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from Creativity to Career


Majors, Minors, & Certificates

From Creativity to Career

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Animation
BFA, AB, Certificate, & Minor

This program focuses on 3-D/2D animation, motion graphics, film, television, videography, and multi-media design.

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Art Education
AB

This program provides a professional path toward a rewarding career in teaching k-12 in public or private schools.

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Art History Group Image
Art History
AB & Minor

Art historians may choose to pursue a career as a curator, teacher, conservator, art restorer, museum manager, visual resource curator, and more.

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Fine Art Studio
BFA, AB, & Minor

Tracks in ceramics, painting/drawing, printmaking, sculpture, weaving, and a self-designed mix.

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Graphic Design
BFA, AB, Certificate, & Minor

Our graphic design program focuses on digital and print design for a well-rounded design portfolio. 

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Students in UX 220: Intro to UX Design during UX testing of prototypes
User Experience
BFA, AB, & Certificate

UX design is the art of crafting dynamic interactive experience across products, devices, and platforms. UX is most commonly associated with digital design.

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Our department offers three majors: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Arts, a professional arts degree; the Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Visual Studies, a liberal arts degree; and the Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Art History.

Degree Information

This multidisciplinary certificate is designed to complement an existing major in a related field, by providing a background understanding of topics related to the brewing and distilling industries—the science, the business, and the history, as well as an internship—students need to become competitive in the marketplace.

View the Brewing & Distilling Certificate

If you grew up passionate about gaming, becoming a professional game designer might be your dream job. But being an avid gamer isn’t enough of a credential to break into the industry. You’ll need to show that you have specific knowledge of game systems and game design, as well as broader awareness of the development process and how major game studios operate.

Turn a gaming passion into a career. Earn a certificate in Game Design at WKU in as little as 2 semesters!

View the Game Design Certificate

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For Incoming Freshman and Current Students

View Art & Design Scholarships & Grants

 

 

 


 

 

 

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Major, Minor,
and Certificate Advising

Advising

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6 Student Clubs
Tons of Events!

Clubs

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On-Site IDEA Lab
Internships (NEW!)

IDEA Lab

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On-Site Imagewest
Internships

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  • Animator
  • Motion Graphics Artist
  • Cartoonist
  • Digital Designer
  • Character Developer 
  • Game Designer

Animation Program

Art Ed classroom

  • Elementary Art Teacher, Gr. K-6th
  • Middle School Art Teacher, 7th - 8th 
  • High School Art Teacher, 9th - 12th
    (P-12 Visual Arts Initial Teaching Certification is obtained through KY EPSB, and reciprocal to most of the U.S.)
  • College Art Ed Professor
    (requires a terminal Ed. D or Ph. D, graduate degree beyond a master's degree)
  • Art Therapist
    (requires a licensure and graduate degree)

Art Education Major

Person working in art history.

  • Corporate Art Consultant
  • Professor of Art History (requires a graduate degree)
  • Art Critic
  • Art Restorer
  • Antique Specialist
  • Art Dealer
  • Gallery Director
  • Gallery Owner
  • Art Historian
  • Museum Curator
  • Exhibit Designer 
  • Non-Profit Administration
  • Art Sales
  • Art Coordinator

Art History Major

 

Man and Woman Print

  • Studio Artist
    in disciples such as:
    - Ceramics
    - Painting
    - Illustration 
    - Weaving
    - Printmaking
    - Sculpture 
  • Medical Illustrator
  • Artist-In-Residence
  • Gallery Director or Owner
  • Art Museum Curator
  • Non-Profit Administration
  • Educator (requires a graduate degree)
  • Art Therapist
    (Reccommended psychology minor with BA Studio Concentration.  Requires a licensure and graduate degree)

Studio Art Major

Museum Banner

  • Multimedia Designer
  • Graphic or Digital Designer
  • Art Director
  • Creative Director
  • Illustrator
  • Brand Idenity Designer
  • Layout Artist

Graphic Design Major

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  • UX Designer
  • UI (User Interface) Artist
  • Web Designer
  • Product Designer
  • Content Designer
  • UX Writer
  • Customer/Service Experience Designer

View UX Offerings

 

This multidisciplinary certificate is designed to complement an existing major in a related field, by providing a background understanding of topics related to the brewing and distilling industries—the science, the business, and the history, as well as an internship—students need to become competitive in the marketplace.

