Program Overview

Introduction to the Art Program

The Art Program at Plattsburgh State University of New York offers a comprehensive degree program in the creation of art. Students obtain a solid foundation in studio and art history, acquire broad experience in a variety of media, and concentrate in the areas of their choice.

What Will I Learn?

You will acquire the language for visual thinking through a foundation curriculum that includes drawing, two- and three-dimensional design, and introductory art history. Then, you choose at least one studio area of concentration in which you build a mature level of creative expression.

What is Unique About Our Program?

The friendly, professional, and collaborative faculty of the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of Art & Design provide a first-class studio education in a facility to which students have access 18 hours a day, seven days a week. Extracurricular opportunities are offered through the student-led Plattsburgh Association of the Visual Arts and the Visual Artist Series.

Career Opportunities

There is a wide variety of jobs artists can hold. Some examples are:

• Art conservator/restorer
• Museum curator
• Master printmaker
• Book illustrator
• Production potter
• Graphic designer
• Advertising photographer
• Portrait photographer
• Industrial photographer
• Furniture designer
• Art teacher
• Art therapist
• Web designer
• Jewelry designer

Program Requirements

The art department offers a comprehensive degree program in the creation of art. Students obtain a solid foundation in studio and art history, acquire broad experience in a variety of media, and concentrate in the areas of their choice.

Major Departmental Requirements (51 credits)

• Foundation Courses (18 credits)
  • ART 104 - Basic Design: 2-D (3 credits)
  • ART 137 - Western Art: Ancient and Medieval (3 credits)
  • ART 139 - Western Art: Renaissance to Modern (3 credits)
  • ART 161 - Introduction to Drawing (3 credits)
  • ART 231 - 3-D Design (3 credits)
  • ART 262 - Drawing II (3 credits)
• Studio Breadth Courses (6 credits)
  • Select two studio courses from the following areas:
    • ART 205 - Introduction to Graphic Design (3 credits)
    • ART 208 - Computer Art (3 credits)
    • ART 211 - Introduction to Photography (3 credits)
    • ART 221 - Introduction to Painting (3 credits)
    • ART 232 - Introduction to Sculpture (3 credits)
    • ART 255 - Introduction to Ceramics (3 credits)
    • ART 280 - Introduction to Printmaking (3 credits)
    • ART 282 - Book Arts (3 credits)
• Studio Concentration (12 credits)
  • Complete a sequence of four courses in one studio area
• Art History (3 credits)
  • Select one course from the following:
    • ART 342 - Greek and Roman Art (3 credits)
    • ART 343 - Medieval Art (3 credits)
    • ART 344 - Italian Renaissance Art (3 credits)
    • ART 345 - Baroque & Rococo Art (3 credits)
    • ART 346 - 19th Century European Art: Neo-Classicism to Impressionism (3 credits)
    • ART 347 - Modern Art: Post-Impressionism to Surrealism (3 credits)
    • ART 349 - Northern Renaissance Art (3 credits)
    • ART 354 - Jewish Art to 1600 (3 credits)
    • ART 357 - Latin American Art (3 credits)
• Major Art Electives (9 credits)
  • Select nine additional upper-division credits in ART (studio or art history)
• Junior-Level Portfolio Review (0 credits)
  • ART 397

Concentration Areas

Every art major elects at least one studio area of concentration with a focus on building a mature level of creative expression. The concentration areas are:

• Ceramics
• Design
• Drawing
• Graphic Design
• Painting
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture

Additional Degree Requirements

• Completion of all Undergraduate Degree Requirements
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 in Major Departmental Requirements
• AP credits in Art Studio or in Art History will be accepted as electives only
• Transfer students must complete a minimum of 21 credits in art courses and a total of 36 credits as SUNY Plattsburgh

Four-Year Plan

The foundation year is identical for Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) students. In these courses, you will develop the solid foundation on which all your later art courses will be built.

Foundations: Your First Year

• ART 104 - Basic Design: 2-D (3 credits)
• ART 161 - Introduction to Drawing (3 credits)
• ART 139 - History of Western Art: Renaissance to Present (3 credits)
• ART 231 - 3-D Design (3 credits)
• ART 262 - Drawing II (3 credits)
• ART 137 - History of Western Art: Prehistoric to Medieval (3 credits)

Breadth Courses: Your Sophomore Year

In your sophomore year, you will explore introductory-level courses in areas such as printmaking, photography, painting, ceramics, computer graphics, and graphic design. Two areas are required for the B.A., and five areas are required for the B.F.A.

Concentration: Your Junior & Senior Years

Eventually, you will declare a concentration. In considering a concentration, you should consult both your advisor and faculty in the concentration area. The concentration can be in any of our studio areas.

Concentration Area Questions

• Can the introductory course in my concentration also count as one of my breadth courses?
  • Yes
• May the studio elective courses be taken in my concentration area?
  • The studio elective courses may be taken in any studio area
• Must I be approved for my concentration?
  • Yes, you must be approved by the faculty in the concentration area
• When is the earliest I can receive my initial approval for my concentration?
  • You may not be approved for a concentration before April 1 of your sophomore year
• When is the last opportunity to obtain initial approval from the concentration faculty?
  • The last opportunity to obtain approval from the concentration faculty is the first week of spring semester of your junior year
• Is it possible to take more than one concentration?
  • Yes, you may take two concentrations
• Is it possible to be accepted in the B.F.A. program, but not approved in my preferred concentration?
  • Yes
• Is it possible that my concentration approval will not be renewed?
  • Yes, faculty approval is not guaranteed