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Undergraduate Art Program

Beginning in fall 2018, the Department of Art introduced a redesigned B.F.A. curriculum for students who see themselves as both artists and scholars. This curriculum will combine the intensive studio culture of the art department with enhanced access to electives in all areas of the university. By focusing on interdisciplinary relationships, the department aims to produce a community of artists who will participate in the world as artistic and intellectual leaders.

The program allows the student to map a highly individualized curriculum with the goal of evolving a mature artistic practice at the earliest possible stage.

The two academic components of B.F.A. program consist of the art-specific component taught within the department (64 credits) and the elective component drawn from the university at large (56 credits). The art component consists of seminars and core studio courses in:

  • Digital media
  • Photography
  • Print media
  • And a wide range of special topics.

The elective component comprises art history requirements and First-Year Writing Seminars plus a full range of elective classes selected by the student with an advisor's input. This latter component offers students a truly unique degree of freedom in integrating ideas, interests, and skills into an artistic practice that is critically, intellectually, and materially advanced.

  • B.F.A. Curriculum and Requirements

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  • Studio Art Major, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A)

StudioArt_1

The B.F.A. is considered the preprofessional course of study, providing a more in-depth experience of visual concept and practice. Students intending to pursue further study in visual arts disciplines (master of fine arts, design fields, or architecture) should choose this degree option. Students considering the B.F.A. degree are advised to contact the undergraduate advisor for studio art during the first year and no later than the sophomore year.

Learning Outcomes

The overall goal of the studio art program at UNC–Chapel Hill is for students to develop interconnected skills of creative thinking and critical making in order to produce outstanding works of art.

Upon completion of the studio art program (B.A., B.F.A.), students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:

  • Acquire the technical skills (informed control of technique, process, and materials) and an understanding of principles of visual organization sufficient to achieve basic visual communication and expression in one or more media
  • Understand fundamentals of studio practice shared across studio disciplines
  • Document and present work (portfolio, exhibition, online gallery) that demonstrates a basic understanding of professional practices
  • Develop the ability to think and act creatively through experimentation, and analysis of options and parameters — enabling work to progress from idea to physical form
  • Develop an understanding of creative research as an iterative process that informs and allows artwork to evolve
  • Develop effective vocabulary and skill (both verbal and written) to engage in critical analysis of form and content relationships in their own artwork and the work of others

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must

  • earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
  • complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
  • take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
  • earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog .

Students can include an additional art history course in place of one studio art course. Students can count up to six hours of senior honors thesis credit.

 Any ARTS classes, including first-year seminars.

 Any ARTH classes, including first-year seminars.

B.F.A. students should be aware that courses taken in the Department of Art beyond the 60 credits outlined in the major will not count toward graduation.

All General Education requirements must be completed. 

Listing of Studio Art Courses by Tier

Honors in studio art.

The Senior Honors Thesis Project is designed to provide senior studio art majors an opportunity to pursue serious and substantial work that may qualify them to graduate "with honors" or "with highest honors." Students selected for the program conduct original creative research spanning the two semesters of the senior year.

To be eligible to apply for this opportunity, students must be rising senior studio art majors and meet the minimum GPA threshold of 3.3 established by the Honors Carolina office. The application consists of the following:    

  • A completed application form
  • A proposal for the senior thesis project
  • A digital portfolio demonstrating a mature capability to perform visual research

A call for applications is announced via the department student listserv in March. Applications are due the first week of fall semester and are reviewed by the studio faculty within a week of the application deadline. If accepted as studio art honors candidates, students enroll in the honors courses through the student services manager.

In addition to the scheduled coursework, studio honors students work with a thesis committee consisting of a thesis advisor — who must be a studio art faculty member — and two additional faculty members. One of the two faculty members serving on the honors thesis committee may be from a discipline outside of the department.

In studio art, the thesis project consists of the creative work produced and accompanying written components. Work is reviewed at the end of the fall semester to determine progress toward completion. In the spring semester, the completed honors project work and written thesis are presented to the honors committee for an oral defense. On the basis of this defense and the work presented, the committee determines whether or not a student graduates with an honors designation (honors or highest honors). Honors students exhibit their work in a formal exhibition either as a solo show at the time of the thesis defense and/or as a participant in the Senior Exhibition required for all graduating studio art majors. Studio art honors students also join their art history peers in a departmental honors symposium in April.

Current deadlines, details of the application process, and requirements for the senior studio art honors project (research, work, and written components) are available on the art and art history majors’ Sakai site or from the student services manager.

Special Opportunities in Art and Art History

Independent study.

Students may pursue independent study coursework with individual faculty members. Such work may be undertaken only with the permission of the sponsoring faculty member. Students should consult individual faculty members prior to registration to secure permission. A proposal and a contract must be approved by the appropriate director of undergraduate studies (studio art or art history) before students may enroll. (See the Undergraduate Policies, Procedures, and Resources section of the Department of Art and Art History website for instructions.) Since faculty members are limited to supervising only two independent study students each semester, students are strongly advised to contact the faculty member with whom they wish to work early in the registration period for the upcoming semester.

Independent study work requires a minimum of three hours per week per credit hour. For example, a typical three-credit-hour class would require at least nine hours of work per week. Once the semester begins, students must meet with the faculty member initially to confirm goals, review expectations, and establish semester deadlines. Thereafter, students must meet regularly to review work in progress, with a suggested biweekly frequency. Total time spent in direct interaction with the faculty member for the semester must average 45 minutes per week. This may be in the form of face-to-face meetings, blog or e-mail exchanges, or group critiques with other independent study students and their advisors.

Departmental Involvement

Students have opportunities to see and interact with a variety of arts professionals through exhibitions in the Allcott Galleries, installations of sculptural works in the Alumni Sculpture Garden, an artist-in-residence program, the Visiting Arts Professionals Program, and the Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series.

There are several undergraduate student organizations serving the visual arts at Carolina. The Undergraduate Art Association (UAA) is a campuswide social club that supports and develops undergraduate visual artists at Carolina — regardless of their enrollment in art classes — and strengthens the impact of visual art in the University community. The Studio Art Majors Association (SAMA) is aimed at developing community and professional opportunities that augment the experience for studio art majors and minors, especially through programming of the SAMple Gallery in the Hanes Art Center. ArtHeels is a service-based organization that is passionate about bringing arts (visual, performing, and literary) to the healthcare setting. The Art History Liaisons is the undergraduate art history group. Kappa Pi is the department majors' honors society which includes both studio and art history majors. These groups serve as an important link between the majors and the department’s administration. The department utilizes these organizations to facilitate communication about matters of interest, including participation in departmental initiatives or other extracurricular opportunities.

  • Internships

Art and art history majors are encouraged to pursue internships at local, regional, or national arts institutions or businesses. Students have worked in many art career contexts including museums and galleries, arts programming, and local businesses specializing in art-related production (photo studios, printmaking studios, illustration, design firms, and publishing). The Undergraduate Policies, Procedures, and Resources section of the Department of Art and Art History website has useful information about the requirements and how to set up the contracts for ARTH 293 and ARTS 493 as well as a partial listing of organizations that have worked with our students in the past. If you would like to discuss specific ideas about a possible internship, speak to any faculty member or the relevant director of undergraduate studies (art history or studio). All internships taken for UNC credit are subject to governmental guidelines, and students must have internships preapproved and under contract before enrolling for either ARTH 293 or ARTS 493 . 

  • Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to pursue study abroad opportunities. While there are many opportunities to study art abroad, the Department of Art and Art History maintains a special affiliation with the Lorenzo di Medici school in Florence, Italy and the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. There are also two faculty-led study abroad programs in the department — Art on the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Florence/Venice Biennale Summer Program in Italy. Students should discuss their study abroad plans with the undergraduate advisor in studio art to obtain prior approval for courses taken abroad. Basically, courses that have an equivalent in the UNC–Chapel Hill curriculum usually are approved. Courses that fall outside the UNC–Chapel Hill curriculum must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. No guarantee exists that a course will transfer for credit unless pre-approved. Departmental Study Abroad scholarships are available. Contact the Study Abroad Office to discuss the procedures for approval.

Undergraduate Awards

Undergraduate scholarships in studio art.

The studio program awards more than $24,000 annually to students, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $500 to $3,000. A portfolio review each year allows studio art majors to submit up to four works to be considered for the following scholarships:

  • The Alexander Julian Prize (one award to our best student)
  • The Sharpe Scholarships (multiple awards for students receiving financial aid)
  • George Kachergis Studio Art Scholarships (multiple awards chosen by a student-designated committee)
  • The Anderson Award
  • The Penland School of Craft Scholarships (two awards cover expenses for a summer course at the Penland School of Craft)
  • A design honorarium to develop proposals for the Alumni Sculpture Garden (see below).

ALUMNI SCULPTURE GARDEN COMPETITION

Every year, the Department of Art and Art History commissions student work for the Alumni Sculpture Garden. Commissions are a minimum of $5,000, and the department awards up to three commissions. The selection process occurs in three stages: identifying interested students, a design phase, and the production of the work. During the November Awards Competition, interested students compete for one of six $500 design honorariums that are to be used to develop proposals. Winners of this first phase are required attend a session early in the spring semester to learn about how to develop a proposal and the components that must be included. Proposals are reviewed in March to select winners.

  • Undergraduate Research

Opportunities for undergraduate research in the Department of Art and Art History exist in several forms. Detailed descriptions and application guidelines are available in the Undergraduate Policies, Procedures, and Resources section of the Department of Art and Art History website and from the department's student services manager.

Allcott Travel Fellowships support two summer research projects in studio art and/or art history.

The Beatrice Pearman Fund supports special projects in both art history and studio art. Competitions for art history research funds are held in the fall and the spring. Studio art students may request funds for special projects by submitting a proposal to the director of undergraduate studies in studio art. Awards are $500 or less. 

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) are administered through the UNC Office for Undergraduate Research. These $3,000 awards support undergraduate research projects over the summer. UNC's broad definition of research includes creative practices, and the James Boyd Gadson SURFs are specifically designated for studio art. SURF applications from studio art majors are automatically considered for these Gadson Fellowships. This fund typically supports at least two awards. Application deadlines (usually in February) are set by the Office for Undergraduate Research. Students interested in pursuing summer research should contact possible faculty sponsors toward the end of the fall semester.

The Jacquelyn Friedman and Marvin Saltzman Fund in Art provides supplemental monies for painting supplies for students who for economic reasons may be hindered from working to their full potential. Any undergraduate student with need, regardless of major, enrolled in a departmental studio art painting class during the fall and/or spring semesters is eligible. Students can contact their course instructor or the student services specialist for further information.

Department Programs

  • Art History Major, B.A.
  • Studio Art Major, B.A.
  • Art History Minor
  • Studio Art Minor

Graduate Programs

  • Master of Art in Art History, M.A.
  • Master of Fine Arts in Art, M.F.A.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Ph.D.

Department of Art and Art History

Visit Program Website

101 Hanes Art Center, CB# 3405

(919) 962-2015

Director of Undergraduate Studies (Studio Art)

Mario Marzán

[email protected]

Annette Lawrence

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Art History

Eduardo Douglas

[email protected]

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Studio Art (Fall 2023)

Beth Grabowski

[email protected]

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Studio Art (Spring 2024)

Student Services Specialist

David Rashidi

[email protected]

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Search NYU Steinhardt

A picture of the hallways of the BFA art studios. Some paintings appear on the wall to the left of the image.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Art

Earn your bfa in nyc.

Our degree is designed for students who want an intensive and innovative studio art practice with an outstanding education in the liberal arts. A thorough grounding in art history and critical theory allows you to explore complex issues in your work. This interdisciplinary degree mixes rich visual traditions with emerging forms and ideas that encourage students to envision fresh new ways of making art.

A student appears in her studio.

Degree Details

Official degree title.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art

Degree Overview

Your academic experience, degree outcomes, facilities and studios.

Located in the heart of New York City, the center of the international art world, the BFA in Studio Art at NYU Steinhardt allows you to participate directly in the evolution of contemporary culture, viewing exciting exhibitions, holding internships , and attending important lectures and live performances as they happen. Because our degree offers the vast academic resources of a major research university as well as a studio faculty of accomplished professional artists, we are able to prepare students for meaningful careers in the arts, while exposing them to a rich cultural environment that far exceeds the scope of more narrowly defined art programs.

Our first–year Foundation Program is a focused progression of studio and critical art theory courses enables students to explore many forms and philosophies of art making, giving them an unusually wide array of skills and visual languages with which to express their ideas. Students develop technical and analytical skills, as well as creative discipline, and a clearer understanding of the relationship between art and society.

Beginning as early as second semester Freshman year and beyond, students begin to take  Liberal Arts Core  classes and choose studio courses in consultation with an adviser. Students also complete upper level interdisciplinary studio projects and departmental studio and theory based electives. Praxis courses combine critical theory with innovative artistic practices, and classes in experimental forms, such as Autobiography, Art and Activism, Sex and Contemporary Art, and The Artist as Visionary and Saboteur, expand the definitions of art and its audiences. Students may also select a minor from among many of the undergraduate programs at NYU. Senior Studio  is a year-long course that every BFA candidate enrolls in for the final year of their undergraduate education. The emphasis of the class is to provide a concentrated, non-media-specific forum for students to receive rigorous feedback from faculty and peers as they push a body of work towards a spring semester thesis exhibition.  Senior Studio  dovetails with every senior receiving a private studio in which to develop said work at their own pace without the interruption of the shared spaces they've grown accustomed to working in. Throughout the semester students are expected to be working extensively in their studios, putting in, at minimum, 25 hours a week.

The BFA curriculum is designed to progress from foundational to advanced levels and provides students with opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors described in the program’s goals. Through participation in our program, students are expected to develop in the following areas:

  • A broad base of knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, which complements the art-making process and provides you with opportunities to interpret the meaning of your artwork.

Demonstrating technical expertise related to the meaning of the artwork.

Understanding of historical and contemporary art modes, coupled with the development of language-based and theoretical models for contextualizing your artwork.

Ability to critique–to identify aesthetic/content problems–in the work of others and self.

Self-discipline.

Ability to demonstrate initiative and ingenuity in devising and sustaining a plan of experimentation or action.

Ability to use research and other resources in the completion of artworks.

Risk-taking in artwork; willingness to experiment and maintain an open mind.

Ability to work independently, developing a unique and meaningful artistic practice, as well as in collaboration with fellow artists. 

Growth/development toward a personally constructed conceptual direction in your artwork.

Barney Building facilities include studio classrooms and workshops for sculpture, printmaking, painting, drawing, ceramics, metalsmithing, and sewing; photography labs, a fabrication lab; digital labs; and printing studios.

The Commons is an exhibition and performance space with beautiful two-story clerestory windows. Rosenberg Gallery is our white-box space for installations. Student exhibitions change every 2–3 weeks.

BFA Senior Studios are located at 75 3rd Ave and are available to students during their senior year. Seniors will have access to 62 individual studios, a specialized screening room, computer stations, a pantry, and four installation areas for critique.

Learn more about our facilities and studio spaces .

Email [email protected]

Phone 212-998-5700

NYU Steinhardt Department of Art and Art Professions

Barney Building 34 Stuyvesant Street New York, NY 10003

Visit Us and Schedule a Tour 

Information Sessions

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BFA Online Information Session - Internal Transfer Students Only

Learn more about the program, curriculum, and community of the Studio Art BFA.

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BFA Online Information Session

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Learn more about the BFA Studio Art Program. Information Sessions and Portfolio Review Details.

BFA in Studio Art at NYU

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Art and Art Professions

Barney Building 34 Stuyvesant Street, New York, NY 10003 212-998-5700 [email protected]

Take the Next Step

Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.

What It's Like Majoring in Art

Thinking about being an art major.

For those of you who are art lovers💖, you likely know of Bob Ross. Ross is the peaceful painter who showed us that mistakes are merely ‘happy little accidents’😊. Have you ever wondered how he became so skilled? Would you like to learn similar skills? Consider pursuing an art major!

What Do Art Majors Do?

An art major often encompasses a variety of different topics. Most students who pursue this major have passions regarding drawing, music, painting, writing, and more. Art majors are more hands-on ✍️ and are expected to do various creative projects, as opposed to taking tests. However, some courses, such as art history, will be more test-heavy.

Is This the Right Fit for Me?

For Those Considering Art 🎨

Are you considering an art major and wondering if it’s the best fit for you? A few helpful key traits of prospective art majors are:

  • Skilled in time management ⌚
  • Improvement based on constructive criticism
  • Knowledgeability in art history 🏺
  • Creativity in design
  • Communicative and expressive when collaborating

You might want to ask yourself the following questions: ❓

  • Am I prepared to pay supply fees and travel fees (to various museums)?
  • Can I take constructive criticism from others?
  • Am I able to take both academic and intensive art classes?
  • Am I ready to spend time working on art?
  • Do I enjoy learning about art history?

For Those Who Don’t Know Yet 🤷

Are you confused as to where to start? Don’t know if you’re passionate about art? Check out this study guide to help you take a step towards pursuing your dreams!

What Is An Art Degree?

There are two different types of degrees that a student can pursue in art: fine arts or media arts.

Fine Arts 📝

Fine arts focuses on the visual artistic aspects of art, such as theater, painting, sculpture, music, and more.

This degree is good for those who want to work with the creation of art, and pursue careers such as writers, artists, and musicians.

Media Arts 💻

Media arts is more commercially and business 👩‍💼 focused, specifically addressing areas such as interior design, animation, and graphic design.

This degree is good for those who want to pursue careers in the artistic industry, but are not interested in being fully hands-on with art supplies, instruments, and acting. The people who pursue this degree usually work more so with digital/visual presentation of art, as opposed to the creation of the art/source material itself.

What Courses Do Art Majors Take? 📚

So, which courses do art majors have to take? Below is a list of common courses ✅ required by colleges for art majors:

  • Foreign Language
  • Art History
  • Watercoloring
  • Printmaking

Remember that the coursework for art majors can differ based on the college you attend, so make sure you check out the specific degree plan!

Experiences of Art Majors

To help you understand the experience of art majors from a deeper perspective, check out these videos! 📹

These videos are made by current or previous art majors, who talk about their experiences and struggles when majoring in art.

  • What It’s Like Being An Art Major: Megan Wilburn
  • A Typical College Day In My Life As An Art Major: Francesca Grace
  • Art School vs. Art Major in College: Art Prof: Create & Critique
  • Art Major at University VS Art School: Biana Bova

What Are Some Good Colleges to Pursue an Art Major? 🎓

Are you wondering what colleges are the best 👍 for art majors? Check out this list below!

  • Trinity University
  • Rhode Island School of Design
  • The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
  • University of Southern California
  • Pomona College
  • Williams College
  • College for Creative Studies
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago

🌟For a list of other colleges, check out this website!🌟

What Can I Do With a Degree in Art?

You might be wondering what kind of jobs art majors can get. 💼 A few professions that art majors have pursued include:

  • Professional Artist 🧑‍🎨
  • Photographer 🖼️
  • Art Teacher 👨‍🏫
  • Graphic Designer
  • Gallery Owner
  • Fashion Designer 👜
  • Illustrator

What Are Some Similar Majors? 🤔

Are you interested in art but want more options? Maybe you want to study another aspect of the fine arts? Don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Below is a list of some majors which deal with similar aspects of art!

  • Media Management
  • Digital Arts
  • Costume Design
  • Photography
  • Cinematography

If these are fields of interest to you, stay tuned 🎼 for more articles on various majors to pursue!

Closing Remarks 👋

Hopefully this article helped clarify what an art major entails! For more information on how to find and research your college major, check out this study guide. Good luck 🍀 with your future college journey ahead; we wish you all the best! 😊

Guide Outline

Related content, the pros and cons of out-of-state college, what it's like majoring in history, how to create your target list of colleges to apply to, 4 examples & templates for outstanding high school resumes, how i got into a state university, private vs. public colleges: what’s the difference.

coursework for art major

Stay Connected

Studio Art Major

students in performance piece involving colored paper sleeves and wooden structure

The Studio Art major offers comprehensive study in a close-knit community for students interested in pursuing graduate study or a professional career in the visual arts. Rather than providing degrees in a single medium (such as Painting or Photography), the undergraduate program offers two degrees in Studio Art that each allows students to take courses across five areas of study.

During their first year, Studio Art students gain an introduction to the department and their major through the First-Year Core Program , a set of courses completed by all incoming students to the department that build core technical and conceptual proficiencies and prepare them for advanced study towards their degree.

As they continue in the Studio Art degree, students can explore a variety of media in the program’s five areas of study, or choose to focus on fewer areas and progress from introductory to advanced courses .

To enhance studio-based coursework, students are encouraged to participate in lectures and seminars by visiting artists and critics , and seniors in the program have the opportunity to help organize and show work in an annual public exhibition .

Areas of Study

student painting at easel

Painting & Drawing 

student using a large-format camera

Photography & Media

student working with a serigraphy screen

Printmaking

student welding metal

Sculpture & Extended Media

students in front of projection screen

Students can choose to pursue either a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Studio Art or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Studio Art .

The B.F.A. curriculum is designed to give students the skills to pursue a professional artistic practice of making independent work and seeking opportunities which support that endeavor, such as gallery representation, artist residencies, and professional fellowships and grants.

The B.A. curriculum provides many of the same skills, but is designed for students who have other interests beyond a studio practice. Many students on the B.A. track pursue a double major or a certificate program such as Bridging Disciplines.

Both the B.F.A. and the B.A. degrees prepare students to be active in the professional art world and guide them to identify its particular facets that interest them most.

Sample Four-Year Plan and Degree Guidelines

Minors & Certificates

Students can add breadth and diversity to their studies by complementing their degree with an academic minor or an interdisciplinary certificate program.

installation view of the 2023 Senior Art Exhibition

  • Undergraduate Courses

faculty looking at artwork in studio

  • Studio Art Faculty

people sitting at table during public talk

  • Careers & Outcomes

FAQ Visit Apply

Have questions about this major or the admissions process?

Check out some  Frequently Asked Questions or reach out to our admissions team !

A student works on several paintings

College of Letters and Science

  • Bachelor of Arts

A major in studio art allows you to explore and expand your creative abilities, regardless of whether you plan a career as a professional artist. As an art student, you will develop and practice skills in problem-solving and cultivate your aesthetic sensitivity and visual awareness. These skills and traits will enrich your life, broaden your perspective and prepare you to succeed in any career requiring creativity and artistic sense. Our studio art faculty consists of a diverse group of nationally known artists who seek to share their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm with undergraduate students.

Major Requirements

You will begin your study with courses designed to introduce you to a variety of artistic media, including drawing, painting and sculpture. Courses in art history help you to understand the development of artistic styles over time and to develop your own work in a social and historical context. At the upper division level, you may choose to specialize in such media as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, video production and electronic arts. Courses in artistic theory and criticism round out your course of study and prepare you for continuing development in your art career.

Contact Information

  • Art teacher
  • Art preparator
  • Art therapist
  • Gallery and exhibitions coordinator

Graduate Study

  • Arts therapy
  • Arts education
  • Illustration
  • Social and environmental arts

Alumni Employers

  • Connect Art
  • California College of the Arts
  • Oakland Museum of California
  • Portland Museum of Art
  • Verge Center for the Arts

Related Degrees

A female student holds a painting that is part of one of UC Davis's collections

Art History

Old reel to reel projector

Cinema and Digital Media

Two students practice improv

Theatre and Dance

Two students inspect a photo on a window.

Internship opportunities

Explore internships and jobs on campus and beyond.

Students smile and listen in a lecture.

Your course roadmap

Find the detailed course requirements for your program and map out your path to graduation.

Two people in safety goggles inspect a test.

The faculty you will work with

Our undergraduates work directly with our faculty through research projects and labs.

study abroad student explores europe

Global learning programs

Expand your horizons by studying abroad or pursuing global learning on campus.

rebecca hernandez examines plants as part of her energy ecology work

Undergraduate research

Get hands on with your interests. Participate in one of our hundreds of research opportunities.

A student wears a cap and gown.

What can I do with my major?

Learn how to connect your major to career opportunities.

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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

Art practice.

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of arts (ba).

The UC Berkeley Art Practice Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in studio art, which provide firm grounding in basic techniques and principles while encouraging guided experimentation. Our curriculum is designed to expand students' creative, technical, and critical abilities across a range of artistic media and disciplines, and with the guidance of accomplished faculty.

We provide technical and conceptual training, with a primary focus on painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, digital photography, installation, performance, social practice, video, and selected courses offered in sound, animation, and game design. Art Practice majors are expected to round out the required studio courses with Art History and seminar classes. The department encourages an ethical, global scope, with a necessary emphasis on diversity of viewpoints and modes of practice. 

Art Practice seeks to graduate students with the necessary skills to have significant artistic and cultural impact, whether within the professional art world or through a range of other. creative fields, including as art directors, arts educators, and arts-related jobs with museums, galleries, arts management, design firms, publishing, and artists’ organizations.

Course of Study Overview

Art Practice majors need to complete thirteen courses (five lower division and eight upper division). These include ten studio courses and three courses in art history. For more details, visit the undergraduate webpage: art.berkeley.edu/major.