Students who want to work in the business side of the industry might take a business degree and then the extra coursework for this certificate. People who want to be brewers might take a biology or chemistry degree, while someone interested in supplying the industry might take an agriculture degree, or someone looking to design bottles or labels might take a graphic or industrial design design degree.  

View the Brewing & Distilling Certificate

Certificates are focused on specific skills and your career outcome will depend on the major or professional experience you are combining the certificate with.

  • Game Designer
  • Level Designer
  • Game Developer
  • Animator
  • UX Engineer
  • Creative or Art Director

View the Game Design Certificate

 

 


Arts & Humanities Courses

ART 105    History of Art to 1300    
3 Hours (FALL ONLY)

A selective chronological study of the visual arts from prehistoric through Gothic times. The course is designed as an introduction to the basic terminology and problems of art history and to methods of analyzing and interpreting individual works of art. 


ART 106    History of Art Since 1300    
3 Hours (SPRING ONLY)

A selective chronological study of the major visual arts from renaissance through modern times. 


ART 100    Art Appreciation    
3 Hours

An introductory study of the visual arts. 


ART 102    Introduction to Making Art & Making Meaning    
3 Hours

A hands-on material-specific course for non-art majors. Explores the formal elements, techniques, concepts and vocabulary of visual art through physical manipulation of one or more art materials (for example ceramics, paint, metals, or fibers). Examines art’s central and proactive role in the articulation of culture and its important function in determining societal norms and shifts throughout time.

 

ART 317    Art and Power    
3 Hours

A systematic consideration of the means through which the visual arts embody and promote ideologies and shape human societies. 

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status

ART 318    Art and Landscape    
3 Hours

Critical examination of the theme of landscape in the visual arts. 

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status

ART 407    Islamic Art and Architecture    3 Hours

A survey of art and architecture in the Islamic world from 622 through the present day. Colonnade K-SC

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status

ART 445    American Architectural History    3 Hours

An interdisciplinary survey of American architectural history, including trends and styles, architect designed and manufactured structures and elements, and the social history of American architecture.

Equivalent(s): FLK 445


ART 490    Special Problems    3-6 Hours

Independent course work done on an individual basis under the guidance of a selected faculty member.


ART 491    Special Studies    3 Hours

Independent course work done on an individual basis under the guidance of a selected faculty member. 


ART 496    Special Topics in Studio Art    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Investigates different topics in art through process or technique in a studio practice.

Course Fee: $75

 

 


 

June 5, 2020

Today, on what should be a celebration of the birthday of Breonna Taylor, of Louisville, Kentucky, we instead mourn her death.

It is past time to dismantle the racist structures that continue to create injustices for and claim the lives of Black People, Indigenous People, and People of Color in the United States of America.

The WKU Department of Art & Design stands in support of the statement made by our administration “seeking inclusion and respecting the rights of all people, celebrating and embracing diversity and encouraging freedom of expression.” https://www.wku.edu/caboni/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=8858

Our students, faculty and staff, alumni, and expanded community deserve to feel and be safe, regardless of the color of their skin. We recognize the systemic racist structures that keep this from being true and unite in solidarity to say “no more” to systemic racism and injustice.

There is much work that needs to be done to honor the commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, fairness, and justice, including examining and re-examining our own structures and practices. We know that cultural equity is critical to the long-term viability of the arts, but more importantly, cultural equity is critical to the human experience. 

We pledge to do the work needed to fully support our BIPOC students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community. We will elevate your ideas, your voices, and your creativity. You must be heard. We will listen.

And – you must be seen. From established artists to our own young alumni, we will be using our platforms to promote Black artists that the world should know.

 


 

 

 


 

accreditations


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 Last Modified 5/9/24