Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts for Creatives
Believe it or not, the success of today’s most recognized artists, designers, and creative leaders hinges not only on the mastery of their technique. In fact, history’s most successful creative works address current social, political, and ideological questions. They push boundaries and ask the audience to respond. They are approachable but they lead the viewer into the depths of today’s most complicated issues.
The trailblazers of today know what questions to ask, how to engage their audience, and who they are speaking to—all skills acquired in the comprehensive Liberal Arts program at Ringling College. Liberal Arts courses are taught by artists and designers and developed specifically to inform the artwork and aid the development of our emerging creatives.
In this program, we explore myriad cultures, taboo ideas, psychology, science fiction, classical mythology, scientific theories and so much more. Students enter discussions and question standing norms. They emerge as artists and designers who are relevant, thoughtful, and original.
We teach tomorrow’s great artists, designers, storytellers, and writers how to apply their studio skills to answering today’s most profound questions.
Past Liberal Arts Courses
Explore Liberal Arts
WRIT 151 Writing Studio (required by all majors)
WRIT 120 Professional Writing for Designers
ARHU 242 Artists among Poets
ARHU 270 Arts in Context: Comparing the Arts
ARHU 342 Arts in Performance
ARHU 345 Western Music and Painting
ARHU 360 Classical Mythology in Literature, Art, and Music
ARHU 295 Dangerous Ideas
ARHU 380 American Creativity I (1900 – 1940)
ARHU 381 American Creativity II (1940 – Present)
Social & Behavioral Sciences liberal arts course requirement: 1 course (3 credit hours)
SBSC 265 Native American Cultures
SBSC 270 Visual Anthropology
SBSC 275 Changing Cultures: Peoples in Modern World
SCSC 300 Sociology of Fashion
SBSC 315 Intercultural Communication
SBSC 320 Culture and Civilization of Tibet
SBSC 330 Islam: Tradition & Modernity
SBSC 350 Culture and Civilization of India
LMST 282 Literature & Media Studies
ENVI 100 Ecology of Culture
ENVI 200 Environmental Science
ENVI 221 Ecology of Water
ENVI 230 Food, Fuel, Future
ENVI 250 The Biodiversity of Earth
ENVI 260 Environmental Headline News
ENVI 263 Sustainability
ENVI 301 Ecology of Sarasota
ENVI 330 Environmental Ethics & Ecological Beliefs
ENVI 340 The Business of Nature
ENVI 360 Ecology of Materials
ENVI 370 Topics in Ecology and Sustainability
ARTH 111 Development of Art and Ideas (all major required)
ARTH 120 History of Illustration (Illustration required)
ARTH 121 History of Graphic Design (Advertising Design, Graphic Design, Motion Design required)
ARTH 122 History of Photography (Photography and Imaging required)
ARTH 123 History of Computer Animation (Computer Animation required)
ARTH 124 History of Game Art (Game Art required)
ARTH 125 History of Film (Film required)
ARTH 126 Essentials of Historical Architecture
ARTH 366 History of Interior Design and Decorative Arts I (Interior Design required, Film recommended)
ARTH 367 History of Interior Design and Decorative Arts II (Interior Design required, Film recommended)
ARTH 345 Latin American Art History
ARTH 363 The Africa Diaspora
ARTH 365 History of Modern Architecture (recommended for Interior Design)
ARTH 370 History of Euro-Western Drawing
ARTH 385 Islamic Art and Culture
ARTH 387 Buddhist Art and Culture
ARTH 388 Survey American Art: Colonial to Present
ARTH 391 History of Modern Art I
ARTH 392 History of Modern Art II (Fine Art required)
ARTH 422 Contemporary Issues in Art
ARTH 434 Women Artists in History
ARTH 451 Art History Seminar: Looking at the Landscape
ARTH 452 Art History Topics
ARTH 453 Art History Seminar: Advanced Art History Topics
ARTH 491 Renaissance Art History
ARTH 493 Chinese Art & Culture
ARTH 494 Japanese Art & Culture
3-4 courses (9-12 credit hours, depending on major)
Requirements
The Liberal Arts requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Art and Design total 42 credit hours, including art history.
First Year Gateway Course Requirement: (3 credit hours)
First Year Gateway courses introduce students to the foundational issues of contemporary art and design, providing students with a shared understanding of issues and terminology that are necessary for success in their respective programs. Additionally, the courses provide a general introduction to the experience and goals of the liberal arts.
- Contemporary Design Culture (for the Design Arts community)
- Film & Narrative (for the Media Arts community)
- Contemporary Issues in Fine Arts, Photo, and Film (for the Studio Arts community)
Liberal Arts Core Requirements (21 credit hours)
Core courses combine general content area knowledge with the development of essential competencies. They meet the following criteria:
- Introduce students to important figures, events, works, and ideas, from a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives;
- Offer breadth of context, exhibit multiple methodologies of study, and illustrate the multi-dimensional complexity of the topics or problems studied;
- Introduce a discipline’s perspective and background knowledge in a problem- or project-based manner.
Core requirements for the BFA degree include the following:
- Writing: 1 course (3 credit hours)
- Writing (6 credit hours, including WRIT 151 Writing Studio or equivalent)
- Arts and Humanities (3 credit hours)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours)
- Literature and Media Studies (6 credit hours, including LMST 282 Literature & Media Studies)
- Scientific Practices (3 credit hours)
Art and Design History Requirement: 4 courses (12 credit hours, fewer for BA students)
- History of the Major (3 credit hours, freshman year)
- Art History Survey (3 credit hours, sophomore year)
- Upper-Level Art History electives (6 credit hours)
- Liberal Arts Electives (6 hours, more for BA students)
The Liberal Arts requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees total 36 credit hours.
First Year Gateway Course Requirements: 2 courses (6 credit hours)
First Year Gateway courses introduce students to the foundational issues of contemporary art and design, providing students with a shared understanding of issues and terminology that are necessary for success in their respective programs. Additionally, the courses provide a general introduction to the experience and goals of the liberal arts. First Year Gateway courses are organized by First Year Learning Communities (Design Arts, Studio Arts and Media Arts).
Core Course Requirements: 5 courses (15 credit hours)
Core courses combine general content area knowledge with the development of essential competencies. They meet the following criteria:
- Introduce students to important figures, events, works, and ideas, from a wide variety of historical and cultural perspectives;
- Offer breadth of context, exhibit multiple methodologies of study, and illustrate the multi-dimensional complexity of the topics or problems studied;
- Introduce a discipline’s perspective and background knowledge in a problem- or project-based manner.
Core requirements for the BA degree include the following:
- Writing: 1 course (3 credit hours)
- Arts and Humanities: 1 course (3 credit hours)
- Cross-Cultural Perspectives: 1 course (3 credit hours)
- Literary Traditions: 1 course (3 credit hours)
- Scientific Practices: 1 course (3 credit hours)
Art History Course Requirements: 2 courses (6 credit hours)
- Art History Survey course (3 credit hours)
- Upper-Level Art History elective (3 credit hours)
Liberal Arts Electives: 4 courses (12 credit hours)
All liberal arts courses qualify as liberal arts electives. Specific liberal arts electives may be required or recommended by the major.