART 701	Art History: Images and Meaning						 3
ART 702	Seminar: Methods in Art History						 3
Upper division (400 level or above) and graduate art history courses by 
advisement									12
Electives (may include art history)						 6
ART 898	Master's Thesis								 3
		Minimum total							30

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN ART

 The three-year Master of Fine Arts program is designed to provide professional training for the student pursuing a career as an artist or artist/teacher. Students are accepted into the program in the following areas of emphasis or combinations thereof: ceramics/glass, conceptual design/ information arts, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles. While affiliation with a single area of emphasis is the norm, a broad approach to art-making and the development of a coherent, informed understanding of issues relevant to many forms of creative expression is encouraged throughout the program.

Admission to the Program
Applications for classified status in the M.F.A. program are accepted beginning November 1 for admission the following fall. Applicants are required to file two applications, one to the university and one to the Art Department. Admission to classified status requires acceptance by both the university and the Art Department.

The Art Department's M.F.A. admission application requirements include:

Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One: the first level requirement is satisfied with ART 700. Level Two: the student satisfies the second level requirement with ART 705.

Completion of the Degree
In order to complete the M.F.A., students must satisfy all university and Art Department requirements. Art Department requirements are described in detail in the M.F.A. General Information brochure. In addition to satisfactory completion of the course of study, the Art Department requirements include satisfactory performance on yearly departmental reviews, a creative work exhibition and review, and creative work documentation. The Art Department accepts transfer units on a course-by-course basis, only upon advisement, and in accordance with the limits established in the section entitled "Transfer of Credit for Previous Graduate Work" of the M.F.A. General Information brochure. Enrollment is required in the semester of graduation. Continued enrollment in ART 899 must be met if the creative work project is not complete in the semester of enrollment.

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Art discipline in the "Announcement of Courses" section).

Studio Requirements								Units
ART 704	Seminar in Art (Taken each of six semesters at three units/semester on advisement.)									18
ART 780	Two-Dimensional Studio (3) and/or
	ART 785	Three-Dimensional Studio (3) [visiting artist]			 6
Studio electives: two courses of three units each. May be taken in Art or 
in any other department, by advisement.						 6
ART 882	Tutorial in Studio (taken twice at three units/semester)		 6
ART 890	Creative Work Research							 3
ART 894	Creative Work Project							 3
		Minimum studio total						42
Academic Requirements
ART 700	Seminar in Art Theory and Criticism					 3
ART 705	Seminar in History of Art						 3
ART 850	Directed Experience in Public Roles for Artists				 3
Academic electives: may be taken in any department and may include additional academic art courses in theory, criticism, history, and directed experience, by advisement									 9
		Minimum academic total						18
		Minimum degree total						60
Bulletin 1994-96 Table of Contents, SFSU Home Page

last modified May 5, 1995