Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts in Art Program

The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Art at Penn State is designed to prepare students for careers in the arts, provide a foundation for graduate school, and offer a liberal arts education in art. This comprehensive program allows students to explore their creativity and develop their skills in various artistic disciplines.

Program Overview

The B.A. in Art program provides a comprehensive liberal education coupled with professional resident instruction in art. Each student must elect an area of concentration from one of the following: ceramics, drawing and painting, digital arts and new media, photography, or sculpture.

Concentrations

The program offers five areas of concentration:

• Ceramics: This concentration focuses on the creation of ceramic art, including functional and sculptural pieces. Students learn traditional ceramics techniques, such as clay mixing, hand-building, wheel throwing, mold making, slip casting, glazing, and kiln firing.
• Drawing and Painting: This area is dedicated to an inter-disciplinary, pluralistic, and multimedia approach to art making, embracing painting, drawing, installation, performance, video, and computer-generated image making.
• Digital Arts and New Media: This concentration focuses on the creation, authoring, exhibiting, and critique of multimedia, interactive, and computationally driven artworks. Students explore diverse applications and new media technologies, with an emphasis on current digital art studio practices.
• Photography: The Photography concentration has a fine arts focus and offers an articulated introduction to the breadth and depth of photography as a medium of creative and critical cultural production.
• Sculpture: The Sculpture concentration offers students an environment to discover their personal voice in their work, with a focus on conceptually appropriate materials and methods that best articulate the intent of the artist.

Program Details

The B.A. in Art program provides students with a comprehensive education in art, including:

• Intensive studio courses with individual time with faculty members
• A close-knit cohort and 24-hour studio access
• Opportunities to exhibit work in campus galleries
• Engagement with other artists and participation in periodic reviews
• Development of a knowledge of the history of art and an understanding of current issues affecting art and society

Career Opportunities

The B.A. in Art program prepares students for professional careers and graduate studies in the arts. Alumni have gone on to pursue various opportunities, including graduate school, residencies, apprenticeships, and teaching positions.

Faculty and Resources

The program is taught by award-winning faculty who teach and exhibit nationally and internationally. Students have access to studio workspaces, collaborative spaces, digital production equipment, animation and time-based computing labs, and digital fabrication facilities.

Conclusion

The Bachelor of Arts in Art program at Penn State offers a comprehensive education in art, with a focus on creative expression, technical skill, and critical thinking. With its diverse range of concentrations and emphasis on professional practice, this program provides students with a strong foundation for careers in the arts and beyond.