Academic Programs & Specializations

The department’s BA in Art provides a broad foundation in visual arts, allowing students to explore multiple disciplines before choosing a concentration. Options include:

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• Studio Art: Specializations in painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and photography, with access to 24/7 studio spaces and traditional tools alongside cutting-edge equipment.
• Art History: Courses spanning global art movements, museum studies, and critical theory, with partnerships at local institutions like the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
• Digital Media: Focus on interactive design, animation, and digital storytelling using industry-standard software (Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, Unity).

The selective BFA program offers advanced training for students pursuing professional art careers, requiring a senior thesis exhibition and portfolio review. Interdisciplinary minors in Museum Studies and Arts Administration further enhance career readiness.

Faculty & Mentorship

The department’s faculty includes nationally exhibited artists, published scholars, and tech innovators such as Dr. Linda Keaton (mixed-media installations) and Prof. Javier Romero (augmented reality in public art). Small class sizes ensure personalized mentorship, with frequent critiques, portfolio workshops, and career guidance. Faculty-led research projects often integrate student collaborators, such as community mural initiatives or digital archives for regional Indigenous art.

Facilities & Resources

Housed in the Art Building, a 35,000-square-foot facility renovated in 2018, the department features:

• Ceramics Studio: Kilns, wheels, and glaze-mixing labs supporting both functional and sculptural work.
• Digital Fabrication Lab: Laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC routers for prototyping and installation art.
• Photography Darkrooms & Lighting Studio: Analog and digital photography suites with large-format printers.
• University Library Art Gallery: A professional exhibition space hosting student shows, faculty retrospectives, and guest artist installations.

Students also benefit from the Green Music Center’s rotating exhibitions and the Schulz Museum partnership, offering curatorial internships.

Student Opportunities & Professional Development

The department prioritizes real-world experience through:

• Annual Juried Student Exhibition: A capstone event judged by industry professionals, often leading to regional gallery exposure.
• Art-in-Public-Spaces Initiative: Collaborative projects with Sonoma County to create site-specific installations.
• Study Abroad: Semester exchanges with Kyoto Seika University (Japan) and Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute (Italy).
• Career Workshops: Résumé-building sessions, grant-writing seminars, and alumni networking events.

Community Engagement & Sustainability

Aligned with Sonoma State’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the department integrates sustainable practices into its curriculum, such as eco-friendly sculpture materials and energy-efficient digital labs. Community partnerships include the Sonoma County Arts Council and Youth Arts, a nonprofit offering teaching internships for art education students.

Alumni Success & Industry Connections

Graduates have secured roles at Pixar, SFMOMA, and Google Creative Lab, while others run galleries like Oakland’s Slate Contemporary. The department’s advisory board includes Bay Area art leaders, ensuring curriculum alignment with industry trends. Annual events like the Art Career Symposium connect students with professionals in gaming, gallery management, and art therapy.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art

The Bachelor of Arts in Art provides a flexible, interdisciplinary foundation in visual arts, allowing students to explore diverse mediums before specializing. The 120-unit program typically spans four years and includes:

• Core Curriculum: Foundational courses in drawing, design, color theory, and art history, followed by elective pathways in studio art, digital media, or art history.
• Studio Art Concentration: Advanced coursework in ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, or printmaking, with 24/7 access to specialized studios and equipment like kilns, etching presses, and darkrooms.
• Art History Track: In-depth study of global art movements, critical theory, and museum practices, including internships at institutions like the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.
• Digital Media Focus: Training in digital storytelling, 3D modeling, and interactive design using tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, and Unity.

Program Outcomes: Graduates pursue careers in art education, gallery management, digital content creation, or further study in MFA programs. The BA emphasizes critical analysis, technical proficiency, and creative problem-solving.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a pre-professional, 78-unit studio-intensive program requiring a competitive portfolio review for admission. Designed for students pursuing careers as practicing artists, the program includes:

• Advanced Studio Practice: Specialized coursework in a single discipline (e.g., ceramics, photography) with faculty mentorship and dedicated studio space.
• Senior Thesis Exhibition: A capstone project involving a curated solo or group show at the University Library Art Gallery, accompanied by a written artist statement.
• Professional Development: Portfolio reviews, grant-writing workshops, and participation in regional exhibitions like the Sonoma County Art Trails.

Program Structure: Completed in four to five years, the BFA requires 60 upper-division units, including art history electives and interdisciplinary critiques. Graduates often exhibit in commercial galleries, join artist residencies, or enroll in top-tier MFA programs.

Minors & Certificate Programs

The department offers supplemental credentials to enhance interdisciplinary degrees:

• Minor in Art History: 18–24 units covering Renaissance to contemporary art, with optional internships in curation or archival research.
• Minor in Museum Studies: Combines coursework in collections management, exhibition design, and public programming with hands-on experience at campus galleries or partner institutions.
• Arts Administration Certificate: A 15-unit program teaching nonprofit management, fundraising, and event planning for arts organizations.

Study Abroad & Global Learning Opportunities

Students integrate international perspectives into their practice through:

• Semester Exchanges: Partnerships with Kyoto Seika University (Japan) for traditional ceramics and printmaking, and Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute (Italy) for Renaissance art history studies.
• Summer Intensives: Faculty-led programs in Oaxaca, Mexico, focusing on Indigenous textile arts, or Berlin, Germany, exploring contemporary urban art movements.

Credit Structure: Most programs offer 12–15 transferable units, fulfilling major or elective requirements while immersing students in cross-cultural creative practices.

Art Education Pathway

A structured route for aspiring K–12 art educators, blending studio training with pedagogical coursework:

• Single Subject Matter Preparation: Meets California state standards for teaching credentials, including courses in adolescent development and curriculum design.
• Classroom Practicum: Over 600 hours of supervised teaching in local schools, paired with mentorship from credentialed art educators.
• Integration with BA/BFA: Students complete their art degree concurrently with credential prerequisites, streamlining the path to licensure.

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