Honors Program

About the Honors Program

Please note: Fall 2021 semester is scheduled to be in-person, including the Honors Program. However, if campus moves to remote instruction due to the pandemic, the Honors Program will also move to remote engagement.

A total of 9 undergraduate senior Art Majors will be accepted each semester and given the opportunity to strengthen their studio practice and independent projects. Honors students are given a dedicated studio space in the Honors Program Studios at Bauer Wurster Hall, with 24-hour access.

This is a non-assignment based program that encourages self-directed and motivated students to fully explore their work as emerging artists. Applications are extremely competitive and it is expected that awardees are able to devote a significant amount of time to their art practice. If accepted into the Honors program, all students are required to sign up for a 1-unit Honors Studio course, attend evening weekly critique sessions with rotating guest faculty, and work towards the end of semester Honors Exhibition in the Worth Ryder Gallery.

Eligibility

To qualify, you must be:

• In your senior year, or will be entering your senior year during the semester for which you are applying.

• A declared Art Practice Major.

Application Process

Online applications open every semester during March and October, for the following semester. The Student Services Advisor will send out an email to all Art Majors alerting them of the call. Students submit a link to an online portfolio of images or video, an artist statement, and agree to the terms of installing and deinstalling their work for the jurying process.

Jurying Process

Each semester approximately 16 - 25 students apply. Students are evaluated for quality of work, potential for growth, ability to benefit from and listen to critical feedback, ability to contribute to a group dialogue and work in a shared space with others, and the maturity to work independently.

Note: Due to strong competition, the Honors Program grants a maximum of one semester per student. Deferrals are not accepted.

APPLICATION REVIEW STEPS

First, Undergraduate Advisor confirms that all applicants qualify to be Honors Students (they must be Seniors and Art Majors). Next, Faculty view portfolios and use score sheets to vote. Higher scores determine who receives the Honors Studio awards. All Art Practice faculty are invited to attend and cast votes. Lastly, students are informed about the results in the following week after the applications are due.

Due to strong competition, the Honors Program grants a maximum of one semester per student. Deferrals are not accepted.

More Information

Visit the Undergraduate Honors Program Information page for more information, including application requirements, expectations, and FAQ.

For questions about the Honors Program, contact Professor Jill Miller at jillmiller@berkeley.edu.

Student gallery