Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies, offered by the Department of Art History, is ideal for socially-conscious artists who want to utilize the resources of a larger research university while accessing the historic studio traditions of Tyler School of Art and Architecture. The BA in Visual Studies is complemented by its situation in the Art History department, where art historians and contemporary artists work together to foster historical and contemporary understandings about global art and visual culture, and the power of image-making.
Visual Studies students develop skills as makers and thinkers in an equal ratio of studio and academic classes, and the curriculum allows for a higher-than-average number of electives that can be chosen according to the student's particular needs and interests. Our curriculum is consciously interdisciplinary, and not oriented towards specialization, so that students can explore the theoretical and technical aspects of art making outside the traditional restrictions of a single studio area. The skills needed to succeed today in the arts are not the same as previous generations. Today young artists need to be able to write about their own work in relation to contemporary visual culture, be able to find and work with collaborators in many different related occupations, know how to find and take advantage of opportunities, know how to access financial and social resources from many different places, and use and adapt to rapidly evolving tools, technology and data effectively.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: TA-VISS-BA
Admissions
For more information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's Visual Studies admissions page.
Study Abroad
Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Visual Studies are well prepared for a wide-range of careers in the cultural sphere as exhibiting artists and published writers, museum and gallery work, as curators, positions in design and media industries, as small business owners and entrepreneurs, and in the non-profit sectors of education, political advocacy, and community leadership.
Continuing Studies
Graduates are well prepared for advanced academic training, and recent students have gone on to complete graduate degrees in fine arts, art therapy, textile design, book restoration, art history, curatorial studies and art education.
Accreditation
Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational and other art/design-related endeavors.
Contact Information
Andrea Ray, Program Head
andrea.ray0002@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts degree may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 122 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA.
University Requirements
Students must complete the university's General Education curriculum.
- Successful completion (minimum grade of C-) in both FDPR 1511 and ARTH 1156 will waive the GenEd Arts (GA) requirement.
- Summer or semester study abroad will satisfy the GenEd Global/World Society requirement.
Major Requirements
- Required courses in the Visual Studies program must be completed with a minimum grade of C- to apply towards degree requirements.
- All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple University as part of the major. The specific writing-intensive courses required for this major are ART 3796 and VS 4096.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | 3D Foundation Principles/W | 3 |
| or FDPR 1532 | 3D Foundation Principles/C | |
| VS 1651 | Visual Studies 1 Foundation: Digital Imaging | 3 |
| TYLE 1071 | Visual Studies 1 Introduction to Visual Studies: History, Theory, Practice | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| Studio Requirements | ||
| VS 2001 | VS Studio Seminar: Subjectivities | 3 |
| VS 2002 | VS Studio: Research Methodologies | 3 |
| VS 2003 | VS Studio: Sites | 3 |
| VS 2004 | VS Studio: Global Citizens | 3 |
| ART 3796 | Art Career Workshop | 3 |
| ART 2011 | Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities | 3 |
| VS 4096 | VS: Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Select 6 studio electives from ART, ARCH, ARTE, CART, GAD, LARC 1 | 18 | |
| Art History Requirement | ||
| ARTH 1155 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| or ARTH 1955 | Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | |
| ARTH 1156 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| or ARTH 1956 | Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | |
| Academic Requirements | ||
| Select 4 Non-Studio Elective courses at any level 2, 3 | 13 | |
| Select 4 Upper Level Non-Studio electives (2000-level or above) 2 | 12 | |
| Language Requirement (select one from the following) 4 | 4 | |
| Arabic Elements II | ||
| Chinese Elements II | ||
| Introduction to French II | ||
| Introduction to German II | ||
| Ancient Greek 2 | ||
| Elements II | ||
| Hindi Elements II | ||
| Italian Language II | ||
or ITAL 1902 | Honors Italian Language II | |
| Japanese Elements II | ||
| Korean Elements II | ||
| Latin 2 | ||
| Basic II | ||
| First-Year Russian II | ||
| Basic II | ||
or SPAN 1902 | Honors Basic II | |
| Total Credit Hours | 90 | |
- 1
These studio electives must be taken in two or more areas within the subject codes ART, ARCH, ARTE, CART, GAD, or LARC but may not include ART 2011, CART 3011, or CART 3911.
- 2
Academic Electives may not be fulfilled with studio classes or courses with the subject code of ART or GAD.
- 3
If Language 1001 level is required per placement test results, this will apply towards one of the required academic elective courses.
- 4
If Language 1002 is not required as determined by placement testing, these credits must be taken as academic elective.
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| 3D Foundation Principles/W | ||
| 3D Foundation Principles/C | ||
| TYLE 1071 | Visual Studies 1 Introduction to Visual Studies: History, Theory, Practice | 3 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| VS 1651 | Visual Studies 1 Foundation: Digital Imaging | 3 |
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1 or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| VS 2003 | VS Studio: Sites | 3 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Language 1001 (or Academic Elective) 3 | 4 | |
| Academic Elective (any level) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| VS 2001 | VS Studio Seminar: Subjectivities | 3 |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Language 1002 (or Academic Elective) 4 | 4 | |
| Academic Elective (any level) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| VS 2004 | VS Studio: Global Citizens | 3 |
| Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Academic Elective (any level) | 3 | |
| Academic Elective (2000+) 3 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 2011 | Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities | 3 |
| Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Academic Elective (2000+) | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| VS 2002 | VS Studio: Research Methodologies | 3 |
| Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Academic Elective (2000+) | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| VS 4096 | VS: Senior Thesis [WI] | 3 |
| ART 3796 | Art Career Workshop [WI] | 3 |
| Studio Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Academic Elective (2000+) | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122 | |
- 1
These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.
- 2
Select 2000+ level studio electives ART, ARCH, ARTE, CART, GAD, LARC, but not ART 2011. These studio electives must be from two or more areas.
- 3
If first level language (1001) is not required as determined by placement testing, these credits must be taken as academic elective.
- 4
If second level language (1002) is not required as determined by placement testing, these credits must be taken as academic elective.
Please Note: An approved study abroad program will waive the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement. Visual Studies majors interested in studying abroad should consult with an academic advisor to discuss how a semester or a summer program fits in the program to remain on track for graduation.