Art

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Professors: Ligo, Savage, Serebrennikov, S. Smith (Chair)
Assistant Professors: Barkai, Starr
Visiting Assistant Professors: Sleeper
Affiliated Professors: Krentz (Classics), Toumazou (Classics)

Major Requirements

A major is offered in art with emphasis in studio or art history. In either case, the requirement is eleven courses to be divided as follows:

Emphasis in Studio

Two courses in art history, one of which must be Art 100 or a course in the art of the 20th or 21st century, and one other art history course of the student’s choice and nine studio courses, including Art 397 in the junior year and Art 401 in the senior year.

Emphasis in Art History

Any two courses in studio art of different media and nine art history courses, including Art 100, Art 400, and Art 402.

Honors Requirements

Students having a 3.2 overall average and at least a 3.5 average in the major may apply to the faculty for participation in the honors program.

Honors in Studio

Candidates for honors must have a 3.2 overall GPA at the end of the junior year and a 3.5 GPA in the major at the time of graduation, including an “A” in Art 401. All students will complete a solo exhibition in the spring semester of the senior year as a requirement toward graduation. If, in the collective evaluation of the studio faculty, the exhibition and accompanying statement reflects an exceptional level of quality and ambition, honors may be awarded.

Honors in Art History

Candidates for honors must have a 3.2 overall GPA by the end of the junior year and a 3.5 GPA in art by the time of graduation. For requirements, see Art 496. If, in the opinion of the faculty the thesis does not warrant “Honors,” a letter grade will be assigned for ART 496. Further details can be found on the department’s web pages at www.davidson.edu/art.

Art Courses

Art Department Course Numbering

Art History:

100-level courses are intended for students with no background in art history. These are survey courses designed to introduce a large body of work. 200-level courses are designed for both the major and the non-major. 300-level courses technically do not have any prerequisites, but students are warned at the onset that these are advanced courses. Seminars (not limited to majors) and independent studies are also in this category. 400-level courses are limited to majors in their senior year.

Studio:

ART 101 is our Basic Studio course that is limited to freshmen and sophomores. Students who think they want to become studio majors typically do not take this course. 200-level courses fall in the “Basic” category, and are divided by medium. There are no prerequisites. 300-level courses are the “Advanced” category, again divided by medium. To enroll in one of these courses the student must have taken the basic course in that medium at Davidson. To enroll in an independent study, the student must have taken both the basic and advanced course in the medium of choice. 400-level courses are the required Senior Exhibition and Examination.

Art