Why earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art at Washburn?
The Art program at Washburn University combines the same facilities and equipment and specialized faculty as stand-alone art schools, while also offering you the full university experience. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor in your area of practice and you’ll grow in your craft as you progress through the program. You’ll graduate having curated your own show. And you’ll have opportunities for travel in the United States and abroad and internship experience.
Is the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art right for me?
If you want to build your profession around creating art, or you intend to pursue graduate study in a specific type of art practice, this is the right degree for you. At Washburn you can focus your studio practice in:
- General Studio Art
- Ceramics and Sculpture
- Graphic Design and Electronic Art
- Painting and Drawing
- Photography
- Printmaking
If you want to double major and combine art with another field, consider the Bachelor of Arts. If you want to be an Art Educator, the BFA in Art Education with teacher licensure is right for you. If you want to research art, or work in a museum or gallery setting, the BA in Art History may be the right option.
Gain experience: Join Art Club and/or Future Art Educators and participate in events. Attend the Art Department Field Trip to a regional city. Attend First Fridays and explore the NOTO Arts District. Attend guest lectures at the Mulvane, Spencer, Nelson-Atkins, and Beach Museums. Attend Gallery Opening and Gallery Talks at the Mulvane Art Museum on campus. Attend Art Department Gallery Talks and senior exhibitions. Volunteer for High School Art Day.
Get connected: Explore study abroad opportunities! Consider adding a minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies, Mass Media, or Biology to align with your goals. Join a campus club that supports your interests. Volunteer on campus or in the community. Attend Washburn events, including the Apeiron poster presentation.
Gain experience: Volunteer for High School Art Day. Volunteer or get a job at Mulvane Art Museum. Participate in Apeiron. Go on the Art Department field trip. Explore internship possibilities with your Art faculty mentor and advisor. Volunteer in NOTO.
Get connected: Study abroad or plan to next year! Participate in an academic or professional conference. Apply to an art exhibition. Volunteer on campus or in the community. Attend Washburn events. Volunteer and/or sell work at the Mulvane Art Fair or Aaron Douglas Art Fair.
Gain experience: Submit your work to the WU Art Student Exhibition at the Mulvane Art Museum. Share your work at Apeiron or Research Day at the Capitol. Present your creative research at an academic or professional conference. Apply for a scholarship or a competitive grant. Meet regularly with your Art faculty mentor and advisor to discuss your plans after this degree and plan your senior show.
Get connected: Study abroad! Create a website and social media accounts to showcase your work and build your professional networks. Create and refine your digital portfolio. Visit graduate schools and residences, contact gallery and business owners who may display your work.
Gain experience: Apply for a Washburn Transformational Experience grant to support your Senior Show. Be an officer in WAC or FAE and mentor incoming students. Submit work to the WU Art Student Exhibition at the Mulvane. Present your work at a professional conference (collaboration with other students is encouraged!).
Get connected: Your faculty mentor is a great resource for graduate school or job references and application reviews! Apply for jobs/internships/residencies/graduate school. Refine your digital portfolio, artist statements, social media presence and other professional materials. Register for Art Department field trips. Sell and exhibit work in NOTO, at the Mulvane and Aaron Douglas Art Fair and on your website.
Concentration options
Your Art electives will be in your studio practice concentration.
- General Studio Art
- Ceramics and Sculpture
- Graphic Design and Electronic Art
- Painting and Drawing
- Photography
- Printmaking
Degree Requirements and Courses for Concentrations
Below are the requirements and courses for each of the concentrations with the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program.
Studio Electives: Mid/Upper Level Courses (9 hrs, 6 hrs must be Upper Level)
- AR XXX 3-D Elective
- AR XXX Painting OR Drawing OR Printmaking Elective
- AR XXX Photography OR Graphics OR Electronic Arts Elective
Required Upper level Courses 18 hrs
- AR 3XX Art History Elective
- AR 300 Art Theory Past and Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 407 21st Century Art Practices
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
Open Art Electives: Upper level – 18 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Note: Course number with XX means you select the one that best fits your interests.
Courses for Concentration 18 hrs
- AR 300 Art Theory Past & Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 3XX Art history electives or AR 407 21st Century Art Practices – 9 hrs
- AR 313 Museums and Materials
- AR 312 Research in Art history
Required Upper level Courses 18 hrs
- AR 3XX 3-D elective (sculpture, ceramics, or glass)
- AR 3XX Painting, Drawing, or Printmaking elective
- AR 3XX Photography, Graphics or Electronic Art elective
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
Open Art Electives: Upper level – 9 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Note: Course number with XX means you select the one that best fits your interests.
