Welcome to the Monroe-Woodbury High School Visual Arts and Theatre Department. The program is designed to awaken and unleash creativity. The diverse coursework develops artistic skills and allows students to acquire knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the artistic and cultural accomplishments of various civilizations.

Course offerings range from computer animation and graphics to sculpture and painting, acting and stagecraft to photography and crafts. The courses are “hands on” and fun. M-W staff works with students to teach them the process involved in functional, performance-based or aesthetic creativity. The department provides an environment where students may realize a sense of personal integrity and success in the development of their individual abilities and skills. Whenever possible, field trips to regional museums enhance classroom learning and exposures.

For those students interested in majoring in Art, M-W offers many sequences and advanced courses in the Fine Arts, Media Arts, and Theatre Arts. Staff members serve as mentors for Senior Art Majors and guide students through the college application, portfolio review and senior art exhibit process. For information, visit What is an Art Major?

• Acting

• Animation

• Art History & Appreciation (GRADE 10-12)

• Creative Crafts

• Design and Drawing for Production

• Graphic Design

• Introduction to Sculpture

• Photography (GRADE 10-12)

• Stagecraft

• Studio Art

• Video Production 

These courses also serve as Prerequisites for Advanced work in a variety of courses, including those required for all students who are planning a Regents Diploma sequence with a major in Art.

Students acquiring five units of credit in Visual Art may be exempt from the World Languages graduation requirement.

Department Chair approval is required for all students who wish to take a course without fulfilling the prerequisites.

All students wishing to use Art as a sequence must prepare an approved Art portfolio as well as participate in the 1 credit Senior Art Seminar that includes the Portfolio Show, Domain Project, and Oral Defense. The three or five-unit Art sequence meets the New York State Education Department requirement as stated under the Graduation Requirements.

Note: The three-credit Art sequence cannot be used in lieu of any other graduation requirements.

• Studio Art and Intro to Sculpture  –  1 credit

• Senior Seminar  –  1 credit

Monroe-Woodbury High School awards all qualified five-credit sequence Visual Art Majors with the NYS Regents High School Diploma of Distinction in the Arts.  The requirements for this diploma include:

• Studio Art and Intro to Sculpture –  1 credit

• Art History & Appreciation –  1/2 credit

• Senior Art Seminar –  1 credit

• Elective courses –  minimum of 2 1/2 credits

This course is highly recommended. Specific information is available from the Art Department.

Elizabeth Pesce
epesce@mw.k12.ny.us

Foundation Art Courses

Advanced Level Art Courses

Printable PDF: What is an Art Major