Bachelor's Degree in Art

Demonstrating God’s perfect wisdom through art is a historically noble profession. Start your journey down that path with an education built on a quality liberal arts foundation — earn your bachelor's degree in art at University of the Cumberlands. From traditional fine arts to innovative modern art, you’ll challenge yourself and stretch your imagination. With a BA in art covering the media and techniques you need to explore your craft, as you work with faculty members who are accomplished artists in their own right, you’ll be developing the skills and knowledge you need for a future in the arts.

• Purpose Statement and Goals
• Should I Major in Art?
• Bachelor of Science with a Major in Art
• What can You do with an Art Degree?
• More Information On Art Degrees

Purpose Statement

The purpose of University of the Cumberlands Art Department is to provide broad course offerings to serve students who wish to pursue a Fine Arts career and those who want to obtain teaching certificates. We aim to assist students in the development of one’s unique creative abilities through rigorous academic investigation in both studio art and art history classes.

Program Goals

1. To facilitate development of the individual creative ability inherent in each student.
2. To encourage academic investigation of man through our cultural heritage in the visual arts.
3. To develop psychomotor skills in a variety of media to create works of visual art.
4. To help students make intelligent and qualitative judgments about works of visual art.
5. To enrich the aesthetic environment of the college and community through art exhibitions, lectures, and studio activities.
6. To provide courses required for certification by the Kentucky Department of Education in the field of art for major and non-major students who plan to teach.

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Should I Major in Art?

Art majors in college enjoy challenging courses that include study in a broad range of media as well as art history. You’ll discover diverse artists and media through the university’s own collection, as well as organized trips to art museums in nearby cities like Louisville, Cincinnati, and Knoxville.

Throughout your BA in art, you’ll take classes on topics including:

• Art history
• Drawing
• Design
• Computer imaging
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Photography

As you work toward your bachelor’s degree in art, you’ll be encouraged to view yourself as a working artist by presenting your best pieces for exhibition. Past work by faculty and art majors have been featured in solo and group exhibitions and have even been reviewed in a variety of newspapers, magazines, and catalogs.

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Bachelor of Science with a Major in Art 

Core requirements for a Art Bachelor Degree (24 hours) 

• ART 132     Ancient to Gothic Art 
• ART 133     Renaissance to Modern Art 
• ART 134     Drawing I 
• ART 135     Fundamental Design 
• ART 230     Computer Imaging I 
• ART 231     Drawing II 
• ART 434     Contemporary Art History 
• ART 439     Senior Seminar 

 
6 hours from one of the following sequences: 

• ART 335     Painting I and Art 336 Painting II 
• ART 436     Sculpture I and Art 437 Sculpture II 
• ART 333     Computer Imaging II and Art 334 Photography 

9 hours of Art electives at the 300 or 400 level. 

Additional Art Degrees and Minors 

Bachelor of Art with a Major in Art 

Completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree plus a world language through the intermediate level.

Minor in Art 

Requirements for a Minor in Art– 21 semester hours, includes studio courses and art history. Courses are to be chosen with the consent of the advisor in Art. 

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What can You do with an Art Degree?

Art degree careers can be very fulfilling for the soul.  Find a sampling below of art degree jobs you might be able to obtain with an art bachelor degree from University of the Cumberlands:

Fine Artist¹

An art bachelor degree from University of the Cumberlands will prepare you for a career concepting, creating, developing, producing and even exhibiting your work. The growth rate for fine artists, such as painters, illustrators or sculptors, is holding steady at 14 percent, making a median annual wage of $49,960.

Maybe your art bachelor degree is just the first step … many graduates of the fine arts program go on to pursue additional certifications or degrees to explore careers in graphic design, advertising or even art therapy.

High School Teacher²

Maybe you want to lead the next generation into a deeper appreciation of the fine arts. With the right certification, you could become a high school Art teacher. Teachers are needed – a projected 8 percent growth rate for high school teachers by 2030, making an average annual salary of $61,820.

Postsecondary Instructor³

If you’re interested in a slightly older student age range, with a median annual salary of $79,640 employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent over the next decade.

Other CAREERS

• Fine Artist
• Illustrator
• Painter
• High School Art Teacher
• Tutor
• Art Instructor
• Art Professor

"$61,820" Median Annual Pay for High School Teachers²

¹Fine Artists
²High School Teachers
³Postsecondary Teachers

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More Information On Art Degrees 

Tuition

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees. 

Accreditation 

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

Faculty

Learn more about the professors you will interact with and view the list of the  Art Bachelor degree faculty. 

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Let the art bachelor degree from University of the Cumberlands help you prepare for your future – and pursue your passion! Fill out the form on this page to see how to make your inspiration come to life with a BS or BA in Art. Let’s talk about our test-optional college admissions process, scholarship opportunities and more!