The Honors Studio Program

Each semester the Honors Studio Program awards studios to nine senior Art Practice majors who show exceptional commitment and promise.

Senior Capstone Project

During senior year students take the required course ART 185 Senior Projects/Professional Practices  and work toward a thesis exhibition in the Department’s Worth Ryder Art Gallery. 

Applying to the Major

The Art Practice Department is a “high demand major” which means that not all students who apply to the major will be accepted. 

For Continuing Undergraduate Students:

Apply as early as possible after completing the prerequisites. Starting in Fall 2023, students are not allowed to apply to the major past the beginning of their junior year (i.e., Seniors are not allowed to apply). The portfolio submission is a competitive one and plays a significant role in the review process. Students are encouraged to submit their strongest work along with thoughtful written responses. Faculty review applications once per semester. Application deadlines can be found on the  Art Practice website .  ​

For First Year Students Admitted Fall 2023 and After

For first-year students applying to Berkeley Letters & Science (L&S) for fall 2023 and after, there will be two pathways to declare a high-demand major.  This policy will not impact current or continuing students.

Admission into L&S:  Those who already know as high school students that they want a high demand major  should select that major on their UC Berkeley admissions application . If admitted to Berkeley L&S, they will be guaranteed a spot in the major they selected, subject to completing the prerequisites, maintaining good academic standing in L&S, and filing a declaration form.

Changing to a high-demand major after arriving at L&S:  For students who did not select a high-demand major on their UC Berkeley admissions application, the process for declaring a high-demand major will be through a review, rather than a minimum GPA requirement only. Students will have  one  opportunity to apply for a high-demand major, and will be required to have an alternate plan to declare a non-high-demand major as a back-up. 

Graduate Program

Art Practice: Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  • All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for a letter grade. An exception is made for courses that are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
  • No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower Division Courses

Upper division courses.

Two studio classes from the following list may be substituted: FILM 180 , FILM 181 , FILM 185 ,  THEATER 175A / THEATER 175B , NWMEDIA 190 , VIS STD 180A , VIS STD 180B , VIS STD 181 , VIS STD C185A VIS STD 185X , VIS STD 187A .

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please review the  College of Letters & Sciences  page in this Guide. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry level writing.

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a US resident graduated from an American university, should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American cultures.

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative reasoning.

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work.

Reading and Composit ion

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth requirements.

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

120 total units

Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

  • Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department

Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your BA degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Major Maps help undergraduate students discover academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities at UC Berkeley based on intended major or field of interest. Developed by the Division of Undergraduate Education in collaboration with academic departments, these experience maps will help you:

Explore your major and gain a better understanding of your field of study

Connect with people and programs that inspire and sustain your creativity, drive, curiosity and success

Discover opportunities for independent inquiry, enterprise, and creative expression

Engage locally and globally to broaden your perspectives and change the world

  • Reflect on your academic career and prepare for life after Berkeley

Use the major map below as a guide to planning your undergraduate journey and designing your own unique Berkeley experience.

View the Art Practice Major Map PDF .

Practice of Art

Art 8 introduction to visual thinking 4 units.

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session A first course in the language, processes, and media of visual art. Course work will be organized around weekly lectures and studio problems that will introduce students to the nature of art making and visual thinking. This course is a prerequisite for applying to the Art Practice major. Introduction to Visual Thinking: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for ART 8 after completing ART 8A , or ART 8B.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture and 4 hours of studio per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 10 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: One hour of lecture and four hours of studio per week. Two hours of lecture and ten hours of studio per week for 6 weeks.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Practice of Art/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Introduction to Visual Thinking: Read Less [-]

ART 8A Introduction to Visual Thinking 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018 The ‘designed world’ is implicated in everyday experience. In an increasingly technological and communications based culture-from print to the Web, advertisements to movies, the built environment to modes of pedagogy-we encounter the visual/sensory as a ‘designed world’ in every area of our lives. Art 8 A: Intro to Visual Thinking asks students to rigorously and critically interrogate the ‘designed world.’ To do this students will look at a range of art, media, and invention across many locations and periods of history. Introduction to Visual Thinking: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6 hours of studio and 3 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 15 hours of studio and 2.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Six hours of studio and three hours of lecture per week. Fifteen hours of studio and two and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.

ART 12 Drawing: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This course will explore a wide range of approaches to mark making, composition and materials for building a drawing practice. Students will engage with drawing from life as well as conceptual and abstract compositions. This course will feature lectures, field trips, visiting artists and demonstrations in order to expose students to a variety of applications, methods and techniques within the field of drawing. This course is a recommended prerequisite for upper division Drawing classes. Drawing: Foundations: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6 hours of studio per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 16 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Six hours of studio per week. Sixteen hours of studio per week for 6 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.

Drawing: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 13 Painting: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 This course will introduce students to a broad scope of painting practices. Students will learn about and challenge conventions as well as experiment with modes of viewing, producing and engaging with painting within historical and contemporary contexts. This course will feature lectures, field trips, visiting artists and demonstrations in order to expose students to a variety of painting applications, methods and techniques. This course is a recommended prerequisite for upper division Painting classes. Painting: Foundations: Read More [+]

Painting: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 14 Sculpture: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course is the study of the interaction between physical form and space. We will focus on building a strong conceptual foundation while developing the practical studio skills needed to translate your ideas into three dimensions. Shop practices will include hand, machine, and computer-aided fabrications. Field trips and illustrated talks will help acquaint students with the ideas sculptors have explored through history and in contemporary sculptural practices. This course is a recommended prerequisite for upper division Sculpture classes. Sculpture: Foundations: Read More [+]

Sculpture: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 15 Ceramics: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course will prepare students to use ceramics to explore and understand three-dimensional space. We will develop a practical understanding of how clay and glaze behave, while building a conceptual framework through which to apply this knowledge. Studio practice includes hand building, modeling, carving, and glazing as possibilities for turning ideas into three dimensional propositions. Assignments, critiques and class discussions will help acquaint students with the ideas artists have explored through history and in contemporary sculptural practices. This course is a recommended prerequisite for upper division Ceramics classes. Ceramics: Foundations: Read More [+]

Ceramics: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 16 Printmaking (Relief & Intaglio): Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 The process and techniques of traditional relief and intaglio printing are explored in this fine art printmaking course. Lectures and demonstrations introduce students to two of the historically oldest and most continuous of print processes. Unique drawing skills are demonstrated for students to render images onto linoleum and metal plates to produce small editions of relief and intaglio prints. This course is a recommended prerequisite for upper division Printmaking classes. Additional fees required. Printmaking (Relief & Intaglio): Foundations: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Six hours of studio per week.

Printmaking (Relief & Intaglio): Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 17 Printmaking Foundations: Screenprint 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2019, Fall 2018 This class teaches the fundamentals of screen printing, which requires images to be converted into stencils and secured to a screen through which ink can be transferred. Lectures and demonstrations introduce students to current procedures and historical practices. Students will develop hand-drawn, photographic, and digitally manipulated images, and will learn print workflow procedures and safety procedures to create limited-edition prints. These will be assessed through individual and group critiques. Printmaking Foundations: Screenprint: Read More [+]

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).

Printmaking Foundations: Screenprint: Read Less [-]

ART 21 Digital Photography: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This course introduces students to technical skills including manual functions of digital cameras, image creation and capture, file management and workflow, image adjustment and digital printing. Assignments will use primary Adobe software tools to test creative possibilities of both the camera and the computer. The course will introduce students to photography history and theory, and a range of contemporary practices. Group critiques and individual tutorials will help develop ideas and technical skills. By the end of the course, students should feel comfortable shooting digitally, editing and producing final images for print or the web. This course is a recommended prerequisite for upper division Photography classes. Digital Photography: Foundations: Read More [+]

Digital Photography: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 23AC DIGITAL MEDIA: FOUNDATIONS 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2022 Data and logic form core interfaces for information technology. New media art requires understanding their key dynamics. Students gain experience with data generation, visualization, and their impact on real persons, environments and situations. Can we measure, count and weigh everything? Is data fair? What is the role of privacy? How do digital conditions affect human conditions? From memes to machine learning, students participate in emerging data cultures including sampling, visualization, animation, video, interactive design, and music. Assignments follow readings on media and design theory, abstraction, interactivity, archives, performance, identity, privacy, automation, aggregation, networking, diffusion, diffraction and subversion. DIGITAL MEDIA: FOUNDATIONS: Read More [+]

Instructor: Niemeyer

DIGITAL MEDIA: FOUNDATIONS: Read Less [-]

ART W23AC Data Arts 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Summer 2021 First 6 Week Session, Fall 2020 Can we measure everything? What is the role of privacy? Can we count beauty? Is data always fair? This course explores participation as the foundation of online citizenship. Participation is based on data literacy and community awareness. Through online assignments, peer reviews and video chats, students form communities of explorers and innovators who challenge data culture through creative interventions including surveys , visualization, animation, video, interaction design, music and other forms of digital expression. Assignments are based on readings about media theory, abstraction, interactivity, design theory, archives, performance, identity, privacy, automation, aggregation, networking, diffusion, diffraction and subversion. Data Arts: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of web-based lecture and 1.5 hours of web-based discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 23 hours of web-based lecture and 3.5 hours of web-based discussion per week

Additional Format: One and one-half hours of web lecture and one and one-half hours of online video conferencing group discussions per week for fifteen weeks. Twenty-three hours of web lecture and three and one-half hours of online video conferencing group discussions per week for six weeks.

Online: This is an online course.

Data Arts: Read Less [-]

ART 25 Graphic Novel: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2023 Using the format of the graphic novel as a site of investigation, this studio production class will explore graphic novels as dynamic political, societal, historical, and cultural vehicles. Using creative research methods of analysis, fabrication, and collaboration, students will create their own graphic novel elements as artistic responses to their diverse life experiences. Production assignments will inform students about possible relations between text and image, frame and page, page and narrative arc, imagination and reality, and finally book and audience. Guest lecturers will share different writing styles, drawing and coloring techniques including digital painting, and storytelling methods. Graphic Novel: Foundations: Read More [+]

Objectives & Outcomes

Course Objectives: Literacy in global visual communications, proficiency in image-text dialectics and rhetorics, proficiency in illustration of dramatic concepts and characters.

Student Learning Outcomes: Discovery of authorship as graphic novel artist, confidence in creative research process, experience of dissemination and reception of novel creative expressions.

Graphic Novel: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 26 Moving Image: Foundations 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 A practical and critical introduction to moving image media, focusing primarily on independent and experimental film and video art. Students learn video production and post-production and are introduced to key moments and concepts in moving image history and criticism. Course instruction includes basic camera operations, sound recording, and lighting, as well as basic editing, compression, and dissemination formats. Solo and group assignments are completed, and group critiques of class projects train students to recognize and discuss the formal, technical, critical and historical dimensions of their works. Weekly readings in philosophy, critical theory, artist statements and literature are assigned. Moving Image: Foundations: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Master the basic elements of video making and editing.

Instructors: Niemeyer, Walsh

Moving Image: Foundations: Read Less [-]

ART 30 Art, Water and California 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 Water is one of the most precarious resources in California, yet many people believe the water supply to be unlimited. The arts and visual cultures contribute to such popular misconceptions of natural resources, but media art can also help people develop more accurate and relevant conceptions of natural resources. The course introduces students to interdisciplinary creative research and media art production with the end goal of advancing popular conceptions about water. Students study water cultures in California from the 1750's onwards and experience a wide range of watercourses and waterworks to inspire new art. Art projects include data visualization, short fiction, billboard designs, and interactive gallery displays. Art, Water and California: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Four hours of seminar per week.

Art, Water and California: Read Less [-]

ART 98 Directed Group Study 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Fall 2016 This is a student-initiated course to be offered for academic credit. The subject matter will vary from semester to semester and will be taught by the student facilitator under the supervision of the faculty sponsor. Topics to be related to art practice. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Open to freshmen and sophomores. Open to freshmen and sophomores

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-9 hours of directed group study per week

Additional Format: Three hours of studio work per unit per week.

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.

Directed Group Study: Read Less [-]

ART 99 Supervised Independent Study 1 - 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Fall 2016 This course is a variable unit (1-2) Independent Study in Art Practice. Supervised Independent Study: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-2 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One to two hours of independent study per week.

Supervised Independent Study: Read Less [-]

ART 100 Collaborative Innovation 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2017 In this hands-on, project-based course, students will experience group creativity and team-based design by using techniques from across the disciplines of business, theatre, design, and art practice. They will leverage problem framing and solving techniques derived from critical thinking, systems thinking, and creative problem solving (popularly known today as design thinking). The course is grounded in a brief weekly lecture that sets out the theoretical, historical, and cultural contexts for particular innovation practices, but the majority of the course involves hands-on studio-based learning guided by an interdisciplinary team of teachers leading small group collaborative projects. Collaborative Innovation: Read More [+]

Collaborative Innovation: Read Less [-]

ART C100 Art and Ecology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022 Taught by faculty from the Departments of Art Practice, Geography, and History of Art, this Big Ideas course is a space where we collectively study, think, and make art about the cataclysmic ecological crises that threaten our planet today. Examining possible notions of the animal, the botanic, the oceanic, the geologic, and the atmospheric, among other themes, the course prompts embodied responses to this urgent moment through complex, experimental, scholarly, and practice-based interventions. The aim is to read human interactions with the planet in relation to the past, present, and future of earthly environments, as shaped by historical processes, resonances, interruptions, and movements. Art and Ecology: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: - Developing knowledge of the relationship between art, architecture, urban planning, cinema, and the natural environment - Developing knowledge of climate change and global warming as it relates to environmental studies - Developing the vocabulary and skills to make ecologically-informed decisions in life - Developing skills for critical reading, research, writing, and art making

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week.

Instructors: Chari, Kazmi, Ray

Also listed as: GEOG C100/HISTART C106

Art and Ecology: Read Less [-]

ART 102 Advanced Painting: Research and Methods 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This studio course for Art Practice majors involves practical and experimental research into the varied processes, skills, materials, and methods of historical and contemporary painting. Emphasis on creating unconventional drawing/painting tools, making pigments for painting, and examining unofficial and official archives as source materials will be an integral part of the course. Students will expand their technical, conceptual, and professional skills, and will develop self-generated projects and critical engagement through critiques and open discussion. Students will attend library tours and field trips, and explore mediums and concepts to generate research for long-term investigation. Prerequisites: ART 8 and ART 13 or equivalents Advanced Painting: Research and Methods: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 8 and ART 13 or equivalents

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ART 103 Advanced Painting: Reconsidering the Portrait & Figure 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 This studio course investigates histories of portraiture, including how dominant signifiers of race, gender, class, religion, and their various intersections determine which and how individuals are depicted. The course includes working from live models, creating self-portraits that challenge conventional expectations, lectures, student lead discussions, in-class prompts, field trips, and visiting artists. The course will examine the politics of representation through different collusions of art and history. We will reconsider how conventional portraiture has impacted relationships within the past and present, and consider future possibilities. Prerequisites: ART 13 Painting: Foundations or by permission of instructor. Advanced Painting: Reconsidering the Portrait & Figure: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 13 Painting: Foundations or by permission of instructor

Advanced Painting: Reconsidering the Portrait & Figure: Read Less [-]

ART 116 Ancient Pigments & Contemporary Drawing Practices 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This is an advanced studio drawing course that compares and contrasts traditional Asian and European pigments, surfaces, and images with contemporary strategies, sources, and methods. Students will use various traditional hand-made pigments, binders, papers, and drawing materials to explore cultural developments and representations of space, time, and objects. A major course outcome is to create hybrid, diverse content that combines contemporary images and narratives with traditional historic sources. The course provides lectures, demonstrations and studio research methodologies. Ancient Pigments & Contemporary Drawing Practices: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 8 and ART12 or equivalent

Instructor: Nagasawa

Ancient Pigments & Contemporary Drawing Practices: Read Less [-]

ART 117 Advanced Drawing: Research and Methods 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This advanced studio class extends drawing through its varied contemporary processes and methods. Students will enhance their skills and explore materials through self-generated projects and critical engagement with the instructor and peers. In-class critiques and open discussion will reinforce a vital part of their technical, conceptual, and professional development. Students will attend library tours, field trips and learn how professional artists use research in support of artistic investigations. Students will also learn how to explore media and materials to generate research for future projects. Priority enrollment for declared and intended Art Practice majors. Prerequisites: ART 12 or by permission of instructor. Advanced Drawing: Research and Methods: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Art 12 or equivalent

Advanced Drawing: Research and Methods: Read Less [-]

ART N117 Drawing and Composition 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2004 10 Week Session Advanced drawing and composition, color and black-and-white, primarily on paper. Art 117 or 118 is required of all art majors. Drawing and Composition: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Art 12, 13, 14, and 15 or equivalents

Credit Restrictions: A deficient grade in Art 117 may be removed by completing Art N117.

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture and 8 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Six hours of instructional studio and three hours of open studio per week.

Drawing and Composition: Read Less [-]

ART 118 Advanced Drawing: Remixing the Figure 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 This studio course investigates representations of the human body across different periods and locations to explore what it means to depict the body in the 21st Century. How do dominant signifiers and various intersections of race, gender, class, religion, sexuality, and disability influence the rendering and image reception of human bodies? The studio component of the course will work from live models as well as creating full body self-portraits that challenge the parameters of the canon and conventional expectations. We will explore drawing across all mediums through art history lectures, student-led discussions, in-class prompts, field trips, and visiting artists. Prerequisites: ART 12 or by permission of instructor. Advanced Drawing: Remixing the Figure: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 12 or equivalent

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ART 119 Global Perspectives in Contemporary Art 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session This course is designed to explore a range of contemporary art movements around the globe, through a closer look at their central ideas, artists, and artworks, as well as the preconditions and broader social context in which the work is being produced. Topics covered will range from the emergence of localized avant-garde movements in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America to the implicit globalism of the international biennial circuit. Global Perspectives in Contemporary Art: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: for declared Art Practice majors

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Five and one-half hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Global Perspectives in Contemporary Art: Read Less [-]

ART 120 Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2020 This class teaches the fundamentals of etching, including line etching, aquatint and softground techniques. By learning to incise elements of line, tone and texture into the surface of a metal etching plate and to print them onto paper, all artists, from the beginning student to the most advanced, can discover new avenues of self-expression that are particular to a printmaking vocabulary. Intaglio uses acids and solvents, tools and machinery; students will therefore learn and adhere to proper safety and shop procedures. Students’ progress is assessed by individual and group critiques. Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8, 12, and 16, or equivalents

Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio: Read Less [-]

ART 122 Advanced Printmaking: Lithography 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2010 This class teaches the fundamentals of lithography, which comprise the bulk of what is called planeographic printmaking. Students explore drawing and otherwise establishing images through line, tone and texture onto limestone and metal plates. Subsequently printing onto paper, students at all levels can discover new avenues of self-expression that are particular to lithography. Lithography uses acids and solvents, tools and machinery; students will therefore learn and adhere to proper safety and shop procedures. Students’ progress is assessed by individual and group critiques. Advanced Printmaking: Lithography: Read More [+]

Advanced Printmaking: Lithography: Read Less [-]

ART 123 Advanced Printmaking: Screen Print 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 This class teaches the fundamentals of screen printing, which requires images to be converted into stencils and secured to a matrix through which ink can be transferred. Hand drawn, photographic and digitally manipulated images are explored. Image content and development is examined through primary research drawings and studies. Screen printing requires the use of specialized tools and equipment; students will therefore learn and adhere to proper safety and shop procedures. Students’ progress is assessed by individual and group critiques. Advanced Printmaking: Screen Print: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Open to upper division art majors or by consent of instructor

Instructor: Hussong

Advanced Printmaking: Screen Print: Read Less [-]

ART 124 Advanced Projects in Printmaking 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020 Non-traditional projects in printmaking. Lectures and demonstrations introduce students to techniques and varied applications. Advanced Projects in Printmaking: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 6 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and Six hours of Studio per week for 15 weeks.

Advanced Projects in Printmaking: Read Less [-]

ART 130 Advanced Sculpture: Concept and Construction 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Fall 2020 This advanced studio class will explore expanded ideas of fabrication, instruction, and process in sculpture. An integral component of this course will be to examine the relationships between the artist’s intentions, the act of building, and the viewer’s perceptions and engagement. Site/architectural concerns, physical experience of space, and innovative sculptural practices will be considered. Students will expand their technical, conceptual , and professional skills, and will develop self-generated projects and critical engagement through in-class critiques. Lectures and demonstrations introduce students to varied techniques and applications. Advanced Sculpture: Concept and Construction: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8, 12, and 14, or equivalents

Advanced Sculpture: Concept and Construction: Read Less [-]

ART 132 Advanced Ceramics: Research and Methods 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 This course builds on the foundations of ART 15 to introduce students to more advanced techniques, concepts, and technologies. From traditional forms to experimental structures, students will connect ceramic processes to larger fields of contemporary art. This course encourages interdisciplinary thinking and pushes students to think of material as metaphor. Methods may include: casting and mold-making, wheel throwing, handbuilding, mixed media assemblage, collaboration, ceramic 3-D printing/modeling. Field trips, artist lectures, and readings/discussion will accompany studio time. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Prerequisites: ART 15 Ceramics: Foundations or by permission of instructor. Advanced Ceramics: Research and Methods: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 15 or equivalent

Advanced Ceramics: Research and Methods: Read Less [-]

ART 133 Advanced Sculpture: Meaning in Material 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This advanced studio class will investigate the physical and conceptual potential of materiality in sculpture, while exploring what methods and materials may be considered non-traditional. Combining hands-on demonstrations with group critiques and studio practice, students will focus on building a strong conceptual foundation while developing and expanding practical studio skills. Students will explore topics through self-generated projects, lectures , readings, and field trips. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Prerequisites: ART 14 Sculpture: Foundations or by permission of instructor. Prerequisites: ART 14 Sculpture: Foundations or by permission of instructor. Advanced Sculpture: Meaning in Material: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Art 14 or equivalent

Advanced Sculpture: Meaning in Material: Read Less [-]

ART 136 Advanced Sculpture: Radical Wearables 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 How have contemporary artists used textiles, garments, and "fashion- like" sculptures to create artworks that challenge issues of gender, identity, and use? Far from being neutral territory, artist-produced props and wearables often incorporate aesthetic experimentation in order to critique existing power structures and highlight alternatives. This hands-on studio course will focus on the production of experimental costumes, garments, and fashion in the context of contemporary art and critical ideas. Advanced Sculpture: Radical Wearables: Read More [+]

Advanced Sculpture: Radical Wearables: Read Less [-]

ART 137 Advanced Projects in Ceramic Sculpture 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 This advanced studio class encourages students to stretch the technical limits of ceramic materials and processes. Project assignments will challenge students to develop strong conceptual and material practices. Topics may include: the intimately handmade, multiples and mass production, conceptual craft, public art, community engagement, interdisciplinary practices, performance, ceramic 3-D printing/modeling, and more. Field trips, artist lectures, and readings/discussion will accompany dedicated studio time and instruction. Prior experience in clay is expected. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Prerequisites: ART 15 Ceramics: Foundations or by permission of instructor. Advanced Projects in Ceramic Sculpture: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 15 , or equivalents

Advanced Projects in Ceramic Sculpture: Read Less [-]

ART 138 Advanced Sculpture: Installation 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2020 Regardless of the media used, the objective of this class is to question issues of space, placement, presentation, and context regarding one’s work. Students will consider notions of site specificity and of whether an object is distinct from its environment or is part of it. Other concerns include the architectural and historical information a space possesses, how to activate a space with your ideas, how your work can have a dialog with a space and where/how you can display and document your work. Students will explore topics through site-based projects, lectures, readings, critique, and field trips. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Prerequisites: ART 14 Sculpture: Foundations or by permission. Advanced Sculpture: Installation: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Art 14, or equivalent

Advanced Sculpture: Installation: Read Less [-]

ART 141 Temporal Structures: Video and Performance Art 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2015 Projects are aimed at understanding and inventing ways in which time and change can become key elements in an artwork. Regular screenings of professional tapes will illustrate uses of the mediums and provide a historical context. Lectures and demonstrations introduce students to techniques and varied applications. Temporal Structures: Video and Performance Art: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8, and 12; and one from 13, 14, 16, 23, or equivalents

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 15 hours of studio per week 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 15 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and Six hours of Studio per week for 15 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture and Fifteen hours of Studio per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture and Fifteen hours of Studio per week for 6 weeks.

Temporal Structures: Video and Performance Art: Read Less [-]

ART 142 New Genres 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2012, Spring 2010, Spring 2009 A survey intended to expose you to the nature and potential of such non-traditional tools for artmaking as performance, video, and audiotape. Lectures and demonstrations introduce students to techniques and varied applications. New Genres: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8 and 12; and one from 13, 14, 16, 23, or equivalents

New Genres: Read Less [-]

ART 145 Contemporary Rituals: New Forms in Performance Art and Video 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019 This studio practice and theory course provides interdisciplinary perspectives from new media, anthropology, religious studies, and sociology to read cultural expressions--from religious behavior and rituals, to speech acts, and political action. We will read theoretical texts, look at art, and produce performances and videos in order to explore the boundaries between the virtual and real worlds. The class goal is to develop critical and self-reflexive approaches to video and performance art production as a laboratory to reimagine community, citizenship, power and responsibility, and to produce new ontologies and new modes of being in this world. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Contemporary Rituals: New Forms in Performance Art and Video: Read More [+]

Contemporary Rituals: New Forms in Performance Art and Video: Read Less [-]

ART 160 Special Topics in Visual Studies 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 10 Week Session, Spring 2024 Special Topics courses offer students opportunities for more concentrated focus beyond general curriculum offerings. Courses may align with an instructor’s own research, they may propose topics responding to contemporary events and issues, or they may offer a specialized skill. Primarily intended for advanced undergraduates and graduates in Art Practice but open to others. Special Topics in Visual Studies: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction. Students may enroll in multiple sections of this course within the same semester.

