Art at New Paltz
For over half a century, New Paltz has been widely known for its highly professional art program and its distinguished faculty of practicing artists who help students pursue creative interests and prepare for careers in the various art disciplines. The New Paltz Art Department offers wide choices between professional and liberal arts course work at the undergraduate level. The Art Department also includes a comprehensive Graduate program in each of the seven studio areas.

A location of opportunities
The Art program at New Paltz is uniquely enhanced by the location of the university in the heart of New York's historic Hudson Valley. The initial home of the nineteenth century Hudson River School of Painting, the region continues to be an active site of cultural opportunites with many artists and artistic organizations in residence. The proximity of New Paltz to New York City provides students with a wide range of artistic and educational opportunities. Class sponsored field trips and other special events connect students to both historical and contemporary art.

Art Department Mission Statement
As a major educational center for the visual arts and art education, the Art Department at SUNY New Paltz embodies a community that values curiosity, scholarship and imagination. A dynamic, responsive curriculum, productive artist/teachers, community engagement and a highly regarded student-organized guest lecture program support these qualities and objectives. We strive to balance the mastery of specific professional skills and techniques with the ability to think, talk and write about art. This program is meant to serve students who are optimistic about the role of the arts in society and see art as a vital, integral part of their lives.

Additionally, the Art Department extends the visual arts to non-art majors through lectures, exhibitions and courses specifically offered to non-majors. Our students come from all social strata and have an appreciation for the support, stimulus and challenges this faculty provides. Our close proximity to the arts and culture of New York City gives our students� additional opportunities and exposure to current issues and ideas in the arts. We number among our graduates some of the best artists working nationally and internationally today. We believe that art makes a unique contribution to society, offering a visual language of expression and investigation; art plays an important role in expanding the public imagination by engaging the viewer in visual and intellectual dialogue. Through the synergistic relationship between the arts and the liberal arts and sciences our students and faculty participate in the larger intellectual, political and social life of the community.

Overview Undergraduate Curriculum
Once accepted to the Art Department having had a portfolio review, the student may select to be in either the Bachelor of Art in visual art, or the Bachelor of Science in visual arts. Each of these degrees offers a range of courses in the Art Department for the student, fitting a particular need. To enter the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree program the student must apply to the specific program of interest, such as Painting, Photography or Metal, from either the BS or BA program.

For the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree the student may concentrate in individual programs or take a broad range of studio classes. It is the objective of this BA curriculum to provide broad-based liberal arts education with a focus on art. The program is designed to give students the flexibility to select classes from a variety programs. The BA may take 15 credits beyond the core as studio requirements, all of which may be in a particular program, or the student may select to combine that program with beginning or intermediate studios in other areas. This curriculum is designed to provide a fundamental understanding of studio art practice and design. Some students choose to concentrate as much as they can in a particular discipline, while many take a range of studio classes. The strength of this curriculum is that it gives the students an opportunity to work in an art facility with regular access and exactly the same faculty as students who must go through a much more rigorous program, the BFA.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree gives the student a limited opportunity to concentrate in a particular program. The curriculum is designed to give the student a working knowledge of one program, which may be accompanied by a selection of other studio programs. The BS student may take 18 credits as selected studio requirements, and an additional 12 credits in non-liberal arts electives, which may all be in one program. The student may select to combine beginning or intermediate studios in all studio areas as part of their curriculum. This program provides students the opportunity to concentrate their studies in a programmatic area of their choosing, or to pursue a general and/or interdisciplinary path. Closure is brought to the program through the Senior Seminar class. Most students who enter this curriculum have an interest in a particular discipline, but do not wish to spend the additional time required for a BFA degree.

The strength of this curriculum is that it gives the students an opportunity to work in an art facility with regular access and exactly the same faculty as students who must go through a much more rigorous program, the BFA. The BS is often described as the interdisciplinary degree.

For Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, please see program requirements for each area of study: Ceramics, Graphic Design, Metal, Painting & Drawing, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture

For Bachelor of Science Art Education (BSAE) please see Art Education site.

Graduate Curriculum
For Master of Art (MA) and Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Master of Science in Art Education (MSAE) please see individual programs: Art Education, Ceramics, Metal, Painting & Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture and Visual Research Laboratory