The pre-art major is for frosh and sophomore students who eventually want to become full art majors. The pre-art major is not available to transfer students who will be juniors upon admittance to UCSC. Students may declare the pre-art major without any prerequisites and must do so to be eligible to enroll on the web for lower division studio art courses. Students should declare their pre-art major in the first quarter of their freshman year to insure their ability to enroll in studio courses, but may declare early in their sophomore year also. Juniors may not declare pre-art.
Students must complete the necessary requirements to become an art major by the time they have earned 85 units (exception granted for AP credit) otherwise they will be dropped from the pre-art major. No student can graduate as a pre-art major.
How to Declare Pre-Art
There are no requirements for a pre-art major. Students first meet with their college advisor who will assist in preparation of Section I (University, General Education and College Requirements) on the Declaration of Major Form. The student then takes this form to the art advisor, Jude Pipes, who will list all the courses the student will need to take to graduate. Students with more than 85 units cannot declare or retain pre-art status.
Declaration of the Art Major
Students may declare the Art Major after completing their three lower-division studio art courses with a grade of "B" or better ("B-" or lower will not count). A student may only take 4 lower division studios to obtain the 3 requisite "B" grades. If the student does not obtain those 3 "B" grades within the span of 4 courses, he/she will not be able to continue in the art major and will need to pursue another major. Students may not use the Foundation courses or upper division studios for this requirement, nor may they repeat a studio where they received a grade of B- or C. A totally different lower division studio must be attempted. In addition, courses taken at another university or community college may not be used to fulfill this requirement. Once the three studio courses are complete, students contact Jude Pipes to review their coursework and then proceed to declare the art major.
Getting into Studio and Art Seminar Classes
Art classes are very small (average 20 students) compared to courses from other departments on campus that can accommodate large numbers of students. No matter what the demand, our budget will only allow us a limited number of classes.
To get into a restricted studio art class, if you were not able to pre-enroll, you will need to attend the first day of class to see if any spaces are available. If there are open spaces, the instructor will issue permission codes that can be used to enroll the day after the first class meeting. It is imperative that if you want to add a class, or stay in a class that you have enrolled in, you must be at the first class meeting. If you miss the first class meeting, you may be dropped from the class or it will be full and you won't be able to add.
History of Art & Visual Culture Requirements
If you are having difficulty getting into studio art classes, you can try to enroll for a History of Art & Visual Culture class. Two HAVC classes (one with a Western focus, one with a non-Western focus) are required for the art major. You may also substitute appropriate upper division HAVC classes for the lower division requirements. You may use only one HAVC course numbered in the "80s" for this requirement.
General Education Requirements (G.E.'s)
You may not be able to get into any studio art classes your first few quarters at UCSC. If you have general education requirements to complete, you can enroll in these quarters at UCSC. While you are working on your general education requirements, you can declare pre-art. Please be advised that you must begin taking art requirements by your sophomore year. If you try to complete all your general education requirements before beginning art requirements, you may not be able to finish the art major in time.
Art is very desirable to many, many students -- not just art majors. That is why they are only accessible to students who are serious about studying art. Without the restrictions, art majors would not be able to complete their education in the time allowed by the University.