Summer: 6 weeks - 15 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Six hours of studio per week. Fifteen hours of studio per week for 6 weeks.

Special Topics in Visual Studies: Read Less [-]

ART N160 Creative Research Studio 6 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2013 Second 6 Week Session This course trains students in new strategies in contemporary creative research in the beautiful, ecologically diverse and yet precarious island of Mo’orea in French Polynesia. At Richard B. Gump Station, students will engage in creative research with two faculty members during the course of one month. Students study traditional Polynesian art forms through intensive workshops with local artisans at the Atitia Center and create two art projects with local tools and materials in the first two weeks of the course. In the second two weeks, students explore socio-ecological processes in reefs, shores, communities and mountains through visual narratives, including sound recording, video recording, data sonification, editing and dissemination. Creative Research Studio: Read More [+]

Summer: 4 weeks - 30 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Course activities may include, but are not limited to, swimming, beach excursions, forest hikes, and similar non-classroom activities. Students will work with the instructor to determine appropriate activities for their interests and needs. <br/>

Instructors: Miller , Niemeyer

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ART 162 Issues in Cultural Display: Studio and Post-Studio Art Practices 4 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This is a seminar class designed to engage in "close readings" of contemporary art-making and curatorial practices. Through weekly studio visits with artists and/or curators, the course examines the practical methods, historical origins, philosophical roots, and political and aesthetic implications of each maker's practice. Readings and discussions will focus on (though not be limited to) issues concerning the interaction of aesthetics and ethics; culture and capital; copyright law; art and craft; singular vs. collective authorship. Issues in Cultural Display: Studio and Post-Studio Art Practices: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Four hours of Lecture and Two hours of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Ten hours of Lecture and Five hours of Discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Walsh

Issues in Cultural Display: Studio and Post-Studio Art Practices: Read Less [-]

ART 163 Social Practice: Critical Site and Context 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Social Practice broadly refers to work produced through various forms of direct engagement with a site, social system or collaborator. Interdisciplinary in nature, such work often takes the form of guerilla interventions, performance, institutional critique, community based public art and political activity, all sharing the premise that art created in the public sphere can help alter public perception and work toward social transformation. Social Practice: Critical Site and Context: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Social Practice: Critical Site and Context: Read Less [-]

ART N163 Social Practice: Critical Site and Context--ESCUELA de ARTE UTIL 6 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 8 Week Session Social Practice broadly refers to work produced through various forms of direct engagement with a site, social system or collaborator. Arte Útil, which translates into English as “useful art,” will consider the practice of Arte Útil as institutional self-criticism, active hyperrealism, a-legality,reforming capital,sustainability, and modes of creative collaboration. Enrollment in the class requires familiarization with the Arte Útil archive (http://www.arte-util.org/projects/) and lexicon (http://www.arte-util.org/tools/lexicon/), as well as the submission of a written statement of 250-400 words explaining how you think aesthetics can disrupt institutional structures and what social issues interest you. Send to [email protected]. Social Practice: Critical Site and Context--ESCUELA de ARTE UTIL: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Students will be expected to participate in the class and generate a new project that will be shown at the end of the course. Enrollment in the class requires familiarization with the Arte Útil archive (http://www.arte-util.org/projects/) and lexicon (http://www.arte-util.org/tools/lexicon/), as well as the submission of a written statement of 250-400 words explaining how you think aesthetics can disrupt institutional structures and what social issues interest you, sent to [email protected].

Student Learning Outcomes: • Understand the history, strategies and challenges of Arte Útil; • Familiarize with the Lexicon and specially with the way concepts like beneficial outcome, initiator, usership, sustainability and implementation are used; • Test strategies and resources used by Arte Útil; • Learn new fieldwork and collaboration skills; • Create your own Arte Útil project.

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture, 12 hours of discussion, and 15 hours of session per week

Additional Format: Fifteen hours of session and six hours of lecture and twelve hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Instructor: Bruguera

Social Practice: Critical Site and Context--ESCUELA de ARTE UTIL: Read Less [-]

ART 164 Art and Meditation 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013 Meditation is arguably the most ancient, powerful, and yet simple spiritual practice in the world. It is known in various forms in nearly all times and cultures, and plays a part in every religious tradition. We will examine how meditation can affect your art both in terms of practice and content. The class will be structured with slide presentations, museum visits, discussion of reading, and reviews of art work. Art from various contemplative traditions will be examined. Art and Meditation: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of all lower division requirements for the major

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Four hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Ten hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Sherwood

Art and Meditation: Read Less [-]

ART 165 Art, Medicine, and Disabilities 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014 This course will examine how visual artists have responded to illness and disability. We will consider visual representations of disability and healing, as well as the expressive work of visual artists working from within the personal experience of disability; in other words, we will look at disability as both a subject and a source of artistic creation. Several topics, historical and contemporary, will be explored. Students will complete either a semester-long internship with an arts and disability organization, a research paper, or a creative project. Art, Medicine, and Disabilities: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 15 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and six hours of studio and/or supervised research and/or internship per week. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and 15 hours of studio and/or supervised research and/or internship per week for six weeks.

Art, Medicine, and Disabilities: Read Less [-]

ART 166 Social Practice Research Studio 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023 This interdisciplinary art course explores a range of strategies for researching, formulating, and implementing a large scale social practice art project. Drawing from numerous disciplines, students will learn how to build community relationships, develop a logistical plan, and formulate a timeline for completing an experiential art project outside of a traditional art gallery. Students will engage with a variety of publics, and they will explore the possibility of becoming active change agents in the world through producing art. Some topics covered include: establishing community connections, techniques for interviewing people and researching sites, collaboration strategies, and executing projects across different contexts and spaces. Social Practice Research Studio: Read More [+]

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ART C166 Critical Practices: People, Places, Participation 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2019 Critical Practices is a hands-on studio design course where students work at the intersection of technological innovation and socially engaged art. Students will integrate a suite of digital fabrication tools with social design methods to create work that engages in cultural critique. Working with innovative technologies and radical, new art practices, this course will explore: hybrid art forms, critical design for community engagement, interventions in public spaces, tactical media, and disobedient objects. These new making strategies will reframe our notions of people, places and participation. Critical Practices: People, Places, Participation: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of studio per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of studio per week 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of studio per week 10 weeks - 6 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Four hours of studio per week. Six hours of studio per week for 10 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of studio per week for 8 weeks. Ten hours of studio per week for 6 weeks.

Also listed as: NWMEDIA C166

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ART 171 Video Projects 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course develops more advanced technical and conceptual skills in video art, with focused attention on the pre- and post-production practices of writing and production design as well as image and sound editing. Class meetings include technical workshops, studio work, individual and class critique, and discussion of readings and screened course materials. Course projects vary in focus depending upon instructor; areas of emphasis may include: video in performance practices; video for sculptural installation; and social activist video. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Video Projects: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8, 12, and 26; or equivalents

Video Projects: Read Less [-]

ART N171 Digital Video: The Architecture of Time 4 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2006 10 Week Session, Summer 2005 10 Week Session, Summer 2004 10 Week Session This hands-on studio course is designed to present students with a foundation-level introduction to the skills, theories, and concepts used in digital video production. Non linear and non destructive editing methods used in digital video are defining new "architectures of time" for cinematic creation and experience and offer new and innovative possibilities for authoring new forms of the moving image. This course will expose students to a broad range of industry-standard equipment, film and video history, theory, terminology, field, and post production skills. Students will be required to gain techinical mastery of the digital media tools introduced in the course. Digital Video: The Architecture of Time: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 23

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 9 hours of studio per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 9 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Nine hours of Studio per week for 15 weeks. Nine hours of Studio per week for 6 weeks.

Digital Video: The Architecture of Time: Read Less [-]

ART 172 Advanced Digital Media: Computer Graphics Studio 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Computer Graphics constitute a default method of image synthesis, from fine art to game design, cinema, and advertising. This production-intensive studio course introduces students to professional CG tools (Blender, Python) as well as an overview of CG aesthetics. Weekly project assignments based on tutorials cover modeling, texturing, lighting, animation, rendering, physics simulations and data-driven image synthesis. Final projects focus on portfolio work with scenes and characters to be exported into VR, AR, and game design. Current laptop or desktop with good graphics performance required. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Advanced Digital Media: Computer Graphics Studio: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with instructor consent.

Advanced Digital Media: Computer Graphics Studio: Read Less [-]

ART 173 Electro-Crafting 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This studio class aims to provide students with the digital tools for expanding and augmenting their work in traditional media such as photography and sculpture, and also to encourage the exploration of new hybrid forms of art-making. If you are interested in exploring sound, sensors, immersive experience, interactivity, bots, wearable computing, gamification, AI, feedback systems, process-oriented artwork or data-driven artworks in any media--then this may be the class for you. Students will learn to use basic software and hardware for the manipulation of sound, image and video that were designed by artists for artists, like: pf5.js, sonic pi, makey-make, arduino and others. Priority enrollment for declared or intended Art Practice Majors Electro-Crafting: Read More [+]

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ART 174 Advanced Digital Video 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 This advanced studio course is designed for students who have mastered basic skills and concepts involved in digital video production, and are interested in further investigating critical, theoretical, and creative research topics in digital video production. Each week will include relevant readings, class discussions, guest speakers, demonstrat ion of examples, and studio time for training and working on student assignments . Advanced Digital Video: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 8, 12, and 23; or equivalents

Advanced Digital Video: Read Less [-]

ART 178 Advanced Digital Media: Game Design Methods 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2018, Fall 2017 This advanced studio course offers an introduction to game design and game studies. Game studies has five core elements: the study of games as transmitters of culture, the study of play and interactivity, the study of games as symbolic systems; the study of games as artifacts; and methods for creating games. We will study these core elements through play, play tests, play analysis, and comparative studies. Our reading list includes classic game studies theory and texts which support game design methods. After weekly writing and design exercises, our coursework will culminate in the design and evaluation of an original code-based game with a tangible interface. Advanced Digital Media: Game Design Methods: Read More [+]

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ART 180 Advanced Digital Photography 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024 This course will cover a range of digital media and practices, with a view towards exploring current and future possibilities for photography. Inclusive of multiple approaches to scale, execution, and technique, the course enables students to examine and push the limits of photographic practices. This course will help students advance their digital shooting and Photoshop skills from a beginning to a more advanced level , and will cover the workflow of digital photography: camera usage, scanning, image editing, management, and printing. Priority enrollment for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors. Prerequisites: ART 21 Digital Photography: Foundations or by permission of instructor. Advanced Digital Photography: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: ART 21 or equivalent

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ART 182 Creative Writing for Artists 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 This reading and writing workshop is open to Art Practice Majors and other Upper Division students by permission of instructor. We will read published statements, essays, poetry, manifestos, commentary, criticism, scripts, ‘public’ speech acts, and biographical texts by artists and theorists, with our purpose being to expand and challenge our understanding of the relationship of visual art and the written word. Reading assignments and writing experiments will help students build the language tools to establish a consistent writing practice. Students are required to write critical responses to assigned readings, keep a reading journal, comment on each other’s writing, attend readings, and memorize texts for recitation. Creative Writing for Artists: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Six hours of seminar per week.

Creative Writing for Artists: Read Less [-]

ART 184 Junior Seminar: Meaning and Making 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2019, Fall 2016 This immersive studio/seminar class for Art Practice majors and intended Art Practice majors focuses on contemporary models of art making, exposing students to current issues in the art world, and fostering interdisciplinary models of thinking and making. Through field trips to museums, galleries, and alternative art spaces, as well as studio visits with local contemporary artists, students will be able to situate their own projects within the larger sphere of contemporary art. Language and writing skills around artist statements, critical readings, and the critique process will be emphasized to understand how research methods give meaning in a studio practice. Includes presentation of a final studio project. Junior Seminar: Meaning and Making: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Junior level students, with the permission of the instructor

Instructor: Reiman

Junior Seminar: Meaning and Making: Read Less [-]

ART 185 Senior Projects/Professional Practices 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course helps students understand their work within critical and professional cross-disciplinary contexts, and prepares students for graduate school and life beyond. Through class and individual critiques, readings, guest artists, and field trips, students explore practical and conceptual components of their own media and practice within broader discussions of artistic production. The class will help develop tools for supporting one's work within a community of artists, arts professionals, and arts organizations, including developing an online presence, producing and sustaining exhibition-ready work, completed portfolios, documentation, presentation, written artist statements, etc. Senior Projects/Professional Practices: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Senior level students only

Summer: 6 weeks - 12 hours of studio per week

Additional Format: Four hours of studio per week. Twelve hours of studio per week for 6 weeks.

Senior Projects/Professional Practices: Read Less [-]

ART H195A Special Study for Honors Candidates in the Practice of Art 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 Honors students are required to take three units of H195A. They may elect to take an additional three units (H195B) the following semester. Special Study for Honors Candidates in the Practice of Art: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Senior standing with 3.3 GPA and consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: This class may be applied toward major requirements.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 12 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Twelve hours of independent study per week. Zero hour of independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Special Study for Honors Candidates in the Practice of Art: Read Less [-]

ART H195B Special Study for Honors Candidates in the Practice of Art 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021 Honors students are required to take three units of H195A. They may elect to take an additional three units (H195B) the following semester. Special Study for Honors Candidates in the Practice of Art: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Senior standing with 3.3 GPA and consent of the instructor

Credit Restrictions: This class may be applied towards major requirements.

ART 196 Bridging the Arts Seminar 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015 Bridging the Arts is open to artists from a variety of disciplines including dance, spoken word, theater, performance, creative writing, social practice, music, and visual arts. Through readings, written reflection, guest speakers, group discussion, and teaching in the field, Bridging the Arts (BtheArts) Student Instructors explore the arts in the public education system. Student Instructors develop and implement arts curricula that is both age appropriate and culturally relevant to their students in underserved Bay Area Schools. Bridging the Arts Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Dancers are encouraged to have taken Theater 166 with Lisa Wymore. All Bridging the Arts participants are required to pass a background check with the DOJ and the FBI

Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Course Number Guide in the Berkeley Bulletin.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of fieldwork and 0-1 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: First-time students will enroll for four units, with one hour of lecture and six hours of fieldwork per week. Repeating students will enroll for one to three units, with one and one-half to six hours of fieldwork per week (no lecture).

Instructor: Putnam

Bridging the Arts Seminar: Read Less [-]

ART 198 Directed Group Study 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 10 Week Session, Summer 2023 10 Week Session, Spring 2023 This is a variable (1-3) unit student-facilitated course with a P/NP grading option. Must be sponsored by a ladder-rank Art Practice professor. Topics to be related to art practice. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Upper division standing

Additional Format: Three to nine hours of directed group study per week.

ART 199 Supervised Independent Study for Advanced Undergraduates 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 This is a variable (1-4) unit Independent Study course sponsored by a ladder-rank Art Practice professor. This course is open to declared Art Practice majors in their third or fourth year, and requires consent of the faculty. This course can be taken as an Independent Study, and is also the course number for enrolling in the Worth Ryder Art Gallery Internship Program, the Honors Studio Program, and for Art Practice DeCal facilitation. This course does not count toward the upper division studio requirement for the Art Practice major. Supervised Independent Study for Advanced Undergraduates: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Course does not satisfy major requirement for art.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0-0 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1.5-7.5 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Zero hour of independent study per week. One and one-half to seven and one-half hours of independent study per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to ten hours of independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Supervised Independent Study for Advanced Undergraduates: Read Less [-]

ART N199 Supervised Independent Study for Advanced Undergraduates 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2004 10 Week Session This course is for students wishing to pursue an interest not represented in the curriculum by developing an individual program of study supervised by a faculty member. Study may involve creative projects, research. Supervised Independent Study for Advanced Undergraduates: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor, major adviser, and department chair

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Hours to be arranged.

Contact Information

345 Anthropology and Art Practice Building

Phone: 510-642-2582

Fax: 510-643-0884

Chair/Professor

Ronald Rael

[email protected]

Student Services Advisor

Onisha Barham

[email protected]

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Home » Online Education

Online Education

Studying art and design online at the Academy of Art University offers you the same hands-on education you’ll receive on campus, and you can do it from anywhere in the world and on your schedule. Online classes are taught by the same instructors who teach on campus—most are working professionals employed in the disciplines they teach.

The Academy’s online classes provide you with:

  • Written class content
  • Live and taped demos
  • An online portal for uploading your coursework for critique
  • Video and written critiques from your instructors and fellow students
  • Opportunities to collaborate on projects with classmates

Flexible Learning

Explore over 120 degree programs available 100% online on demand and in real time, or virtually on Zoom.

How Our Online Program Works

Academy of Art University is ranked as one of the top art and design online programs in the world. Our accredited online courses utilize custom-built content taught by instructors who are top industry professionals to give you the flexibility to earn your degree on your own terms.

Online Learning Options

Now is the time to get started! Defy the ordinary with us and create an extraordinary future for yourself!

Traditional Online Courses Asynchronous learning is all about flexibility. Asynchronous courses are a mix of video lecture content, written content, recorded audio, interactive slideshows, virtual libraries, exchanges across discussion boards or social media platforms, and hands-on work. You will complete one module a week and upload your work for critique.

Virtual Online Courses (via Zoom) You will attend our regularly scheduled on-campus courses from wherever you are in the world via Zoom in real time, learning alongside on-campus students. You will be a welcome participant in all classroom projects and team assignments. Best of all, your work will be critiqued by your classmates and instructors just as if you were an on-campus student.

Alumni Success

Online classes at Academy of Art University allowed me to stay in Dallas and still connect to a world of creative inspiration.

coursework for art major

Academy of Art University’s Online Education provides me the privilege to receive quality education while staying with my family in Hong Kong. The program’s flexibility gives me great freedom and I have especially benefited from the online career talks which helped me land my current position at an animation studio.

coursework for art major

My career today wouldn’t be possible without the Academy’s flexible online program and its accreditation. Studying online allowed me to balance time with my daughter Adeline and cultivate my skills.

coursework for art major

Tools and Resources

Online students have access to an incredible array of tools and resources, including:

  • Free subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud 
  • An extensive online library, with e-books, full-text periodical articles, images and more
  • An online music library, with thousands of files for use in assignments and projects
  • Tutorials and instructional videos
  • A VIP guest speaker series and access to the series archive
  • Career Counseling
  • Collaborations with industry professionals

Online Student Academic Support

The Academy’s Online Student Academic Support network is here to provide you with all the help you might need to succeed at the Academy. Support is available for both undergraduate and graduate students. The Academy Resource Center (ARC) supports online students in:

  • Online learning strategies
  • Time management and project planning
  • Improving grades
  • Communicating with instructors
  • Developing and improving study skills

Start Your Career

Get Started

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  • Catalog Home

Against a dark background, bright orange molten glass is poured into an open mold in the Glass Lab Hot Shop

The highly ranked Department of Art’s degree programs provide creative students with the critical and artistic skills needed to excel in contemporary, multidisciplinary art and design practices. The art curriculum fosters positive collaboration, the creation of innovative and technically advanced art works, and encourages the sharing of diverse points of view. Students can pair t he B.S. Art degree with many different majors  on campus in order to work toward specific career goals.

Degree programs feature a rigorous foundation program, a set of six courses that students often complete by participating in the popular Contemporary Art & Artists First-Year Interest Group (FIG), before branching out into one or more  specialized areas :

  • 4D Digital Media
  • 4D Video and Performance
  • Drawing/Painting
  • Graphic Design
  • Metals/Jewelry
  • Printmaking/Book Arts
  • Photography
  • Wood/Furniture

The department offers five ways to complete a degree:

  • The Bachelor of Science in Art degree
  • The Bachelor of Science in Art degree with Graphic Design option
  • The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
  • The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Graphic Design option
  • The Bachelor of Science in Art Education degree

Potential Careers for Artists  include: creative director, content marketing manager, arts coordinator  and studio manager, ce ramics, glassblowing, metal fabrication, illustration, commercial or fine arts  photographer, primary/secondary school art teacher, gallerist, or studio artist. Our graduates also work  as community arts organizers, user experience designers, technical assis tants for major film companies,  jewelry designers and fabricators, book designers, museum preparator and more !

The BFA degree is often selected by students wishing to develop a refined visual art portfolio in  preparation for a career as a professional artist or designer, and/or for graduate study. The B.S.-Art degree  requires 45 studio art credits, while the BFA requir es 72 studio art credits.

All studio art majors begin their undergraduate career in the B.S. - Art program. After completing the  foundations and studio breadth coursework, and going through the proper advising steps, students can  declare one of the other a rt programs, such as a BFA or the BFA - Graphic Design Named Option.

The Bachelor of Science in Art Education provides essential preparation for careers in art education.  Graduates of the Art Ed program earn a B.S. - Art Education degree, a Wisconsin teaching licens e in K - 12 art  education, and gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to teach the visual arts in public and private  schools, at the elementary and secondary levels, and in community settings such as art museums, maker  spaces and senior centers.

The Depa rtment of Art believes that hardworking students who learn to harness and nurture their  creative energies today will be the people influencing progress tomorrow. Come join us!

Program Admission Overview

The Art–B.S. degree program currently admits on-campus students to begin in the fall, spring, and summer. Requirements and selection criteria may be modified from one application/admission period to the next. Potential applicants should consult the School of Education's Undergraduate Admissions page for eligibility requirements prior to submitting an application.

Entering the School of Education

Prospective uw–madison applicants.

Prospective applicants to UW–Madison are strongly encouraged to submit a portfolio to the Department of Art for review. Though a portfolio is not required, it does provide the art department an opportunity to make a recommendation on the applicant's behalf to UW–Madison's Office of Admissions and Recruitment. The Office of Admissions and Recruitment makes final determinations regarding the admission status of all applicants. Additional information, including submission guidelines, is available on the How to Apply page of the art department's website.

NEW and CURRENT UW–MADISON STUDENTS

New freshmen and off-campus transfers are admitted directly to the Art–B.S. degree program. Students planning on declaring the Art-B.S.: Graphic Design named option should first declare Art-B.S. The successful completion of ART 102 Two-Dimensional Design and ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms is required to declare the named option. All other on-campus students interested in becoming Art students must follow the application procedures outlined below.

PROSPECTIVE TRANSFER STUDENTS

Applicants not already enrolled on the UW–Madison campus must be admissible to the university to enroll in a School of Education program. Admission to UW–Madison requires a separate application and admission process. See UW–Madison  Office of Admissions and Recruitment  for application information. BFA candidates cannot transfer directly into the Art–BFA degree program; instead, they will be admitted to campus as if pursuing the Art–B.S. degree program (ART classification) and can apply for the BFA program once enrolled on campus. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to meet with the art department advisor prior to coming to campus; call 608-262-1660 to schedule an appointment. Prospective transfer students are strongly advised to meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office in advance of their application; to schedule, call 608-262-1651.

STUDENTS WITH A PREVIOUS DEGREE

Prospective applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office in advance of their application. Consultations with advisors are available in person or via telephone; to schedule, call 608-262-1651.

Applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree are admitted to the School of Education as either an  Education Special   student  or a  second degree student , depending on their interests and academic background. Admission as an Education Special student indicates that that the student has an interest in pursuing certification in a subject area studied during the initial degree; another degree is not awarded for this "certification only" coursework. Second degree students are seeking a second, unrelated degree from the School of Education, which may, or may not, include teacher certification. Candidates for limited enrollment programs must meet all admission eligibility requirements for the program and must compete with the eligible applicants for program admission. More information is available  here .

Application and Admission

On-campus students should contact an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Art to discuss their interest in pursuing the Art–B.S. degree program. This meeting is required and can be scheduled using Starfish, or by contacting the Department of Art at 608-262-1660. An application to the Art–B.S. degree program will be completed after this meeting.

Criteria for Admission

  • Cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 based on UW–Madison campus coursework, as modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule (detailed below).
  • If applying for named option in Graphic Design, successful completion of ART 102 Two-Dimensional Design and ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms .
  • Filing of all required paperwork, including professional program application and transcripts. Application must be signed by the art department advisor.

Last 60 Credits Rule

Two grade point averages will be calculated to determine candidates' eligibility to programs. GPAs will be calculated using

  • all transferable college level coursework attempted, and
  • the last 60 credits attempted.

The higher GPA of these two will be used for purposes of determining eligibility. If fewer than 60 credits have been attempted, all credits will be used to calculate the GPA. Graded graduate coursework will also be used in all GPA calculations. ("Attempted" coursework indicates coursework for which a grade has been earned.) For more information on this rule, see  this link .

