Guidebooks

A resource for Arts & Sciences students, the guidebook focuses on policies, the majors, experiential education, the core curriculum and major requirements. Copies are available in the dean's office, or as PDFs, below.

Art + Design
Department's Web site

The visual arts, our oldest form of artistic expression, offer an understanding of humanity and the cultural forces that have affected us historically. Moreover, as visual communication becomes more widespread in the contemporary world, the use and understanding of visual languages must be seen as a necessary part of the educational process. In view of the importance of the visual arts, the aim of the department is threefold:

(1) To introduce the visual arts both as history and as creative activity in the context of a broad liberal arts education;

(2) To offer a focused study of the visual arts through critical examination of both the language and content of art and graphic design in the context of a particular historical period, and through the hands-on experience of a studio setting;

(3) To provide an opportunity for a solid academic foundation to those who wish to pursue a career in art or graphic design, or related fields.

A main resource of the department is Boston itself. Its history spans 300 years, its museums are world famous, its galleries and cinemas offer the latest in their respective areas, and its public library is one of the best of its kind. Learning to use these resources is an all-embracing aim of the department.