​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Degree options: Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)​*, Minor

Students in the BAA or BFA studio art degree programs take courses in the following areas:

Foundations
Ceramics
Drawing
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture

​

The degree programs at CMU are structured to allow students to take courses in multiple areas based on their developing body of work and personal interests. This structure allows for highly individualized programs that place focus on the student and their goals for professional practice beyond graduation. Because students are not bound by a single area of study, they are free to develop their own voice as an artist and explore multiple mediums in the development of their work.​​​

​*Requires an application and portfolio review before beginning the program. More info​

 
​

​​​Program Overview​

​​CMU’s art program prepares you for a career in art or to pursue a graduate degree. The studio arts major is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and allows you to learn from nationally renowned instructors. CMU faculty members have exhibited their work around the world and help students like you develop artistic, analytical and interpretive abilities. Media areas include ceramics, drawing, fiber design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.​​

The course listings and requirements are taken from the 2017-2018 bulletin.

​

This art major consists of 57 semester hours arranged in consultation with a department advisor. Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.3 for all art courses counted toward the major. Students must complete ART 106, 119, and 125 before enrolling in any 300+ studio course. ART 117 is a pre-/corequisite to all 300+ studio courses, so must be taken prior to or during the same semester as the first 300+ studio course. Students should seek advising assistance from the department upon arrival at the university and should select a major advisor in their freshman year. 
After the completion of 20 credit hours in ART, including ART 125, a digital portfolio must be submitted for faculty review. Enrollment in future ART classes is contingent on this submission. 
​Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis may not be counted toward fulfillment of requirements for the art major or minor.​​
​ART 096
​Art Event Attendance 0(0-0)
​ART 106​Intro to Drawing 3(0-6)
​ART 117​Intro to Contemporary Issues in Art 3(3-0)
​ART 119​Design Foundations 3(0-6)
​ART 125​Digital Design 3(0-6)
​ART 283​Intro to Western Art, Part I 3(3-0)​
​ART 285Intro to Western Art, P​art II 3(3-0)
​
You may choose to take ART 341, 363, and 366, but may only count one of these courses toward the Core III requirement.​

Select from the following:​​
​ART 28​7​Introduction to Non-Western Art 3(3-0)​
​ART 312
​Special Studies in Art History 3-9(3-0)
​ART 317
​Digital Art History and Archaeology 3(2-3)
​ART 319​The Methods of Art History 3(3-0)
​ART 341​History of Photography 3(3-0)
​ART 363​History of Design: 1750-2010 3(3-0)​
​ART 366​Contemporary Design Issues 3(3-0)
​ART 380​Greek Art and Architecture 3(3-0)
​ART 381​Early Christian and Byzantine Art 3(3-0)
​ART 382/
WST 382		​Gender and Art 3(3-0)
​ART 383​Modern Architecture 3(3-0)
​ART 385​European Art from 1890-1940 3(3-0)
​ART 386​American Art 3(3-0)
​ART 387​Baroque Art 3(3-0)
​ART 388​Eighteenth-Century Art 3(3-0)
​ART 389​Art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt 3(3-0)
​ART 480​Roman Art and Architecture 3(3-0)
​ART 481​Western Medieval Art 3(3-0)​
​ART 482​Italian Renaissance Art 3(3-0)
​ART 483​Nineteenth Century European Art 3(3-0)
​ART 485​Art After 1945 3(3-0)
​ART 486​Independent Study in Art History 1-6(Spec)
​ART 488​Northern Renaissance Art 3(3-0)
​ART 489​ Islamic Art 3(3-0)
​ART 495
​Art History Study Abroad 1-9(Spec)
​ART 580​Seminar in Ancient/Medieval Art History 3-6(3-0)
​ART 581​Seminar in Early Modern Art History 3-6(3-0)
​ART 582​Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Art History 3-6(3-0)
​ART 586​Special Topics Seminar in Art History 3-9(3-0)
​ART 589​Research Seminar in Art History 3(3-0)​

