Program Overview
Virginia Wesleyan University's Art program grants a Bachelor of Arts in Art with minors in Art History or Studio Art. Balancing studio art and art history, the curriculum emphasizes creativity, conceptual thinking, and artistic expression. Graduates pursue careers in art, design, teaching, arts management, and more, with opportunities for internships, exhibitions, and community involvement.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Art Program at Virginia Wesleyan University offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art (BA) with minors available in Art History and Studio Art. The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and historical context of art while developing their creative, conceptual, and technical skills. The program's objective is to empower students to produce art that expresses important human thoughts, emotions, and values. The curriculum balances art production with an awareness of related cultural values. The major consists of core courses in studio art and art history, upper-level electives in a choice of media, and a choice of two capstone options. Students planning art education or studio careers take one additional credit hour of studio research and a capstone that involves creating a body of work and exhibiting it. The internship course serves as the capstone for students planning art therapy or gallery/museum careers.
Teaching:
The program is supported by ongoing art exhibitions in two campus gallery spaces and by field trips to local and regional museums and galleries. Students can also gain valuable hands-on experience through internships and research projects in a wide variety of cultural organizations located in the surrounding region.
Careers:
The Art program at VWU prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in the creative economy. Graduates receiving the B.A. in Studio Art have gone on to careers in art, design, teaching, arts management, and communication.
- Some have completed a highly competitive post-graduate Glass Assistantship at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
- Others have completed graduate programs in art education, illustration, art therapy, and other creative fields.
Other:
- The program offers courses in studio art and art history.
- The Art Program offers students opportunities to apply their talents in the community, such as working on community service projects like outdoor murals or creating artwork for medical facilities.
- Students have served as post-graduate Art Department interns, continuing to produce their own artwork, exhibiting on campus and assisting with teaching studio courses.
- Art majors may also earn endorsement for teaching art K-12 through an additional year of study in the Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) program which includes specific education courses and in-service teaching.
