Bachelor of Arts in Art

Art
Visiting Artist Lecture Series
Scholarship Opportunities
Careers in Art
Art Gallery
Art Faculty

About

The BA in Art provides a foundation in art practice that emphasizes exploration, creative problem solving, and cultural awareness. Once required courses are complete you can choose to focus in:

  • 2D – painting, drawing, printmaking, illustration
  • 3D – ceramics, sculpture
  • Media – photography, digital art
  • Visual Culture – art history, community or social art practice
  • or Mix it up! We are flexible!

In addition to academic studies, you can participate in exhibition opportunities to prepare for your future career.

The skills gained through studying art (such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative enterprise) intersect with all disciplines and help develop abilities needed to excel in a variety of careers.

Our graduates have accepted professional assignments with non-profit organizations, public school systems, museums, community organizations, businesses and think-tanks. Some students go on to set up studios, open galleries, become curators and begin their own studio practices. Others use their Capstone portfolios to apply to (and get accepted by) some of the best graduate programs in the country.

Overall, a career in art is often both exciting and rewarding.

Curriculum & Requirements

Ready to declare a Studio Art Major? Do that here!

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Art Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Required Foundation Courses
ART 201STUDIO I: IMAGE AND TECHNOLOGY5
ART 202STUDIO II: TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS5
ART 213THE VISUAL ART EXPERIENCE5
or ART 210 VISUAL CULTURE
ART 300DRAWING5
ART 320CAREERS IN THE ARTS1
Required Visual Culture Courses
ART 312ART ACROSS TIME: PREHISTORY TO 17TH CENTURY5
or ART 314 THE BODY IN ART
ART 313ART ACROSS TIME: 18TH CENTURY TO CONTEMPORARY5
or ART 315 HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY
ART 331CONTEMPORARY ART5
Art Experience Electives15
In consultation with their faculty advisor, students choose three of the following courses:
CERAMICS I
CERAMICS II
ILLUSTRATION
COLOR THEORY
DIGITAL ART
PHOTOGRAPHY: DIGITAL PRACTICES
PHOTOGRAPHY: BLACK AND WHITE
THE BODY IN ART
HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY
NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN ART
PAINTING
WATERCOLOR
PRINTMAKING
SCULPTURE
FIBER AND TEXTILES
EXPERIMENTAL
Art Focus10
In consultation with their faculty advisor, students complete 10 advanced level credits in one or two focus areas. 400-level courses can be repeated for credit.
Ceramics
CERAMICS III
Drawing
DRAWING
LIFE DRAWING
Digital
DIGITAL ART: THE MOVING IMAGE
Illustration
ADVANCED ILLUSTRATION
Painting
PAINTING II
Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY: ADVANCED PRACTICE
Printmaking
PRINTMAKING
Sculpture
SCULPTURE
Visual Culture
ART AS SOCIAL ACT
ART AND COMMUNITY
WRITING ABOUT ART
Professional Practice 4
In consultation with their faculty advisor, students complete a minimum of 4 credits in Professional Practice topics. ART 439 and ART 495 can be repeated for credit.
TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
INTERNSHIP
Required Capstone
ART 490SENIOR CAPSTONE (a UGR–senior capstone)5
Total Credits70

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement.  Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ART 2015ART 2025MATH 107 or 1705
ART 213 or 210 (Humanities & Arts BACR 1)5ENGL 2015Diversity - graduation requirement15
ENGL 1015Humanities & Arts BACR 215Social Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ART 3201ART 3005Art Experience Elective25
Natural Science BACR 115Natural Science BACR 215Global Studies - graduation requirement15
Social Science BACR 215Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5  
 16 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ART 312 or 3145ART 313 or 3155ART 3315
Art Experience Elective25Art Experience Elective25Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 15 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
Art Focus Elective35ART 439 or 4954Art Focus Elective35
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5ART 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 15 14 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Art Experience - In consultation with their faculty advisor, students choose three courses from the approved list.

3

Art Focus - In consultation with their faculty advisor, students complete 10 advanced level credits in one or two focus areas. 400-level courses can be repeated for credit.

Students who earn a BA in Art at EWU should be able to:  

  • demonstrate advanced technical skills in a studio concentration;
  • produce a professional quality artist’s portfolio;
  • use appropriate terminology to evaluate works of art;
  • write a well-crafted artist’s statement.

Sample Courses

ART 201. STUDIO I: IMAGE AND TECHNOLOGY. 5 Credits.

Build digital skills while learning the elements and principles of design. Students explore digital tools and methods to create two-dimensional imagery. This course introduces students to methods of a practicing artist–inquiry and invention (creative problem solving), craft (making) and critique (applying the language of form and composition). This foundational art course is the starting place for various professional fields of visual art.

Catalog Listing

ART 202. STUDIO II: TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS. 5 Credits.

Notes: core requirement for BA Studio, BFA Studio, and BAE Studio.
Bring your concepts to life through effective use of space, form and materials. Students experiment and move fluidly between a wide variety of techniques, processes, and materials, while addressing various technical, formal and conceptual concerns in the creation of two and three-dimensional artworks. This course introduces students to methods of a practicing artist–inquiry and invention (creative problem solving), craft (making) and critique (applying the language of form and composition).

Catalog Listing

ART 325. CERAMICS II. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ART 225 or permission of instructor.
This is an intermediate ceramic art course that expands the possibilities for creative expression, aesthetics and techniques using clay. Students will broaden and strengthen their skills in ceramic construction and use of surface on ceramic artworks. This course examines historical and contemporary ceramic art and design practices relevant to the use of clay as a creative medium.

Catalog Listing

ART 314. THE BODY IN ART. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: GWSS 303, HONS 303.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201 and junior standing.
Satisfies: a university graduation requirement–diversity.
Many ideas about race, gender, and sexuality originate in representations of the body. This theme-based survey explores how figurative art has contributed, since prehistory, to shape today’s views. Emphasis in on applying contemporary issues, such as consent and identity, to the study of historical artworks. Includes class discussions and weekly writing assignments about art historical and critical texts that examine the production and perpetuation of cultural attitudes about the body.

Catalog Listing

Careers for Art Majors

  • Painter
  • Sculptor
  • Printmaker
  • Mixed Media Artist

  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
  • Concept Artist
  • Package Designer

  • Digital Animator
  • Video Game Designer
  • Motion Graphics Artist
  • 3D Modeler

  • Art Teacher (K-12 or higher education)
  • Museum Educator
  • Art Therapist
  • Art Workshop Instructor
  • University Art Department Chair

  • Museum Curator
  • Gallery Manager
  • Exhibition Designer
  • Art Conservator

  • Brand Designer
  • Advertising Art Director
  • Craft Entrepreneur
  • Creative Marketing Specialist

  • Set Designer
  • Costume Designer
  • Storyboard Artist
  • Prop Maker

  • Community Arts Organizer
  • Public Art Coordinator
  • Cultural Program Developer
  • Festival and Events Manager
  • Installation Artist/Collaborator for Social Engagement
  • Social Choreographer

Studying art means learning to think creatively in all kinds of ways: through drawing, painting, video, design, and more.

You’ll get better at expressing ideas visually, thinking outside the box, and solving problems with imagination and style.

Art graduates go on to work as artists, designers, educators, museum professionals, media creators, and more. They bring color, meaning, and new perspectives to the world around them.

When you study art, you’re not only making things—you’re making a difference. Explore your career possibilities in the following areas: