Art

The art major at Colorado College offers an integrative approach to studying the history and practice of art, architecture, design, and museum studies. The major introduces a wide variety of liberal arts students to the history of art and provides opportunities to experience the power of creative processes through making. Our program is structured to ensure that all majors experience the practice of creating art and are capable of thoughtful analysis of the visual language of works of art. We hope to prepare our majors for graduate study or careers in the visual arts, but the art major also develops visual, analytical, and written skills that qualify students for careers in areas other than the arts.

Students choose one of four areas of concentration when they declare the major:

• Art History
• Art Studio
• Design Studies
• Museum Studies

Nonetheless, we require all majors to demonstrate their holistic understanding of the relationships between works of art and their historical and technical contexts. Therefore, the major requires students to take courses in both art history and art studio regardless of area of concentration.

Students must declare the major and area of concentration by the end of their sophomore year. It is imperative that each student’s course of study be developed in close consultation with an advisor and approved in advance.

The senior capstone requires majors to undertake serious and substantive independent work that results in a capstone project. Students must identify a topic of interest, examine a specific problem and carry out independent research and analysis over an extended time. The results of this process are expressed through a written paper, exhibition, project, or other body of work.

“Distinction in Art” is granted by vote of the art faculty to graduating seniors who have done consistently excellent work in all Art Department courses, contributed to departmental activities and presented an outstanding senior project.

The Art Department maintains an active program of events including visiting artists, speakers, workshops, etc. that enrich our classes and also help draw the attention of the campus community to the visual arts. The Department collaborates regularly with the Fine Arts Center, Arts and Crafts, CC Mobile Arts, Creativity & Innovation, and a variety of other departments and programs. In addition, when feasible, during Senior Seminar, all senior art majors spend a week in New York City with faculty visiting museums, galleries, artists’ studios, and meeting with alumni. We also offer regular field trips and courses abroad in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. The income from the department's endowment, the Harold E. Berg Fund, supports these programs.