​​
Select from the following: 
​ART 175Fiber Structures and Weaving 3(0-6)
​ART 214Intro to Ceramics 3(2-3)​​
​ART 217​Introduction to Figure Drawing 3(0-6)
​ART 233​Introduction to Painting 3(0-6)
​ART 241​Introduction to Photography 3(0-6)
​ART 251​Introduction to Printmaking 3(0-6)
​ART 258Everyday Web Design 3(0-6)
​ART 261​Introduction to Sculpture 3(0-6)
​
​ART 314​Ceramics Studio: Wheel-throwing 3(0-6)
​ART 334​Watercolor Painting 3(0-6)
​ART 342​Experimental Photography Studio 3-6(Spec)
​ART 406​Drawing Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 414​Ceramics Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 417​Figure Drawing Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 433​Painting Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 441​Photography Lighting Studio 3-6(Spec)
​ART 451​Printmaking Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 463
​Sculpture Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 475​Papermaking/Book Arts II 3(0-6)
​ART 506​Advanced Drawing Studio 1-12(Spec)​
​​ART 514​Advanced Ceramics Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 517​Advanced Figure Drawing Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 533​Advanced Painting Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 541​Advanced Photography Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 551​Advanced Printmaking Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 561
​Advanced Sculpture Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 575​Surface Design on Fabric II 3(0-6)
​ART 584​Drawing in Florence 3(Spec)
​​​ART 499BAA Senior Seminar 3(3-0)
​Select any ART course except ART 114 or ART 126

View Major Map​​

This degree program, which requires 78 hours in art, offers art majors a firm foundation in basic courses such as drawing, design, and art history. This foundation not only provides a strong base for all specialized studio areas, but also prepares students to qualify for advanced degree programs.
Because Core Courses I comprise a foundation of courses that form the basis for all successive courses in the major, it is expected that students complete ART 106, 117, 119, and 125 before enrolling in any 300+ studio course. It is mandatory that all Art Majors register for and complete ART 096 for each semester in the program. Students should seek advising assistance from the department upon arrival to the university and should select a major advisor in their area of concentration at the beginning of their junior year, once they have been accepted into the program. Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.3 for all art courses counted toward the major. Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis, except for ART 096, may not be counted toward fulfillment of requirements for the art major or minor.​ ​

Studio Concentration Requirements:
Acceptance into the B.F.A. degree program in the Studio Concentration may be applied for when the student has completed or is cur- rently enrolled in ART 106, 117, 119, 125; two courses in art history; and three studio courses.

Students whose applications fail to be accepted to the B.F.A. program are welcome to reapply the following semester.

In addition to the general curricula, the candidate for the B.F.A. degree must complete the following requirements:

1. Sign B.F.A. degree with advisor in student’s area of concentration. This professor serves as the student’s Thesis Advisor.

2. Participate in faculty critiques for three consecutive semesters before graduation. The B.F.A. Committee will schedule the student’s faculty critiques.

3. Exhibit a cohesive thesis body of creative work and all responsibili- ties that are included in the exhibition.

4. Conduct a public artist’s talk in support of thesis exhibition work.

5. Submit a nal portfolio to the Art Department including a resume, artist’s statement, visual documentation of thesis work, visual documentation list, and any other supporting materials.

​ART 096
​Art Event Attendance 0(0-0)
​ART 106​Intro to Drawing 3(0-6)
​ART 117​Intro to Contemporary Issues in Art 3(3-0)
​ART 119​Design Foundations 3(0-6)
​ART 125​Digital Design 3(0-6)
​ART 283​Intro to Western Art, Part I 3(3-0)​
​ART 285Intro to Western Art, P​art II 3(3-0)
Select from the following:
​ART 175Fiber Structures and Weaving 3(0-6)
​ART 214Intro to Ceramics 3(2-3)​​
​ART 217​Introduction to Figure Drawing 3(0-6)
​ART 233​Introduction to Painting 3(0-6)
​ART 241​Introduction to Photography 3(0-6)
​ART 251​Introduction to Printmaking 3(0-6)
​ART 261​Introduction to Sculpture 3(0-6)
​
You may choose to take ART 341, 363, and 366, but may only count one of these courses toward the Core III requirement.​

