In Studio Art we foster independent and creative thought, emphasizing artmaking as not only a means of personal self-expression, but a way of thinking about our relationship to culture, humanity and the world of ideas. Our programs offer you the opportunity to work one on one with faculty in a highly creative studio environment taking courses that will emphasize individuality, interdisciplinary work, collaboration and community.
The Department offers two degrees focused on fine arts. The BFA, concentration in Studio Art is a professional degree and recommended for those seeking careers in the field of graphic design, while the BA in Studio Art, exposes students to essential core courses, but offers flexibility to those students seeking to combine a minor or other major to help them reach their individual career goals.
BFA, Studio Art, 76 major credit hours
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), concentration in Studio Art degree is a professional degree and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD). From painting and drawing, photography and printmaking, to sculpture and ceramics, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art emphasizes the development of skills, concepts, and creative sensitivities essential to the professional artist. Students work closely with faculty to develop their expressive voice and expand their proficiency across media. Our majors have 24-hour access to our various art studios during the four years of their degree.
Students will learn best practices in navigating the art world as they develop the skills needed to be a professional artist. The degree culminates in a distinctive senior capstone program involving the creation of a series of original works produced by each Bachelor of Fine Arts degree candidate that will be displayed in our Sechrest Gallery.
B.A. Studio Art, 52 major credit hours
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Studio Art provides a major for students who wish to develop and investigate a broad range of aesthetic, conceptual and technical approaches within the spectrum of a liberal arts degree. This degree is offered to those students wanting to expand their knowledge of Art and possibly to combine a minor or major program of study outside of the discipline. B.A. students acquire a foundation in design techniques, aesthetics, and history, while maintaining the flexibility to explore additional disciplines across the University. The B.A. degree’s flexibility makes it a particularly good choice for students who are considering a double major.
Admission Requirements (Effective Fall 2018)
Students wishing to pursue a BA in Studio Art or a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in General Fine Arts will submit a portfolio after completion of the freshman level foundation courses. Both groups will require content from Design Fundamentals (ART 1050) and Drawing (ART 1060). Students in the BFA program will also submit content from Digital Art and Design (ART 1150) and 3D Design (ART 2350). Upon successful completion of both courses and faculty review of the portfolio, students will be officially accepted into the major.
For Portfolio Review, students submit a portfolio of work that consists of selected projects from the freshman-level foundation courses. Faculty will evaluate the quality of the portfolio of work along with the student’s professional behavior (attendance, work ethic, ability to accept constructive criticism) and overall GPA. The program does not have a quota and can accept all students that meet the department’s standards. It is, however, unlikely that students will pass Portfolio Review if the student has below a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or a grade of C- or below is received in either of the two foundational courses. Students must pass both courses to be eligible to apply for admission into the major. Students may retake the course and reapply at the end of that semester; however, students may not apply to the program more than twice.
To graduate with a B.A. in Studio Art or a B.F.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in General Fine Arts, students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher per the University’s requirements.
Students who are enrolled in the Design Studies with the Graphic Design concentration are required to have a laptop by the fall semester of their junior year. The laptop must follow the hardware and software requirements (updated annually) on the department website.
Opportunities for experiential learning in studio art
The art department within the School of Art and Design has many opportunities for experiential learning as well as studios, exhibition spaces and labs, including:
- The annual art trip to NYC and Washington D.C. allowing students to tour world famous art galleries and meet with gallery directors
- Study abroad opportunities in France and Italy
- The HPU Sechrest Art Gallery houses a renowned permanent collection of 18th through 21st century American and European Art as well as rotating exhibitions of various contemporary artists
- Frequent exhibitions of student work around campus
- The Mac digital art lab with industry-leading hardware and equipment
- A fully-equipped darkroom for photography
- Fully-equipped 2-D and 3-D studios
Opportunities unique to studio art
- Fully equipped Sculpture and Ceramics Studio
- Faculty focus on a one-on-one approach to develop each student’s artistic and expressive abilities
- Students exposed to a wide variety of artistic mediums, ranging from sculpture, painting, ceramics and digital art to digital and darkroom photography
- A program committed to developing conceptual skills and technical know-how through creative and critical analysis of practical, historical and theoretical knowledge crucial to the understanding of art
What can I do with this major?
In the spirit of the liberal arts tradition, the Art major encourages students to supplement their Art degree with a minor or even another major in order to create a trajectory that meets their individual professional goals. Students frequently pursue supplemental course work in strategic communications, business, entrepreneurship and computer science. Past students have crafted the following career paths:
- Artist
- Computer Graphics
- Illustration
- Commercial Art
- Teaching
- Gallery Owner
- Advertising
- Muralist
- Art Historian
- Museum Director
Artistic areas explored
- Photography
- Digital Art
- Art History
- Ceramics
- Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Painting
- Drawing
What are grads doing with this major?
