Studio Art Degrees: What Coursework is Included in a Typical Studio Art Program?

What is Studio Art?

Studio art is the creation of visual art through painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, glass, fiber, or design. Studio art is also defined as visual art that is made in a studio or visual art that is similar to art that is made in a studio. The term “studio art” may also be used to describe digital art.  


What are the Types of Courses for Studio Art Programs?

Studio art programs prepare students to contribute creatively to the social and cultural discourses that shape contemporary society. The most common types of undergraduate studio art degrees are the BA and BFA. The BA degree curriculum consists of more liberal arts courses and fewer studio art courses and the BFA curriculum consists of fewer liberal arts courses and more studio art courses. The BA program is for artists that have an interest in studio art and disciplines outside of art, while the BFA is a pre-professional degree for students interested in developing their artistic skills for a career in visual arts only, to prepare for graduate study, or both.

A typical studio art BFA consists of general education courses in English, Government, History, Math, Natural Sciences, Rhetoric, and Social Sciences. Major coursework will depend on focus or concentration. Studio areas in fine arts include ceramics, digital art, graphic design, metalsmithing and jewelry design, painting/drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and fibers. Common courses may include:

• 3D Foundations
• Ceramics Studio
• Color Fundamentals
• Color: Acrylic and Chalk
• Digital Studio: Imaging
• Digital Studio: Photography
• Drawing Fundamentals
• Drawing Studio
• History of Western Art and Architecture
• Painting Studio
• Preparation and Practice in Visual Arts
• Print Studio: Intaglio
• Printmaking Studio
• Sculpture Studio
• Visual Thinking

In addition to a focus area, most programs offer a variety of electives, which allows students to refine the degree further. Sample electives include:

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• Digital Studio: Animation
• Digital Studio: Video
• Directed Study: Studio
• Drawing Studio: Perspective
• Painting Studio: Figure
• Print Studio: Screenprint
• Sculpture Studio: Installation
• Sculpture Studio: Projects
• The Book as Art: Text and Image

During their final year, many studio art students will complete a Senior Seminar Capstone, Senior Exhibition course, and an internship. The Senior Seminar Capstone course provides an opportunity to create, share, and critique ideas and work. In addition, students will have the opportunity to interact with artists and art in their local area.

The Senior Exhibition course aids students in selecting, preparing, and submitting work to an annual Studio Arts Student Exhibitions. Because successful exhibitions require planning and effective implementation, this course supplements preparations for the capstone exhibition through the analysis of area exhibitions as well as providing hands-on experience in the mechanics of exhibition production.

Internships provide on-the-job experience in art-related fields, as well as opportunities to work in museums, galleries, arts organizations, and more.

What Can I Do With a Degree in Studio Art?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of arts and design occupations is projected to grow three percent from 2018 to 2028, adding about 96,800 new jobs. More workers will be needed to meet the growing demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, television, and on smartphones, as well as to help create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and other media platforms.

Studio art prepares students to work in these and many other fields, so the list of possible jobs is virtually endless. Studio art graduates work in museums and galleries, graphic design firms, art schools, photography studios, non-profit organizations, the medical field (art therapy), media, architecture, film studios, production studios, game design companies, publishing houses, textile mills, auction houses, arts councils, historical societies, design centers, and more.

Possible job titles include:

• Advertising Artist
• Art Appraiser
• Art Buyer
• Art Critic
• Art Critic/Reporter
• Art Director
• Art Historian
• Art Librarian
• Art Teacher
• Art Therapist
• Artist-In-Residence
• Arts & Humanities Council
• Arts Council Director
• Arts Fundraiser
• Arts Lawyer
• Auctioneer
• Audio-Visual Specialist
• Billboard Artist/Sign Painter
• Book/Cd Cover Designer
• Cartoonist
• Ceramist
• Community Arts Center Director
• Conservator/Restorer
• Coordinator
• Corporate Art Consultant
• Director
• Etcher
• Exhibit Designer
• Gallery Owner/Operator
• Game Artist
• Glass Blower
• Grants Specialist
• Greeting Card Artist
• Graphic Artist
• Historical Preservation
• Illustrator
• Landscape Architect
• Layout Artist
• Magazine Cover Artist
• Medical Illustrator
• Mural Artist
• Museum Curator
• Museum Education Coordinator
• Museum Publications Director
• Newspaper Layout Artist
• Painter
• Photographer
• Photojournalist
• Picture Framer
• Police/Courtroom Artist
• Printmaker
• Sculptor
• Set Designer
• Storyboard Artist
• Topographer
• Visual Merchandiser
• Web Page Designer