Mount Saint Mary’s University

    Art | Bachelor of Arts
    Major Map

    A clear pathway for academic success, career formation, leadership development, and post-graduate preparation.

    Program Overview

    Core program information and early student priorities.

    Program Details

    Program
    Degree
    Map Type
    Art
    Bachelor of Arts
    (M)POWER Major Map

    Cultivate Learning

    Milestones across the first year, middle years, and final year.

    Summer Pathways / FYS / FYE

    Stage
    Key Actions
    First Year Experience
    • Attend Major Connections and tour studios.
    • Take Design and Drawing early.
    • Explore art spaces.
    • Review program with faculty advisor.
    Middle Years
    • Meet Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society criteria and make the Dean’s List.
    • Take Sophomore Portfolio course and create an independent body of work, artist statement, and digital portfolio.
    • Continue building technical skills through Drawing II, photography, printmaking, or other upper-division studio courses.
    • Review degree progress with advisor and adjust plan as needed.
    • Attend visiting artist talks and museum or gallery field trips to deepen artistic practice.
    Last Year
    • Complete the Senior Exhibit course and prepare a cohesive, professional body of work for your gallery show.
    • Meet with your advisor to confirm remaining degree requirements.
    • Stick closely to the four-year plan to ensure timely graduation.

    Pursue Academic Excellence

    Checklist items and recommended course sequencing.

    Academic Success Checklist

    Year
    Fall
    Spring
    First Year
    • ART 001 (3)
    • ART 002 (3)
    • ENG 1A (3)
    • PHI 10 (3)
    • GS (3)
    • FYS 1A (2)
    • ART 004 (3)
    • ART 012 (3)
    • ENG 1B (3)
    • GS (3)
    • GS (3)
    • FYS 1B (2)
    Second Year
    • ART 010 (3)
    • ART 134 (3)
    • ART 164A (3)
    • Language (4)
    • GS (3)
    • ART 011 (3)
    • ART His (3)
    • ART UD (3)
    • Language (4)
    • GS (3)
    Third Year
    • ART 150 (3)
    • ART 164B (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • GS (3)
    • GS (3)
    • ART 151 (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • GS (3)
    Last Year
    • ART 193 (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)

    Career Formation and Experience

    Career readiness milestones and experience-building opportunities.

    Formation Milestones

    Stage
    Activities
    Across the Journey
    Programs
    • (M)POWER Retreat (Y1+)
    • (M)POWER Sophomore Immersion (Y2-3)
    • (M)POWER Micro-credential Eligibility Workshop (Y3+)

    Gain Experience

    • Meet practicing artists during visiting artist talks tied to introductory art courses.
    • Learn about creative pathways by engaging with artists and curators during gallery tours and field trips.
    • Build and refine your digital portfolio in the Sophomore Portfolio course and continue updating it throughout the major.
    • Attend curator and artist talks to learn from working professionals in the field.
    • Participate in museum and gallery visits through courses like Art 107/181 to build connections to the LA art community.
    • Seek out internships such as the Getty Undergraduate Internship Program, with support from faculty for letters and guidance.
    • Create and showcase a professional body of work through the Senior Exhibit to prepare for creative careers or graduate study.

    Leadership Development

    Leadership principles and opportunities connected to MOUNTLeads.
    The Four Core Principles of Mount Leads
    Awareness of Self and Personal WellnessEthical Decision Making & IntegrityCommunication Skills and Critical ThinkingActive Citizenship
    Area
    Opportunities
    Personal Leadership
    • Participate in MOUNTLeads Leadership Summit.
    • Apply to be a MOUNTLeads Leadership Scholar.
    • Sign up for community service with Women’s Leadership & Community Engagement or student clubs and organizations.
    Group Dynamics
    • Preparing Women to Lead (PLEN) (Y2+).
    • Community Student Ambassador Program (Y2+).
    • Become a peer mentor through Summer Pathways, Orientation Assistants/Leader, (M)POWER Peer Mentor, or others.
    • Pursue leadership in clubs/organizations, Student Activities Council, Student Government Association, Community Assistants, Peer Wellness, and more.
    Self-Reflection
    • MOUNTLeads Overnight Leadership Retreat (Y2+).
    • Explore service-oriented or community- and social-impact career pathways.
    • Attend “I Lead, We Lead” Workshop Series.
    Engage Locally
    • Pursue on-campus student employment to develop career-aligned skills, a sense of belonging, and contribute to academic success.
    • Advocate for causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.
    Engage Globally
    • Enroll in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) class.
    • Enroll in an international summer class.
    • Consider Study Away programs, either nationally or internationally.
    • Advocate for international causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.

    Athenian Advisory Team

    Advising and support resources across each year.
    Role
    First Year
    Second Year
    Third Year
    Last Year
    Faculty Advisor
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    (M)POWER Academic Advisor & Success Coach
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring academic advisement and success coaching.
    • Learn how to navigate myMSMU-Student Planning, Athenian Advisory Team, university processes, and Mount resources to support your success and well-being.
    • Clarify curriculum, catalog policies, LACE general education requirements, and how AP, CLEP, IB, and transfer work can be applied towards your degree.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, major/minor exploration, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Learn how to bolster your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Support you in building and bolstering your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Guidance on navigating academic preparation with your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Guidance on navigating your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    Career Specialist
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    Financial Aid Counselor
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    Peer Mentor
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.

    Wellness & Well-being

    Students are encouraged to build sustainable habits that support academic success, personal wellness, resilience, and balance throughout each year of the Art pathway.
    • Explore a Wellness Fair.
    • Build self-awareness around the dimension of wellness.
    • Try a new sport or continue your choice of movement.
    • Attend a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consult with a Peer Wellness Advocate to determine CalFresh eligibility and apply.
    • Consider applying to be a Facilities Attendant at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.
    • Develop healthy habits, understand and strive for self-improvement.
    • Learn positive coping and relationship skills through workshops by Peer Wellness Advocates, Counseling and Psychological Services, Residence Life, and others.
    • Take advantage of outdoor pursuit trips designed to nurture appreciation of the outdoors, environmental stewardship, social and cultural inclusivity, and risk management.
    • Consider applying to be a Peer Wellness Advocate (Y1+).
    • Utilize Produce Pick-Up for access to fresh fruit and vegetables (Y1+).
    • Commit to and prioritize your ritual for movement, healthy habits, positive self-concept, and mental resilience; model and encourage others to do the same.
    • Lead a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consider applying to be a Student Manager at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.

    Post-Graduate Outcomes

    Career pathways, transferable strengths, and outcomes supported by the Art major.
    Area
    Details
    What skills do employers want?
    • Creative problem-solving.
    • Independent thinking and initiative.
    • Visual communication.
    • Adaptability and resilience.
    • Clear writing for artist statements and project descriptions.
    • Professionalism and project follow-through.
    This major equips me to
    • Develop a personal artistic vision.
    • Work independently.
    • Communicate ideas through visual work and artist statements.
    • Solve creative problems in uncertain situations.
    • Build a strong, ongoing portfolio and exhibition record.
    What careers can I pursue?
    • Studio artist, photographer, or printmaker.
    • Gallery or museum assistant.
    • Community arts or youth-program educator.
    • Creative roles in cultural organizations or nonprofits.
    • Entry-level positions in arts administration or related creative fields.
    • Artist pursuing independent practice and exhibitions.