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Art (Art Studies), BA

This art studies program gives you the freedom to explore animation, drawing, ceramics, illustration, printmaking, painting, photography, sculpture and experimental processes while building a creative practice that fits your vision.

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Art supplies, including paint, paint brushes and colored pencils, symbolize the field explored in the BA in Art (Art Studies).

Quick facts

Courses

120 credit hours
Math intensity: General program math intensity general
First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
or MAT 117 College Algebra or MAT 119 Finite Mathematics
View more details

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

Art (Art Studies) degree description

The Bachelor of Arts program in art with a concentration in art studies is a flexible, hands-on program that encourages you to explore a wide variety of artistic practices while developing your own creative voice. You take studio courses taught by professional artists in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, animation, photography, illustration and more. These are supported by courses in art history and contemporary practice.

This program teaches you how to think critically, experiment fearlessly and translate ideas into visual form, even if you don't have art experience. You gain skills in visual communication, creative problem-solving and critical thinking. Along the way, you learn to make unexpected connections, solve problems creatively and develop a distinctive body of work. Faculty mentors and a vibrant community of peers support you and help you grow personally and professionally. Dedicated courses in professional practices prepare you to present your work, connect with creative networks and pursue opportunities after graduation.

You should visit the art studies areas of study page to learn more about the program. To engage the school's creative community, you can subscribe to the School of Art newsletters and follow the school on social media.

Why specialize in art studies at ASU?

The art studies concentration at ASU is built for flexibility. Unlike studio art programs at other universities that require early specialization in a single medium, this program lets you explore across disciplines before focusing your creative practice. You'll have access to the full range of Herberger Institute studio facilities, galleries and resources while designing a course of study that matches your interests and goals.

This art studies program is ideal if you want the credential and community of a nationally recognized design and arts institute without the intensive single-medium commitment of a BFA. The program suits students pursuing concurrent degrees, allowing you to combine art with another field from across ASU. You learn from professional artists and build a foundation in visual communication and creative problem-solving that translates across industries.

Additional details

Art studies students have access to the same studio facilities and galleries as BFA students at the School of Art. The program is designed to support students combining art with another degree, making it a strong fit if you're exploring multiple fields. Dedicated courses in professional practices prepare you to present your work and connect with creative networks after graduation.

Get to know the Art (Art Studies) degree at ASU

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Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
ARS 201 Art of Asia
ARS 498 Pro-Seminar
ARA 195 Art in My World
ARA 396 Professional Practices for Design and the Arts
ART 107 Photography as Experience
ARA 489 Writing Art and Design Criticism

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Participate in the process of making art and through this process will effectively visualize their ideas and build their creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Develop a comprehensive toolkit for self-promotion that positions them for success in the field of art and design.
  • Articulate their place as artists in the contemporary field of art.

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

Students meeting the university requirements for admission may matriculate in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Separate admission procedures and approvals are required for some programs within the college. Students must contact specific departments or schools for details.

First-year applicants may apply directly to the art studies program; there is no portfolio review for this major.

Transfer admission requirements:

Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards.

Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the college must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

Global Education programs provide an opportunity for students to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens, deepen their understanding of the world, and gain valuable career-building experiences. Study abroad can prove to be a vital accompaniment to any art concentration, allowing for broad historical and archaeological explorations. Students develop insight into the cultures and minds of some of the world's most notable artists when they experience the places that gave rise to specific artistic styles.

With more than 300 options available, Global Education programs give students a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture distinctly different from their own. Study abroad encourages students to develop and broaden their intercultural sensitivity, communication skills and leadership ability, and challenges them to think differently. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students learn to adapt and persevere, and they have a chance to look inside themselves in a way they haven't done before, growing their personal and professional confidence along the way.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
Art Director 4.2% $114,850
Art Professor 2.2% $78,620
Craft Artist 2.0% $46,080
Fine Artist -2.9% $55,490
High School Teacher -0.2% $72,040
Merchandiser 6.0% $77,710
Museum Educator 6.3% $38,120
Museum Exhibit Designer 3.6% $51,440
Performance Artist 2.0% $71,240
Photographer -0.7% $44,660

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

Careers this art studies concentration prepares you for

Completion of this program opens the door to a variety of creative career paths. Many graduates work as practicing artists, exhibiting in galleries, securing public art commissions or selling work to private collectors. Others become educators, community-based artists or arts advocates, using their skills to connect art with audiences in health care settings, nonprofit agencies and public arts organizations.

Graduates have valuable transferable skills that make them strong candidates in many industries. Possible careers include museum or gallery professional, art director, arts administrator, art dealer or private instructor. For those interested in further study, the program provides opportunities to prepare for admission to competitive Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts and other graduate programs nationwide.

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

School of Art | ART 102
herbergeradvising@asu.edu
480-965-8521

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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