The Department of Art in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts takes a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary view of contemporary art practice. With an emphasis on experimentation and innovation, the Department of Art is viewed as a leader in genres addressing cultural identity and emerging technologies. The Department provides students a solid theoretical and technical foundation from which to approach art making as both process and product. Each student is encouraged to develop an individual, disciplined direction approach to media, materials, and techniques. To this end, the curriculum provides studio experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital imaging, video, performance art, and new media. Visiting artists, theorists, curators, and other arts professionals are an integral part of the program.

The Art Culture Technology (ACT) building houses the ROOM Gallery, CATALYST student gallery, undergraduate honors studios, the Digital Filmmaking Studio, department administrative offices, faculty studios, and graduate student studios. The University Art Gallery provides a venue for student shows as well as faculty and guest artist presentations. The original Art buildings have been seismically retro-fitted and extensively remodeled and renovated.

Applicants must present a portfolio of 10 images of recent original artwork or up to three videos totaling no more than 5 minutes in duration as well as a one-page artist statement. All portfolios are reviewed by the Art Department faculty who evaluate applicants’ creative works and ideas, as well as the suitability of this program for the applicants’ areas of interest. The work included should reflect applicants’ creative strengths both formally and conceptually. The portfolio may include work in any medium[s] including time-based artwork. Self-initiated projects (artwork created independently of classroom assignments/exercises) are especially encouraged.

Requirements for the B.A. in Art

All students must meet the University Requirements.

School Requirements: None.

Departmental Requirements for the Major in Art

A. Complete the following:
ART 1A	Art in Context: History, Theory, and Practice
ART 1B	Art in Context: History, Theory, and Practice
ART 1C	Art in Context: History, Theory, and Practice (ART 1A, ART 1B, and ART 1C all taken the first year in residence.)
ART 9A	Visual Culture: Media, Art, and Technology
ART 11A	Topics in History of Contemporary Art
B. Select one of the following:
ART HIS 40A	Ancient Greek and Roman Art, and Architecture
ART HIS 40B	Arts of Europe: Medieval and Renaissance
ART HIS 40C	Early Modern and Modern Art in Europe and America
ART HIS 42A	History of Asian Art: Arts of India
ART HIS 42B	History of Asian Art: Arts of China
ART HIS 42C	History of Asian Art: Arts of Japan
ART HIS 42D	History of Asian Art: Arts of Islam
C. Select four of the following:
Lower-division ART 20–99
D. Select six upper-division courses from ART 100-115 and ART 130-195
E. Select two of the following:
Issues courses from ART 116–129

Honors in Art

The Honors in Art program gives qualifying students a more rigorous course of study in contemporary art practices, thus challenging superior students beyond the scholarly requirements demanded of the Art major. This program is designed to further develop students’ critical, analytical, research, and technical skills. It is particularly suited to those wishing to go on to graduate school and/or exhibition careers.

Eligibility Requirements

1. One year in good standing as an Art major;

2.  An overall GPA of 3.2 or higher with a GPA of at least 3.4 in ART courses.

3. Completion of:

ART 1A	Art in Context: History, Theory, and Practice
ART 1B	Art in Context: History, Theory, and Practice
ART 1C	Art in Context: History, Theory, and Practice
Four lower-division courses selected from ART 20–99
One Art History course from either the ART HIS 40 or 42 series.

Application Deadline

The annual application deadline is May 15. Late applications will not be accepted.

Application Requirements

All applicants must upload the following at https://ctsa.slideroom.com. There is a fee associated with submission of materials via Slideroom.

1. A portfolio of up to 10 images and/or other media samples. Images/media samples must include title of the work, size, year, medium, description, and duration of the work, if time-based. 

2. A brief statement (250 words maximum) of research and career goals; and

3. UCI transcript (downloadable from StudentAccess).

The applicant's name, UCI student ID number, and email address must be printed legibly on all submitted materials.

All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than the end of spring quarter finals week.

Students accepted to the program will share the Catherine Lord Undergraduate Honors Studio for the entire academic year. Students accepted to the program must actively participate in programmatic activities. Students must follow the Department's studio occupancy guidelines in order to maintain their studios. GPAs will be reviewed each quarter to ensure programmatic requirements.

Beyond fulfilling regular courses for the Art major, honors students must take the following:

Select two additional courses from the following: ART 100–191, 199;

Select one ART HIST course of the student’s choosing; and

Enroll in ART 199 with an assigned faculty mentor during fall, winter, and spring quarters;

Complete ART 198.

Honors Exhibition ART 198 (this course will prepare students for a mandatory, group interdisciplinary honors gallery exhibition to take place during either winter or spring quarter of the student's matriculating year, at which time students will defend their thesis work to faculty on the Undergraduate Committee).

Non-compliance with any of the requirements will result in dismissal from the program.

NOTE: Students may be assessed a course materials fee for certain courses. Consult the online Schedule of Classes on the University Registrar's website for the most up-to-date information about which courses require a materials fee and the amount of the fee.

Art Sample Program for Freshman

Freshman
Fall	Winter	Spring
ART 1A	ART 1B	ART 1C
Art History	Lower-Division Art	Lower-Division Art
WRITING 50	General Education	General Education
Lower-Division Art	WRITING 60	General Education

Departmental faculty and the range of artists whose work is represented in the University Art Gallery exhibitions provide diverse career models. Some graduates go on to careers as exhibiting artists or teachers; others work in arts-related activities in museums, galleries, and artists’ organizations. A bachelor’s degree in Art is usually required as preparation for graduate-level study in Art.