Requirements for Majors

To satisfy the Studio Arts major requirements, students must complete a sequence of required and elective studio arts courses. 

Requirements for students who declare on or before September 9, 2016 can be found here.

Requirements for students who declare on or after September 10, 2016:

• Majors must complete a minimum of 46 credits in Studio Arts and 6 credits in History of Art & Architecture (HAA).      
• Students may transfer a maximum of 22 studio arts credits from other colleges and universities; a minimum of 24 studio arts credits must be earned at the University of Pittsburgh.
• All Dietrich School students are required to develop a 12 credit related area of study.  Students not pursuing an outside certificate, minor, or double major are required to complete the related area in HAA. 
• 30 Studio Arts credits must be completed before a student takes a Directed Study course. Enrollment in Directed Study courses is limited by permission only.
• 30 Studio Arts credits must be completed before taking SA 1900 Internship or SA 1904 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship. A maximum of three SA Internship or UTA credits may be applied toward the 46 credit SA major. Students are permitted to take additional SA Internship or UTA credits after completing the 46 credit major.
• Graduating seniors are required to exhibit their work in the Studio Arts Student Exhibition in the University Art Gallery.
• The department strongly recommends that a student take no more than two studio arts courses in one term.

13 required courses:

Three elective courses (these courses are offered periodically):

Advanced Placement Credit

The Studio Arts Department may approve three credits for intended Studio Arts majors who have completed the Design or Drawing component of the International Baccalaureate Organization diploma. The three credits will be applied in lieu of either 0110 Visual Thinking or 0130 Drawing Studio 1.

Assessment Policy

In response to current assessment initiatives of the School of Arts and Sciences, all seniors in the SA Department are required to submit a written Artist’s Statement about their work in the Annual Student Exhibition, including the process and paths that led to that work. This statement is also intended to enrich the capstone experience associated with the senior show. Information about the content, guidelines and submission of this statement will be distributed to all seniors early in the Spring term. Seniors are encouraged to present Gallery Talks during the annual exhibition. The department also creates an annual collection of digital images of outstanding work from all SA courses, as well as from the Annual Student Exhibition – creating a profile of the work and accomplishment of our students year by year.