BA, Art

About the Program

The BA, Art program allows students the flexibility to explore their interests in the performing, visual, and written arts, to learn new skills, and gain insight into the arts industry. Students select courses from across a range of artistic disciplines based on their career and creative interests. The approach is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and tailored to the individual student. Students choose courses from one or more of the following areas: Art (ART), Art History (ARTH), Creative Writing (CREW), Theater (THEA), Dance (DAN), Music (MUSIC), Film (FILM), Graphic Design (CGD), or Animation (ANIM).

Increasingly, graduates in the arts need a familiarity with a variety of disciplines in order to navigate the transition from college to workplace. The B.A. program in Art encourages students to explore multiple skill-sets and disciplines, and provides opportunities outside the classroom through internships.

Students can take any number of the required 30 credits in the major in any one or in multiple disciplines. In some fields (Art) a teaching certification requires a student to have 30 credits in a single discipline, to include advanced courses, and that is achievable in the B.A., Art program. Additional credits in any of the arts disciplines can also be taken among the generous number of Free Electives available to students.

Potential Career Paths

• Actor/Agent
• Artist/Art Director/Art Educator
• Arts Consultant
• Book Editor/Publishing
• Casting Director
• Content Creator
• Creative Writer/Technical Writer
• Designer
• Directing
• Event Planner/Event Design
• Gallery Manager/Installer
• Influencer
• Journalist
• Literary Agent/Publicist
• Multi-Media Designer
• Production Manager
• Social Media/Digital Media Manager or Coordinator
• Theater Manager

Program Learning Objectives 

By the end of the program, students will:

• Learn to create, analyze and present art across multiple artistic media
• Articulate their unique artistic point of view
• Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of skills and techniques in the creation of art in their selected discipline(s)
• Develop creative problem-solving skills
• Demonstrate critical thinking, oral communication, research techniques, and collaborative skills as a part of the creative process

Degree Requirements:

Students may choose courses from any one or multiple disciplines. 30 credits from among;

• Art (ART)
• Art History (ARTH)
• Creative Writing (CREW)
• Theater (THEA)
• Dance (DAN)
• Music (MUSIC)
• Film (FILM)
• Graphic Design (CGD)
• Animation (ANIM)

Sample courses listed below;

Courses in Creative Writing (CREW) include:

• CREW1001 Introduction to Creative Writing
• CREW2002 Creative Writing: Fiction
• CREW2003 Creative Writing: Poetry
• CREWH2255 Playwriting and Dramatic Structure

Courses in ART (ART) include:

• ART1201: Drawing I* (3 credits); ART 1202: Drawing I*
• ART1225: Painting I* (3 credits); ART 2326: Painting II*
• ART1235: Sculpture I* (3 credits); ART 2336: Sculpture II*
• ART1315: Ceramics I* (3 credits); ART 2316: Ceramics II*

*Offered as combined section

Courses in Theater (THEA) include:

• THEAH1201 Development of Theater I-Greeks thru Shakespeare (3 credits)
• THEAH2255Playwriting & Dramatic Structure (3 credits)
• THEA1203 Basic Acting (3 credits)
• THEA2005 Directing I (3 credits)

Courses in Dance (DAN) include:

• DAN 1320: Beginning Dance (3 credits)
• DAN 2020: Basic Tap (3 credits)

Courses in Music (MUSIC) include:

• MUSIH 2205: Music for the Movies
• MUSIH 2212: Beethoven to Beyoncé

Courses in Film (FILM) include:

• FILM 1005: Filmmaking I (3 credits)
• CINE 1501: Cinematic Storytelling (3 credits)
• FILM 2310: Post Production I (3 credits)
• FILM 2250: Screenwriting (3 credits)

Courses in Graphic Design (CGD) include:

• CGD 1212: Intro To Graphic Design
• CGD 1313: Creative Imagery with Photoshop
• CGD 1314: Illustrator Graphics and Design
• CGDH 2020: History of Graphic Design

Courses in Animation (ANIM) include:

• ANIM 1400 Character Design
• ANIM 1650 Game Design
• ANIM 1750 Motion Graphics with After Effects
• ANIM 1850 3D Computer Modeling