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Academics • College of Art • Second Majors in Studio Art and Design

Curriculum

The second majors in studio art and design each consist of 36 units. The structure of the second major is flexible but sequential. You will have plenty of course options, but second-year and junior-level studios require prerequisites.

You will work closely with faculty in your art and design classes. Whatever your particular skills and talents, the faculty will support you in developing a strong visual practice to build your broader education.

Your journey through a second major in design or studio art begins with learning basic vocabulary and principles. In courses like Drawing, 2D, 3D, and Design Methods, you will learn visual principles and how to compose visual elements. These courses are open to all students and address fundamental concepts, so there’s no need to worry about your level of proficiency, as you begin.

You are also required to take Digital Studio; taking it early on will give you a valuable introduction to producing visual work digitally across a variety of programs and software, including the Adobe Suite.

Students usually progress to the 200-level courses after completing their Foundation courses, but classes such as Intro to Fashion and Typography 1 can be taken earlier, if desired. 200-level courses help you to translate general visual principles to the worlds of design or studio art, and—if desired—to a concentration in Fashion or Communication.
The 300-level courses give you the chance to apply your skills to particular areas, and the opportunity to build a portfolio of projects tailored to your interests. Projects at this level are often connected in some way to a student’s primary area of study at WashU—in the humanities, social sciences, engineering, sciences, or business.
All second majors get to choose four elective courses, which can be taken anywhere in the Sam Fox School. It’s a great opportunity to sample something new such as letterpress, printmaking, or 3D, and you’ll have access to industry tools and technology in our dedicated shops and studios. You may choose from a menu of carefully selected courses from Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and Business that supplement Design or Studio Art for two of these four courses. As long as the courses are at the 300-level or above, you may double-count them with your primary area of study.