Sculpture
School of the Arts
The Department of Sculpture and Extended Media’s full-time faculty members and various part-time and technical faculty represent a spectrum of directions and philosophical attitudes. Faculty interests range from formal to conceptual, from the concrete to the evanescent. This breadth of interests is presented to students and contributes to the comprehensive nature of the department. Students are not only exposed to traditional sculpture media, but encouraged to explore technology’s parameters and to pursue interdisciplinary activity.
The department encourages sculpture students to broaden their experience in other areas. By promoting a curriculum that encourages students to take a wide range of courses throughout the university, faculty stress links between art, science, the humanities and the world. As a consequence, sculpture students have rich, productive associations with professors in many fields. Sculpture students are challenged to exploit their full potential by questioning notions of contemporary art. The goal is to provide students with the vocabulary, the seeds of discernment and the skills of both analysis and synthesis in order to become participants in the dialogue of our time. All of this takes place in an environment of high expectation regarding self-motivation, intellectual capacity and responsibility. The sculpture program is housed in a state-of-the-art facility. Sculpture majors are provided with semi-private, locked studio spaces and are given time, support and encouragement to pursue their independently determined goals.
Sculpture alumni are equipped with the critical thinking, creative problem solving, and technical skills that many careers of the 21st Century require. Alumni often start working as artist assistants and move on to careers as studio artists themselves. Fabrication skills- particularly those in 3D digital modeling and CNC technology- are in high demand, and graduates from our program have a reputation for their abilities in these fields. Many of our alumni work in the art world as curators, preparators, conservators, administrators, and other art related professions.
Our alumni have the agility and forward thinking that will carry them through a rapidly changing world, and this will equip them for careers that may not yet exist at the moment they graduate.
Completion of the Art Foundation Program is a prerequisite for entry into all fine art and design departments.
Students are required to submit their application and required portfolio here.
Typical application deadlines are November 1 (for spring applicants) and April 1 (for fall applicants).
- 3D Digital Fabricator
- Art Handler
- Artist
- Arts Administrator
- Gallery Assistant
- K-12 Art Instructor
- Media Producer
- Museum Preparator
- Program Manager
- Studio Assistant
- Curator
- Educator/Instructor
- Gallery Director
- Museum Director
- Quantitative Foundations requirement only
- Natural Sciences requirement only
- No
- Yes
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ average GPA in art foundation coursework
Contact information
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
- Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
- Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
- Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
- Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
- Take UNIV 291: Maximizing and Advancing in AFO.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
- Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
- Consider applying to the Honors College.
- Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
- Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
- Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
- Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson.
- Check out the VCUarts Calendar.
- Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more!
- Visit local and regional museums of art, history, and diversity every semester.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
- Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
- Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
- Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
- Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
- Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
- Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
- Prepare your Major Declaration materials which includes your digital portfolio and writing sample.
- Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.
- Explore The Vault to learn about employers and job titles in your field.
- Research VCUArts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
- Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
- Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
- Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
- Take advantage of the portfolio building and writing workshops offered by Art Foundation; details are found in ARTF101 in Canvas.
- Research artists’ websites in preparation for building your own.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
- Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
- Complete two Basic Sculpture classes and Sophomore Seminar.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
- Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
- Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
- Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
- Attend First Friday art openings and artist talks at galleries.
- Embrace the VCU Sculpture community by using the studios, shops, and lab every semester.
- Plan a trip to New York with faculty members.
- Apply to research, internship and international travel grants & scholarships.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
- Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
- Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
- Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
- Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
- Consider volunteering for an institution that does work you consider important and interesting.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
- Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
- Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
- Start writing about your work in preparation for writing an artist statement and taking professional documentation of your work.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
- Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
- Submit work to creative competitions and shows.
- Complete two Intermediate SCPT classes.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
- Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
- Design a community-engaged research project.
- Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
- Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
- Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
- Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Take advantage of the VCU Libraries workshops and also the resources in The Depot.
- Continue to attend artist talks and First Fridays and events advertised by the department.
- Work on developing your professional online presence.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
- Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
- Update your ePortfolio.
- Complete an internship, volunteer opportunity or assistantship.
- Create work for and/or curate an art show with peers, perhaps at The Anderson.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
- Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
- Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
- Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
- Talk to advisors, faculty, and VCU Career Services about graduate school versus a job.
- Continue to write about your work and organize a professional portfolio of documentation of your work.
- Develop your professional online presence.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
- Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
- Build a website to showcase your work.
- Refine your professional online presence.
- Complete two Advanced Sculpture classes and Senior Seminar.
- Conduct independent undergraduate research.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
- Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
- Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
- Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
- Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
- Attend networking events in the community.
- Seek fieldwork opportunities with local artists or institutions for credit.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
- Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
- Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
- Continue to seek internship, volunteer, and assistantship opportunities.
- Gain feedback from professionals on your work.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
- Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
- Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
- Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
- Complete a professional portfolio of documentation of your work.
Sculpture
School of the Arts
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Excel | Year 4 |
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