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CONCENTRATING IN VES
Applying to Concentrate in VES
Related Courses for Credit
Study Abroad
Honors
Courses Taken Pass/Fail
APPLYING TO CONCENTRATE IN VES
For those considering a concentration in Visual and Environmental Studies
VES is a concentration comprising various curricular paths in the visual arts, including Studio Art, Film/Video Production, Film Studies, and Environmental Studies. To be admitted to the concentration, students are required to submit an application. Students are required to take a VES course (preferably in the student’s proposed area of interest) in advance of the application and maintain an overall B average at Harvard College. Some suggestions for first courses are listed below.
Those interested in the Studio Arts or Film/Video Production can choose from among several introductory courses in the studio arts, photography, video (including video art and performance), or animation. These are course numbers VES 10-69 (intermediate studio and production courses are generally numbered VES 110-169). Note: VES 50, the year-long introductory filmmaking course, is ordinarily taken starting in the fall of the sophomore year, and students should plan accordingly.
Students interested in Film Studies can choose from a wide array of courses on the history and theory of the moving image, generally numbers VES 70-79 and 170-285x. Specifically, VES 70 (The Art of Film, formerly Literature and Arts B-11), VES 71 (Silent Cinema), or VES 72 (Sound Cinema) are recommended as introductory courses. These courses are required for the film studies concentration and offer an excellent introduction to the area.
If a student would like to construct a plan of study in Environmental Studies or in an aspect of the visual arts that lies outside the curricular paths mentioned above, she or he should set up a time to speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).
For other questions about the concentration, please consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies Ruth Lingford, Tel: (617) 388-1973, or the department’s Manager of Academic Programs, Paula Soares, Tel: (617) 496-4469.
To be admitted as a concentrator to the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies (VES) a student must be a currently matriculated undergraduate at Harvard College and have at least a B average. Students wishing to focus in the studio arts or film/video production must ordinarily take at least one studio or production course in the department in advance of their application. Those students wishing to focus on either Film Studies or Environmental Studies should take at least one course related to their area of interest with a resident faculty member of the VES Department before applying.
Please refer to the department calendar for the specific dates by which to do so for the current academic year. Application forms may be obtained from the Manager of Academic Programs or you may download the form here.
Admission to the concentration requires a written application for committee evaluation. This consists of the form itself, an annotated plan of study, and a Harvard Plan of Study or Change of Concentration form. The criteria for acceptance also include a grade point average of at least B. Additionally, the Honors Board considers evaluations submitted by faculty pertaining to a student’s performance in their VES course(s). For this reason, prospective applicants are required to take an introductory course (preferably related to the proposed area of focus) before applying to the department. Those proposing to emphasize Studio or Film/Video can choose from a wide variety of introductory-level studio or production courses, generally numbered 10-69. Students considering a focus on Film Studies should take VES 70 (The Art of Film, formerly Literature and Arts B-11), VES 71 (Silent Cinema), or VES 72 (Sound Cinema). Those students considering a focus in Environmental Studies should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Manager of Academic Programs about an appropriate first course and subsequent Plan of Study.
For consultation about filling out a Plan of Study in VES, please schedule an appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Ruth Lingford, Tel: (617) 388-1973; or the Manager of Academic Programs, Paula Soares, (617) 496-4469.
RELATED COURSES FOR CONCENTRATION CREDIT
Courses in History of Art and Architecture, theater design, and some courses in the domain of cultural studies may be counted for concentration credit for studio and film/video concentrators, subject to the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies when the Plan of Study is filed. Ordinarily, not more than two half-courses taken outside Visual and Environmental Studies or History of Art and Architecture may be so counted.
Concentrators with little background in the history of art are encouraged to take introductory courses in History of Art and Architecture as soon as possible and preferably before the end of their sophomore year.
Students interested in taking additional courses for concentration credit outside the department should consult Courses of Related Interest in Courses of Instruction or to consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
All concentrators are required to submit a Course Requirement Substitution Form petitioning for credit for a non-departmental course. This can be found under forms. If a course is listed in Courses of Related Interest, a syllabus is not required to receive concentration credit but if a course is not listed, a syllabus must accompany the petition.
If you are pursuing VES as a secondary field, only one related cross-listed course may count toward the secondary field.
STUDY ABROAD
A student wishing to count work to be done out of residence toward concentration requirements must have the plan for such work approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to undertaking it. No credit will be given for work done out of residence until this work, when completed, is evaluated by the faculty of the department. Ordinarily not more than three half-courses taken out of residence will be counted for concentration credit.
For information on related programs abroad, please consult the Office of International Programs at www.fas.harvard.edu/~oip/
and see specific programs pre-approved for VES at
www.fas.harvard.edu/~oip/approved_programs/ves.html
HONORS
Ordinarily, no student whose overall grade average in the concentration is below B will be recommended for honors.
A senior thesis or project is not required in the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, nor is a thesis required in order to be eligible to receive an Honors degree.
For information regarding overall criteria for Harvard College honors degrees, please refer to the Handhook for Students:
webdocs.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/ugrad_handbook/current/
Courses counting for concentration credit may not be taken Pass/Fail, except one Freshman Seminar may be counted for concentration credit if taught by a Department faculty member and consistent with VES Department offerings, and the student has received a positive evaluation.