Courses for Concentration – 18 hrs
- AR 360 Ceramics II
- AR 364 Advanced Sculpture (2 semesters) – 6 hrs
- AR 361 Ceramic Glaze/Surface Exploration OR AR 460 Advanced Ceramics (topic)
- AR 3XX 3-D Elective
- AR 343 Figure Drawing
Required Upper level Courses – 18 hrs
- AR 3XX Art History Elective
- AR 300 Art Theory Past and Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 407 21st Century Art Practices
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Note: Course number with XX means you select the one that best fits your interests.
Courses for Concentration – 18 hrs
- AR 231 Basic Multimedia
- AR 318 Typography
- AR 322 Graphic Design II
- AR 321 Photoshop Imaging
- AR 429 Web Design
- AR 418 Advanced Typography
Required Upper level Courses – 18 hrs
- AR 3XX Art History Elective
- AR 343 Figure Drawing
- AR 300 Art Theory Past and Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
Open Art Electives: Upper level – 9 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Note: Course number with XX means you select the one that best fits your interests.
Courses for Concentration – 18 hrs
- AR 340 Advanced Painting (topic)
- AR 343 Figure Drawing
- AR 323 Silkscreen OR AR 324 Lithography OR AR 319 Etching OR AR 419 Relief Printing
- AR 342 Watercolor OR AR 345 Chinese Painting
- AR 340 Advanced Painting OR AR 442 Advanced Watercolor OR AR 341 Art of Landscape OR AR 445 Advanced Chinese Painting OR AR 3XX Elective Painting Course OR AR 443 Advanced Figure Drawing
- AR 421 Digital Painting and Drawing
Required Upper level Courses – 18 hrs
- AR 3XX Art History Elective
- AR 407 21st Century Art Practices
- AR 300 Art Theory Past and Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
Open Art Electives: Upper level – 9 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Note: Course number with XX means you select the one that best fits your interests.
Courses for Concentration – 18 hrs
- AR 231 Basic Multimedia OR Elective course in Graphic Design or Electronic Art
- AR 321 Photoshop Imaging
- AR 320 Darkroom Photography II OR AR 332 Advanced Photo Techniques I
- AR 354 Documentary Photography
- AR 355 Experimental Photography OR AR 352 Professional Photographic Lighting
- AR 353 Alternative Processes Photography
Required Upper level Courses – 18 hrs
- AR 407 21st Century Art Practices
- AR 300 Art Theory Past and Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 315 History of Photography OR Art History (300 level) Elective
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
Open Art Electives: Upper level – 9 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Courses for Concentration – 18 hrs
- AR 323 Silkscreen OR AR 324 Lithography OR AR 319 Etching OR AR 419 Adv. Relief Printing- 9 hrs
- AR 3XX Level Painting Course OR AR 3XX Level Drawing Course OR AR 3XX Level Photo Course OR appropriate special topics course
- AR 322 Graphic Design II: Print/InDesign OR AR 321 Photoshop Imaging OR AR 221/421 Digital Painting & Drawing
- AR 343 Figure Drawing
Required Upper level Courses – 18 hrs
- AR 3XX Art History Elective
- AR 407 21st Century Art Practices
- AR 300 Art Theory Past and Present OR AR 307 20th Century Art
- AR 400 Senior Exhibition – 1 hr
- AR 401 Internship – 3 hrs
- AR 403 Workshop in Art Media
- AR 404 BFA Professional Practice – 2 hrs
Open Art Electives: Upper level – 9 hrs
- Any studio or special topics courses. May include 3 hrs travel/study and/or 3 hrs Art History courses.
Students seeking a BFA degree must apply for admission to the BFA Program (sophomore level)
Total Art hours: 84
Total Gen Ed /University Core credits: 39
Total credits for Degree: 123
Note: Course number with XX means you select the one that best fits your interests.
Jobs & Opportunities
Important qualities
Curiosity in a variety of areas
Drive to develop skills in a specific medium as a means of expression and exploration
Tenacity – listening and responding to constructive criticism as a way to improve your craft and adapt to change
Job fields
Arts organization and gallery administration
Commercial and scientific illustration
Commercial or fine art photography
Graphic designers in a variety of settings
Interior design
Set and exhibit design
Full-time studio practice
Art instructors
Internship opportunities
Graphic or commercial design
Arts administration (gallery, museum, non-profit)
Web design
Film & Animation
NOTO (North Topeka arts district)
Cost and financial aid
All programs in the Art Department are offered as Traditional Undergraduate courses.
The Art Department offers a variety of scholarships for incoming and continuing full-time art majors. The application deadline is February 1 each year for the next fall. Limited funds may be available at fall enrollment. Work study and studio assistant positions also are available.
Scholarships
Current Students
Art Facilities
GET IN TOUCH WITH Art Department
Art Department
Washburn University
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
Phone: 785.670.1125
Office Hours:
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
art@washburn.edu
