Alumni will go on to successful careers as:
- Advertisers
- Art dealers
- Art teachers
- Cartoonists
- Fashion designers
- Graduate school students
- Graphic artists
- Illustrators
- Interior designers
- Photographers
- Studio artists
Studio Art
- Bachelor of Arts
- Minor
- Teacher Certification Content Area
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In This Section
Explore Your Creative Potential
As a studio arts major, you’ll immerse yourself in an intensive, hands-on program designed to help you grow as an artist and prepare for a wide range of creative careers. Whether your goal is to work as an independent artist, collaborate with designers, or bring your vision to life in other professional settings, this program gives you the foundation you need. You will work directly with diverse materials and techniques, including painting, drawing, ceramics, fibers, and stained glass. In these courses, you will refine your skills and develop an artistic voice. Your education culminates in a student exhibition to showcase your work and celebrate your achievements with the community.
Art Education Certification: Students who minor in education will also develop the skills necessary for effective classroom instruction. Those interested in pursuing an education certification can learn more here: Education Degrees and Certificates.
Undergraduate Programs
Program Highlights
The Verostko Center for the Arts
Named after Roman Verostko, former SVC seminarian and pioneer in computer-generated art, our on-campus museum, hosts temporary exhibitions featuring regionally and nationally recognized artists as well as the senior exhibitions of graduating art students.
Pittsburgh’s Cultural District
The proximity to Pittsburgh allows you access to nationally recognized artistic organizations such as the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, and art museums such as the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Mattress Factory Contemporary Art Museum.
Local and Regional Art Exhibitions
You will have numerous opportunities to showcase your artwork in local and regional exhibitions, gaining valuable exposure and real-world experience.
Senior Exhibit
You will develop a personal style and portfolio of work to display at the Verostko Center for the Arts in your senior capstone exhibit, providing a professional experience that is demanded of the field.
Field Experiences for Art Education Students
Starting freshman year, students engage in field experiences that build essential skills in diverse settings. Integrated with coursework, these experiences allow immediate application of educational theories. Opportunities include lesson planning for homeschooling students in our STEP-Up Enrichment program, immersive co-teaching, and a 14-week student teaching internship. Learn more details about our educational field experiences.
Careers after Saint Vincent
Students who successfully complete the studio art major will have a solid background in the liberal arts and the fine arts, with particular emphasis on drawing, design, painting, sculpture and the history of art. Many of our graduates continue their artistic training by entering a Master of Fine Arts program or accepting an apprenticeship under a working artist.
Required Curriculum
The studio art major is part of the School of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and is supported by our core curriculum, where students delve into diverse academic subjects at both foundational and advanced levels to explore how different disciplines connect, fostering deeper self-understanding and proficiency in their chosen field of study.
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Required Courses
Required Courses (33 Credits)
- Either of the Following Art History Courses (3 Credits)
- AR101 Caves to Cathedrals
- AR102 Art History II: Baroque/Present
- Required Studio Art Courses (21 Credits)
- AR130 Drawing I
- AR131 2-Dimensional Design
- AR135 Materials and Process
- AR225 Painting I
- AR238 Clay and Pottery
- AR404 Intensive Study in Technique
- AR405 Senior Exhibition and Professional Seminar
- Elective Courses (18 Credits)
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Key Courses
Painting I
You will learn the methods and materials of painting with oils and acrylics providing you with solid foundational skills and an opportunity to explore a variety of approaches in the creation of paintings including layering, glazing, and mixing paint medium as well as proper studio maintenance.
Introduction to Stained Glass
You will be introduced to the tools and materials needed to create both two and three-dimensional designs made with stained glass. Students learn the essential steps of stained-glass creation, from design and cutting to assembly and finishing.
Advanced Fiber Art
Building on your foundational skills in crocheting, weaving, felting, and sewing, you will now explore how these techniques can be applied to create three-dimensional artistic forms. Assignments will focus on wearable art, installation pieces, and contemporary fiber practices.
Facilities and Resources
Verostko Center for the Arts
Situated in the library, the Verostko Center for the Arts is a space dedicated to artistic engagement and education. It features rotating exhibitions and maintains significant collections that span diverse periods and media, supporting the integration of the arts throughout the campus community.
Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery
The Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery at Saint Vincent College is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich history of weaving and folk traditions in the Northeastern United States. Through research, exhibitions, and educational programs, the Gallery provides insight into this unique cultural heritage.
Arts at Saint Vincent
To view our entire line-up of arts events across campus for this season, please view our brochure.