Major
Minor

Art

The art major at Earlham College is unique because it emphasizes both contemporary craft media, such as ceramics, metalsmithing and fiber art, and more traditional media, such as drawing, painting and photography, along with art history.

Earlham’s Center for the Visual and Performing Arts opened in 2014. This $22 million LEED-certified facility offers separate studio spaces for digital and analog photography, metals, ceramics, painting and drawing, fiber arts, and digital fabrication, each wired for multi-media presentation; plus an art history classroom.

Program Details

Artists with a historical context and a social mindset

Earlham’s art program provides you with a solid foundation in technique while also providing larger social and cultural contexts for your art. Through the program, you are able to shape your path by choosing art history, ceramics, fibers, metals, painting and drawing, or photography as a primary concentration. The major culminates in a senior capstone experience, a project planned in consultation with faculty that includes an exhibition at an on-campus gallery, the presentation of a research paper, the curation of an exhibition or the completion of a community arts project.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Art, you must complete five courses within the major core, an internship or apprenticeship experience, and 6 to 8 courses within your desired concentration. 

Core Requirements

Take all the following courses:

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
4
4
1 - 3
Sub-Total Credit Hours
17-19.00

Concentration in Studio Art

Three Art History courses:

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
4
4
4
Sub-Total Credit Hours
12

At least four courses (16 credits) in one area of focus. One of the 2D or 3D core courses may be in the area of focus.

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
12-16.00

Concentration in Art History

6 Art History courses, which must include:

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
4
4
8
Sub-Total Credit Hours
24

Interdisciplinary Art Concentration

For the Interdisciplinary Art concentration, students must complete either:

  • All the requirements for a Art History concentration, or
  • All the requirements for a Studio Art concentration (with one focus area)

And two additional classes in a second studio area or in art history. 

Students with the Interdisciplinary Art concentration are expected to integrate both areas into their Senior Capstone under the guidance of the professors in both areas. 

Sub-Total Credit Hours
32
To earn a minor in art, you must complete six courses (totaling at least 24 credits), which must include at least one course in Studio Art and at least one course in Art History.

Studio Art Course:

Art History Course:

Course 3:

Course 4:

Course 5:

Course 6:

Sub-Total Credit Hours
24