Art Theory and Criticism BA

at Saint Mary's College of California

This interdisciplinary major will challenge you to consider foundational questions about the nature and function of art in human society and explore the link between the aims of art and other disciplines.The conceptual nature of contemporary art practices puts theoretical and critical investigations at the creative core of art production. The work of artists, art historians, and theorists today includes dialogue and debate that cut across art production and art criticism in a way that links and sometimes even combines the critical and creative disciplines.

Many graduate programs in contemporary art history and practice assume some familiarity with critical theory and the cross-pollinating relationship between theory and production. Our  curriculum will prepare you for graduate studies in art history and related fields as well as established and emerging programs in critical theory.