Salve Regina University

Department of Art

The Department of Art provides a unique opportunity to study the visual arts and their relevance in contemporary culture within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education.

As one of the few exclusively undergraduate accredited members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, we expose students to diverse artists and historical periods as well as the many complex interactions of art and society. Led by dedicated and talented art professionals, our small classes foster intimate and constructive dialogue between students and professors.

Depending on their talents and interests, students choose to major in either art history or studio art. Art history majors study the broad history of art with an emphasis on late 19th- and 20th-century American art, architecture and decorative arts and design. Studio art majors develop an understanding of the theory, practice and history of art through a concentration in one of the following areas: ceramics, graphic design, interactive media arts, painting or photography.

All students are immersed in the rich art and architectural history of Newport. Internships at local museums, studios and advertising agencies complement the curriculum by providing hands-on experience. The on-campus Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery, an integral part of the larger cultural community, features the work of world-renowned artists in addition to that of Salve Regina students.

Grounded within a strong liberal arts tradition, our program fosters creative and practical skills that prepare our majors for graduate work as well as careers as art and design professionals in classrooms, design studios, galleries and museums.

We do not require a portfolio for admission. All prospective applicants are accepted to the University at large. Freshmen present their portfolio formally to the faculty at the end of their freshman year for official admission to the art program.