Art and Design, BFA
Beyond offering training in all areas of studio practice, this program is designed to strengthen your critical thinking and creative problem-solving ability. You’ll also take several studio art courses outside your area of emphasis and Global Positioning Studies courses that invite you to engage creatively with diverse cultures and environments.
Our graduates have gone on to lead successful creative lives as artists, art consultants, art directors, educators, animators, gallery directors, cartoonists, curators, exhibition designers, graphic designers, illustrators, multimedia consultants, museum educators, museum preparators, photojournalists, product designers, professional print studio assistants, special effects designers, typographers, videographers, web developers, and more.
At its core, our BFA program promotes authentic curiosity and exploration, a respect for diversity, and a celebration of progressive creative development.
Acceptance to the Art and Design Program requires admission to WVU and a successful portfolio review.
Your Degree Plan
Art and Design students choose 1 of 4 areas of emphasis:
- 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media
- 3D Studio and Public Art
- Digital Art and Animation
- Graphic Design
All emphasis areas offer experiential learning through many Global Positioning Studies courses, including a painting class exploring the art scene in New York City, ceramics in China, digital art in the Atacama desert in Chile, and a photography workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Introduction to Silkscreen
ART 235S
Beginning 3D Animation
ART 273S
Introduction to 3D computer modeling and animation. Fundamental concepts and techniques of polygonal modeling, shading, texturing, lighting, animating, and rendering. Character design and bipedal animation. The course culminates with the production of an original, character-based group animation.
Design for Web and Screen
ART 325
Introduction to the technologies and methodologies utilized in graphic design for the web and other screen-based interfaces. This course focuses on an entire design process including information architecture, visual aesthetics, and usability.
Ceramics Production Methods
ART 341
This course expands the student's experiences in ceramics through the use of industrial techniques, production equipment, and business tools for the development, production, and marketing of ceramic products.
Interactive Art
ART 371
Students will utilize skills learned in previous electronic media courses to create projects incorporating a variety of knowledge and interactive software. Attention is given to historical and contemporary critical context.
Print, Propaganda, and Art
ARHS 385
Survey of the history of printing, printmaking, and other forms of imaging in the western world from earliest printed materials to present. Theoretical implications of image reproduction also considered.
The Art of Andy Warhol
ARHS 388
Overview of the ground-breaking and controversial art of Andy Warhol. Close examination of his work in the context of the 1960s Pop Art movement and recent contemporary art.
2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media
3D Studio and Public Art
Digital Art and Animation
Graphic Design
Study in Graphic Design begins with learning a foundation in typography, color, symbolic drawings, design for small and large formats, and design thinking. In addition to computer graphics and web design, tactical elements of design are explored hands-on through paper engineering, book arts courses, and access to a letterpress studio.
The Graphic Design area runs a model design studio, Studio 2453, that serves up to 30 clients per year. Students work as project directors with clients to produce designs that often benefit a particular community.
A portfolio class also prepares seniors for a design career where they present their work in Pittsburgh or Cleveland at AIGA Portfolio Days to gain feedback from industry professionals.
The Graphic Design emphasis is part of the Ohio Tuition Reciprocity Agreement.
Honors
Expand your curiosity and enhance your curriculum through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations and Honors in Action.
The WVU Difference
What sets this program apart?
- Cross-disciplinary program in all studio practices, including 2D Studio Painting, Photography, and Print Media; 3D Studio and Public Art; Digital Art and Animation; and Graphic Design.
- Global Positioning Studies (GPS) courses focus on making creative responses to a specific environment in local, national, and international locations
- Generous funding is available for student travel for GPS courses and study abroad experiences.
- Annual Juried Student Exhibition held in the Mesaros Galleries with cash awards.
- State-of-the-art studios for hands-on learning experiences in silkscreen and lithography printmaking, ceramics kiln firing, metal and bronze casting pours, and lead-type and relief printing.
- Internships and creative opportunities with other campus departments, regional museums, galleries, print studios, design firms, web developers, and more.
- WVU has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1977.
Learn by Doing
Get involved outside the classroom.
