MajorinStudioArt

Art students drawing from one of the pieces in the Richard L. Nelson collection at UC Davis.
Overview

Major in Art
Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program

The undergraduate major in studio art at UC Davis leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Our two-year graduate program leads to a Master of Fine Arts degree. Students benefit from a dedicated faculty with expertise in many areas of the visual arts. Art Studio Faculty deliver a broad range of studio courses providing hands-on practice to the art student. Areas of focus include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and time-based media.

Faculty and staff advisers provide individual academic guidance to students. A dedicated technical staff supports our teaching labs and studios. More information on our facilities can be found under Resources. Contact information can be found in the Directory.

The Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program also offers numerous public lecture that further our academic mission: The Visiting Artist Lecture Series, The Betty Jean and Wayne Thiebaud Lecture in the Theory, Practice and Criticism of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture, and The California Studio. Learn more about these programs and events, as well as the current activities of our faculty and students on our News and Events pages.

General information

The Annual Undergraduate Symposium
The Future is Calling

Join fellow students and alumni. Discover how to engage more deeply with the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program and prepare for a successful life in the arts after graduation.

2025

General information

Undergraduate Art Student Handbook

Refer to the attached PDF for the latest information from The Arts Group Advising Center

General information

Art Studio Program

Major Information

The Art Studio Major provides the knowledge and experience necessary for a broad understanding of the practice and interpretation of the visual arts. The major does not require a background in art or submission of a portfolio. For the beginning student, the major offers an introduction to visual methodologies through drawing, sculpture, and art history. Students may then advance to upper division coursework and specialization in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, video production, media arts, as well as theory and criticism.

Honors Program

The Honors Program in the College of Letters and Science permits students to pursue a program of study in their major at a level significantly beyond that defined by the normal curriculum. It represents an opportunity for the qualified student to experience aspects of the major that are representative of advanced study in the field. Successful completion of the College Honors Program is a necessary prerequisite to consideration for the awarding of high or highest honors at graduation.

Entrance into the honors program requires that a student have completed at least 135 units and have met College of Letters and Science GPA requirements. Other prerequisites for entrance into the program are defined by the major. The program consists of a project whose specific nature is determined by consultation with the student’s major adviser. It may involve completion of a research project, a scholarly paper, a senior thesis, or some comparable assignment depending on the major. The project will have a minimum duration of two quarters and will be noted on the student’s record by a variable unit course number (normally 194H or 199) or special honors course designation. Successful completion of the honors program requires that a minimum of six units of credit be earned in coursework for the project.

The Art Honors program is comprised of 3-4 units 199s in two consecutive quarters with the same instructor.  Instructors of the 199 are consulted to find out if the student should get high or highest honors. The deadline to update the honors level in Oasis is the last of the quarter.

Students must make an appointment with a major advisor if decide to pursue the honors project. 

Career Paths

Graduates of the Studio Art Program attend prestigious post-baccalaureate and graduate programs in studio art. Alumni often go on to develop professional studio practices. Commitment to the development of one’s studio work leads to exhibition opportunities as well as accomplishments in the realm of fellowships, commissions, collaborations, and a host of other professional projects and opportunities. For the student wishing to explore additional arts-related trajectories, in the private or public sector, a studio arts education provides a strong foundation for careers and/or graduate work in K-12 art education, art therapy, arts administration, curatorial studies, set design, architecture, culinary arts, design, film, animation, art criticism/journalism among others.

Art Studio Career Resource Guide

This career resource guide provides an opportunity to explore key areas of the major, and the related occupations, careers and internships. The guide also provides resources for exploring occupations.

Click here to download the Art Studio Career Resource Guide