Students - SOVA
School of Visual Arts, SOVA, Virginia Tech, Graphic Design, Studio Art, Art, Creative Technologies, Art History
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Students

OVERVIEW

The School of Visual Arts has four undergraduate degree programs and two graduate degree programs with different courses of study.

  • ART HISTORY

    • BA/Minor

  • STUDIO ART

    • BFA

  • GRAPHIC DESIGN

    • BFA

  • CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

    • BFA

  • CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

    • MFA

  • MATERIAL CULTURE

    • MA

GETTING STARTED

 

Prospective students, both freshmen applicants as well as transfer students, should declare ART as their major. Students must then be accepted to Virginia Tech, SOVA is not involved in the acceptance process. Once accepted, students will be enrolled in the three prerequisite courses: ART 1204 Principles of Art and Design, ART 1404 Drawing I, and ART 1604 Principles of New Media Art & Design for the fall semester.

 

 

OUR MISSION

 

The School of Visual Arts prepares undergraduates to enter visual design professions and graduate programs in the visual arts. The School serves the public, regionally, nationally, and internationally through events, exhibitions, internships, competitions, workshops, and courses that nourish and renew the vitality of art and design as it interfaces with technology.

 

A goal of the school is to present the world with culture-enriching leaders, talented visual communicators, and innovative designers. The studies of Art History, Studio Arts, Creative Tech and Graphic Design lead to careers in museums, auction houses, galleries, graphic design, computer animation, and more. SOVA’s FourDesign is the school’s professional student-run, faculty-led graphic design agency.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

 

Full-time SOVA undergraduate majors are eligible to apply for scholarships offered through the School of Visual Arts during spring semester. Applicants must apply at University Scholarship Central at https://vt.academicworks.com/. Students must meet the criteria set by the University, by the School of Visual Arts and by individual scholarships in order to be eligible for support. Students awarded a scholarship that wish to renew must reapply each year and maintain eligibility in order to keep their scholarships after the initial awarding.

 

Please direct questions about specific SOVA scholarships to Ray Callahan at rcallah@vt.edu. If you experience technical problems with the scholarship system please contact staff in University Scholarships and Financial Aid by email at scholarships@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5179.

ADMISSION

Information and application materials may be obtained by contacting:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
965 Prices Fork Rd, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Phone: (540) 231-6267
FAX (540) 231-3242
Email: admissions@vt.edu

VISITING OR APPLYING TO SOVA

Prospective students wishing to study Art or Art History at SOVA should apply through Virginia Tech Admissions. All students who wish to pursue a bachelor of fine arts in the Studio, Creative Technology (CT) or Graphic Design programs must take foundation art courses (ART 1204, 1404, 1604).

Transfer Student Information

 

FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

Students planning to transfer to Virginia Tech from another institution or current Virginia Tech students that want to change their major should contact our academic advisor, Tracey Drowne.

AREAS OF STUDY

  • The School of Visual Art has four degree programs with different courses of study: a BA in Art History, and BFA’s in Studio, Creative Tech (CT) or Graphic Design (GD).
  • Those students intending to major in the BFA Program in Studio, CT or GD must apply to gain entry to these majors – SOVA has a restricted program in these three areas of study.

FOUNDATION COURSES

  • Prospective students, both freshmen applicants as well as transfer students, will select their chosen program of study within SOVA on their application to Virginia Tech.
  • Once accepted, students will be enrolled in the three prerequisite courses: ART 1204 Principles of Art and Design, ART 1404 Drawing I, and Art 1604 Principles of New Media Art & Design for the fall semester.
  • Students must successfully pass these three courses with a grade of C- or higher in order to fully continue in their chosen program of study. In the spring semester, GD majors will enroll in ART 1414 Drawing II, and ART 1614 Principles of GD, while CT and Studio majors will enroll in ART 1414 Drawing II, and ART 1214 Principles of Art and Design II.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

 

The minimum laptop requirements are as follows for Studio Art, Graphic Design and Creative Technologies (CT):

MacBook Pro is recommended laptop. If you have a recent computer less than two years old, you can keep using it. Update once in school with better insight rather than buying new as a freshman.
Apple is transitioning to Apple Silicon. It would be wise to get the new Macs with an M1 processor. Right now, only a 13inch notebook is available. If you need a bigger monitor, add an external monitor for home use. Get AppleCare +! (at least AppleCare).

Macbook Pro (or equivalent Window-based laptop)

Apple Silicon equipped Macs.

16 GB memory

minimum 256 SSD (512 highly recommend)

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Adobe Creative Cloud is required for majoring in Studio, Graphic Design, and CT. Adobe Creative Cloud subscription will provide updated software requirements for Foundations of Art and Design courses. Billing and distribution is managed by VT Software per annual base. Annual cost is much lower then you would pay as an individual. Once the fall semester starts, students need to go to Student Software Distribution for sign up.

ART HISTORY MAJORS

Students are required to follow the University minimum computing requirements. Art History students may find it beneficial to purchase a Macbook for use in foundation studio art class.

FOUNDATIONS

The SOVA Foundations of Art and Design curriculum in the first and second semesters will supply students with the necessary information and proficiency to continue in their chosen major beyond their first year.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the Foundations exhibition, Studio, CT and GD majors must have successfully passed all three fall semester Foundation courses with a C- or higher and must be currently enrolled in or have successfully passed their required spring semester Foundation courses.

Contact Jennifer Hand, Foundations Coordinator, with any questions. (email: jennilc@vt.edu)

Students must have and maintain a QCA of 2.0 to remain in Studio Art, CT and GD programs.

Students will participate in a Foundations exhibition at the end of their first year. All artwork must be original and produced by the applicant.

Portfolio Review

Studio Art, Creative Tech and Graphic Design candidates must be currently enrolled or have passed all three Foundation courses (1204, 1404 and 1604). The SOVA Foundations of Art and Design curriculum in the first and second semesters will supply students with the necessary information and proficiency to continue in their chosen major beyond their first year.