- Web Design Intern, WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
- Design Intern, WVU College of Business and Economics
- Clay Business Intern, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts
- Printmaking Intern, Artist Image Resource
- Museum Intern, Art Museum of WVU
- Critical thinking
- Creative problem-solving
Careers and Outcomes
How does this degree prepare students for a career?
Video Game Designers
Has a Bright Outlook
Median Salary: $98,090
Possible Job Titles: Design Director, Designer, Game Designer, World Designer
Curators
Has a Bright Outlook
May Require Graduate Degree
Median Salary: $61,770
Possible Job Titles: Collections Curator, Collections Manager, Curator, Museum Curator
Art Directors
Median Salary: $111,040
Possible Job Titles: Art Director, Creative Director (CD Director), Creative Services Director, Design Director
Craft Artists
Median Salary: $38,480
Possible Job Titles: Artist, Designer, Furniture Maker, Glass Artist
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Median Salary: $60,560
Possible Job Titles: Artist, Fine Artist, Painter, Sculptor
Special Effects Artists and Animators
Median Salary: $99,800
Possible Job Titles: 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist), Animator Artist, Graphic Artist
Commercial and Industrial Designers
Median Salary: $79,450
Possible Job Titles: Design Engineer, Designer, Industrial Designer, Product Designer
Graphic Designers
Median Salary: $61,300
Possible Job Titles: Artist Designer, Graphic Artist, Graphic Designer
Photographers
Median Salary: $42,520
Possible Job Titles: Commercial Photographer, Photographer, Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer
Desktop Publishers
Median Salary: $53,620
Possible Job Titles: Compositor, Computer Typesetter, Electronic Console Display Operator, Publisher
Where our recent grads are working
WVU’s BFA in Art and Design prepares you to think critically and solve problems creatively, a valuable skill in any profession. Our recent grads are working as:
- Corporate Partnership Creative Services Coordinator, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Senior Graphic Designer II, McDaniel College
- Organizational Culture Specialist, Design and Organizational Culture
- Marketing Associate, Dietician on Demand
- Senior Product Designer, Zoom
- Senior Graphic Designer, Appian Corporation
- Marketing Administrator, Dan Ryan Builders
- Owner/Designer, Duende Design Co.
- Art Director, Newell Brands
- Senior Designer/Global Consumer Products, Netflix
- Game Play Director, Esports Engine
- Studio Tech & Artist-in-Residence, Maine College of Art and Design
- Senior Designer, Union Creative Performance Marketing Agency
- Workshop Organizer, Beckley Art Center
- Graphic Designer, Burns Scalo Real Estate
- Printer, Artists Image Resource
- Videographer, The Stick Company
- Graphic Designer, Dogs of Charm City
- Ceramic Instructor, Butler Community College
- Assistant Professor of Fine Art, University of Cincinnati
- Arts Manager, Englewood Arts Center
- Ceramic Designer, Limelight
- Senior Graphic Designer, JPA Health
- Assistant Professor of Photojournalism, University of Texas at Austin
- Communication/Graphic Design Instructor, E. Russell Hicks Middle School
- Junior Graphic Designer, Assured Partners
Related Professional Organizations
Graduate school options
Consider one of WVU’s Studio Art graduate programs:
Our grads have continued their studies in programs across the country, including:
- MS, Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism, Maryville University of St. Louis
- MFA, UX Design, Maryland Institute College of Art
- MFA, Digital Art, Bowling Green State University
- MA, Film and Media Production, American University
- MFA, Sculpture, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- MFA, Printmaking, Southern Illinois University
- MFA, Printmaking, University of Arizona
- MBA, WVU College of Business and Economics
- MFA, Photography, Maryland Institute College of Art
FAQs
Common questions and answers about Art and Design.
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Canady Creative Arts Center
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Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the Art and Design major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.
Tuition and Aid
How much does Art and Design at WVU cost? And how can you save?
Tuition and Fees
Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.
Ways to Save
Beyond scholarships, here are other ways to reduce your cost of attending WVU.
Financial Aid
The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Art and Design, BFA is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Ohio Tuition Reciprocity
As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Art and Design can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.
Start at Another WVU Campus
You can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.
Transfer Articulation Agreements
To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.
Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.
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