Art minor launches at Abington for fall 2017

ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington students may enroll in a new art minor beginning in fall 2017.

The art minor is especially suitable for those with substantial interest in art and design but who intend to pursue careers in other fields. Art minors have distinct advantages that can be utilized in a wide variety of career paths. It is ideal for students:

  • in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field wishing to evolve toward a STEAM (STEM + art) model;
  • aiming for an interdisciplinary occupation that incorporates visual skills;
  • adding a toolkit that facilitates design thinking; or
  • simply seeking an avocation.

Requiring a total of 18 credits to complete, the minor offers a flexible structure. Each student must elect a concentration from one or more of the following areas: ceramics, drawing and painting, new media, photography, printmaking or sculpture. A portfolio is not needed.

"We live in an increasingly visual culture, and visual literacy has never been more essential. There is no better way for a non-art major to attain it than through the art and art history minors.”

—William Cromar, art program chair

William Cromar, program chair and senior lecturer in art at Abington, said the new art and art history minors "unlock the gate" at Abington to upper-level courses that explore everything from contemporary art history to 3D modeling; book making to graphic novels; art installation to raku pottery; or darkroom photography to figure drawing.

"We live in an increasingly visual culture, and visual literacy has never been more essential," he said. “There is no better way for a non-art major to attain it than through the art and art history minors.”

In addition, for students who want to enroll in the Abington art program's interdisciplinary curriculum collaboration initiatives —TransMedia Narratives and Book, Archive, + Museum  — the minor eliminates an enormous barrier, answering the question: "Does this course count toward my degree?"

Penn State Abington, formerly the Ogontz campus, offers baccalaureate degrees in 18 majors at its suburban location just north of Philadelphia. Nearly half of our 4,000 students complete all four years at Abington, with opportunities in undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more. Students can start the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors at Abington and complete their degrees at University Park or another campus. Lions Gate, our first residence hall, opens this month.

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