Studio Arts

Mesalands offers Studio Art, Studio Arts Proficiency, and Bronze Metal Casting concentrations

The Studio Arts option offers the student the opportunity to study various studio media. Our spacious labs will provide you with access to professional quality equipment, including a full metal fabrication shop, woodshop, 3D printers, full printmaking lab, ceramic kilns, electric pottery wheels and the historic metal-casting foundry.

Students have the opportunity to participate in the annual Mesalands Hot Iron Pour, focusing on sand casting processes as well as ceramic shell for metal casting. For non-art majors, the program offers courses that satisfy the degree requirements for other fields of study. Art courses are also open to persons who are interested in art but are not pursuing an academic degree. You’ll work with our renowned faculty, all of whom are practicing artists, to discover new materials, concepts, and projects that will help you take your work in unexpected directions.

Our visiting artist program exposes students to the works of current professional artists and showcases student work in both open and juried student shows. Instruction in the studio processes is done with an emphasis on creativity, craftsmanship, application and understanding of design principle, and safety. Our instructors are nationally recognized practicing artists who are dedicated to helping you explore, research, and practice the visual arts.

Plan of Study | Studio Arts Associates

FALL First Year
ARTS 1240 Design I (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ARTS 1610 Drawing I (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ENGL 1110 Composition I (Area I) | 3 Credits
MATH 1130 Survey of Mathematics (Area II) | 4 Credits
ARTS 1520 Digital Media I (Area VI) | 3 Credits
Semester Credit Total: 16

SPRING First Year
ARTS 1250 Design II (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 1616, 1630, 2610, 1810 | 3 Credits
ENGL 1120 Composition II (Area I) | 3 Credits
Science Elective (Area III) | 4 Credits
Humanities Elective (Area V) | 3 Credits
Semester Credit Total: 16

FALL Second Year
ARTH ARTH 1110, 2110, 2140 (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 1410, 1710, 1860, 2630 | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 1320, 1840, 2630, 2862 | 3 Credits
Social/Behavioral Science Elective (Area IV) | 3 Credits
General Education Elective (Area I-VI) | 3 Credits
Semester Credit Total: 15

SPRING Second Year
COMM 1130 Public Speaking (Area I) | 3 Credits
Elective from ARTH 1141, 2861, 2614L, FDMA 2530 | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 1854, 2310, 2850, 2996 | 3 Credits
ARTS 2010 Portfolio Development | 3 Credits
ENGL 2999 Capstone Portfolio Course | 1 Credit
Semester Credit Total: 13

TOTAL DEGREE CREDITS: 60

Plan of Study | Studio Arts Certificates

The Certificate in Art Studio Proficiency allows students from across campus, regardless of their major or degree program, to engage in a structured, meaningful art studio experience. This certificate designed for students who may not have professional ambitions in the arts, but still have an interest in a special discipline and want to develop their talents; previous coursework in art is not required.

ONE SEMESTER Courses
ARTS 1610 Drawing I (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 1320, 1630, or 2610 | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 2310, 2614L or 2630 | 3 Credits
ARTS Elective from ARTS 1840, 2850, or 2996 | 3 Credits
ARTS Portfolio Development | 3 Credits

TOTAL CERTIFICATES CREDITS: 15

Plan of Study | Bronze Metal Casting

Mesalands Community College has one of the largest institutional foundries in the southwest. Students have the opportunity to explore traditional metal casting processes or digital casting processes. Students are able to work in various metals such as bronze, aluminum, and cast iron.

ONE SEMESTER Courses
ARTS 1840 Sculpture I (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ARTS 2850 Art Foundry I (Area VI) | 3 Credits
ARTS 1541 Digital Fab or 2861 Mold Making | 3 Credits
ARTS 1542 CNC Fab or 2862 Casting Wax & Bronze | 3 Credits
ARTS 2996: Iron Pour or FDMA 2530 3D Modeling | 3 Credits
ARTS 2010 Portfolio Development | 3 Credits
TOTAL CERTIFICATES CREDITS: 18

*degree plans are under review and subject to change

***FYEX 1110 First-Year Seminar is required for all degree-seeking students with fewer than 30 credit hours successfully completed including transfer credits. The course must be taken in the first semester of enrollment at MCC.