At a Glance
I’m interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Scripps College offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary approach to the art major, combining hands-on studio work with critical theory. You can explore a wide range of areas, including book arts, ceramics, digital art, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video. With access to well-equipped studios, 24-hour facilities, and strong connections to the Los Angeles arts community, the program prepares you for career and graduate study options in art, media, education, and the nonprofit sector.
What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?
We encourage you to start with introductory studio courses, a theory course such as ART 181, or an art history course on contemporary art. Our introductory classes build practical and critical skills, offering a strong foundation regardless of your prior experience. Students with advanced art backgrounds may also petition to take higher-level courses by submitting a portfolio.
If I ultimately decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
Yes, if you choose to major or minor in art, some courses need to be taken in a specific order. Art majors must complete at least four upper-division electives—including one intermediate or advanced course—and at least one theory or art history course before their senior year. The required theory seminar, ART 181, should also be completed before senior year.
During the final year, majors take the ART 192: Senior Project and Seminar, and those pursuing honors may continue with ART 193 in the spring. Careful course planning with your major advisor is essential to ensure you meet all requirements in the correct sequence.
An art major consists of 10 upper-division art and art history courses. We encourage you to explore a number of studio practices before choosing an area of concentration.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Yes, you can double major, which requires completing two separate theses. You may also pursue a dual major with one interdisciplinary thesis. Many seniors choose to do a dual thesis combining art with fields such as environmental studies, media studies, politics, psychology, philosophy, mathematics, or the natural sciences.
For a dual major in art, you must enroll in the ART 192: Senior Project and Seminar, which is offered only in the fall. Because art requires a one-semester thesis, you’ll need to carefully plan if your other major involves a two-semester or spring thesis to avoid scheduling conflicts. This is best done in consultation with your major adviser(s).
The art portion of a dual thesis includes a practical project completed over one semester, accompanied by a written thesis that situates the work in historical and theoretical context. Typically, both departments collaborate to define the scope and length of the combined written thesis.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
Taking art courses at an undergraduate liberal arts college provides you with valuable benefits for any career by developing critical thinking, creativity, visual literacy, and problem-solving skills—traits that are highly sought after across professions. Through hands-on studio work and theoretical study, you’ll learn how to communicate ideas effectively, work independently and collaboratively, and approach challenges from multiple perspectives. The interdisciplinary nature of a liberal arts education also helps you grow as an adaptable, well-rounded thinker prepared for a wide range of careers by making connections between art and other fields, such as science, politics, or technology.
About the Department of Art
Each year, more than 500 students across The Claremont Colleges enroll in thirty-nine courses offered by the Scripps Art faculty in art theory, book arts, ceramics, digital art, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video. Courses enable students to express their knowledge through research and diverse creative forms that can foster and enhance social discourse.
We support student research and production with several labs, classrooms, and studios at Scripps, including the Joan & David Lincoln Ceramic Art Building; the Lang and Steele Hall computer labs; and painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and video studios across campus. Individual studios are available for qualifying majors during their senior year. Students enrolled in Scripps art courses have 24-hour access to their classroom facilities.
The Scripps College Press and the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery are also integral parts of the art program. The art faculty works closely with the gallery to showcase the annual Scripps Senior Art Exhibition as well as other temporary exhibitions of interest to the College and the Claremont community.
Course Catalog
Visiting Artists and Speakers
The Art Department hosts visiting artists and produces a speaker series that attracts students and faculty from all areas of the Claremont Colleges. In addition to lectures and workshops, these visitors often conduct studio visits with our senior studio art majors. Previous visitors have included: Gina Osterloh, Wolfgang Brauneis, Shana Moulton, Diana Al-Hadid, Mark Bradford, Zackary Drucker, Kianga Ford, Andrea Fraser, Harry Gamboa Jr., Barbara Kruger, Carolee Schneemann, and Mario Ybarra Jr. For a complete list of our past speakers, click here.