March 24, 2023: APPLICATION OPENS for Honors Program FALL 2023
April 7, 2023 at 5pm: DEADLINE Application for Honors Program FALL 2023 closes. Late applications will not be considered. The Honors Program is expected to be in-person. However, in the event that COVID-19 cases spike, and campus moves to remote instruction, the honors studio is subject to campus building occupancy policy and restrictions.
>> APPLICATION FOR FALL 2023 <<
About the Honors Program
A total of 9 undergraduate senior Art Majors will be accepted to the program each semester and given the opportunity to strengthen their studio practice and develop independent projects. 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.
The Honors Studio Course (1 unit)
If accepted into the Honors program, all students are required to sign up for a 1-unit Honors Studio course and attend the evening (7-8pm) weekly critique sessions with rotating guest faculty. (Day of the week will be determined at the start of the semester.) For questions about this course, contact Honors Pedagogy Fellow Samuel Wildman at samuel.a.wildman@berkeley.edu, Professor Jill Miller at jillmiller@berkeley.edu and Professor Asma Kazmi at akazmi@berkeley.edu
Eligibility
To qualify, you must be:
In your senior year, or will be entering your senior year for the semester you are applying for.
A declared Art Practice Major.
Application Process
APPLICATION FOR FALL 2023 The FALL 2023 application deadline is April 7th at 5:00 PM. In addition to completing the form, students also submit a link to an online portfolio of images or video, and an artist statement.
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 the maturity to work independently.
Faculty will review your online application and inform you if you are selected.
Honors Program Duration
Due to strong competition, the Honors Program grants a maximum of one semester per student. Deferrals are not accepted.
Studio and Facilities Access
24 hour access and key to shared studio space in Bauer Wurster Hall. (This is regulated by campus policy, so adaptations to the schedule may be required.)
Students must attend a studio orientation and pay a $100 deposit fee and a $40 nonrefundable facilities fee to the Art Office Manager ($140 total). The $100 deposit fee is refunded at close of semester and upon leaving studio clean.
To enter Bauer Wurster Hall after hours, students must have their Cal1 card magnetized in person at the CED (Center for Environmental Design) Office, located at Bauer Wurster 477. The contact person is Jill Martin. Once cleared, it takes 1-3 days to activate your card for entry.
Move-in and move-out dates are handled by the Art Office Manager.
Lab and Workshop Access
Honors students are encouraged to choose a facility that they would like to focus their work in. Access is not automatic and is subject to approval. In order to gain access, all students must:
Attend any training sessions for use of facilities. Consult with the faculty and staff who run these areas. Generally, access is easier if you have been enrolled in a class in the area previously, went through the proper training and are familiar with the specific equipment (e.g. sculpture, printmaking, video, photo).
Pay any associated facility fee for the semester. Consult with the staff who runs the area for current rates.
Be mindful of scheduled classes, which have priority access to facilities. Honors students should manage their work schedules accordingly.
Keys are available for 24 hour access to the Anthropology & Art Practice Building (AAP Building) with a $100 deposit (subject to change) to the Art Office Manager.
FAQ
Q: How do I apply?
A. Fill out the application form here: APPLICATION FOR FALL 2023
Q: How do I submit my portfolio images?
A: You must provide a website URL for us to view your images. Formats could include: your own hosted website, link to an online PDF, Youtube link, Google Drive Folder of images, etc. Make sure that all links work and any shared folders are viewable without a login or password (publicly accessible).
Q: If I don't get into the Honors Program this semester, can I apply again?
A: Yes! Applications are open every semester and you can certainly apply again for one of the nine spots.
Q: I am currently a junior Art Major but will be a senior next semester. Can I apply to the Program?
A: Yes. All students who will be seniors upon entering the Program can apply.
Q: How large are the Honors Studios? Can I visit them?
A: Studios are approximately 8 x 8 feet. Bauer Wurster Hall is currently closed during remote instruction, so visits are not possible.
Q: I work in video and time-based media that is hard to represent. Should I include video links to my full projects or short clips?
A: You can send us links to your time-based projects. Keep in mind that the jurying process happens quickly, so you should create 30 second clips of your projects if you are submitting multiple videos. Your video reel should be no longer than 3 minutes.
Q: How are students chosen to be in Honors?
A: The faculty jury base their decisions on your portfolio submission, your artist statement, as well as your standing as an Art Major. Citizenship as a Berkeley student, work habits observed in class, and the ability to work well with others are also factors in the decision. The Honors Program grants you dedicated time and access to work independently and is an exceptionally generative opportunity for ambitious art students. In many cases, there are more qualified applicants than there are spots in the Program. We urge you to work hard and re-apply the following semester if you are not accepted. It is common for students to apply more than once.
Q: Who do I contact about the Honors class itself?
For questions regarding the Honors class expectations, contact Honors Pedagogy Fellow Samuel Wildman at samuel.a.wildman@berkeley.edu, Professor Jill Miller at jillmiller@berkeley.edu and/or Professor Asma Kazmi at akazmi@berkeley.edu
Q: Who do I contact about application questions?
For questions regarding the online application and process, contact Honors Pedagogy Fellow Samuel Wildman at samuel.a.wildman@berkeley.edu, Professor Jill Miller at jillmiller@berkeley.edu and/or Professor Asma Kazmi at akazmi@berkeley.edu
Q: When is the application due?
April 7th, 2022 at 5pm