University General Education Requirements

School of education liberal studies requirements, program structure, art foundations program, aesthetics requirements, required studio foundations courses, required studio breadth courses, elective studio courses, areas of concentration.

  • Art: Graphic Design, B.S.

Elective Coursework

Graduation requirements, degree audit (dars), university degree requirements.

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide .

All students are required to complete a minimum of 40 credits of Liberal Studies coursework. This requirement provides an opportunity to do some academic exploration beyond the scope of the major. Students take courses in areas of particular interest and also have an opportunity to sample the wide selection of courses offered across the university. Coursework is required in humanities, social studies, science, and cultural and historical studies. Some elective coursework is also needed to reach the required number of credits.

The School of Education’s Liberal Studies Requirements automatically satisfy most of the University General Education Requirements outlined above , including ethnic studies, humanities/literature, social studies, and science. Students pursuing most School of Education degree programs may also complete Communication Part B, Quantitative Reasoning Part A, and Quantitative Reasoning Part B through courses required by their degree program. If a student cannot complete a General Education Requirement within the curriculum of their chosen School of Education program, academic advisors can offer suggestions for courses that meet the requirement and augment the student’s primary area of study.

A basic outline of the liberal studies is included below. Students must consult the detailed version of the requirements for information about course selection and approved course options.

Humanities, 9 credits

All students must complete a minimum of 9 credits to include:

  • Humanities Electives

Social Studies (Social Science)

All students must complete a minimum of 9 credits. Teacher certification programs and Kinesiology have unique requirements in this category.

  • Biological Science
  • Physical Science
  • Laboratory Science
  • Science Electives

Cultural and Historical Studies

All students must complete three requirements (9 credits) met by separate courses. Any of these courses can also be used to meet the Humanities or Social Studies (Social Sciences) requirements if it has the relevant breadth designation.

  • Ethnic Studies
  • U.S./European History
  • Global Perspectives

Complete  Liberal Studies Electives to total 40 Credits.

The bachelor of science (B.S.) degree program in art has five components: 

  • Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines. The university-wide General Education requirements also encourage this breadth of study.
  • The Foundations Program requires six interrelated studio and aesthetics courses designed to prepare first-year students for further study in studio art and design.
  • Aesthetics coursework gives students an opportunity to study both the history of art and contemporary developments in the visual arts.
  • Major requirements permit in-depth studies of studio art. After taking courses in the Foundations area, students complete coursework in each of the four studio areas: 2D, 3D, 4D, and Graphics. B.S.–Art majors are required to reach an advanced level in at least one studio discipline.
  • Elective credits to pursue individual areas of interest, such as a second major or additional studio credits. Many B.S.–Art students complete an additional major from the College of Letters & Science. Some use this major to complement their art preparation (e.g., focusing on written communication for an eventual career in advertising), or a subject that complements their interest in art. Students interested in medical illustration, for example, may wish to take courses in the biological sciences. Others select majors that reflect interests completely unrelated to art.

The Art Foundations Program is a series of interrelated studio and lecture courses to be taken by art and art education majors in their first year as preparation for further study in studio art and design. The program addresses the fundamentals of art through investigation of formal, technical and conceptual issues. The drawing, 2D and 3D design, digital media, and art historical lecture classes are designed to expose, broaden, and challenge students' understanding of contemporary art production.

Art foundations classes are meant to be taken concurrently and the information covered in them is interrelated. Students completing the Foundations Program should enroll in ART 102 Two-Dimensional Design , ART 212 Drawing Methods & Concepts , and ART 108 Foundations of Contemporary Art for the fall semester and complete ART 104 Three-Dimensional Design , ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms , and ART 208 Current Directions in Art in the spring. 

Most freshman art majors complete their foundations courses through participation in the very popular  Contemporary Art and Artists First-Year Interest Group (FIG), which also creates a network of corresponding experiences and a peer community that will continue throughout the program and often beyond graduation. Students in FIGs enjoy studying with instructors dedicated to serving first year students, the opportunity to integrate related ideas from all three classes, and the ready-made opportunities to form support networks and lasting friendships.

Additional information about the Foundations Program is available on the departmental website.

 If taken prior to summer, 2018, ART 438 may count toward either the aesthetics or studio requirements, but not both. Effective summer, 2018, it may only count toward the aesthetics requirement. This course is designed for students pursuing graphic design.

Major Requirements

The requirements listed here are effective for students admitted to the program effective summer 2016. Students admitted prior to this time can find their major requirements listed in previous editions of the Undergraduate Catalog and on their DARS reports.

Complete a minimum of 45 studio credits, including the specific coursework below. No more than 58 studio credits will be counted toward the minimum 120 credits required for the B.S. degree. Thus, if a student wishes to graduate with the minimum of 120 credits, 62 of these credits must be "non-studio" coursework.

Major residency requirement: Students completing the B.S. degree must complete at least 24 credits of major studio coursework in residence on the UW–Madison campus. 

Art and BFA degree students have priority access to studio courses. Note: Some courses are offered for 3 or 4 credits; it is preferred that the course be taken for 4 credits.

Complete the following:

Select one course in each of the 2D, 3D, 4D, and Graphics areas. Students will also take ART 508 at least once and complete a 500-level or 600-level art studio course in at least one discipline.

Select one of the following:

Art Colloquium

Advanced studio requirement.

Complete a 500-level or 600-level art studio course in at least one discipline. ART 508 , ART 608 , and ART 699 will not fulfill this requirement.

Select elective studio courses to reach the minimum of 45 credits.

Although a concentration is not required, students may wish to select a sequence of related courses to develop an area of interest.  Concentrations in multi-media, 2D studio, 3D studio, and printmaking are just some of the concentrations listed on the art department's website. Students wishing to concentrate in graphic design should declare the Graphic Design Named Option when eligible..

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B.S.–Art students must complete additional coursework to reach the minimum 120 credits required for the degree. These students must complete a minimum of 62 non-studio credits. Another way of describing this requirement is that only 13 additional studio credits beyond the required 45 credits can count toward the 120 credits. Students interested in completing more than 58 total studio credits may wish to consider the BFA degree program, which requires at least 72 studio credits.

Completing an additional major . Students choosing the B.S.–Art option often also choose to complete an additional major in the College of Letters & Science. Review  Academic Policies and Procedures to find detailed information about declaring an additional L&S major while a student in the School of Education.

Completing two degree programs . Students also occasionally choose a second degree in another campus school or college. For instance, students may choose an Art degree program as well as a science degree program in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. See Academic Policies and Procedures for more detailed information about the requirements and the approvals necessary to be permitted to complete dual degrees. Important note: Some campus schools/colleges do not permit dual degrees; at the present time this includes the College of Letters & Science and the College of Engineering. These policies do not permit students to complete, for example, an art degree program and a journalism degree program.

Students interested in additional majors or dual degrees should consult carefully with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office. Students may be referred to the associate dean for additional consultation and approvals.

GPA and other Graduation Requirements

Requirements are based on UW–Madison coursework.

  • 2.5 minimum cumulative grade point average. This may be modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule.
  • Cumulative major grade point average: 2.5 cumulative grade point average in all major studio coursework.
  • Upper-level major coursework: 2.5 cumulative grade point average in all upper-level major coursework (Art courses numbered 214 and above, excluding ART 236 and ART 338 ).
  • Major Residency: Must complete at least 24 credits of major coursework in residence on the UW–Madison campus.
  • Senior Residency: Degree candidates must complete their last 30 credits in residence on the UW–Madison campus, excluding retroactive credits and credits granted by examination.
  • Total Credits: A minimum of 120 credits to include at least 62 non-studio credits are required for graduation in the Art–B.S. degree program.

UW–Madison uses “DARS” to document a student's progress toward the completion of their degree, including any additional majors and certificates. A DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report shows all the requirements for completing a degree and, against courses that are planned or completed, shows the requirements that have been met, and those that are unmet. A report can offer suggestions about courses that may be taken to meet specific requirements and can assist in the academic planning and enrollment process. Students can access a DARS report in the Course Search & Enroll app or Student Center via My UW.

DARS also has a "what-if" function. This feature makes it possible to request a DARS report as if pursuing another program, major or certificate. It is an excellent tool if considering a new or additional area of study. School of Education students in a pre-professional classification such as Pre-Elementary (PRE), or Pre-Kinesiology should request a "what if" DARS report of their professional program of interest.

More information on how to request a DARS report is available on the registrar’s website .

DARS is not intended to replace student contact with academic advisers. It creates more time in an advising appointment to discuss course options, research opportunities, graduate school, or issues of personal interest or concern to students.

DARS is used as the document of record for degree program, major and certificate completion in the School of Education.  

  • Learn the fundamentals of art and design through investigation of form, technology and concept within a cohort of like-minded and diverse artists and designers.
  • Develop skills in research, creative problem solving, and professional practices.
  • Expand knowledge of historical, thematic, critical, and theoretical issues as a means of strengthening verbal and visual vocabulary.
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of distinct concepts and practices in two-dimensional media, three-dimensional media, four-dimensional media, and in a choice of printmaking, photography, or graphic design media.
  • Demonstrate competency at an advanced level in at least one discipline of student's choice. (Graphic design named option: Generate advanced level competency in graphic design.)

Bachelor of Science in Art: Sample Four-Year Plan

This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report, the Guide, and the Course Search and Enroll app to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. C onsult with your academic advisor(s) to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.

 At least 62 “non-studio” credits must be taken to complete the B.S. Art degree. Aesthetics courses are considered to be non-studio. No more than 58 studio credits can be applied toward the 120 credits.

Art Department Advising

Students declared in the B.S.–Art or BFA–Art major (including graphic design named options), as well as potential transfers into art, will meet with Undergraduate Art Program Advisor Matthew Mauk,  [email protected] , or through  [email protected]

Prospective freshmen and art studio/graphic design certificate students will meet with Prospective Student and Certificate Advisor Mercedes Brandt,  [email protected] , or through  [email protected]

Advisors are located at 6241 Humanities Building, 455 North Park Street.

Current Art majors can schedule an appointment with Matthew online through the  Starfish app  in MyUW. Certificate students can also use the Starfish app  to schedule an appointment with Mercedes. Appointments can also be made via email or, by calling 608-262-1660. Students are also strongly encouraged to confer with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office on a regular basis, see below.

School of Education Advising

Academic advising in the school of education.

Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, Academic Advisors are here to assist students with the adjustment to college, understanding their degree and career goals, and connecting them to resources. Advisors support prospective and current School of Education students in all programs through:

  • course selection
  • mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students
  • understanding degree requirements and progression
  • interpreting academic policies
  • helping students recognize their strengths and suggesting ways to expand their skills
  • expanding learning through activities such as study abroad, volunteering/work/internship, and by assuming leadership roles

To schedule an appointment: Current students can schedule an appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made through email at [email protected] , by calling 608-262-1651, or in person.

Career Advising in the School of Education

The School of Education Career Center provides students with the knowledge needed for connecting their classroom experiences with real-world application to develop skills needed to navigate the ever-changing world of work. Through individual appointments, events, courses, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development. 

Career and Internship Advisors are prepared to help students with:

  • Exploration of career and academic pathways
  • Cover letters
  • Job/Internship search
  • Interview preparation
  • Mock interviews
  • Graduate school search, applications and decisions
  • Negotiating job or internship offers
  • Professional networking
  • Connecting with employers

Students are encouraged to meet with their Career and Internship Advisor early in their college experience to take full advantage of the resources and support available.

To make an appointment: log into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard.

For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at [email protected] .

Potential careers for Art majors include: animation, ceramics, glassblowing, metal fabrication, graphic and multimedia design, illustration, videography, photography, teaching, and gallery art. Our graduates also work as community arts organizers, user experience designers, medical imagists, technical assistants for major film companies, jewelry designers and fabricators, book designers, and more.

Students develop important skills that employers look for, including:

  • Diverse forms of communication, personal expression and connection
  • Collaboration
  • Creative problem solving
  • Adaptability, agility, and the ability to learn new skills quickly
  • Passion for their craft

Applied experiences, including paid internships, apprenticeship programs, career treks, and professional networking events, are available to UW Art students.

Information about faculty, staff, and other contributors to the Department of Art can be found on the department's website .

The Wisconsin Experience

UW–Madison’s vision for the total student experience, the Wisconsin Experience , combines learning in and out of the classroom. Tied to the Wisconsin Idea and steeped in long-standing institutional values—the commitment to the truth, shared participation in decision-making, and service to local and global communities—the Wisconsin Experience describes how students develop and integrate these core values across their educational experience.

UW–Madison encourages students to mindfully engage in four core concepts throughout their time on campus: Empathy & Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action .

Since its inception the School of Education has embraced the concepts of the Wisconsin Experience, providing opportunities for students to learn in venues beyond the traditional classroom. Our students also independently seek out related activities and experiences, thus creating their own unique Wisconsin Experience.

Art and the Wisconsin Experience

The UW-Madison Art department provides a wide range of opportunities for students on campus and beyond. Available resources include courses that connect with the community, job opportunities, the chance to show work, and the ability to manage campus student organizations. 

Visiting Artists - The Art department is unique in its ability to bring in weekly visiting artists through the Art Colloquium series. A professional national or international artist comes to campus to provide an artist’s talk, studio visits, and general conversation about artmaking with students. Individual courses often bring in visiting artists throughout the semester to provide workshops on unique techniques from those who specialize in particular processes.

Career Advising and Internships - The School of Education Career Center has a designated advisor for art students who can provide connections with hourly campus employment, internships, and career options after graduation. The Art department offers courses that focus on internships in the arts and many studios hire hourly workers who learn the basics of maintaining an artist’s studio space. The BFA capstone course also provides detailed instruction in writing a resume, cover letter, grant proposals, and residency applications.

Student Organizations - Student organizations are an excellent opportunity for art majors to establish connections with working artists, host workshops for the community, and to raise funds for travel. Fresh Hot Press (printmaking), AIGA (graphic design), Mad Gaffers (glassblowing), and Art for Change (activism) are just a few of the art-related options . Student organizations are led by undergraduates and graduate students, with several using fundraising throughout the year to attend national conferences. Overall, there are multiple ways for undergraduates to refine their professional and technical skills in relation to their future career goals in the arts through student organizations.

Exhibiting Artwork - It is important for any artist to consistently show their work, and the Art Department does its part to provide this professional development to our students. Undergraduates have the opportunity to reserve one of our three large-scale galleries to install their work for documentation and submission of future exhibitions. Students also work with faculty to submit their pieces into galleries throughout Madison, Milwaukee, and nationally. The Art Department works with students in many ways to help promote their work and develop the skills necessary to establish a thriving career in the world of art.

Information about scholarships, academic and career advising, study abroad opportunities, student diversity services, and other resources for students in the School of Education can be found on the school's Resources page.

  • How to Get in
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Contact Information

Matthew Mauk, Undergraduate Art Department Advisor [email protected] 608-262-1660 6241 Humanities Building, 455 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706

School of Education Student Services [email protected] 608-262-1651 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, Suite 139, Madison, WI 53706 https://education.wisc.edu/academics/undergrad-majors/academic-advising/

Department of Art 608-262-1660 6241 Humanities Building, 455 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706 https://art.wisc.edu/

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Studio Art Major

Program Director: Brandon Morse

The Department of Art provides its students with the technical and conceptual tools needed to make innovative contributions to a visual culture in which traditional boundaries between the visual arts, design, film, video, and architecture have become increasingly blurred. The accomplished faculty members bring their professional experiences to the studio, providing a contemporary context for the development of skills and ideas. The department’s creative environment encourages creative problem solving, interdisciplinary experimentation, and the production of images, objects, and experiences that reflect a sophisticated visual literacy. From a shared foundation emphasizing traditional fundamentals of art and design, students move into media concentrations that encourage interdisciplinary interaction, particularly in developing digital technologies. This flexible interaction between traditional and new media is central to the department’s vision and the success of its mission.

In a society that increasingly defines itself in visual terms, artists and designers are critical in shaping its future. The creative atmosphere of the Department of Art’s studios is a fertile ground for the development of the complex skills and ideas needed to navigate and contribute to an evolving visual culture. Our location, just outside Washington, DC, and less than an hour away from Baltimore provides access to numerous museums, galleries, embassies and international institutions, which brings important real-world experience to students in our program.

Admission to the Major

The Department of Art offers three tracks to the B.A. degree. Track 1 is an open major, which requires no portfolio review, and requires 48 total credits for completion. All majors enter the department in Track 1.

Tracks 2 and 3 are specialized tracks with portfolio reviews for admission in the junior and senior years, and require 60 total credits for completion. Track 2 is for a B.A. with an Advanced Specialization in Digital Media, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Intermedia. Track 3 is for a B.A. with a concentration in Graphic Design.

See the department website for more information: http://art.umd.edu .

Placement in Courses

With appropriate AP or IB credit and scores, students may receive credit for ARTT100 , ARTT110 , or both. Contact department advisors for more information.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to manipulate form and content to produce artwork with visual integrity that expresses concepts coherently.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate inventiveness and creativity.
  • Students will be able to produce work that reflects concerns in contemporary visual art, including social, political and historical issues centered around diversity, equity and inclusion towards a broader understanding of the discipline in society.
  • Students will be able to produce artworks that display excellent quality in presentation.

The Department of Art offers three tracks to a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.). All majors enter the Department in Track 1, the open B.A., and take a required group of six Foundation courses (18 credits). After completion of the Foundation courses, students may continue in Track 1 without portfolio review, or choose to submit a portfolio of work completed in Track 1 courses for admission into Track 2 or Track 3. Portfolio reviews for both specializations will take place during the spring semester, usually during late March.  

  • Track 1: B.A. in Studio Art. This is an open program with no portfolio admission requirement.  This track provides ample space for outside electives, encourages interdisciplinary interaction, and provides double major or double degree possibilities.  The Art Education Curriculum works with Track 1.  Credit requirements: 36 credits in Studio Art, and 12 credits in supporting courses in Art History and/or Art Theory, for a total of 48 credits.
  • Track 2: B.A. in Studio Art with Advanced Specialization. This track is restricted to students admitted by competitive portfolio review, and is aimed at students who envision graduate study or professional careers in art.  Students accepted into this track will complete, in addition to the requirements for Track 1, a 12 credit advanced specialization in specific media areas, including ARTT481  Advanced Specialization Seminar.  Areas of specialization include:  Digital Media, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Intermedia.  Credit requirements:  48 credits listed in Track 1 plus 12 credits in Advanced Specializations, for a total of 60 credits.
  • Track 3: B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. This track is restricted to students admitted into the Graphic Design concentration through a competitive portfolio review. This program provides a pre-professional orientation emphasizing interactive design, graphic design theory, and interdisciplinary research. Students accepted into the Graphic Design program must complete a specific sequence of courses at both the 3xx- and 4xx-level.  Graphic Design courses are only available to students who have been admitted to the Graphic Design concentration.  Credit requirements: 21 credits in Foundation and studio art electives, and 12 credits in supporting courses in Art History and/or Theory ( ARTT361 Design Literacy: Decoding Our Visual Culture, a Graphic Design Concentration requirement, satisfies 3 credits of the supporting area for Graphic Design students) for a total of 60 credits.

Students interested in Track 2 may apply after the completion of at least two 3xx-level courses, plus completion or enrollment in at least one 400-level ARTT course. Students may re-apply one time.

Students interested in Track 3 must have completed or be enrolled in the required Foundation courses to apply to the specialization.  The strict course requirements in Graphic Design make early application to Track 3 optimal.  Students may re-apply one time.

Transfer students who have completed courses equivalent to the Foundation and intermediate courses at UMCP may apply immediately to Tracks 2 or 3 if they choose.

These are competitive programs with a limit of approximately 20 new students per year in the combined Art areas, and approximately 20 students per year in Graphic Design.  For information about the Portfolio review process for Tracks 2 and 3 please see the Department of Art website.

No course grade below the grade of C- may count toward the major. An overall GPA of 2.0 in the major is required for graduation.

Track 1: B.A. in Studio Art

Department recommends ARTH351 : Twentieth Century 1945 to present

Track 2: B.A. in Studio Art with an Advanced Specialization

Advanced media courses ending in 8 or 9 are repeatable up to 12 credits.

Digital Media

3 cr. of ARTT498  may be substituted for ARTT479

Track 2 students only. Students in Department Honors Program may substitute the Honors Seminar for this course.

3 cr. of ARTT498  may be substituted for ARTT479 cr.

Printmaking

3 cr. of ARTT498  may be substituted for ARTT448 credit.

3 cr. of ARTT498  may be substituted for 438 credit.

3 cr. of ARTT498  may be used for 4xx credit.

Track 3:  B.A. in Studio Art w/ Concentration in Graphic Design

Intermediate and Advanced Graphic Design courses are restricted to students who have been accepted into the Design Concentration by an application process and competitive portfolio review. All Track 3 students must satisfy the following requirements:

One course of 3xx-/4xx-level ARTH or Art Theory electives is satisfied by ARTT361 under Graphic Design required courses.

Satisfies 3cr. of the Art History or Theory supporting area.

Graphic Design Elective Courses

Not all courses are offered every semester. Some are offered during Summer and Winter terms.

Other Requirements for the Major

Please go to Department of Art Website for more information:  www.art.umd.edu

Click  here  for roadmaps for four-year plans in the College of Arts and Humanities.

Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:

  • http://4yearplans.umd.edu
  • the  Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy  section of this catalog

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Visual arts major.

Visual arts courses provide you with practical experience in painting, photography, drawing, digital imaging, interface design, book art, figure drawing, modeling and simulation, sculpture, and more. The major will enhance your understanding of art both within the history of culture and as individual human achievement. Lower-level courses emphasize the fundamentals of drawing, color, and form; upper-level courses encourage the students to develop a more individual conceptual approach and style, within the context of historical precedents and traditions.

A major in visual arts prepares you for further training as an artist, teacher, or architect, as well as in related fields such as advertising or design. Department offerings emphasize the analysis and articulation of visual concepts and processes as they relate to a broader education in the humanities and sciences.

  • Areas of study include art history, and visual & media studies
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  • Required: Advanced Visual Practice, Senior Capstone in Visual Arts
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2023-24 edition.

The Department of Art in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts takes a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary view of contemporary art practice. With an emphasis on experimentation and innovation, the Department of Art is viewed as a leader in genres addressing cultural identity and emerging technologies. The Department provides students a solid theoretical and technical foundation from which to approach art making as both process and product. Each student is encouraged to develop an individual, disciplined direction approach to media, materials, and techniques. To this end, the curriculum provides studio experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital imaging, video, performance art, and new media. Visiting artists, theorists, curators, and other arts professionals are an integral part of the program.

The Art Culture Technology (ACT) building houses the ROOM Gallery, CATALYST student gallery, undergraduate honors studios, the Digital Filmmaking Studio, department administrative offices, faculty studios, and graduate student studios. The University Art Gallery provides a venue for student shows as well as faculty and guest artist presentations. The original Art buildings have been seismically retro-fitted and extensively remodeled and renovated.

Applicants must present a portfolio of 10 images of recent original artwork or up to three videos totaling no more than 5 minutes in duration as well as a one-page artist statement. All portfolios are reviewed by the Art Department faculty who evaluate applicants’ creative works and ideas, as well as the suitability of this program for the applicants’ areas of interest. The work included should reflect applicants’ creative strengths both formally and conceptually. The portfolio may include work in any medium[s] including time-based artwork. Self-initiated projects (artwork created independently of classroom assignments/exercises) are especially encouraged.

Requirements for the B.A. in Art

All students must meet the university requirements ., school requirements: none..

Departmental Requirements for the Major in Art

Honors in Art

The Honors in Art program gives qualifying students a more rigorous course of study in contemporary art practices, thus challenging superior students beyond the scholarly requirements demanded of the Art major. This program is designed to further develop students’ critical, analytical, research, and technical skills. It is particularly suited to those wishing to go on to graduate school and/or exhibition careers.

Eligibility Requirements

One year in good standing as an Art major;

 An overall GPA of 3.2 or higher with a GPA of at least 3.4 in ART courses.

Completion of:

Application Deadline

The annual application deadline is May 15. Late applications will not be accepted.

Application Requirements

All applicants must upload the following at https://ctsa.slideroom.com . There is a fee associated with submission of materials via Slideroom.

A portfolio of up to 10 images and/or other media samples. Images/media samples must include title of the work, size, year, medium, description, and duration of the work, if time-based. 

A brief statement (250 words maximum) of research and career goals; and

UCI transcript (downloadable from StudentAccess).

The applicant's name, UCI student ID number, and email address must be printed legibly on all submitted materials.

All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than the end of spring quarter finals week.

Students accepted to the program will share the Catherine Lord Undergraduate Honors Studio for the entire academic year. Students accepted to the program must actively participate in programmatic activities. Students must follow the Department's studio occupancy guidelines in order to maintain their studios. GPAs will be reviewed each quarter to ensure programmatic requirements.

Beyond fulfilling regular courses for the Art major, honors students must take the following:

Honors Exhibition ART 198  (this course will prepare students for a mandatory, group interdisciplinary honors gallery exhibition to take place during either winter or spring quarter of the student's matriculating year, at which time students will defend their thesis work to faculty on the Undergraduate Committee).

