B.A. in Art

The Art Program offers a major in visual art leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree.  The purpose is to give students a strong foundation in visual art within the framework of a liberal arts curriculum and to prepare those students planning to pursue graduate studies in studio art.  The art major is exposed to a wide range of studio experiences and skills and a solid background in the history of art.  Major emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of drawing and painting. In addition, students are required to take, or elect to take, printmaking, digital imaging, photography, sculpture, and ceramics.  The rich exposure to art which is available in New York City makes the study of visual arts at Wagner an exceptionally valuable experience.

Our senior learning community consists of three courses: an RFT taken in the spring of both the junior and senior years and a Capstone Course in Art History taken in the spring of the senior year. The learning community is designed to offer students maximum opportunity for independent work. Each student will have access to their own studio space, where they will build their portfolio and prepare work for the senior year exhibit. Weekly critiques from both fellow students and professors help students hone their skills and interests while allowing them to develop as practicing artists. The capstone course gives students in-depth knowledge of art historical issues relevant to contemporary artists and the opportunity to write a sophisticated thesis.

 

 

B.A. in Art History

The major in art history introduces students to a broad range of issues, skills and practices in the field of visual studies with a focus on works of art and architecture. The curriculum is designed to familiarize students with some of the major periods in both West and Non-Western art history as well as the compelling methodologies and questions of the art historian. Courses train the student in formal and visual analysis and guide them in examining works of art and architecture within appropriate contextual and cultural frameworks. The major prepares students for careers in the arts including museums and art institutions as well as for entrance to graduate programs in the field, but is an excellent choice for any student who wishes to be visually literate, providing key skills useful in a variety of professions and life experiences.