New students must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination by July 1 in order to register for classes.
Learn more about Whittier's vaccination policy
Also offered are minors in Art History, Studio Art, and Digital Art & Design.
Each student must complete the outline of foundational and intermediate courses shown below, and complete a concentration in 2-D media, sculpture or digital art.
These classes should be completed first, in any order.
These classes should be completed next. The three studio courses may be taken in any order.
Typically these requirements are met during the final three semesters. Advanced Art Seminar (ART 388) must be taken during the fall term of the senior year, and completion of the senior project usually takes place during the final semester.
Select a studio area that you would like to focus upon in your curriculum and complete two additional semesters of coursework in that area. These classes may be completed at suitable points during the junior and senior years. Please maintain a close consultative relationship with your advisor in determining the best semesters in which to complete these courses.
ART 323 Painting 2 (3 credits) and ART 324 Special Projects in Painting (3 credits) or two semesters of enrollment in ART 311 Special Projects in Drawing (6 credits)
ART 353 Sculpture 2 (3 credits) and ART 354 Special Projects in Sculpture (3 credits)
ART 300 Advanced Digital Photography (3 credits) and ART 301 Special Projects in Digital Photography (3 credits)
ART 388 Advanced Art Seminar. Offered fall term only; should be taken in the fall of the senior year.
The senior project in studio art is a graduation requirement, but it can be completed in a number of ways. In all cases the senior project must be presented to a public audience. This is ordinarily accomplished by presenting either a solo exhibition or a two-person exhibition of senior project artwork. The following list identifies the ways in which the senior project requirement can be completed:
A minimum of nine Art History & Visual Culture courses (27 credits) must be taken. 15 credits are required from the list of intermediate courses. ART 392 is required as an advanced course. One studio art elective of the student's choice completes the track. In addition, each student must complete and publicly present a senior project.
The Digital Art & Design track focuses on the commercial application of visual art and design principles in the production of creative content for various new media platforms.
These courses should be taken first
These courses should be taken after the foundation courses:
Any six history courses.
This option allows a balance between studio and art history coursework The balanced curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students with keen interest in both areas of study. It also provides much of the breadth (studio and art history) required by teacher credentialing standards in art. The senior presentation or project may be completed following the standards shown in either the Studio Art Track section or the Art History & Visual Culture section.
Any five art history classes
Among the required studio courses, these are to be completed first.
Next, complete any two of the following three courses.
The balanced curriculum student may fulfill the requirement of one Advanced Course in either Studio Art or Art History & Visual Culture.
The student may fulfill this requirement following the standards described in either the Studio Art Track section or the Art History & Visual Culture Track section.
The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Official degree requirements can be found in the Whittier College Catalog.