Non-compliance with any of the requirements will result in dismissal from the program.

NOTE: Students may be assessed a course materials fee for certain courses. Consult the online Schedule of Classes on the University Registrar's website for the most up-to-date information about which courses require a materials fee and the amount of the fee.

Art Sample Program for Freshman

Departmental faculty and the range of artists whose work is represented in the University Art Gallery exhibitions provide diverse career models. Some graduates go on to careers as exhibiting artists or teachers; others work in arts-related activities in museums, galleries, and artists’ organizations. A bachelor’s degree in Art is usually required as preparation for graduate-level study in Art.

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Undergraduate program.

The Division of Art offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art with four concentrations.

After completing introductory art classes, students select and complete the requirements for the concentration in Interdisciplinary Visual Art, Painting + Drawing, Photo/Media, or 3D4M: ceramics + glass + sculpture. In tandem with required studio art classes, students will advance their writing skills while completing coursework in the history of art. Seniors complete capstone work with the expectation of exhibiting in one or more of our six student galleries.

Students in this major have an experiential, hands-on opportunity to learn. This learning style develops a strong ability for innovation and critical thinking. Learning in the visual arts hones the important skills of problem-solving, writing, and presenting information. It develops technical proficiencies, promotes collaborations, advances a knowledge of visual literacy. This kind of learning leads to a wealth of fulfilling career opportunities. Our alums exemplify the abilities of Art majors to thrive and succeed in many different professional jobs, careers and enterprises.

An Honors in Art option is also available for eligible students.

Admission to the BA in Art

The BA in Art requires a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in order to declare the major.

Current UW Students / Freshmen

  • After completing any 5 credit 100- or 200-level studio art class at UW with a 2.5 or higher grade, meet with an Adviser to discuss the BA in Art degree requirements and concentration
  • Before you schedule your appointment with an Adviser, make sure you complete the  BA in Art Major Declaration Request Form  
  • Students are strongly encouraged to declare their major early in their academic career; University policy requires that students declare a major by the time they have accumulated 105 credits or five quarters , whichever comes last

Prospective Transfer Students

  • After admittance to the UW and on your registration date, meet with an Adviser to discuss the BA in Art degree requirements and concentration; if you completed at least 5 credits of studio art prior to transferring, you are eligible to declare the major
  • If you are participating in an Advising & Orientation (A&O) session , you will have the option to meet with an Art Adviser on your orientation day
  • A maximum of 15 transfer credits of studio art classes may be applied towards the ART credits required for the BA in Art
  • Students transferring with 90 or more credits should be prepared to declare the major during the first quarter of attendance at UW

The BA in Art does not accept postbaccalaureate applicants.

BA in Art (70 cr)

Recommended classes for the:

  • Interdisciplinary Visual Art concentration
  • Painting + Drawing concentration
  • Photo/Media concentration
  • 3D4M: ceramics + glass + sculpture concentration

We invite you to attend a Preview session for advising and information about the programs, enrichments, and opportunities for majors in School of Art + Art History + Design.

Arizona State University

Art (Art Studies) ,BA

Art (art studies), ba.

  • Program description
  • At a glance
  • Required courses (Major Map)
  • Concurrent program options
  • Admission requirements
  • Tuition information
  • Change of Major requirements
  • Attend online
  • Transfer options
  • Program learning outcomes
  • Global opportunities
  • Career opportunities
  • Contact information

Art Critic, Art Galleries, Art Librarian, Art Preservationist, Art Publications, Art Therapy, Artist, Arts Organization Consultant, Conservation, Corporate Curator, Estate Appraiser, Exhibition Coordinator, Fine Arts, Museums, arts

Leverage creativity and curiosity to make unexpected connections and discoveries in art and in all aspects of life.

The BA program in art with a concentration in art studies is a comprehensive, innovative and multidisciplinary program. Students in art studies explore a broad range of visual arts practices, work with their hands to create art and gain critical skills that support a creative lifestyle. The curriculum offers students the opportunity to develop a broad educational foundation in the arts. Students have a great deal of flexibility when designing their course of study, enabling them to focus on their individual creative aspirations. This uniquely open degree program features art history and contemporary arts practices and techniques from a variety of studio disciplines: animation, drawing, ceramics, illustration, printmaking, painting, photography and sculpture, among others. Additionally, the School of Art galleries , the Ceramics Research Center and Archive and the ASU Art Museum support a robust schedule of virtual and in-person visiting artist and scholar lectures. These events offer students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art and culture. Further augmenting the curriculum are numerous internships offered by a wide range of arts organizations.

Students can visit the art studies area of study page and art studies at ASU Online page to learn more about the program and the faculty.

  • College/school: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
  • Location: Tempe or Online , ASU Local
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics or MAT 117 College Algebra OR MAT 119 Finite Mathematics

program math intensity general

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements. First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Additional requirements:

Students meeting the university requirements for admission may matriculate in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Separate admission procedures and approvals are required for some programs within the college. Students must contact specific departments or schools for details.

First-year applicants may apply directly to the art studies program; there is no portfolio review for this major.

Transfer admission requirements:

Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards.

Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the college must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.

Students declare their Bachelor of Fine Arts concentration at the time of their ASU admission. Following admission, if students wish to change their concentration, they may meet with their School of Art academic advisor. An ASU student who would like to change majors to one offered by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A").

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.

It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local , an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.

ASU has partnered with the following institutions to enable you to do a seamless transfer.

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

  • Participate in the process of making art and through this process will effectively visualize their ideas and build their creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Develop a comprehensive toolkit for self-promotion that positions them for success in the field of art and design.
  • Articulate their place as artists in the contemporary field of art.

Global Education programs provide an opportunity for students to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens, deepen their understanding of the world and gain valuable career-building experiences. Study abroad can prove to be a vital accompaniment to any art concentration, allowing for broad historical and archaeological explorations. Students develop insight into the cultures and minds of some of the world's most notable artists when they experience the places that gave rise to specific artistic styles. With more than 300 options available, Global Education programs give students a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture uniquely different from their own. Study abroad encourages students to develop and broaden their intercultural sensitivity, communication skills and leadership ability, and challenges them to think differently. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students learn to adapt and persevere, and they are provided with a chance to look inside themselves in a way they haven't done before, growing their personal and professional self-confidence along the way.

A degree in the arts offers students a pathway to a rich and varied choice of careers. The School of Art programs prepare students to initiate creative careers as artists, scholars and educators in the public and private sphere.

Art graduates find employment opportunities as artists in the field, selling their works through commercial galleries and commissions and to private collectors; as museum or gallery professionals, art dealers and directors; as private school art teachers and college professors; and as community-based artists (venues might include health care settings, nonprofit agencies, and local and national public arts). Other options include working at arts agencies and public art programs or gaining admission to prestigious graduate programs across the nation.

Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Bright Outlook

School of Art | ART 102 [email protected] 480-965-8521

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Featured Review: Freshman says Yale is amazing overall! Campus is full of activities and there's always something to do. New Haven may not be the greatest city in America, but that just makes students be more active on campus and... .

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Houston, TX •

  • • Rating 4.09 out of 5   1,121 reviews

Graduate Student: Going to Rice University to attend the Shepherd School of Music at a graduate level is an experience separate from the rest of Rice. The Opera Department at Rice University has been one of the best programs in the United States producing incredible singers in the industry for a while now. Financial aid has been decreasing from full rides to having to pay a couple of thousands to attend +fees for a Master of Music. It is case by case, however. Pros: BEAUTIFUL theater that is incredible to sing in, program's very YAP reminiscent (in good and bad ways), world-class faculty, great networking opportunity, masterclasses/private audition opportunities Cons: your soul/free-time belongs to the Opera Department; if a release conflicts with the opera schedule, tough luck; there have been many issues with casting opportunities/favoritism; if you're a person of color, be prepared to be a token on all promo material; TOO many irrelevant time-consuming academics; having a car is a MUST in Houston ... Read 1,121 reviews

Acceptance rate 9%

Net price $19,902

SAT range 1490-1570

#2 Best Colleges for Art in America .

HOUSTON, TX ,

1121 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Graduate Student says Going to Rice University to attend the Shepherd School of Music at a graduate level is an experience separate from the rest of Rice. The Opera Department at Rice University has been one of the best... Pros: BEAUTIFUL theater that is incredible to sing in, program's very YAP reminiscent (in good and bad ways), world-class faculty, great networking opportunity, masterclasses/private audition... Cons: your soul/free-time belongs to the Opera Department; if a release conflicts with the opera schedule, tough luck; there have been many issues with casting opportunities/favoritism; if you're a... .

Read 1121 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 9% ,

Net Price : $19,902 ,

SAT Range : 1490-1570 ,

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

New York, NY •

  • • Rating 3.74 out of 5   100 reviews

Senior: Cooper Union, like any institution, is exactly what you make of it. After four years of the mechanical engineering program, I am more than grateful for this college experience. It's hard work, but it pays off. #ReturntoFree soon!!!! ... Read 100 reviews

Acceptance rate 22%

Net price $26,194

SAT range 1390-1530

#3 Best Colleges for Art in America .

NEW YORK, NY ,

100 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says Cooper Union, like any institution, is exactly what you make of it. After four years of the mechanical engineering program, I am more than grateful for this college experience. It's hard work, but it... .

Read 100 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 22% ,

Net Price : $26,194 ,

SAT Range : 1390-1530 ,

Oberlin College

OBERLIN, OH

  • • Rating 3.7 out of 5   680

University of Houston - Clear Lake

HOUSTON, TX

  • • Rating 3.94 out of 5   765

Western Kentucky University

BOWLING GREEN, KY

  • • Rating 3.73 out of 5   2,278

Stanford University

Stanford, CA •

  • • Rating 4.1 out of 5   1,283 reviews

Freshman: I honestly really like it here! It was my dream school and genuinely there are so many opportunities that you have access to. That said, its heat you make of it. No one will force you or push you to apply for things or cold email people. You just need to have the personal drive. Also, I love the area, its quiet, so if you're into big massive part vibes, it may not be the place for you. I love how they have options for weekends for people who don't party. Very accommodating! ... Read 1,283 reviews

Acceptance rate 4%

Net price $18,279

#4 Best Colleges for Art in America .

STANFORD, CA ,

1283 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says I honestly really like it here! It was my dream school and genuinely there are so many opportunities that you have access to. That said, its heat you make of it. No one will force you or push you to... .

Read 1283 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 4% ,

Net Price : $18,279 ,

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA •

  • • Rating 4.15 out of 5   849 reviews

Alum: Attending Harvard College was transformative. The housing system fostered a strong sense of community, facilitating academic support and social interaction. The rigorous academics, led by renowned faculty, challenged me to think critically and pursue my interests. Harvard's commitment to diversity enriched my experience, and the vibrant location in Cambridge provided endless opportunities for exploration and growth. Harvard College offered an unparalleled experience that has left an indelible mark on my life. ... Read 849 reviews

Acceptance rate 3%

Net price $19,491

SAT range 1490-1580

#5 Best Colleges for Art in America .

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

849 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Attending Harvard College was transformative. The housing system fostered a strong sense of community, facilitating academic support and social interaction. The rigorous academics, led by renowned... .

Read 849 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 3% ,

Net Price : $19,491 ,

SAT Range : 1490-1580 ,

Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI •

  • • Rating 3.76 out of 5   355 reviews

Junior: Overall I am grateful for my time at RISD so far. I am enrolled as an undergrad architecture student which often feels like a separate school from the rest of the majors, but In general, the architecture professors are very knowledgeable and are active practicing architects/engineers. It may not be worth coming to RISD due to one's financial situation, but if you do end up attending, the best part of RISD is constantly being surrounded by creative people who care about their work and care to hear about you and what you make. ... Read 355 reviews

  • grade  A minus Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 17%

Net price $39,800

SAT range 1340-1510

#6 Best Colleges for Art in America .

PROVIDENCE, RI ,

355 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Overall I am grateful for my time at RISD so far. I am enrolled as an undergrad architecture student which often feels like a separate school from the rest of the majors, but In general, the... .

Read 355 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A minus ,

Acceptance Rate : 17% ,

Net Price : $39,800 ,

SAT Range : 1340-1510 ,

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University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA •

  • • Rating 3.9 out of 5   1,359 reviews

Freshman: It's important to acknowledge that college experiences vary greatly from person to person, and while some may face challenges or difficulties, others may find their time in college to be transformative and rewarding. Instead of focusing on the negatives, perhaps you could consider exploring constructive criticism or discussing specific areas for improvement in the college experience. This approach allows for a more balanced and productive discussion that can lead to positive changes and improvements in the education system. If you have specific concerns about your college experience, it might be helpful to address them directly with the appropriate channels within your institution or seek support from counselors or advisors. Remember, challenges are a natural part of any educational journey, and there are often resources available to help navigate them. ... Read 1,359 reviews

Acceptance rate 7%

Net price $26,123

SAT range 1500-1570

#7 Best Colleges for Art in America .

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

1359 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says It's important to acknowledge that college experiences vary greatly from person to person, and while some may face challenges or difficulties, others may find their time in college to be... .

Read 1359 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 7% ,

Net Price : $26,123 ,

SAT Range : 1500-1570 ,

Williams College

Williamstown, MA •

  • • Rating 3.85 out of 5   317 reviews

Sophomore: This is a charming, safe space to get away from everything. There is nature everywhere you look, and there are SO MANY resources for when you're struggling. Because it's so small, it's an extremely safe school, and you don't have to worry about your possessions disappearing if you leave them somewhere. However, the size also means that there aren't a lot of crazy events with LOTS of people (this can be comforting but sometimes isolating). Most people have cars, though, so even if you don't have one, some of your friends are bound to, and going on trips over the weekend is a common pastime and super fun. Returning to your safe little home after is so lovely, and you can get the best of both worlds. Winter is tough because of the cold and seasonal depression but that happens everywhere in New England. If you can't afford to go somewhere warm over breaks, Williams gives students who receive financial aid like 900 dollars a semester (not necessarily enough for all needs, but it's sweet). ... Read 317 reviews

Acceptance rate 8%

Net price $20,965

SAT range 1480-1570

#8 Best Colleges for Art in America .

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA ,

317 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says This is a charming, safe space to get away from everything. There is nature everywhere you look, and there are SO MANY resources for when you're struggling. Because it's so small, it's an extremely... .

Read 317 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 8% ,

Net Price : $20,965 ,

SAT Range : 1480-1570 ,

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI •

  • • Rating 3.96 out of 5   4,718 reviews

Sophomore: The University of Michigan takes a lot of pride in calling itself the best university in the world, but while finishing up my sophomore year I could not agree more. There is such a healthy balance between challenging courses that make students competitive prospects in their next step in life and opportunities to destress and enjoy the "best years of our lives", from watching our football team win the national championship to simply receiving free treats around campus from staff. From my personal experience, I cannot offer any suggestions for change for this amazing university! I have met some of the most kindhearted and motivated people in friends and professors while here and I cannot imagine attending another college. ... Read 4,718 reviews

Acceptance rate 18%

Net price $19,318

SAT range 1350-1530

#9 Best Colleges for Art in America .

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

4718 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says The University of Michigan takes a lot of pride in calling itself the best university in the world, but while finishing up my sophomore year I could not agree more. There is such a healthy balance... .

Read 4718 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 18% ,

Net Price : $19,318 ,

SAT Range : 1350-1530 ,

Brown University

  • • Rating 3.84 out of 5   1,082 reviews

Junior: My experience has been absolutely incredible. As everyone says, the open curriculum really makes a world of difference as it allows you to choose your own path and not be hampered by requirements that you might never need or have little to no interest in. I am an athlete and have had great experience with athletics and academics because Brown is really good about accommodating student-athletes when it comes to game and practice schedules. ... Read 1,082 reviews

Net price $26,723

#10 Best Colleges for Art in America .

1082 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says My experience has been absolutely incredible. As everyone says, the open curriculum really makes a world of difference as it allows you to choose your own path and not be hampered by requirements... .

Read 1082 reviews.

Net Price : $26,723 ,

Tufts University

Medford, MA •

  • • Rating 3.7 out of 5   1,075 reviews

Freshman: Tufts is an excellent school with lots of freedom to explore your passions. The professors are excellent and care about each student individually. There are lots of clubs to choose from and people are always welcoming. The campus vibe is very nice and laid back generally. Everyone is very passionate about some subject which is inspiring to be around. The dining halls are not amazing but Kindelvan and the other cafes are very convenient. Some of the activities can be hard to join as freshmen because it can be competitive but gets easier to get involved in later years. The dorms are not fancy but they certainly aren’t bad in general. People are quirky and a little nerdy but it keeps it interesting. In my experience, financial aid is also one of the best available. Overall I highly recommend going to Tufts! ... Read 1,075 reviews

Acceptance rate 10%

Net price $30,479

SAT range 1450-1550

#11 Best Colleges for Art in America .

MEDFORD, MA ,

1075 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Tufts is an excellent school with lots of freedom to explore your passions. The professors are excellent and care about each student individually. There are lots of clubs to choose from and people... .

Read 1075 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 10% ,

Net Price : $30,479 ,

SAT Range : 1450-1550 ,

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA •

  • • Rating 3.99 out of 5   4,045 reviews

Freshman: I loved campus life and the academics are amazing! I didn’t get out as much so I can’t tell you much about party life or life outside of the university. However, I didn’t think I needed to because there is so much to do on campus! So much food and places for you to go to, I love the campus so much. Go to USC you won’t regret it. Also, the connections you will make, even in your first year, are amazing, trust me! ... Read 4,045 reviews

Acceptance rate 12%

Net price $36,808

#12 Best Colleges for Art in America .

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

4045 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says I loved campus life and the academics are amazing! I didn’t get out as much so I can’t tell you much about party life or life outside of the university. However, I didn’t think I needed to because... .

Read 4045 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 12% ,

Net Price : $36,808 ,

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Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH •

  • • Rating 3.88 out of 5   746 reviews

Sophomore: My experience at Dartmouth has been great so far. The education is high quality and so are the professors. There are great opportunities for practical work and research. And the student body and campus life is lively and welcoming. The university is not perfect and the frat culture is very big here, but it is a wonderful place to be. ... Read 746 reviews

Acceptance rate 6%

Net price $19,208

#13 Best Colleges for Art in America .

HANOVER, NH ,

746 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says My experience at Dartmouth has been great so far. The education is high quality and so are the professors. There are great opportunities for practical work and research. And the student body and... .

Read 746 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 6% ,

Net Price : $19,208 ,

University of California - Los Angeles

  • • Rating 3.98 out of 5   5,588 reviews

Alum: As with any college, the experience is what you make of it. UCLA just presents a lot of diversity in terms of the experiences that you can have. You can get your party fix in on Thursdays at frat row, kickbacks through cultural or professional organizations, or even a warehouse rave in the Arts District. Academically, there are plenty of opportunities for research and internships. It can be difficult to get into certain classes until you are in your 3rd or 4th year, though. Living on campus is really helpful for finding friends and the food is definitely a blow-out compared to other schools I've visited. Only downside is that housing in general is expensive due to the area, so you'll likely be sharing a room and living on a budget! ... Read 5,588 reviews

Net price $16,999

SAT range —

#14 Best Colleges for Art in America .

5588 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says As with any college, the experience is what you make of it. UCLA just presents a lot of diversity in terms of the experiences that you can have. You can get your party fix in on Thursdays at frat... .

Read 5588 reviews.

Net Price : $16,999 ,

Washington University in St. Louis

Saint Louis, MO •

  • • Rating 4.11 out of 5   1,573 reviews

Sophomore: I am a sophomore at WashU. The depth of the education and the number of opportunities (if you seek them) can be life-changing. The business school is super good at hosting recruitment events if your interested in business careers, and the academics ARE HARD -- You will do a lot of work. CS department could be stronger; premed/ bio/chem/pre-law deps / olin are excellent. The undergraduate student body is tight-knit and mostly extremely friendly. People are very smart but not obnoxious or entitled. Campus life is great because many of the undergrads (freshmen, sophomores, and some juniors) live on campus. The housing is excellent, and many students have kitchens on campus. St Louis is certainly not a luxury city (i.e. NY or LA) but does have good restaurants (DRIVE NOT WALK AWAY) and a cheap cost of living (concerts are usually way cheaper). It is way better than being in the woods, but not the bestest place. The school has partially impeded on the fun with their attack on greek life. ... Read 1,573 reviews

Net price $23,432

#15 Best Colleges for Art in America .

SAINT LOUIS, MO ,

1573 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says I am a sophomore at WashU. The depth of the education and the number of opportunities (if you seek them) can be life-changing. The business school is super good at hosting recruitment events if your... The undergraduate student body is tight-knit and mostly extremely friendly. People are very smart but not obnoxious or entitled. Campus life is great because many of the undergrads (freshmen,... .

Read 1573 reviews.

Net Price : $23,432 ,

Duke University

Durham, NC •

  • • Rating 3.93 out of 5   1,208 reviews

Junior: Duke is an amazing place to go to college! I have loved every minute here as CS major -- the classes are challenging, professors are engaging and available, the campus is beautiful, and the people are incredibly smart and down-to-earth. I chose Duke over some other great schools and I can't recommend it enough! ... Read 1,208 reviews

Net price $23,694

#16 Best Colleges for Art in America .

DURHAM, NC ,

1208 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says Duke is an amazing place to go to college! I have loved every minute here as CS major -- the classes are challenging, professors are engaging and available, the campus is beautiful, and the people... .

Read 1208 reviews.

Net Price : $23,694 ,

New York University

  • • Rating 3.76 out of 5   5,741 reviews

Other: New York University (NYU) is more than just an educational institution; it's an immersive journey through academic excellence, cultural diversity, and urban vibrancy. As a recent graduate, I can confidently affirm that NYU offers an unparalleled experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of higher education. One of the most striking aspects of NYU is its location. Situated in the heart of Manhattan, the campus seamlessly blends into the bustling rhythm of New York City. From the iconic Washington Square Park to the countless cultural landmarks just a stone's throw away, NYU provides students with unparalleled access to the pulse of the city. ... Read 5,741 reviews

Net price $29,499

SAT range 1470-1570

#17 Best Colleges for Art in America .

5741 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Other says New York University (NYU) is more than just an educational institution; it's an immersive journey through academic excellence, cultural diversity, and urban vibrancy. As a recent graduate, I can... One of the most striking aspects of NYU is its location. Situated in the heart of Manhattan, the campus seamlessly blends into the bustling rhythm of New York City. From the iconic Washington Square... .

Read 5741 reviews.

Net Price : $29,499 ,

SAT Range : 1470-1570 ,

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA •

  • • Rating 3.71 out of 5   1,483 reviews

Freshman: Carnegie Mellon University suits those who believe in working hard, working hard, and playing hard occasionally. The academics are demanding and challenging, which ultimately creates dedicated, disciplined students, or burnout. Many people require some kind of passion to be here, as it takes passion to get through the intense workload. On the surface, the social life at CMU seems pretty dead. However, after actively looking for clubs, organizations, and student groups, I found there are a lot of opportunities to be part of communities that are passionate and welcoming. I also love that CMU is very invested in their student's success: it is easy to get help from academic advisors, pursue research positions, and take interesting opportunities to get your education outside the classroom. Overall, I am very proud and happy that I came here :). ... Read 1,483 reviews

Acceptance rate 11%

Net price $33,499

#18 Best Colleges for Art in America .

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

1483 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Carnegie Mellon University suits those who believe in working hard, working hard, and playing hard occasionally. The academics are demanding and challenging, which ultimately creates dedicated,... .

Read 1483 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 11% ,

Net Price : $33,499 ,

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL •

  • • Rating 3.7 out of 5   1,493 reviews

Freshman: There is a wealth of awesome student communities to join which really contributed to my experience. Classes are challenging but Northwestern offers many unique opportunities to explore different things and some uncommon ones like design classes. Performing arts are abundant on campus, so there is always something to see on the weekends! ... Read 1,493 reviews

Net price $22,095

#19 Best Colleges for Art in America .

EVANSTON, IL ,

1493 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says There is a wealth of awesome student communities to join which really contributed to my experience. Classes are challenging but Northwestern offers many unique opportunities to explore different... .

Read 1493 reviews.

Net Price : $22,095 ,

Georgetown University

Washington, DC •

  • • Rating 3.8 out of 5   1,277 reviews

Freshman: Amazing campus, beautiful area surrounding campus with lots of connections to history! GU boasts a strong reputation for academic rigor and excellence across various disciplines, including law, business, international relations, and public policy. Situated in Washington, D.C., Georgetown benefits from its proximity to numerous government agencies, international organizations, and cultural institutions, offering unparalleled opportunities for internships, research, and networking. I love the diverse and inclusive community, attracting students and faculty worldwide. Diversity enriches the cross-cultural understanding. Georgetown has a vast and influential alumni network, providing students with valuable connections and opportunities for mentorship and career advancement. Rooted in its Jesuit tradition, Georgetown emphasizes the importance of ethical leadership and service to others, instilling in students a sense of responsibility and commitment to making a positive impact on society. ... Read 1,277 reviews

Net price $35,566

SAT range 1410-1560

#20 Best Colleges for Art in America .

