BFA Visual and Critical Studies Curriculum

First-Year Requirements

First-year visual and critical studies majors must take all of the courses that follow. These courses are the foundation-year requirements and they must be successfully completed by the end of your first year at the College. 

AHD-1030 Visuality and Modern Art I

AHD-1035 Visuality and Modern Art II

HHD-1040 Political History of the Modern World: 18th and 19th Centuries

HMD-1050 Modern Philosophy and Critical Theory: 18th and 19th Centuries

VCD-1030 Theories and Practices of the Image

VHD-1025 Writing and Literature

VSD-1007 Lens Arts

VSD-1080 Introduction to Digital Imaging

VSD-1120 Space, Shapes and Techniques

VSD-1130 Drawing I

VSD-1135 Drawing II

Second-year visual and critical studies majors are required to take:

Requirement A

One semester each of:

AHD-2010 The Origins of Art

VSD-2310 Looking Into Music

VSD-2376 Printmaking: Etching and Woodcut

VSD-2010 Life Drawing

VSD-2120 Sculpture

VCD-2236 Theories of Vision and Color

Requirement B

Choose one course from each of the following groups:

VHD-2060 Visuality in Poetry

or VHD-2070 Visual Poetics

VSD-2102 The Artist’s Journal

or VSD-2104 The VCS Studio

or FID-2228 Sensational Painting and ...

Requirement C

In addition to requirements A and B, students must take 3 elective credits in studio and 6 elective credits in art history or humanities

Third-year visual and critical studies majors are required to take:

Requirement A

One semester each of:

VCD-3020 Theories of Power, Society and Experience 

VCD-3040 Aesthetic Theory

VSD-3010 Junior Seminar

Requirement B

Choose one course from each of the following groups:

VCD-3051 Art in Theory: 1648-1900

or VCD-3052 Art in Theory: 1900-1990

or AHD-3137 Irony and Beauty

VCD-2564 Professional Practices and the Art Industry

or VCD-3087 The Diasporas Emerge: Filling in the Gaps

Requirement C

Choose one course from the following:

VSD-3402 Advanced Projects in Mixed Media

VSD-3807 Fiber Arts

 Requirement D

In addition to requirements A and B, students must take 12 elective credits in studio and 3 elective credits in art history or humanities.

Fourth-year visual and critical studies majors are required to take:

Requirement A

One semester each of:

AHD-4140 Senior Seminar

VHD-4010 Essay Workshop

VSD-4010 Thesis Studio I

VSD-4015 Thesis Studio II

VSD-4050 Thesis Workshop

Requirement B

In addition to requirement A, students must take 6 elective credits in studio and 9 elective credits in art history or humanities.