Mount Holyoke?s Department of Art encourages artistic exploration while providing technical skills and interdisciplinary opportunities. Whether enrolled in introductory or advanced studio courses, students learn to express themselves in a range of methods and material. Analysis of original works and engagement with contemporary issues are part of the rich studio experience. The Department of Art offers both a major and a minor with courses taught by accomplished visual artists. In addition to working closely with these professionals, students also benefit from the department?s ties to the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, and its affiliation with the Five College Consortium.

Students interested in pursuing licensure in the field of visual art can combine their course work in studio art with a minor in education. In some instances course work in the major coincides with course work required for licensure; in other cases, it does not.