WASHINGTON, DC ,

1277 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Amazing campus, beautiful area surrounding campus with lots of connections to history! GU boasts a strong reputation for academic rigor and excellence across various disciplines, including law,... .

Read 1277 reviews.

Net Price : $35,566 ,

SAT Range : 1410-1560 ,

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME •

  • • Rating 4.11 out of 5   728 reviews

Alum: Amazing food, great dorms, and professors that changed my whole perspective on life. I got very sick of the institutional bureaucracy but that might have been true at any college I went to. Other students of color -- be very aware that this is a PWI in a major way, it can be VERY isolating and disheartening. If you go here, I encourage you to ask for support and hold your people close. They have a lot of funding opportunities for research projects and individual interest projects. Take advantage of their huge endowment and apply for grants to do things you're interested in! Hang in there y'all ... Read 728 reviews

Net price $22,776

SAT range 1460-1560

#21 Best Colleges for Art in America .

BRUNSWICK, ME ,

728 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Amazing food, great dorms, and professors that changed my whole perspective on life. I got very sick of the institutional bureaucracy but that might have been true at any college I went to. Other... .

Read 728 reviews.

Net Price : $22,776 ,

SAT Range : 1460-1560 ,

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA •

  • • Rating 3.87 out of 5   289 reviews

Freshman: Enrollment has been great, admissions office has been super helpful. Amazing experience so far! The courses are condensed and they offer certifications! ... Read 289 reviews

  • grade  B Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 25%

Net price $55,225

#22 Best Colleges for Art in America .

VALENCIA, CA ,

289 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says Enrollment has been great, admissions office has been super helpful. Amazing experience so far! The courses are condensed and they offer certifications! .

Read 289 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B ,

Acceptance Rate : 25% ,

Net Price : $55,225 ,

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA •

  • • Rating 3.92 out of 5   2,415 reviews

Senior: I grew to love the University of Virginia. I moved to Charlottesville during the pandemic, so I was not aware of the little "traditions" that UVA has - and more I learned about our school and traditions, I grew to like it. Visiting local Bodo's and getting number 1, visiting Carter's Mountain sunset series, partying and studying hard - all these experiences made my memories throughout my four years of UVA and two more to go! ... Read 2,415 reviews

Acceptance rate 19%

Net price $19,469

SAT range 1400-1540

#23 Best Colleges for Art in America .

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA ,

2415 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Senior says I grew to love the University of Virginia. I moved to Charlottesville during the pandemic, so I was not aware of the little "traditions" that UVA has - and more I learned about our school and... .

Read 2415 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 19% ,

Net Price : $19,469 ,

SAT Range : 1400-1540 ,

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN •

  • • Rating 4.02 out of 5   1,349 reviews

Graduate Student: My time at Vanderbilt University was truly enriching. The academic atmosphere fostered a culture of excellence and intellectual curiosity that I found invigorating. The professors were not only knowledgeable but also deeply invested in the success of their students, providing invaluable mentorship and guidance. The campus itself is beautiful, with a vibrant campus life offering countless opportunities for personal and professional growth. I particularly enjoyed the plethora of extracurricular activities available, from student clubs to research initiatives. What stood out to me was Vanderbilt's commitment to diversity and inclusion, creating a welcoming environment for students from all walks of life. However, one area that could be improved is the accessibility of certain resources, especially for students from underprivileged backgrounds. Enhancing financial aid and support services for these students would further enhance the University. ... Read 1,349 reviews

Net price $25,606

#24 Best Colleges for Art in America .

NASHVILLE, TN ,

1349 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Graduate Student says My time at Vanderbilt University was truly enriching. The academic atmosphere fostered a culture of excellence and intellectual curiosity that I found invigorating. The professors were not only... What stood out to me was Vanderbilt's commitment to diversity and inclusion, creating a welcoming environment for students from all walks of life. However, one area that could be improved is the... .

Read 1349 reviews.

Net Price : $25,606 ,

Davidson College

Davidson, NC •

  • • Rating 3.99 out of 5   346 reviews

Junior: I’m a junior at Davidson, and I still have absolutely no regret about my decision years later. The campus is stunning and located in a beautiful, quaint town. It is not too far outside of Huntersville, Mooresville, and Cornelius, which all have a lot to do. The food options are great for a small school. We have create own pizza, sushi, hot dog stations, pho, smoothies, burritos, etc. Our campus cafe (Summit) is also incredible with breakfast options and iced coffees. The freshman dorm quality varies but upperclassmen dorms are top notch. D1 sports (esp basketball scene) is hard to come by at a small school. The career services are unmatched. When applying for internships, I feel I always have an advantage just because of all our seminars, workshops, and on-site cover letter and resume editing. Most of all, the PEOPLE and the professors and so flexible and always willing to help. I don’t find that Davidson is competitive. Most professors will prioritize your mental health. COME! :) ... Read 346 reviews

Net price $26,704

SAT range 1350-1500

#25 Best Colleges for Art in America .

DAVIDSON, NC ,

346 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Junior says I’m a junior at Davidson, and I still have absolutely no regret about my decision years later. The campus is stunning and located in a beautiful, quaint town. It is not too far outside of... .

Read 346 reviews.

Net Price : $26,704 ,

SAT Range : 1350-1500 ,

Kenyon College

GAMBIER, OH

  • • Rating 3.7 out of 5   414

Moravian University

BETHLEHEM, PA

  • • Rating 3.66 out of 5   521

Ohio Northern University

  • • Rating 3.61 out of 5   625

Showing results 1 through 25 of 1,685

The Best Colleges for Art

If you’re thinking about pursuing an art degree, Niche can help you find the best art schools in the country and pinpoint the best options based on available majors, student life, and acceptance rate. For prospective art majors, attending the best colleges for art can make a world of difference. Niche can show you why colleges focused on art can help grow your talent and skill as an artist, no matter your medium of choice .

What Do You Learn at Art School?

Attending any of the best colleges for art will give you access to all sorts of opportunities, equipment, and expansive knowledge. Depending on what medium of art you’ll focus on, your courses and curriculum will differ. Still, you’ll learn the following when you become an art major:

  • Technique:  The classes you attend will be structured depending on the art medium you are going to school for. For example, if you are attending school for photography, you’ll learn the principles of lighting, camera mechanics and settings, digital and film photography development, and more. Technique courses help improve your skills and build on your knowledge. Exploring all the different techniques will help you become a better artist, allowing you to find your specific niche.
  • Theory and History:  All art majors will take courses that will dive into the history and theories of their respective mediums. For example, if you are an art major focusing on sculpting, you will learn all about the history of sculpting and even analyze the practices of great sculptors like ​​Michelangelo. These courses will study past works and see how they have evolved with different eras and periods of art.
  • Practice and Application:  Art majors will be given the opportunity to practice their craft and apply what they learn to their work. Whether it’s in a thesis, project, or workshop, there will be ample opportunity for hands-on experience to improve your skills and boost creativity. This time will help you create your professional portfolio to use during your academic career and after graduation .

Is Art School Worth It?

People will tell you it is hard to have a successful art career. But success is what you make of it. If art is your passion and you want to build on your skills and learn everything you can, art school is very worth it. Colleges for art will give you opportunities and learning experiences nearly impossible to find elsewhere.

The professors and instructors that you’ll encounter as an art major aren’t simply teachers but seasoned professionals that will guide and mentor you throughout your journey. Depending on which art school you attend, you’ll be able to interact with an extensive alumni network that can give you the opportunity to grow and connect with people in the art world. You’ll be able to network and give your art the exposure to flourish after graduation.

The best art schools  also have state-of-the-art equipment that becomes easily accessible to you as an art major. There’s no limit to what you can create when you have the right tools. Whether you’re used to working in your room or crowded public spaces, art schools have dedicated spaces campus-wide for you to produce art.

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49 Best Colleges for Art (Studio) – 2024

May 6, 2024

best colleges for art

Many of the best programs for studio art majors are housed in prestigious art institutes or schools of design. Yet, as you will see in our list of the Best Colleges for Art programs, many larger universities also boast top-notch learning opportunities. Whether you intend to master the practice of drawing, printmaking, sculpting, painting, or photography, a studio art degree can prepare you to become an independent artist or enter fields such as graphic design, commercial art, teaching, or art therapy.

You’ll encounter coursework in areas such as Post Modern and Contemporary Art, African American Art, Cityscapes Past and Present, Modern Indian Art, Indigenous Visions, Modern Chinese Art, Art in the 20th Century United States, Drawing, 2D Design, 3D Design, Color Theory, Drawing, and Art History.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for Art.

Best Colleges for Art

Here’s a quick preview of the first ten studio art institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

2) Yale University

3) Rhode Island School of Design

4) Pratt Institute

5) New York University

6) Savannah College of Art and Design

7) California Institute of the Arts

8) School of the Art Institute of Chicago

9) Washington University in St Louis

10) Massachusetts College of Art and Design

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the area of studio art and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the Best Colleges for Art, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—the university’s:

Enrollment Cost of Attendance Acceptance Rate Median SAT Median ACT Retention Rate Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

  • Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
  • Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

  • New York, NY

Academic Highlights: Accounting for 56% of the student body, engineering is the subject in which the largest number of degrees are conferred followed by visual arts (28%) and then architecture (16%). All three schools shine in the eyes of employers as well as other institutions of higher education. No matter your area of study at CU, students report receiving a high degree of attention and mentorship from faculty. With 57% of class sections containing fewer than 20 students, learning is an intimate endeavor.

Professional Outcomes: Due to the exceptionally low numbers of graduates from Cooper Union each year, it is hard to say that large numbers of alumni cluster in any particular company. However, it is fair to state that CU graduates regularly find their way into the most desirable firms within their respective disciplines. Forty percent of CU graduates continue their education at top-ranked graduate programs. In the last few years, Cooper Union diploma-holders have gone on to advanced study in architecture at Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Penn, and Yale.

  • Enrollment: 899
  • Cost of Attendance: $47,271
  • Median SAT: 1460
  • Median ACT: 32
  • Acceptance Rate: 22%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 80%

Yale University

Yale University

  • New Haven, CT

Academic Highlights: Yale offers 80 majors, most of which require a one- to two-semester senior capstone experience. Undergraduate research is a staple, and over 70% of classes—of which there are over 2,000 to choose from—have an enrollment of fewer than 20 students, making Yale a perfect environment for teaching and learning. Among the top departments are biology, economics, global affairs, engineering, history, and computer science. The social sciences (26%), biology (11%), mathematics (8%), and computer science (8%) are the most popular areas of concentration.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduating, 73% of the Yale Class of 2022 had entered the world of employment and 18% matriculated into graduate programs. Hundreds of Yale alums can be found at each of the world’s top companies including Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. The most common industries entered by the newly hired were finance (20%), research/education (16%), technology (14%), and consulting (12%). The mean starting salary for last year’s grads was $81,769 ($120k for CS majors). Nearly one-fifth of students immediately pursue graduate school.

  • Enrollment: 6,590 (undergraduate); 5,344 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $87,705
  • Median SAT: 1540
  • Median ACT: 35
  • Acceptance Rate: 5%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 98%

Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design

  • Providence, RI

Academic Highlights:  The student-to-faculty ratio at RISD is just 9:1 which means students get a ton of personalized attention from their professors. The average class size is just 15 students. Among the most popular majors are architecture, cinematography and video production, painting, sculpture, illustration, and computer graphics. In total, there are 44 full-time bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for students to choose from.

Professional Outcomes:  Recent graduates of the Rhode Island School of Design found their next positive career/educational step at a 97% clip. Companies hiring RISD grads include Athleta, Citigroup, Chewy, Deloitte, Coach, Barefoot Books, the New York Times, Nickelodeon, NVIDIA, NASA, Fidelity, Google, Paramount, Reebok, and West Elm. 46% of recent grads earned more than $40,000 as a starting salary.

  • Enrollment: 2,044
  • Cost of Attendance: $85,986
  • Median SAT: N/A
  • Mid-50% ACT: 28-34
  • Acceptance Rate: 19%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 89%

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

  • Brooklyn, NY

Academic Highlights:  There are 1,200 faculty members at Pratt Institute that provide instruction to 48 academic programs. An enviable 74% of class sections enroll fewer than 20 students. Overall, 65% of all degrees conferred fall under the performing arts umbrella with illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, game design, and cinematography and video production all on the menu. 20% of Pratt students earn architecture degrees and 10% study communication technologies.

Professional Outcomes:  Looking at recent Pratt grads, 90% were gainfully employed or attending grad school within six months of earning their undergraduate diploma. Employers who scoop up Pratt alumni include Warner Media, NBC Universal, Gensler, David Zwirner, Apple, PepsiCo, IBM, and LVMH. Further, 78% of graduates are satisfied with their occupation and 85% report that their job is relevant to their field of study.

  • Enrollment: 3,702
  • Cost of Attendance: $80,993
  • Median SAT: 1330
  • Median ACT: 30
  • Acceptance Rate: 45%
  • Retention Rate: 89%
  • Graduation Rate: 76%

New York University

New York University

Academic Highlights: NYU is divided into a number of smaller (but still quite large) colleges organized by discipline; in sum, there are 230 areas of undergraduate study across nine schools and colleges. For its size, a commendable 58% of classes have an enrollment under 20 students. While all schools within NYU have solid reputations, Stern holds the distinction as one of the top undergraduate business programs in the country. For those entering film, dance, drama, or other performing arts, Tisch is as prestigious a place as you can find to study.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of exiting, 94% of Class of 2022 grads had landed at their next destination, with 78% employed and 21% in graduate school. The top industries for employment were healthcare (11%), internet and software (9%), finance (8%), and entertainment (8%). Large numbers of alumni can be found at Google, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Amazon. The mean starting salary is $75,336. In 2022, business, arts and sciences, and law school were the most popular grad school destinations.

  • Enrollment: 29,401 (undergraduate); 29,711 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $90,222-$96,172
  • Median SAT: 1520
  • Median ACT: 34
  • Acceptance Rate: 12%
  • Graduation Rate: 87%

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design

  • Savannah, GA

Academic Highlights: Savannah College of Art and Design offers more than 40 programs of study and close to half of all classes enroll no more than 19 students. The most commonly pursued degrees are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (21%), Illustration (14%), Digital Communication (13%), Cinematography and Film Production (9%), and Fashion/Apparel Design (6%).

Professional Outcomes:  A tremendous 99% of SCAD graduates report being employed or engaged in further study within ten months of graduating. Further, 91% state that they are working in a field/position related to their area of study. Many alumni are self-employed but sizable numbers also obtain employment with Amazon, Apple, Deloitte, Gensler, Google, Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Epic Games, and Walt Disney Imagineering.

  • Enrollment: 13,622
  • Cost of Attendance: $65,574
  • Median SAT: 1240
  • Median ACT: 24
  • Acceptance Rate: 82%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 62%

California Institute of the Arts

California Institute of the Arts

  • Santa Clarita

Academic Highlights:  Students come to the California Institute of the Arts for very specific reasons. The most commonly pursued majors include animation, interactive technology, video graphics and special effects (28%),  acting (8%), fine/studio arts (8%), music theory and composition (8%), graphic design (8%), and technical theatre/theatre design and technology (8%). Classes are small and personalized instruction is available thanks to a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Professional Outcomes:  Many graduates go on to do freelance work or are self-employed, but large numbers of students are scooped up by the Walt Disney Company, Pixar Animation Studios, Netflix, Apple, Nickelodeon Animation, and DreamWorks Animation. Some also work in the tech industry for the likes of Google and Apple. The vast majority of alumni settle in Los Angeles, but many others travel to New York City and San Francisco.

  • Enrollment: 965
  • Cost of Attendance: $67,502
  • Median ACT: N/A
  • Acceptance Rate: 29%
  • Retention Rate: 79%
  • Graduation Rate: 72%

Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis

  • St. Louis, MO

Academic Highlights : WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.

  • Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $83,760
  • Median SAT: 1530
  • Acceptance Rate: 11%
  • Retention Rate: 96%
  • Graduation Rate: 93%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Cambridge, MA

Academic Highlights: Undergraduates pursue one of 57 majors and 59 minors at this world-class research institution that continues to be one of the world’s most magnetic destinations for math and science geniuses.  The student-to-faculty ratio is an astonishing 3-to-1, and over two-fifths of all class sections have single-digit enrollments, and 70% of courses contain fewer than twenty students. The highest numbers of degrees conferred in 2022 were in the following majors: engineering (31%), computer science and engineering (28%), mathematics (10%), and the physical sciences (7%).

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 saw 29% of its members enter the world of employment and 43% continue on their educational paths. The top employers included Accenture, Amazon, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Google, General Motors, the US Navy, Apple, Bain & Company, and McKinsey. The mean starting salary for an MIT bachelor’s degree holder was $95,000. The most frequently attended graduate schools are a who’s who of elite institutions including MIT itself, Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, and the University of Oxford.

  • Enrollment: 4,657
  • Cost of Attendance: $82,730
  • Median SAT: 1550
  • Acceptance Rate: 4%
  • Retention Rate: 99%
  • Graduation Rate: 95%

University of Southern California

University of Southern California

  • Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights : There are 140 undergraduate majors and minors within the Dornsife College of Arts & Sciences alone, the university’s oldest and largest school. The Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and programs in communication, the cinematic arts, and the performing arts are highly acclaimed. Popular areas of study are business (22%), social sciences (11%), visual and performing arts (11%), communications/journalism (9%), and engineering (8%). Most courses enroll 10-19 students, and USC does an excellent job facilitating undergraduate research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of undergrads experience positive postgraduation outcomes within six months of earning their degree. The top five industries entered were finance, consulting, advertising, software development, and engineering; the median salary across all majors is an astounding $79k. Presently, between 300 and 1,500 alumni are employed at each of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, and Meta. Graduate/professional schools enrolling the greatest number of 2022 USC grads include NYU, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UCLA.

  • Enrollment: 20,699 (undergraduate); 28,246 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $90,921
  • Median SAT: 1510
  • Retention Rate: 97%

Otis College of Art and Design

Otis College of Art and Design

Academic Highlights:  Established over 100 years ago, Otis College of Art and Design offers degrees in a number of creative fields including animation, environmental design, fashion design, the fine arts, game design and development, graphic design, illustration, product design, and toy design. All students also complete a liberal arts core and have the choice of 13 minors. Class sizes are generally quite small, with 82% enrolling fewer than 20 individuals.

Professional Outcomes:  Within one year of graduating, an encouraging 90% of Otis grads are employed in graduate school and 84% have found jobs that are related to art and design. The average starting salary is $51,145, a very solid figure considering the academic fields of focus. Recent employers include Ten30 Studios, Mattel, BMW Designworks, Guess?, Levi’s, Riot Games, Walt Disney, and Venice Arts.

  • Enrollment: 1,268
  • Cost of Attendance: $69,615
  • Acceptance Rate: 83%
  • Retention Rate: 76%

Maryland Institute College of Art

Maryland Institute College of Art

  • College Park, MD

Academic Highlights: The oldest degree-granting college of art and design in the country, MICA offers 14 undergraduate majors and 23 minors. In addition to classic fine arts majors like painting, fiber, sculpture, and photography, MICA also offers innovative degrees in areas like Ecosystems, Sustainability, and Justice and Studio and Humanistic Studies. 40% of undergrads are fine arts majors while 60% are design and media arts majors. The student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 experienced overwhelmingly positive outcomes with 95% employed. 96% were working in a field related to their area of study and 5% were pursuing graduate coursework. Over the past five years, the most alumni have gone on to the arts and design, business development, and education sectors. Top employers include the Maryland Institute College of Art, Towson University, Google, Baltimore City Public Schools, Johns Hopkins, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and the Pratt Institute. A large number are also self-employed.

  • Enrollment: 1,694 (undergraduate); 396 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $72,255
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 72%
  • Graduation Rate: 67%

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University

  • Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).

Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.

  • Enrollment: 7,509
  • Cost of Attendance: $84,412
  • Graduation Rate: 92%

The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin

Academic Highlights: UT Austin offers over 150 majors, including those at the Cockrell School of Engineering, one of the most heralded undergraduate engineering schools around, and The McCombs School of Business, which dominates in the specialty areas of accounting and marketing. The computer science department is also top-ranked. In terms of degrees conferred, engineering is tied with biology (12%) followed by communication (11%), business (11%), and the social sciences (8%). The elite Plan II Honors Program is one of the best in the country.

Professional Outcomes: Within the College of Liberal Arts, six months after graduating, 68% of Longhorns are employed and 24% have entered graduate school. The for-profit sector attracts 65% of those employed while 19% enter public sector employment and 16% pursue jobs at a nonprofit. Major corporations that employ more than 500 UT Austin grads include Google, Meta, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple. Engineering majors took home a median income of $79k and business majors took home $70k.

  • Enrollment: 41,309 (undergraduate); 11,075 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $30,752-$34,174 (in-state); $61,180-$69,310 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: 1430
  • Acceptance Rate: 31%
  • Graduation Rate: 88%

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

  • Minneapolis, MN

Academic Highlights: MCAD offers 13 undergraduate BFA programs, including animation, comic art, drawing and painting, filmmaking, fine arts studio, furniture design, graphic design, illustration, photography, print paper book, product design, sculpture, and web and multimedia environments. They also offer one BS program in creative entrepreneurship. Design (43%), media arts (32%), fine arts (18%), and creative entrepreneurship (7%) are the most popular majors.  The curriculum emphasizes collaboration and experimentation, and classes are taught by working artists and designers.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 81% of the Class of 2021 (most recent data available) was employed full-time, and 1% were attending graduate school. MCAD has produced a long list of notable alumni, and recent alumni have gone on to an array of diverse roles, including a freelance children’s book illustrator, storyboard artist at Nickelodeon, freelance artist, museum installation technician, and digital media coordinator.

  • Enrollment: 675 (undergraduate); 100 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $66,184
  • Acceptance Rate: 66%
  • Retention Rate: 77%
  • Graduation Rate: 66%

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Richmond, VA

Academic Highlights:  A large public institution with 200 academic offerings, VCU still manages to keep 48% of its class sections capped at an enrollment of 19 thanks to a manageable 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Popular majors include the visual and performing arts (12%), business (11%), psychology (10%), biology (9%), education (7%), and homeland security (7%). The university is highly rated for innovation, value, and its stellar nursing program.

Professional Outcomes:  After earning their diplomas, 48% quickly landed their first job and 22% entered an advanced degree program. The top industries were healthcare, internet & software, higher education, government, and retail. Overall, 87% of grads were satisfied with their employment outcome and 78% remained in the state of Virginia. Massive numbers of alumni can be found in the offices of Dominion Energy, VCU Health, Capital One, CarMax, Deloitte, and Apex Systems.

  • Enrollment: 20,958
  • Cost of Attendance: $29,516 (In-State); $52,100 (Out-of-State)
  • Median SAT: 1160
  • Median ACT: 26
  • Acceptance Rate: 91%
  • Retention Rate: 85%
  • Graduation Rate: 65%

Columbia University

Columbia University

Academic Highlights: Columbia offers 100+ unique areas of undergraduate study as well as a number of pre-professional and accelerated graduate programs.  Class sizes at Columbia are reasonably small and the student-to-faculty ratio is favorable; however, in 2022, it was revealed that the university had been submitting faulty data in this area. It is presently believed that 58% of undergraduate courses enroll 19 or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (22%), computer science (15%), engineering (14%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Examining the most recent graduates from Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, 73% had found employment within six months, and 20% had entered graduate school. The median starting salary for graduates of Columbia College/Columbia Engineering is above $80,000. Many graduates get hired by the likes of Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Google, Citi, McKinsey, and Microsoft.

  • Enrollment: 8,832
  • Cost of Attendance: $89,587

Brown University

Brown University

Academic Highlights: Students must choose one of 80+ “concentration programs,” but there are no required courses. Class sizes tend to be small—68% have fewer than twenty students—and 35% are comprised of nine or fewer students. Biology, economics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering are among the most popular areas of concentration at Brown; however, it is hard to distinguish any one program, because Brown possesses outstanding offerings across so many disciplines.

Professional Outcomes: Soon after receiving their Brown diplomas, 69% of graduates enter the world of employment. Companies employing the greatest number of Brown alums include Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Apple, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company. The Class of 2022 saw 27% of graduates go directly into graduate/professional school. Right out of undergrad, Brown students boasted an exceptional 81% admission rate to med school and an 81% admission rate to law school.

  • Enrollment: 7,639
  • Cost of Attendance: $84,828
  • Graduation Rate: 96%

School of Visual Arts

School of Visual Arts

Academic Highlights: SVA students can choose from 11 art and design BFA programs, which include animation, advertising, comics, design, film, fine arts, interior design, illustration, photography and video, and visual and critical studies. Students are taught by faculty members who are working creative professionals in classes that average 15 students each. In 2023, the most popular areas of study were illustration (29%) and design (20%) followed by animation (12%), 3D animation and visual effects (9%), comics (7%), film (7%), and fine arts (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Alumni go on to work in a range of creative fields and at many major companies, which include Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Disney, Pixar, DC Comics, NBC Universal, The Met, and Nike. SVA’s post-graduate community is incredibly strong; its faculty and 42,000 alumni—some of whom are Academy Award-winners, Emmy winners, Grammy winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Guggenheim Fellows—give undergrads the opportunity to make essential professional connections that lead to internships and employment.

