Honors

The Honors Program is a two-term commitment, during the winter and spring terms of senior year. It is an opportunity for students to gain advanced studio experience in a rigorous and research-based cohort environment. The demands are similar to many graduate programs and students are expected to work independently while demonstrating critical thinking skills and material proficiencies befitting of honors through advanced level studio critique with faculty and peers. All students must work independently, be prepared to present their work, and be active and engaged participants at group critiques each term.

Honors is not a reward for work produced in past academic terms. It is a program designed for students who are self-motivated, disciplined, and ready for an advanced level of dialogue and production. Please note that honors work must be separate and in addition to the work done in Senior Seminar and any other studio art courses that students may enroll in while in the program. Students must prudently evaluate their commitment before deciding to enter the program. Students will be expected to have made significant developments as relates to concept, research, production, and fabrication.

Additionally, students are expected to be effective, respectful, and mature communicators with faculty and peers, while working in the studio with cohort members, meeting individually with faculty, and during critiques. Honors distinctions are awarded at the end of spring term. All Honors students and their advisors must attend a College dinner in May.

The minimum requirements for participation in the Honors Program are:

1. Senior major students must have completed at least three advanced (2 or 3 level) and/or special topic courses in any combination of areas (painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, drawing).

2. By the end of junior year, students must have achieved a 3.0 College GPA, and a 3.4 GPA in Studio Art courses. It is strongly advised (but not required) that three terms of study are completed in an area of focus in one of the following: architecture, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture before commencing honors.

Honors proposal materials must include:

—A one-page 500-600 word statement that address the following questions:

1. What forms and processes are you interested in exploring while in the honors program?
2. What research interests do you hope to explore in the honors program and how do the forms and processes you've identified relate to your interests?
3. Why are you interested in applying for the honors program? And what do you hope to achieve?

—Ten images or videos of artwork, in any medium, some of which should be produced outside of a Studio Art class. Please add descriptions for each image that includes, name of artwork, year, dimensions, and medium.

—Please include the names of faculty members who you would prefer as your advisor. Faculty advisors will be assigned based on availability, application proposal, and preferences. All material should be combined as a single .doc or .pdf file.

Proposals are emailed to the Department Administrator in early November. The SART faculty will evaluate Honors proposals. Students will be notified in early December about whether they have been accepted into the program, and assigned a faculty advisor.

Overview of honor program schedule

Winter + Spring terms: Students must meet with his/her advisor on a regular basis. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their advisor to establish a meeting schedule. Participation in all Honors crits is mandatory. There will be up to two honors critiques each term. The first critique will generally be held during the 4th week of winter term. All Honors students will be present for each student critique. After the first critique, the faculty will decide who may continue in the Honors Program. Students will receive a letter concerning the decision at the end of the winter term.

A final faculty review of all work will also take place in late May. Work must be displayed in the candidate's studio space and the candidate's name must be clearly indicated in the studio. Or work must be in the Senior Show in the Jaffe-Friede Galleries. Students are required to be at the review. After this review, the faculty will vote on whether the candidate should receive high Honors, Honors or is denied Honors.

Further details given to students when admitted into the program will include an updated honors critique schedule and format descriptions.