Program Requirements

MAJOR: Eleven or Twelve courses (44 or 48 units, depending on the emphasis) chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

Emphasis in Studio Art: Minimum of 48 units, chosen in consultation with the major advisor.

By the nature of the subject, study of the visual arts requires close personal collaboration between students and faculty. Students may anticipate frequent consultations with advisors to determine their individual interests and goals, to assess the level of their artistic or scholarly abilities, and to plan individual programs of study designed to achieve a satisfying level of competence by the end of the senior year. Because the maturation of creative abilities requires extensive studio time and coursework, students who may desire a major in studio art must consult with departmental advisors and begin taking studio courses in their first year. They should declare a major as soon as possible, but no later than sophomore year. Students wishing to go abroad must plan to do so in the fall of junior year so they can participate in spring Junior Seminar.

Three beginning courses: S102, S103 and S105; Three intermediate courses: S210, S203, and S216 or 217; Three advanced courses: S320 Advanced Projects (Interdisciplinary/topical), S390 Junior Seminar, S490 Senior Seminar; One course, in Film & Media Studies (Criticism or Production); Two Art History courses - H180 and H389.

The sequencing of courses is crucial: students should take beginning and intermediate courses in the Frosh and Sophomore years; 300 level courses (Advanced Projects and Junior seminar) in their junior year, and S490 (Senior Seminar) and any elective studio courses in the senior year. You may not take a required 100 level course as a Senior, and the 2 Art History courses must be completed before the start of the Senior year.

Emphasis in Film and Media Studies: Minimum of 48 units. This emphasis balances the making of moving images with engagement in historical, critical, and analytical studies of existing works. Students will learn the technical skills necessary to shoot and edit their work and the critical skills necessary to understand the role of media in contemporary visual culture. Students may choose to research, historically contextualize, and produce 1) a video, Web, or installation-based digital media project; 2) a feature-length screenplay; or 3) a critical senior thesis. All students, regardless of their project choice, are expected to push media scholarship, project form, and modes of audiovisual communication.

There are a number of required courses for the major, but beyond these, students can move fairly freely between courses that emphasize production and those more focused on critical and media studies. The required courses are Art F courses except where indicated otherwise: 140, 146, 243, Art H287, 390, 490 (either the critical research section or the media production section based on primary nature of comprehensive project). One from the following: 241, 245, 246, 248, 295. One from: 220, 240, 242, 290. One from: 320, 340, 348, 355. One Art S (studio) course. One additional Art H (history) course. One Additional Art F course, bringing the total to 12 AHVA courses (48 units). The screenwriting comprehensives option requires that students have taken Art F220 and 320 by the end of junior year. All production comprehensives students must have taken Art F140 and either 242 or 355 by the end of junior year. Critical comprehensives students must take either Art F245 or 348 before the end of junior year.

Eligible students may apply to study abroad in the Fall semester of Junior Year. Students may enroll for 2-unit internships through the Career Development Center. Occidental College also has a cross-registration agreement with Art Center College of Design, which offers various technical courses in media software. Students are also encouraged to take one or more electives in ECLS, Music, Theater, or CTSJ.

Emphasis in the History of Art: A minimum of 44 units, including the surveys (H160, H170,and H180) or equivalent; at least one course above 300 in Asian, Early Western, and Twentieth Century (H387 or H389); Junior Seminar (H395) and Senior Seminar (H490). In addition, majors are required to take one course (four units) in studio art and one course in film history/theory/production. The comprehensive requirement is met through the successful completion of H490, given in the spring of the senior year. An art history major may, in consultation with the advisor, choose an Area Studies emphasis. Majors are encouraged to take electives in departments outside AHVA such as History, ECLS, Politics, Philosophy; it is essential to work with your major advisor to develop a plan

Combined Emphasis: Students may declare a combined emphasis in art history and
studio art: A minimum of 48 units, including four introductory courses two each in studio
art (chosen from ARTS 101, 102, 103, 105, 106) and art history (chosen from ARTH
160, 170, 180); and six courses above the 100-level, three each in studio art and art
history, including at least one 300-level course in each area; the Senior Seminar in
studio art (ARTS490) or art history (ARTH490). Similar combined emphases between art
history and film/media studies or between studio and film/media studies may be
proposed in consultation with the faculty advisor.

MINOR:

Emphasis in Studio Art: Five courses (20 units) in the department including any four studio courses and one art history course. Studio courses must be selected from more than one professor.

Emphasis in Film and Media Studies: Five courses (20 units) among those listed as ART or ARTF.

Emphasis in History of Art: Five art history courses (20 units) including at least one from Western art and one from Asian art; at least three must be 200-level courses or above.

WRITING REQUIREMENT: All students majoring in the department must successfully complete discipline-relevant writing within the context of the Junior Seminar for their specific area of emphasis (Studio Art - ArtS 390, Art History - ArtH 395, Film and Media Studies - ArtF 395). For further information consult the Department Chair or your Major Advisor.

HONORS: A student with an overall GPA of at least 3.2 overall and 3.5 in the major who has demonstrated excellence in departmental courses must submit a proposal for an honors project for consideration by April 1 of the junior year. For further information, please see the Honors Program and consult the department chair.