  • Enrollment: 3,442 (undergraduate); 574 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $77,990-$79,615
  • Acceptance Rate: 71%
  • Retention Rate: 88%
  • Graduation Rate: 75%

Bard College

Bard College

  • Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

Academic Highlights: Class sizes at Bard are wonderfully small. A student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1 allows the school to offer close to 90% of classes with an enrollment of fewer than 20 students. A Senior Project that begins in the junior year involves working closely with a panel of three faculty members. There are 35 areas of academic concentration across six divisions. Once primarily an enclave of artists, the school now sees its fair share of biology, economics, and computer science majors.

Professional Outcomes: Seventy-five percent of 2022 grads found a home in the workforce six months after graduating while 17% directly entered graduate school. Popular employers of Bard graduates include many museums, publishing houses, and charitable organizations. Within a decade of leaving Bard, approximately one-third of alumni have completed an advanced degree. Graduate schools attended by recent alums include everything from the Ivies to close-by members of the CUNY and SUNY systems.

  • Enrollment: 2,171
  • Cost of Attendance: $80,830
  • Acceptance Rate: 60%
  • Retention Rate: 87%
  • Graduation Rate: 71%

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

  • Hanover, NH

Academic Highlights: Dartmouth sports 60+ majors and a stunning breadth of course selections for an institution of its size. The learning environment at Dartmouth is extraordinarily intimate. Not only do 61% of course sections have under twenty students, but 18% have single-digit enrollments. The student-to-faculty ratio is an outstanding 7:1. Top programs offered by Big Green include biology, economics, neuroscience, and government. The social sciences are the most popular, accounting for 32% of degrees conferred, followed by computer science (10%), mathematics (9%), engineering (9%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: A great reputation along with a passionate alumni network that is 80,000 strong leads Dartmouth grads to successful transitions into graduate school and the world of work. Included in the top ten employers of Dartmouth grads are a number of investment banks including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bain & Company, Citibank, and Deutsche Bank. Right off the bat, 52% of graduates make more than $70,000 in salary. Those pursuing graduate degrees often flock to the likes of Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton.

  • Enrollment: 4,458
  • Cost of Attendance: $87,793
  • Acceptance Rate: 6%

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

  • Philadelphia, PA

Academic Highlights : 90 distinct degrees are available across four schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Applied Science and Engineering, the College of Nursing, and the world-renowned Wharton School. The greatest number of students pursue degrees in business (19%), social sciences (14%), biology (11%), health sciences (9%), engineering (9%), and computer science (9%). The university boasts an exceptional 26% of courses with an enrollment under ten and 59% with an enrollment under twenty as well as multiple ways for undergrads to conduct research.

Professional Outcomes: 75% of Class of 2022 grads were employed within six months of graduating, and 18% were in graduate school. Finance attracted the highest percentage of grads (30%) followed by consulting (20%), technology (15%), and healthcare (10%). Employers hiring the greatest number of 2022 grads included JPMorgan, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, Bain & Company, Meta, and Goldman Sachs. The median starting salary for all graduates is $80,000. For those continuing their educational journeys, the most popular move is to remain at Penn, followed by Columbia and Harvard.

  • Enrollment: 9,760 (undergraduate); 13,614 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $89,028
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%

Williams College

Williams College

  • Williamstown, MA

Academic Highlights: The school’s 25 academic departments offer 36 majors and a number of concentrations rather than minors. An unparalleled 40% of courses have fewer than ten students enrolled; the median class size is 12 students. Programs in economics, English, history, math, and political science are especially renowned, and the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (26%), the physical sciences (10%), math and statistics (9%), psychology (9%), and computer science (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Among the Class of 2022, 92% were employed or continuing their educational journey within six months of graduating. Business and education typically attract the most students, with popular companies/organizations including Apple, Google, Goldman Sachs, The New York Times Co., the Peace Corps, and Teach for America. The median annual income for 2022 grads was $75,000. 75% pursue an advanced degree within five years of leaving Williams, with the most frequently attended graduate programs being Harvard, Columbia, and Yale.

  • Enrollment: 2,152 (undergraduate); 53 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $81,160
  • Acceptance Rate: 8%

University of Michigan

University of Michigan

  • Ann Arbor, MI

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon.  Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.

  • Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: 1470
  • Median ACT: 33
  • Acceptance Rate: 18%

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles

Academic Highlights: UCLA offers 125 majors in 100+ academic departments, and more than 60 majors require a capstone experience that results in the creation of a tangible product under the mentorship of faculty members. The most commonly conferred degrees are in the social sciences (25%), biology (16%), psychology (11%), mathematics (8%), and engineering (7%). Departmental rankings are high across the board, especially in computer science, engineering, film, fine and performing arts, mathematics, and political science.

Professional Outcomes: UCLA grads flow most heavily into the research, finance, computer science, and engineering sectors. High numbers of recent grads can be found at Disney, Google, EY, Teach for America, Amazon, and Oracle. Hundreds also can be found at Bloomberg, Deloitte, Mattel, Oracle, and SpaceX. The average starting salary exceeds $55,000. 16% of recent grads enrolled directly in a graduate/professional school, with other CA-based institutions like Stanford, Pepperdine, USC, Berkeley, and Loyola Marymount being the most popular.

  • Enrollment: 33,040 (undergraduate); 15,010 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $38,517 (in-state); $71,091 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: Test Blind
  • Median ACT: Test Blind
  • Acceptance Rate: 9%

University of Chicago

University of Chicago

  • Chicago, IL

Academic Highlights: There are 53 majors at UChicago, but close to half of all degrees conferred are in four majors: economics, biology, mathematics, and political science, all of which have particularly sterling reputations. Economics alone is the selection of roughly one-fifth of the undergraduate population. Over 75% of undergrad sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students, and undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member.

Professional Outcomes: On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education. Business and financial services (30%) and STEM (12%) were the two sectors that scooped up the most graduates, but public policy and consulting were also well-represented. The most popular employers of recent grads include Google, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Bank of America, Citi, and Accenture. For those heading to grad school, the top seven destinations are Yale, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins.

  • Enrollment: 7,653 (undergraduate); 10,870 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $89,040

Tufts University

Tufts University

  • Medford, MA

Academic Highlights: Three schools serve Tufts’ undergraduate population: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. The three schools combined offer more than 90 majors and minors; approximately one-third of all students double major, and half declare a minor. 15% of all courses see fewer than ten students enrolled, and 60% have sub-twenty enrollments. The most popular majors include international relations, economics, computer science, political science, and biology—all of which receive very high marks.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after earning their diplomas, 97% of 2022 graduates were employed or attending graduate school. The most commonly entered fields were finance, consulting, real estate (23%); engineering and technology (22%); health, life sciences, environmental (21%); and education, advocacy, social services (11%). Prolific employers of Tufts alums include Booz Allen Hamilton, JPMorgan, MITRE, Google, Deloitte, Amazon, Raytheon, Morgan Stanley, and BlackRock. Of the 21% of 2022 grads who went directly to graduate school, 85% were accepted into their first-choice institution.

  • Enrollment: 6,815 (undergraduate); 6,616 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $88,300
  • Median SAT: 1500
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
  • Graduation Rate: 94%

Harvard University

Harvard University

Academic Highlights: There are 50 undergraduate fields of study referred to as concentrations; many are interdisciplinary. Even with a graduate population of over 14,000 to cater to, undergraduate class sizes still tend to be small, with 42% of sections having single-digit enrollments and 71% being capped at nineteen. Economics, government, and computer science are the three most popular areas of concentration at Harvard. Biology, chemistry, physics, math, statistics, sociology, history, English, and psychology all sit atop most departmental ranking lists.

Professional Outcomes: The Crimson Class of 2022 saw 15% of students head directly into graduate/professional school. Of the graduates entering the world of work (virtually everyone else), 58% were entering either the consulting, finance, or technology field. Over 1,000 Harvard alumni presently work for Google and over 500 for Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. Turning our attention to those moving on to graduate school, Harvard grads with at least a 3.5 GPA typically enjoy acceptance rates into medical school of 90% or greater.

  • Enrollment: 7,240
  • Cost of Attendance: $79,450
  • Acceptance Rate: 3%

Stanford University

Stanford University

  • Palo Alto, CA

Academic Highlights: Stanford has three undergraduate schools: the School of Humanities & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. 69% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and 34% have a single-digit enrollment. Programs in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, international relations, and economics are arguably the best anywhere. In terms of sheer volume, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), computer science (16%), engineering (15%), and interdisciplinary studies (13%).

Professional Outcomes: Stanford grads entering the working world flock to three major industries in equal distribution: business/finance/consulting/retail (19%); computer, IT (19%); and public policy and service, international affairs (19%). Among the companies employing the largest number of recent grads are Accenture, Apple, Bain, Cisco, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, and SpaceX. Other companies that employ hundreds of Cardinal alums include LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Airbnb. Starting salaries for Stanford grads are among the highest in the country.

  • Enrollment: 8,049 (undergraduate); 10,236 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $87,833

Northwestern University

Northwestern University

  • Evanston, IL

Academic Highlights : Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post , NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.

  • Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $91,290
  • Graduation Rate: 97%

Princeton University

Princeton University

  • Princeton, NJ

Academic Highlights: 39 majors are available at Princeton. Just under three-quarters of class sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 31% have fewer than ten students. Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Engineering Department is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, as is the School of Public and International Affairs.

Professional Highlights: Over 95% of a typical Tiger class finds their next destination within six months of graduating. Large numbers of recent grads flock to the fields of business and engineering, health/science, & tech. Companies presently employing hundreds of Tiger alumni include Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Meta. The average salary ranges from $40k (education, health care, or social services) to $100k (computer/mathematical positions). Between 15-20% of graduating Tigers head directly to graduate/professional school.

  • Enrollment: 5,604 (undergraduate); 3,238 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $86,700

Georgetown University

Georgetown University

  • Washington, D.C.

Academic Highlights: The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 60% of classes enroll fewer than 20 students. While some classes are a bit larger, only 7% cross the 50-student threshold. Those desiring to join the world of politics or diplomacy are in the right place. The Government and International Affairs programs are among the best in the country. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (38%) followed by business (20%), interdisciplinary studies (8%), and biology (7%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 75% of members of the Class of 2022 entered the workforce, 19% went directly into a graduate or professional program of study, and 3% were still seeking employment. The Class of 2022 sent massive numbers of graduates to a number of major corporations including JPMorgan Chase (22), Citi (21), BOA (18), Morgan Stanley (16), and EY (10). Those attending grad school stay at Georgetown or flock to other elite schools like Columbia and Harvard.

  • Enrollment: 7,900
  • Cost of Attendance: $85,000

Oberlin College

Oberlin College

  • Oberlin, OH

Academic Highlights: Over 40 majors are available at Oberlin, which is an extremely strong provider of a liberal arts education. 79% of classes had 19 or fewer students enrolled. The greatest number of degrees conferred are typically in music, political science, biology, psychology, and history. The Conservatory of Music has a worldwide reputation, and programs in the natural sciences are similarly strong, leading to remarkable medical school acceptance rates and a high number of future PhD scientists and researchers.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months, 74% of recent grads found employment, 17% enrolled in graduate school, and just 5% were still seeking employment. Multiple recent grads were hired by Google, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. Over the last few years, multiple students have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. Oberlin also has a reputation for churning out future PhDs and, is among the top 20 schools (per capita) across all disciplines in producing graduates who go on to earn their doctoral degrees.

  • Enrollment: 2,986
  • Cost of Attendance: $85,496
  • Median SAT: 1400-1540
  • Median ACT: 32-34
  • Acceptance Rate: 33%
  • Graduation Rate: 83%

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Santa Barbara, CA

Academic Highlights: There are 90 undergraduate majors across three schools: the College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering, and the College of Creative Studies. The social sciences are the most popular area of study, accounting for 27% of the total degrees conferred. Biology (10%), math (9%), and psychology (9%) are next in popularity. The school has highly regarded programs in communication, computer science, engineering, physics, environmental science, and the performing arts. More than half of sections contain fewer than 20 students, and 72% enroll 29 or fewer.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of earning their diplomas, 84% of grads had found employment. The most popular industries were science/research (16%), engineering/computer programming (14%), business (13%), finance/accounting (11%), and sales (10%). Top employers of recent grads include Google, EY, KPMG, Oracle, Amazon, IBM, and Adobe. Many alumni also can be found at Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Two years after graduating, UCSB alumni make an average salary of $55k; more than half make $100k by mid-career.

  • Enrollment: 23,460 (undergraduate); 2,961 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $41,289 (in-state); $73,863 (out-of-state)
  • Acceptance Rate: 28%
  • Retention Rate: 92%
  • Graduation Rate: 86%

Vassar College

Vassar College

  • Poughkeepsie, NY

Academic Highlights: Vassar students have the choice of 50 majors and only three foundational curricular mandates, which means that there is plenty of room to explore electives and intellectual passions. A 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to an average class size of 17 students, and 23% of all sections have an enrollment of nine or fewer. Professors are extremely available outside the classroom. The most popular majors are in the social sciences, biology, the visual and performing arts, foreign languages, and psychology.

Professional Outcomes: 93% of alums enjoy positive outcomes within six months of graduation, with 20% enrolling directly in a graduate or professional degree program. A solid number land at competitive companies like Google, Meta, EY, Deloitte, Microsoft, Citi, and Amazon. Elite universities such as Harvard, Penn, NYU, and Columbia are also among the top employers of former students, many of whom earn advanced degrees and enter academia. The school is one of the top 15 PhD producers.

  • Enrollment: 2,459
  • Cost of Attendance: $85,220
  • Median SAT: 1480
  • Retention Rate: 94%

Skidmore College

Skidmore College

  • Saratoga Springs, NY

Academic Highlights: An undergraduate-only institution, there are 40+ majors to choose from with the most popular being business, English, psychology, political science, economics, studio art, theater, biology, and environmental studies. Known for its superior undergraduate teaching, Skidmore’s average class size is only 16 students, and 98% of sections have fewer than thirty students. The most degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), business (14%), visual and performing arts (13%), and biology (12%).

Professional Outcomes: 65% of 2022 grads were employed within six months of completing their degrees and 26% were enrolled in graduate school. The most frequently entered industries were STEM (20%), business (17%), education (16%), health science (9%), and finance (7%). The median starting salary range for Class of 2022 grads was $40,000-$49,000. Fairly large numbers of Skiddies can be found at major corporations including Google, Morgan Stanley, EY, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Fidelity Investments, and IBM.

  • Enrollment: 2,776
  • Cost of Attendance: $85,240
  • Median SAT: 1380
  • Acceptance Rate: 23%
  • Graduation Rate: 82%

Barnard College

Barnard College

Academic Highlights: Barnard has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and a sensational 71% of courses are capped at nineteen or fewer students; 18% have fewer than ten. Many get the chance to engage in research alongside a professor as 240+ undergraduates are granted such an opportunity through the Summer Research Institute each year. Barnard’s most popular majors, by number of degrees conferred, include economics, English, political science, history, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and art history.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 91% of 2022 Barnard grads had found employment or were enrolled in a graduate program. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Blackrock, Citibank, and Morgan Stanley all appear on the list of the top fifteen employers of Barnard alumni. Within ten years of graduation, over 80% of Barnard alums eventually enroll in graduate school. Those entering graduate school flock in large numbers to Columbia, with 112 heading there over the last three years.

  • Enrollment: 3,442
  • Cost of Attendance: $90,928
  • Median SAT: 1490

Colby College

  • Waterville, ME

Academic Highlights: Offering 56 majors and 35 minors, Colby provides a classic liberal arts education with a high degree of flexibility and room for independent intellectual pursuits. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students. Being a true liberal arts school, Colby has strengths across many disciplines, but biology, economics, and global studies draw especially high praise. These programs along with government and environmental science attract the highest number of students.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 93% of the Class of 2022 had either obtained jobs or were enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Eighteen percent of graduates enter the financial industry and large numbers also start careers in education, with government/nonprofit, STEM, and healthcare next in popularity. The Medical school acceptance rate over the past five years is 68%, nearly double the national average.

  • Enrollment: 2,299
  • Cost of Attendance: $86,720
  • Average SAT: 1485
  • Average ACT: 33
  • Retention Rate: 93%

Rice University

Rice University

  • Houston, TX

Academic Highlights : Rice offers more than 50 majors across six broad disciplines: engineering, architecture, music, social science, humanities, and natural science. Programs in biology, biochemistry, cognitive science, and music are incredibly strong, while the School of Architecture and the George R. Brown School of Engineering are among the highest-ranking schools in their disciplines. One-third of computer science majors are female, almost twice the national average. Class sizes are ideally small with 66% containing fewer than 20 students and a median class size of only fourteen.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 88% of Rice grads have found careers or a graduate school home. Companies that employ many recent grads include Deloitte, Capital One, JP Morgan Chase, Google, and Microsoft. Over one hundred alumni are also current employees of companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Amazon, Accenture, and Meta. Across all majors, the average starting salary is $73k. One-third of graduates move directly into graduate or professional school, with Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, and Berkeley being the most popular destinations.

  • Enrollment: 4,494 (undergraduate); 4,178 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $78,278
  • Median SAT: 35

University of Georgia

University of Georgia

Academic Highlights: UGA boasts seventeen distinct colleges and schools that offer 125+ majors. Business is the most commonly conferred undergrad degree, accounting for 29% of diplomas earned. It is followed by biology (10%), social sciences (8%), communication & journalism (8%), and psychology (7%). Top-ranked programs include animal science, business, communications, and public and international affairs. 49% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and no matter your major, UGA encourages you to conduct research with a member of the school’s faculty.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of the Class of 2022 was employed or continuing their education six months after graduation. Popular employers include Accenture, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Walt Disney Company, and Deloitte. Salaries vary between colleges; engineering grads had a median starting salary of $65k while journalism and communication grads reported a $50k median. In 2022, 24% of graduates enrolled directly into a graduate/professional degree program, with the most commonly attended schools including Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgia Tech, Penn, and UVA.

  • Enrollment: 30,714 (undergraduate); 9,893 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $28,142 (in-state); $48,538 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: 1310
  • Median ACT: 29
  • Acceptance Rate: 43%

Florida State University

Florida State University

  • Tallahassee, FL

Academic Highlights: A wide range of baccalaureate degrees—103 to be precise—are available at FSU. The student-to-faculty is a 17:1, which translates into somewhat larger class sizes. Ten percent of sections contain more than fifty students, and 4% have more than 100. However, that is balanced by the 66% of sections that contain fewer than twenty students. Twenty-three percent of degrees conferred fall under the business umbrella. The social sciences (15%), psychology (8%), biology (8%), and homeland security (6%) are next in popularity.

Professional Outcomes: Eighty-three percent of job-seeking Seminole grads receive at least one offer of employment within three months of graduation. The top five sectors employing 2022 grads are (in order) finance, technology, marketing, health, and engineering. Roughly one-third of 2022 Florida State grads elected to immediately pursue admission into an advanced degree program; 75% of those who apply receive at least one acceptance. A typical graduating class sees over 100 students accepted into medical schools and over 200 accepted into law schools.

  • Enrollment: 32,936
  • Cost of Attendance: $25,762 (In-State); $39,692 (Out-of-State)
  • Median SAT: 1300
  • Acceptance Rate: 25%
  • Graduation Rate: 85%

Temple University

Temple University

Academic Highlights: Temple offers 100 undergraduate programs, including those at the well-regarded Fox School of Business. Other programs with strong national reputations include criminal justice, public health, and kinesiology. The most undergraduate degrees are conferred in business (22%) followed by communication/journalism and health professions (tied at 11%), the visual and performing arts (8%), biology (7%), psychology (6%), and computer science (5%). 42% of classes have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 71% contain no more than 29 undergraduates.

Professional Outcomes: 51% of recent grads quickly secured employment and another 18% were enrolled in graduate school. Hundreds of Owl alumni can be found at big-time companies such as Merck, Comcast, Vanguard, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and Bristol Myers Squib. Within six months of graduating, 91% of Fox School of Business 2021 graduates were employed or had started their own businesses. The median salary for all graduates of that school was $57,000.

  • Enrollment: 24,106 (undergraduate); 9,124 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $41,828-$46,866 (in-state); $56,092-$65,618 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: 1245
  • Median ACT: 27
  • Acceptance Rate: 80%
  • Retention Rate: 84%
  • Graduation Rate: 78%

Arizona State University

Arizona State University

Academic Highlights: The faculty-to-student ratio is a fairly high 19:1, but not all classes call for stadium seating. In fact, 40% of course sections seat fewer than twenty students. Business is the concentration in which 22% of total bachelor’s degrees are conferred. Engineering (9%), biology (9%), and the health professions (7%) are the next three most popular. The WP Carey School of Business offers many highly ranked programs as does the Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Professional Outcomes: A healthy 83% percent of ASU graduates looking for work are employed within six months of earning their degrees. The median salary for an ASU grad is roughly $55,000. Among the school’s top fifty employers are Amazon, Apple, Intel, The Vanguard Group, and Walt Disney Company. Approximately one-fifth of recent grads enrolled in graduate school. Similar to employment, the size and scope of the university lead to many graduate pathways. Many grads continue at ASU itself, but some continue at various prestigious institutions.

  • Enrollment: 65,492
  • Cost of Attendance: $28,142 (in-state); $48,284 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: 1250
  • Median ACT: 23
  • Acceptance Rate: 90%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 69%

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College

  • Swarthmore, PA

Academic Highlights: Swarthmore offers forty undergraduate programs and runs 600+ courses each academic year. Small, seminar-style courses are the norm—an outstanding 33% of sections enroll fewer than ten students, and 70% contain a maximum of nineteen students. Social science degrees are the most commonly conferred, accounting for 24% of all 2022 graduates. Future businessmen/women, engineers, and techies are also well-positioned, given Swat’s incredibly strong offerings in economics, engineering, and computer science.

Professional Outcomes: 68% of Class of 2022 grads entered the workforce shortly after graduation. Popular industries included education (17%), consulting (16%), and financial services (13%); the median starting salary was $60,000. Google is a leading employer of Swarthmore grads followed by Amazon, Goldman Sachs, IBM, and a number of the top universities.  18% of 2022 grads pursued advanced degrees, with 35% pursuing a PhD, 35% entering master’s programs, 10% heading to law school, and 7% matriculating into medical school.

  • Enrollment: 1,625
  • Cost of Attendance: $81,376

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

  • Berkeley, CA

Academic Highlights: More than 150 undergraduate majors and minors are available across six schools: the College of Letters and Science, the College of Chemistry, the College of Engineering, the College of Environmental Design, the College of Natural Resources, and the Haas School of Business. Many departments have top international reputations including computer science, engineering, chemistry, English, psychology, and economics. 22% of sections contain nine or fewer students, and over 55% of students assist faculty with a research project or complete a research methods course.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduating, 49% of Cal’s Class of 2022 had already secured employment, and 20% were headed to graduate school. Business is the most popular sector, attracting 62% of employed grads; next up are industrial (17%), education (8%), and nonprofit work (7%). The median starting salary was $86,459 across all majors. Thousands of alumni can be found in the offices of Google, Apple, and Meta, and 500+ Golden Bears are currently employed by Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft. The school is the number one all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

  • Enrollment: 32,831 (undergraduate); 12,914 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $48,574 (in-state); $82,774 (out-of-state)

Hamilton College

Hamilton College

  • Clinton, NY

Academic Highlights: The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1, and without any pesky graduate students to get in the way, face time with professors is a regular occurrence. In fact, 28% of all classes have nine or fewer students; 72% have nineteen or fewer. Economics, government, and biology are among the strongest and most popular majors; other standout programs include public policy, mathematics, and environmental studies. Thirty percent of students earn social science degrees, with biology (13%), visual and performing arts (9%), physical science (7%), and foreign languages (7%) next in line.

Professional Outcomes: Examining the 491 graduates in Hamilton’s Class of 2022, an enviable 97% wasted no time landing jobs, graduate school acceptances, or fellowships. The most commonly entered industries were finance (17%), education (13%), business (12%), and science/tech (11%). Only 17% of 2022 graduates went directly into an advanced degree program. In one recent year, 33% of Hamilton grads were studying a STEM field, 22% were in the social sciences, 17% pursued a health care degree, and 5% went to law school.

  • Enrollment: 2,075
  • Cost of Attendance: $82,430

Carleton College

Carleton College

  • Northfield, MN

Academic Highlights: Students work closely with their professors, and the college is routinely rated atop lists of best undergraduate teaching institutions. Small classes are the norm with the average being only sixteen students. It offers 33 majors, the most popular of which are within the disciplines of the social sciences (19%), the physical sciences (14%), biology (11%), computer science (11%), mathematics (10%), and psychology (8%).

Professional Outcomes: Target, Epic Systems, Google, Wells Fargo, and Amazon all employ large numbers of graduates. Carleton is a breeding ground for future scholars as a ridiculously high number of graduates go on to earn PhDs. In fact, by percentage, Carleton is one of the top five producers in the country of future PhDs. They produce an incredible number of doctoral degree holders in the areas of economics, math, political science, sociology, chemistry, physics, biology, and history.