In the spirit of the liberal arts tradition, the Art major encourages students to supplement their Art degree with a minor or even another major in order to create a trajectory that meets their individual professional goals. Students frequently pursue supplemental coursework in strategic communications, business, entrepreneurship, and computer science. Consequently, employment opportunities are varied and competitive. Past students have crafted the following career paths in art, computer graphics, illustration, commercial art, teaching, advertising, and art history.
We have internships and travel opportunities for our majors which often result in full-time employment.
Combined with their knowledge and skills gained from the liberal arts core and supplemental minors and majors, students who earned a degree in studio art have continued on to careers with well known companies, such as:
Comcast | Philadelphia, PA
To Write Love on Her Arms | Melbourne, FL
Match Productions | New York, NY
Gering & Lopez | New York, NY
Artistica Photography | San Diego, CA
Artists Creating Together | Grand Rapids, MI
Next Steps Commerce | Washington, DC
Stroh Creative | Newark, OH
Some students also choose to continue their studies at the Master’s level.
Featured Graduate Profiles:
Kristen Stazzone, ’16 – Junior Graphic Designer at Green Room Communications
“There are so many people at High Point who became mentors to me for different reasons. The faculty members, including Mark Brown, Janis Dougherty and Benita VanWinkle in the School of Art and Design, have left an everlasting impression on me. Mark Brown connected me with employment opportunities that I am forever grateful for. Benita VanWinkle guided me every step of the way when choosing which direction was best for me at HPU. And lastly, Janis Dougherty’s encouragement is the reason I decided to pursue a career in graphic design. I admire all of their work, so it was amazing to have been taught by so many accomplished people.”
The School of Art and Design offers the B.A. degree in Studio Art. To graduate from High Point University with this degree, students must complete the following:
B.F.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in General Fine Arts
| Major Requirements |
76 credits |
| University Core Requirements |
50 credits |
| Electives |
2 credits |
TOTAL
|
128 credits
|
Requirements for a B.F.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in General Fine Arts (76 credits)
Core Courses (16)
- ART 1050. Fundamentals of Design (4)
- ART 1060. Drawing (4)
- ART 2000. Art History Survey (4)
- ART 2350. Three-Dimensional Design (4)
Media Coursework (32)
- ART 1150. Digital Art and Design (4)
- ART 2030. Printmaking (4)
- ART 2080. Darkroom Photography I (4)
- ART 2090. Ceramics I (4)
- ART 3060. Life Drawing (4)
- ART 3090. Sculpture I (4)
- ART 3160. Painting I (4)
- ART 4040. Intermedia (4)
Upper Level Art History (4)
- ART 3860. Contemporary Concepts in Art (4)
Upper Level Art Studio (12)
- ART 3190. Ceramics II (4)
- ART 4060. Painting II (4)
- ART 4090. Sculpture II (4)
Electives (8)
- ART XXXX. Art elective (4)
- Liberal Arts Elective from approved list (4)
Advanced Level (4)
- ART 4999. Senior Studio (4)
B.A. in Studio Art
| Major Requirements |
44 credits |
| University Core Requirements |
50 credits |
| Electives |
34 credits |
TOTAL
|
128 credits
|
Requirements for a B.A. in Studio Art (44 credits)
Core Courses (16)
- ART 1050. Fundamentals of Design (4)
- ART 1060. Drawing (4)
- ART 2000. Art History Survey (4)
- ART 2350. Three-Dimensional Design (4)
Media Coursework (8)
- ART 3090. Sculpture I (4)
- ART 3160. Painting I (4)
Upper Level Art History (4)
- ART 3860. Contemporary Concepts in Art (4)
Upper Level Art Studio (12)
- ART XXXX. Art studio elective (4)
- ART XXXX. Level II studio art elective (8)
Advanced Level (4)
- ART 4999. Senior Studio (4)
Florence, Italy – Studio Art Center International (SACI) is an institution for students seeking studio art, design and liberal arts instruction. Students have the opportunity to study drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, media, design, art history, Italian studies, art conservation, Italian language, creative writing and craft arts for a full semester.
Grand Tour of Italy – Drawing the Masters is a Maymester program that allows students to follow the footsteps of young artists who have historically honed their craft by visiting relevant sites in Italy. Students work on a series of studio projects in Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Siena, Venice and more.
Revolution in Paris – Art at the Turn of Two Centuries is a Maymester program that allows students to see Paris through the lens of a camera and see what inspired the famous photographer of Paris, Eugene Atget.
