Admissions

Chester College of New England is dedicated to maintaining rigorous, challenging academic standards, experienced within a unique environment. Our low student-to-faculty ratio (12:1) enables teachers and students to build strong relationships, where the promise of young talent can grow into personal achievement.

The academic requirements for graduation are based on the successful completion of the General Education Core Curriculum, which incorporates elements of the liberal arts with introductory courses in the creative arts, and the completion of a Degree Program in one of the academic departments:

Department of Fine Arts
Department of Photography, Media Arts, & Design
Department of Writing and Literature
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

The General Education Core Curriculum

The General Education Core curriculum integrates liberal arts courses with courses in the creative arts to provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to their education. This core program views courses as a continuum rather than a set of isolated experiences. The faculty at Chester College of New England is committed to preparing its students to face the multidisciplinary needs of the work world, integrating what students have learned in disparate fields. In addition, interdisciplinary modes expose students to a greater variety of teaching perspectives and opinions about our society, forcing students to think critically from a great number of vantage points. The General Education Core Curriculum will thus benefit students in numerous ways.

Art is the result of rich knowledge of the depth and breadth of human experience and inquiry. The liberal arts component of the general education core curriculum begins by establishing a foundation in English composition, art history, and the humanities. Students then move on to explore three traditional and challenging areas of study – the sciences, the social sciences, and history – and explore the liberal arts in greater depth by choosing from a variety of course offerings. The creative arts component of the core curriculum include such courses as Drawing, 3D Design, Color Theory, Photography, Graphic Design, and more. The goal of these classes is to give the student a strong fundamental understanding of the methods and techniques available to the creative artist, and to prepare them for advanced study within their particular academic major.

The result of combining these two elements, liberal arts and creative arts, is a unique blend of courses that helps students discover the ways that the liberal arts and visual arts work together to educate the whole person.

The General Education Core includes a 6-credit Senior Project Requirement that may be satisfied in various ways, depending upon the student’s interests, skill level, and the program requirements. For example, a student may complete this requirement with an internship or by combining the senior project with an advanced level seminar.

Professional Practices is another requirement that underscores the college’s commitment to graduating artists with a practical knowledge of their field. Students may choose from a menu of courses with similar learning objectives, depending upon their areas of interest. These courses include PRW 325: Small Press Publishing; HUM 301: Visiting Artists Seminar; ART 400: Professional Practices in Art and Illustration; and ART 385: Galleries.

All students are required to complete the following courses to graduate from Chester College of New England:

For a total of 68 credits in the General Education Core Program.

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