  • Enrollment: 2,034
  • Cost of Attendance: $82,167
  • Acceptance Rate: 17%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%

University of Wisconsin – Madison

University of Wisconsin – Madison

  • Madison, WI

Academic Highlights: There are 230+ undergraduate majors offered across eight schools and colleges, including the top-ranked School of Business and College of Engineering as well as the College of Letters and Science, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Schools of Nursing, Education, Pharmacy, and Human Ecology. Undergrads can expect a mix of large and small classes, with 44% of sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Business (18%), biology (12%), the social sciences (11%), and engineering (10%) are most popular.

Professional Outcomes: In a recent year, 46% of job-seeking grads graduated with an offer.  Top employers included UW-Madison, Epic, Kohl’s, Oracle, Deloitte, and UW Health. Across all graduating years, companies employing 250+ alumni include Google, Target, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, PwC, Accenture, and Meta. 28% of recent grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school; the majority stayed at UW–Madison while others headed to Columbia, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon. The university is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

  • Enrollment: 37,230 (undergraduate); 12,656 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $28,916 (in-state); $58,912 (out-of-state)
  • Median SAT: 1440
  • Acceptance Rate: 49%

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University

  • Middletown, CT

Academic Highlights: With 45 majors and 32 minors, Wes truly has something for everyone. The academic requirements are relatively minimal, giving undergrads a high degree of intellectual freedom. Under 75% of class sections have fewer than twenty students; students rave about the accessible faculty. Research opportunities with professors are plentiful. Offerings in economics, English, film studies, and neuroscience typically receive the most praise from employers/grad schools; accordingly, the social sciences (24%), psychology (17%), and the visual and performing arts (12%) are the most popular.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 66% of 2022 grads had entered employment, with tech/engineering/sciences, education, and arts/entertainment being the three top sectors. The companies employing the highest numbers of recent Wesleyan grads included Google, Epic, Analysis Group, Boston Medical Center, Booz Allen Hamilton, Accenture, and Apple. Graduate school was the next stop for 18% of new alums; enrolling institutions included MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Harvard, Temple, and UMass.

  • Enrollment: 3,069 (undergraduate); 184 (graduate)
  • Cost of Attendance: $89,094
  • Acceptance Rate: 14%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Studio Art to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

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  • Best Summer Programs 
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  • Best Colleges by Major

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Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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'One of my first art history courses helped me discover my passion for Indigenous studies'

Noah Rice: History of Art

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History of Art Minneapolis, Minn.  

What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?         

I will never forget what it was like to come back to Cornell sophomore year and see the quads and streets of campus flooded with students. As someone who came to Cornell first during Covid, I had a very different welcome to campus. Sophomore year, we began to return to normalcy and to see all of the students (still masked and social distancing) really brought campus alive. I remember feeling really excited then for my next three years in such a vibrant space.

What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?      

Arts & Sciences allowed me the freedom to explore the many facets of my interests. While art history was my primary major, I had the ability to engage with my other interests in religious studies and Indigenous studies. I found my interests often overlapping and sought the intersections between disciplines, both in terms of how I was thinking and engaging the material/sources. As a result, I feel that my educational journey benefited from the richness of opportunity that as an A&S student I was able to capitalize on.   

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

person walking in a field

My study abroad was a defining period in my college experience. I had the privilege of spending my junior spring at the University of Oxford and while there I was challenged in new ways. Not only was adapting to a new environment a great experience, but also school itself was a big change. I had to learn how to learn in a new, more independent way than I had ever before. This type of educational experience really pushed me to grow academically and personally in important ways that have influenced my trajectory today. This abroad experience also ties into one of my most proud accomplishments at Cornell. This past year I have been working on a senior honors thesis in history of art. Any research project and piece of writing at the magnitude of a senior thesis is daunting and quite the commitment. Studying at Oxford, for me, really helped me lay the groundwork for successfully working on such a large independent project. This thesis has taught me a lot about my research interests, but has also showed me what is possible by giving me the confidence that I could have a longer career in academia.

Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?     

Prof. Jolene Rickard has been very influential throughout my time at Cornell. She was my professor for one of my very first art history courses and through that course really helped me discover my passion for Indigenous studies. After that course, Prof. Rickard has been a mentor and one of my biggest supporters here at Cornell, writing many letters of recommendations for study abroad and grad schools. Recently, Prof. Rickard has also served as my honors thesis advisor. In this role, she has been a critical guide through the intersections of Indigenous studies and art history, teaching me so much and exposing me to a wealth of scholarship I had previously not explored. Without her teaching and support throughout my four years at Cornell I would almost certainly be in a very different position, and for that I am immeasurably thankful.

Where do you dream to be in 10 years?

My goal for 10 years from now is to have graduated from law school and to be practicing as an attorney in the Federal Indian law and Tribal affairs space. I do not know what that will look like yet, and there are a lot of steps left for me to get there, but I am excited for what the next few years bring and how life will evolve.  

Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series.  Read more about the Class of 202 4.

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Noah RIce

coursework for art major

'One of my first art history courses helped me discover my passion for Indigenous studies'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

History of Art Minneapolis, Minn.  

What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?         

I will never forget what it was like to come back to Cornell sophomore year and see the quads and streets of campus flooded with students. As someone who came to Cornell first during Covid, I had very different welcome to campus. Sophomore year, we began to return to normalcy and to see all of the students (still masked and social distancing) really brought campus alive. I remember feeling really excited then for my next three years in such a vibrant space.

What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?      

Arts & Sciences allowed me the freedom to explore the many facets of my interests. While art history was my primary major, I had the ability to engage with my other interests in religious studies and Indigenous studies. I found my interests often overlapping and sought the intersections between disciplines, both in terms of how I was thinking and engaging the material/sources. As a result, I feel that my educational journey benefited from the richness of opportunity that as an A&S student I was able to capitalize on.   

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

person walking in a field

My study abroad was a defining period in my college experience. I had the privilege of spending my junior spring at the University of Oxford and while there I was challenged in new ways. Not only was adapting to a new environment a great experience, but also school itself was a big change. I had to learn how to learn in a new more independent way than I had ever before. This type of educational experience really pushed me to grow academically and personally in important ways that have influenced my trajectory today. This abroad experience also ties into one of my most proud accomplishments at Cornell. This past year I have been working on a senior honors thesis in history of art. Any research project and piece of writing at the magnitude of a senior thesis is daunting and quite the commitment. Studying at Oxford, for me, really helped me lay the groundwork for successfully working on such a large independent project. This thesis has taught me a lot about my research interests, but has also showed me what is possible by giving me the confidence that I could have a longer career in academia.

Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?     

Prof. Jolene Rickard has been very influential throughout my time at Cornell. She was my professor for one of my very first art history courses and through that course really helped me discover my passion for Indigenous studies. After that course, Prof. Rickard has been a mentor and one of my biggest supporters here at Cornell, writing many letters of recommendations for study abroad and grad schools. Recently, Prof. Rickard has also served as my honors thesis advisor. In this role, she has been a critical guide through the intersections of Indigenous studies and art history, teaching me so much and exposing me to a wealth of scholarship I had previously not explored. Without her teaching and support throughout my four years at Cornell I would almost certainly be in a very different position, and for that I am immeasurably thankful.

Where do you dream to be in 10 years?

My goal for 10 years from now is to have graduated from law school and to be practicing as an attorney in the Federal Indian law and Tribal affairs space. I do not know what that will look like yet, and there are a lot of steps left for me to get there, but I am excited for what the next few years bring and how life will evolve.  

Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series.  Read more about the Class of 202 4.

Jolene Rickard

Jolene Rickard and Colleagues Awarded 2024 New Frontier Grant by College of Arts and Sciences

coursework for art major

'I've developed great connections with faculty and have been inspired by their insights'

Of Things and Stories book cover

Danielle Vander Horst, Undergraduate/Graduate Coordinator, Published in New Book "Of Things and Stories"

coursework for art major

Projects funded by 2024 New Frontier Grants look toward the future

coursework for art major

coursework for art major

New Orleans students receive their associate degree while in high school

Thirty-four students from three KIPP New Orleans High Schools earned their associate degrees while still in high school.

KIPP says students from Frederick A. Douglass, Booker T. Washington and John F. Kennedy high schools received their associate degrees in art from Bard College on Saturday, May 11, and received their high school diploma on Friday, May 17.

Nine additional students also earned 45 or more credits, demonstrating their commitment to academic achievement.

"We are immensely proud of these students' achievements," said Stephanie Hinton, Bard Early College New Orleans Coordinator at KIPP New Orleans Schools. "Their hard work has paid off, and they have paved the way for more KIPP students to pursue elite liberal arts pathways."

The program with Bard College allows the students to take college courses at the Frederick A. Douglass campus.

The district says this also gives students a head start on their bachelor's degree and many students have attended colleges such as Columbia, Spelman, Howard, Tulane, Duke and Yale.

KIPP says many of the students in the class of 2024 are attending Spelman, Connecticut College, American University, Bard College, Villanova, and Duke University, as well as Louisiana schools including LSU, ULL, Dillard, UNO and ULM.

The graduating class includes the 100th student to earn an associate degree in the program, marking a milestone for KIPP New Orleans school.

TOP STORIES FROM WDSU:

Special edition Stanley tumblers are selling out, but these are still in stock

READ THE FULL STORY: New Orleans students receive their associate degree while in high school

CHECK OUT WDSU: Get all the New Orleans news you need. With the latest New Orleans weather, sports and stories from around the state, WDSU is your news leader.

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Associate of Arts in Fashion Merchandising Enter the Fashion Industry

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Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total

Enroll in a Program Designed to Blend Creative Passion with Business Acumen

If you are interested in entry-level fashion, merchandising, interior design, or similar fields, this program may be the right fit for you.

Liberty University’s online Associate of Arts (AA) in Fashion Merchandising is a dynamic program designed to help prepare you for a career in the fashion industry. The program offers a blend of business and fashion courses that can enable you to engage with every step of the fashion process, from design through merchandising. Key elements of the curriculum include digital drafting, fabric analysis, fashion psychology, and retail merchandising, aiming to provide a well-rounded exposure to the field.

In addition to a robust curriculum, the fashion merchandising degree online at Liberty University emphasizes practical industry engagement. The program helps students become familiar with current industry practices and learn how to innovate and adapt to future trends in fashion merchandising.

Our fashion merchandising online courses can help equip you with creative skills and practical tools that may be applied in entry-level jobs in the industry as a buyer assistant, assistant manager, or assistant merchandiser in fashion companies, stores, and boutiques. Additionally, graduates of the AA can later apply to the BS in Fashion Merchandising program to finish a bachelor’s degree!

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  • What Sets Us Apart?
  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 600+ Online Degrees
  • No Standardized Testing for Admission
  • Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
  • Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s Fashion Merchandising Online Degree ?

Choosing Liberty University for your studies in fashion merchandising means opting for an institution recognized for its academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. At Liberty University, the online learning environment is designed to maximize student engagement and learning outcomes. Our university utilizes advanced educational technologies to deliver its courses, ensuring that you have access to the best resources and support systems. This commitment to high-quality online education is reflected in the detailed attention to your academic needs, including technical support and access to a wealth of online resources.

Furthermore, Liberty’s commitment to Christian values provides a unique ethical framework that informs all aspects of the program, including business practices and interpersonal relationships within the fashion industry. You can graduate with a strong moral foundation, prepared to make ethical decisions in your professional life. This distinctive blend of ethical education and industry-relevant training makes Liberty University a standout choice for students seeking a comprehensive education in fashion merchandising.

Our program seeks to produce highly capable, biblically minded, and creative graduates who will serve the fashion industry well. Graduates pursuing employment in the field can bring the light of the Gospel as well as excellent knowledge and creative skills to their workplace.

What Will You Study in Our Online Fashion Merchandising Degree?

Learn foundational skills for a career in the fashion industry, fashion influencing, and fashion design. Begin the creative process by developing design skills as well as entrepreneurial techniques that can help one pursue a fashion designer or merchandiser.

The Associate of Arts in Fashion Merchandising at Liberty University covers an extensive range of topics to help prepare you for the fashion industry. You will begin with foundational courses like Survey of Accounting and Finance to ensure a solid grounding in critical financial knowledge. The program also includes specialized courses such as Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics, providing insights into economic factors affecting the fashion industry.

Additionally, courses cover topics like digital drafting and Adobe InDesign that can equip you with essential digital design skills. Other courses such as Elements of Fabric and Psychology of Fashion delve into the material and psychological aspects of fashion that influence consumer choices. Promotions and Aesthetics and Retail Merchandising are geared toward understanding the marketing and commercial presentation of fashion products. This comprehensive curriculum aims to produce graduates who are well prepared to enter various roles within the fashion industry, from styling to retail management.

Potential Career Opportunities

  • Clothier/manager
  • Fashion blogger and product influencer
  • Sales representative
  • Small business retailer

Featured Courses

  • ACCT 209 – Survey of Accounting and Finance
  • FACS 243 – Digital Drafting I
  • FACS 301 – Elements of Fabric
  • HIUS 360 – History of American Entrepreneurship

Degree Information

  • This program falls under the  College of Arts and Sciences .
  • View the  Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides   (login required) .

Degree Completion Plan (PDF) ( coming soon )

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  • Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education,  electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!

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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our AA in Fashion Merchandising

Admission requirements.

  • A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
  • Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account ) .
  • Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.

Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.

Transcript Policies

High school transcript policy.

Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.

  • Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.

Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.

The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.

Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

  • Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
  • Cumulative GPA
  • A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
  • Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Military Transfers

If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES .

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9595 Fax

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[email protected] Email for Documents

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Available Benefits:

  • Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
  • Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course) *
  • 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
  • Potential college credit for military training

*Not applicable to certificates.

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  • Major Requirements

A student wearing a brown hijab and cheetah print top looks up at a Black man wearing a white long sleeve collared shirt. They are standing in a crowd of people at an event.

The Journalism Bachelor of Arts (BA) is designed to provide an educational experience that emphasizes professional development. This includes developing strong journalism research and media production skills, an appreciation for professional ethical and legal considerations, and a comprehensive understanding of journalism’s roles and obligations within a democratic society. A complete listing of what you can expect to learn through the major is  available here .

The requirements listed below apply to students who started at UMass Amherst in  Fall 2018 or later . If you started at UMass Amherst prior to Fall 2018, please  contact your advisor .

  • Recommended : Take FYS 191SBS: Journalism Success—Thriving as a Major (1 cr.)
  • Take JOURNAL 201: Introduction to Journalism (4 cr.)
  • Take JOURNAL 300: Newswriting and Reporting (4 cr.)
  • Take JOURNAL 460: Journalism Ethics (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 332: Sports Journalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 336: Writing for Public Relations (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 340: Multimedia Journalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 390Z: Art of the Profile (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 391J: Food Writing (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 392S: Opinion Writing: Columns (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 395L: Science Journalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 410: Social Justice Journalism I (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 433: Photojournalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 434: Advanced Podcasting (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 485: Narrative Journalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 490J: Arts & Culture Journalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 490STA: Covering Race (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 492M: Magazine Writing (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 277: Sports Talk Live (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 301: Introduction to Multimedia Reporting (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 333: Introduction to Visual Storytelling (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 334: Introduction to Radio and Podcasting (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 339: Video Content Creation (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 343: Data-Driven Storytelling (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 365: Live Digital Sports Production I (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 390C: Live Digital Sports Production II (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 435: Web Design for Journalists (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 444: Short-Form Documentary (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 495BP: Broadcast Performance (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 495N: Video Content Creation II (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 320: History of American Journalism (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 345: Media Criticism (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 361: Public Relations Ethics (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 380: The Black Freedom Struggle and the Press (4 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 390G: Reporting About Gender and Sexuality (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 392T: Issues in Sports (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 394MI: Media, Technology and Culture (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 445: Journalism and Law (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 452: Public Relations Campaign Management (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 225: Readings in Journalism (3 cr.)
  • JOURNAL 310: International Journalism (4 cr.)
  • One course, departmentally and IPO approved, taken during a study abroad experience
  • One foreign language course at any level
  • One course from the  SBS International and Intercultural Course List
  • Take  two  additional Journalism courses that are at least 3 credits
  • Complete another area of study that requires at least 15 credits, such as a second major, a minor, or a certificate
  • Prospective Students
  • Admission to the Major
  • Public Relations Concentration
  • Sports Journalism Concentration
  • Course Descriptions
  • Honors Program
  • Independent Study
  • Student Learning Objectives

S414 Integrative Learning Center 650 North Pleasant Street University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003

IMAGES

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  6. A-Level Art, Craft & Design Coursework Unit: A Grade :-)

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  6. How to Study Art in Italy: Art Schools, Ateliers, and Art Programs

COMMENTS

  1. Undergraduate Art Program

    The two academic components of B.F.A. program consist of the art-specific component taught within the department (64 credits) and the elective component drawn from the university at large (56 credits). The art component consists of seminars and core studio courses in: Digital media. Drawing. Painting.

  2. Studio Art Major, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A)

    Studio Art Major, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) The B.F.A. is considered the preprofessional course of study, providing a more in-depth experience of visual concept and practice. Students intending to pursue further study in visual arts disciplines (master of fine arts, design fields, or architecture) should choose this degree option. Students ...

  3. BFA, Studio Art

    Our first-year Foundation Program is a focused progression of studio and critical art theory courses enables students to explore many forms and philosophies of art making, giving them an unusually wide array of skills and visual languages with which to express their ideas. Students develop technical and analytical skills, as well as creative discipline, and a clearer understanding of the ...

  4. Best Art Degree Programs Online [2024]

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular art courses. Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences: University of North Texas. Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies: Georgetown University. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: University of Massachusetts Global.

  5. What It's Like Majoring in Art

    An art major often encompasses a variety of different topics. Most students who pursue this major have passions regarding drawing, music, painting, writing, and more. Art majors are more hands-on ️ and are expected to do various creative projects, as opposed to taking tests. However, some courses, such as art history, will be more test-heavy.

  6. Studio Art Major

    Studio Art Major. The Studio Art major offers comprehensive study in a close-knit community for students interested in pursuing graduate study or a professional career in the visual arts. Rather than providing degrees in a single medium (such as Painting or Photography), the undergraduate program offers two degrees in Studio Art that each ...

  7. Academics

    Academy of Art University offers over 129 art degree programs including Certificates, Associate degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and Master's degrees. Designed to equip aspiring artists and designers with a comprehensive toolbox of knowledge and marketable skills that you will use in your future career. In addition, we offer non-degree art ...

  8. UC Davis

    A major in studio art allows you to explore and expand your creative abilities, regardless of whether you plan a career as a professional artist. As an art student, you will develop and practice skills in problem-solving and cultivate your aesthetic sensitivity and visual awareness. These skills and traits will enrich your life, broaden your perspective and prepare you to succeed in any career ...

  9. Art Practice < University of California, Berkeley

    This course is open to declared Art Practice majors in their third or fourth year, and requires consent of the faculty. This course can be taken as an Independent Study, and is also the course number for enrolling in the Worth Ryder Art Gallery Internship Program, the Honors Studio Program, and for Art Practice DeCal facilitation.

  10. Academy of Art University Accredited Online Degrees

    The flexible online education at Academy of Art University can help you earn an accredited art and design degree from anywhere in the world. ... Asynchronous courses are a mix of video lecture content, written content, recorded audio, interactive slideshows, virtual libraries, exchanges across discussion boards or social media platforms, and ...

  11. Your Guide to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree

    BFA degree: Time and cost. As a bachelor's degree, a BFA typically takes between four and five years of full-time study to earn. That will likely include completing a minimum of 120 college credits and possibly a final project that showcases your talents, though requirements vary by school. A bachelor's degree costs, on average, $10,740 per ...

  12. Art, B.S. < University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Upper-level major coursework: 2.5 cumulative grade point average in all upper-level major coursework (Art courses numbered 214 and above, excluding ART 236 and ART 338). Major Residency: Must complete at least 24 credits of major coursework in residence on the UW-Madison campus.

  13. Studio Art Major

    The Art Education Curriculum works with Track 1. Credit requirements: 36 credits in Studio Art, and 12 credits in supporting courses in Art History and/or Art Theory, for a total of 48 credits. Track 2: B.A. in Studio Art with Advanced Specialization. This track is restricted to students admitted by competitive portfolio review, and is aimed at ...

  14. Visual Arts Major

    Visual arts courses provide you with practical experience in painting, photography, drawing, digital imaging, interface design, book art, figure drawing, modeling and simulation, sculpture, and more. The major will enhance your understanding of art both within the history of culture and as individual human achievement. Lower-level courses emphasize the fundamentals of drawing, color, and form ...

  15. School of Art < George Mason University

    Major GPA. All School of Art BA and BFA majors, AVT minor, Arts and Social Change minor, Graphic Design minor, Photography minor, and Web Design minor students must earn a grade of C or better in required AVT coursework, including Studio Foundation, Critical Analysis and Contemporary Practice, Breadth and Experience, Synthesis and Concentrations.

  16. Art, B.A. < University of California Irvine

    The Honors in Art program gives qualifying students a more rigorous course of study in contemporary art practices, thus challenging superior students beyond the scholarly requirements demanded of the Art major. This program is designed to further develop students' critical, analytical, research, and technical skills.

  17. Undergraduate Program

    BA in Art The Division of Art offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art with four concentrations. After completing introductory art classes, students select and complete the requirements for the concentration in Interdisciplinary Visual Art, Painting + Drawing, Photo/Media, or 3D4M: ceramics + glass + sculpture. In tandem with required studio art classes, students will advance their writing skills ...

  18. Art (Art Studies)

    Program description. The BA program in art with a concentration in art studies is a comprehensive, innovative and multidisciplinary program. Students in art studies explore a broad range of visual arts practices, work with their hands to create art and gain critical skills that support a creative lifestyle. The curriculum offers students the ...

  19. 2024 Best Art Schools in America

    #2 Best Colleges for Art in America.. Rice University. Blue checkmark. 4 Year,. HOUSTON, TX,. 1121 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars. Featured Review: Graduate Student says Going to Rice University to attend the Shepherd School of Music at a graduate level is an experience separate from the rest of Rice.The Opera Department at Rice University has been one of the best...

  20. What Is a Bachelor of Arts and What Can You Do With It?

    A Bachelor of Arts can create opportunities for jobs in all fields, including the arts, business, non-profit, science, and law. College graduates are more likely to gain employment than non-graduates, but they are also paid significantly more [ 1 ]. On average, the starting salary for a graduate with a bachelor's degree was $58,862 in 2021 ...

  21. 10 Best Degrees for Artists What to study for a career in the arts

    The following is a list of the best 10 degrees for artists: 1. Fine Arts. A fine arts degree gives you an education in the visual arts. You may decide to focus on painting, drawing or printmaking. With this degree, you will be introduced to oil painting, the media of watercolor and drawing techniques.

  22. 49 Best Colleges for Art (Studio)

    Academic Highlights: Offering 56 majors and 35 minors, Colby provides a classic liberal arts education with a high degree of flexibility and room for independent intellectual pursuits. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio is put to good instructional use as roughly two-thirds of courses have fewer than 19 students.

  23. 'One of my first art history courses helped me discover my passion for

    Prof. Jolene Rickard has been very influential throughout my time at Cornell. She was my professor for one of my very first art history courses and through that course really helped me discover my passion for Indigenous studies. After that course, Prof. Rickard has been a mentor and one of my biggest supporters here at Cornell, writing many ...

  24. 'One of my first art history courses helped me discover my passion for

    While art history was my primary major, I had the ability to engage with my other interests in religious studies and Indigenous studies. I found my interests often overlapping and sought the intersections between disciplines, both in terms of how I was thinking and engaging the material/sources. ... She was my professor for one of my very first ...

  25. Online Bachelor of Arts Degree Political Science

    Political science covers a lot, from looking at campaigns and elections to digging into political philosophy. It focuses on how government works at every level—local to international—and explores how social values impact public policy. Political science mixes theory and practice, making it a great major or elective for anyone.

  26. New Orleans students receive their associate degree while in high ...

    KIPP says students from Frederick A. Douglass, Booker T. Washington and John F. Kennedy high schools received their associate degrees in art from Bard College on Saturday, May 11, and received ...

  27. AA in Fashion Merchandising

    The Associate of Arts in Fashion Merchandising at Liberty University covers an extensive range of topics to help prepare you for the fashion industry. You will begin with foundational courses like ...

  28. Major Requirements : Journalism : UMass Amherst

    One foreign language course at any level. One course from the SBS International and Intercultural Course List. Take two additional Journalism courses that are at least 3 credits. Complete another area of study that requires at least 15 credits, such as a second major, a minor, or a certificate. The Journalism Bachelor of Arts (BA) is designed ...

  29. What to know about Scottie Scheffler's PGA Championship arrest

    A vendor working at the course was struck and killed by a bus just after 5 a.m. while trying to cross a four-lane road. Traffic was backed up in both directions heading into the course while ...

  30. Your Guide to Liberal Arts Majors

    Liberal arts majors. Depending on the major you choose, you will either earn your Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Each four-year degree requires completing a number of core courses in broad subjects, like the arts and sciences, before focusing on courses related to your major.