Visual & Public Art, B.A.

The Visual and Public Art major challenges and supports you as you develop enduring skills and perspectives. The curriculum combines studio work and public art processes. Theory and practice cover artistic production, exhibition, ethical interpretation, visual literacy and reciprocal community engagement. Through a rich interdisciplinary curriculum comprised of painting and mural techniques, sculpture and installation, integrated media and photography, arts educations and museum studies, you will graduate prepared to engage in individual and collaborative art methodologies.

Required Courses

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your General Education and university requirements .

Complete twelve (12) units of lower-division VPA coursework (any 100- or 200-level VPA course). Search options here.
Complete all of the following courses:
VPA 300 - VPA Major ProSeminar Units: 4
VPA 302 - VPA Visiting Artist Series Units: 3
VPA 309 - Materials and Methods Units: 2
VPA 310 - Mixed Media Units: 3
VPA 313 - Regional Art History Units: 3
VPA 398 - Senior Capstone Production Units: 1 (to be taken twice in the senior year)
VPA 405A - Senior Capstone I Units: 3
VPA 405B - Senior Capstone II Units: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
VPA 306S - Digital Public Art Units: 4
VPA 320S - Museum Studies Units: 4
Complete one of the following courses:
VPA 305 - Media Culture Units: 4
VPA 307 - Diverse History of Contemporary Art Units: 4
VPA 308 - Ways Of Seeing Units: 3
To satisfy the requirements of the VPA major, complete nine (9) additional units of upper division VPA coursework (any 300- or 400-level VPA course).

Learning Outcomes

MLO 1: Historical and Philosophical Analysis

Including the ability to research, define, analyze and critically formulate positions on issues in visual and public art from contemporary, historical, ethical and sociopolitical perspectives.

MLO 2: Individual and Aesthetic Exploration

Including the ability to investigate and develop their own individual aesthetics within a critical and reflective framework of personal experiences and perspectives in the context of their work.

MLO 3: Community Issues Analysis

Including the ability to define and investigate cross-cultural and community issues, problem solve and respond with community-sensitive work.

MLO 4: Organizational and Collaborative Skills

Including the ability to use collaborative strategies to plan and achieve interdisciplinary arts projects.

MLO 5: Production Skills

Including the ability to develop production skills to produce and present public and individual artworks, projects or exhibitions.

MLO 6: Critical and Evaluative Skills

Including the ability to use critical and evaluative skills to revise work in response to community/audience relevancy, personal expression and social accountability.

MLO 7: Distribution Skills

Including the ability to present and distribute artwork in multiple contexts to engage diverse audiences.