Select from the following:​​
​ART 28​7​Introduction to Non-Western Art 3(3-0)
​ART 312
​Special Studies in Art History 3-9(3-0)
​ART 317
​Digital Art History and Archaeology 3(2-3)
​ART 319​The Methods of Art History 3(3-0)
​ART 341History of Photography 3(3-0)​​​
​ART 363​History of Design: 1750-2010 3(3-0)​
​ART 366​Contemporary Design Issues 3(3-0)
​ART 380​Greek Art and Architecture 3(3-0)
​ART 381​Early Christian and Byzantine Art 3(3-0)
​ART 382/
WST 382		​Gender and Art 3(3-0)
​ART 383​Modern Architecture 3(3-0)
​ART 385​European Art from 1890-1940 3(3-0)
​ART 386​American Art 3(3-0)
​ART 387​Baroque Art 3(3-0)
​ART 388​Eighteenth-Century Art 3(3-0)
​ART 389​Art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt 3(3-0)
​ART 480​Roman Art and Architecture 3(3-0)
​ART 481​Western Medieval Art 3(3-0)​
​ART 482​Italian Renaissance Art 3(3-0)
​ART 483​Nineteenth Century European Art 3(3-0)
​ART 485​Art After 1945 3(3-0)
​ART 486​Independent Study in Art History 1-6(Spec)
​ART 488​Northern Renaissance Art 3(3-0)
​ART 489​Islamic Art 3(3-0)
​ART 495
​Art History Study Abroad 1-9(Spec)
​ART 580​Seminar in Ancient/Medieval Art History 3-6(3-0)
​ART 581​Seminar in Early Modern Art History 3-6(3-0)
​ART 582​Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Art History 3-6(3-0)
​ART 586​Special Topics Seminar in Art History 3-9(3-0)
​ART 589​Research Seminar in Art History 3(3-0)​​
ART 471BFA Exhibition 3(3-0)
​Select any ART course except ART 114 or ART 126​
ART 258Everyday Web Design 3(0-6)
​ART 314​Ceramics Studio: Wheel-throwing 3(0-6)
​ART 334​Watercolor Painting 3(0-6)
​ART 342​Experimental Photography Studio 3-6(Spec)
​ART 406​Drawing Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 414​Ceramics Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 417​Figure Drawing Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 433​Painting Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 441​Photography Studio 3-6(Spec)
​ART 451​Printmaking Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 463
​Sculpture Studio 3-9(Spec)
​ART 475​Papermaking/Book Arts II 3(0-6)
​ART 584​​Drawing in Florence 3(Spec)
​Select from the following
ART 506Advanced Drawing Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 514Advanced Ceramics Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 517​Advanced Figure Drawing Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 533​Advanced Painting Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 541​Advanced Photography Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 551​Advanced Printmaking Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 561
​Advanced Sculpture Studio 1-12(Spec)
​ART 575​​Surface Design on Fabric II 3(0-6)
​Select any ART course except ART 114 or 126.

​
View Major Map​​

This minor must be arranged in consultation with a departmental advisor. Total of 21 semester hours.
​ART 106​Intro to Drawing 3(0-6)
​ART 119​Design Foundations 3(0-6)
​ART 285​Introduction to Western Art, Part II 3(3-0)​​
Plus one course each in two studio areas other than drawing (6 hours).​
Select any ART courses except ART 114 or 126.​
​ ​ ​
 

Degree Outlook

JobMedian PayJob Growth through ​2022​
Photographer$28,490 per year4% (5,900 more jobs)​
Craft and fine artist$44,380 per year3% (1,300 more jobs)
Museum curator$44,410 per year11% (3,300 more jobs)​

*Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data ​

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