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Art, B.A.
Undergraduate Degree
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Program Overview

People with creative imaginations make art to express beauty, emotion, world views or any of a multitude of concepts and ideas. Art is painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, digital graphics and many other ways of expression. Art attracts people who create it, write about it, teach it and take it to new levels.

If you are passionate about the world of Art, Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia, can expand your knowledge and enhance your talents with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Art, offering two areas of emphasis:

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Program Highlights
Diverse Curriculum

Art majors follow an interdisciplinary curriculum with both traditional and online courses that are rigorous and relevant. Class sizes are kept small so bachelor’s degree students receive in-depth instruction and plenty of personal attention.

The BA program at Marshall consists of two areas of emphasis: Art History and Visual Art and Design. Both BA programs require a minor outside the School of Art & Design as part of BA coursework. The purpose is for students to diversify their interests and discover parallels between their major and minor areas of study.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Marshall University’s Visual Arts Center (VAC) is a six-story 66,000-square-foot building housing the Art Education, Art History, Fibers, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography and Printmaking programs of study. The ground floor of VAC features retail space and a 2,200-square-foot gallery with 150 feet of linear display space.

Research Opportunities

Several art students have participated in Marshall University’s Creative Discovery Summer Research Scholar Award. Students recognized for this award receive a $4,000 stipend and the opportunity to work over the summer with an Art faculty mentor. Many Art majors also take independent study courses with faculty to develop their artistic skills and talents.

Featured Courses
Art 215 - Foundation Form/Space
Introduction to 3D physical form/space by exploring ceramics in one half-semester workshop and sculpture in another. Students will develop visual, technical, and critical thinking skills by solving conceptual problems.
Art 390 - Professional Practice
Current views and practice: contemporary issues in art, safe practices in the studio, career opportunities, technology and art, and professional skills for artists.
Art 440 - Advanced Graphic Design
Directed study in which student select subject from any area of commercial design with the goal of developing specific area of expertise. Emphasis on original design and research.
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Career Opportunities
What can you do with an Art degree? The job outlook for Arts majors is broad and varied, depending on the area of emphasis students choose. Marshall University graduates with an Art bachelor’s degree are poised to become outstanding creative thinkers and producers, as well as strong leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and citizens. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in arts and design occupations is not projected to increase in the next few years. Arts and design workers who traditionally have worked in publishing, manufacturing and floral shops will likely see these industries decline. However, there will be demand for workers with skills in animation and visual effects in video games, movies, television and on smartphones. Also, talent is needed to help create visually appealing and effective layouts for websites and other media platforms. The BLS reports that the median annual wage for arts and design occupations was $49,600 in May 2020, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950.
  • Art Director
  • Craft & Fine Arts
  • Fashion Designers
  • Floral Designers
  • Graphic Designers
  • Industrial Designers
  • Interior Designers
  • Special Effects Artists & Animators