The OU School of Visual Arts offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees and other academic programs in art, art history, and design. Each program is built with consideration and care to educate students choosing careers in the visual arts. The faculty that leads students through them is comprised of nationally and internationally renowned artists, art historians, and designers whose knowledge, skills, and leadership create a learning environment that is both productively rewarding and personally challenging.
In undergraduate degree programs, general education courses and electives provide breadth, while requirements and electives in art, art history, or design provide depth. Minor and certificate programs provide other options for those wanting a shorter or more focused course of study in the visual arts. Graduate students in all programs pursue coursework, thesis projects, and other requirements as they seek their degrees under the guidance of faculty mentors who provide attentive feedback and advice.
Questions about degree programs should be addressed directly to the Undergraduate and Graduate Coordinators.
The Bachelor of Arts in Art is a liberal arts degree that places the study of art and design within the context of a broad program of general studies. This flexible degree option enables students to choose a program of study that is customized to their individual academic and career objectives. Designed to provide art and design students with the skills necessary to compete in the global economy, this degree option emphasizes openness and adaptability.
The Bachelor of Arts in Art History is a liberal arts degree that focuses on the interpretation of artworks in historical context. This degree option provides students with a valuable humanities skillset involving critical thinking, oral and written communication, creative problem solving, and visual literacy that prepares them for careers involving the visual arts. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of visual art and its history by studying art made around the world from the distant past to the present day.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, Technology and Culture (ATC) is a fine arts degree that teaches students to be adaptive lifelong learners ready to engage with the latest technological developments. Courses in animation, coding, film, photography, video, and other new media familiarize students with tools and techniques that prepare them for the many ways that their skillsets can be applied in careers both in and beyond the arts.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art is a fine arts degree in which students learn to develop a focused practice as studio artists that may involve ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, or a combination of these. The program emphasizes the development of practical knowledge and skills that are useful for working artists but also widely applicable in a range of careers that involve creative thinking and making.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication is a fine arts degree that provides students with an intensive course of study in design. Students study visual language, form, syntax, and typography, and how these design components find applications in information and systems design as well as digital, time-based, and interactive mediums. The degree equips students with the skills they will need to pursue careers in the design field.
The Minor in Art allows students to study broadly in the arts and design, taking courses in their areas if interest. This minor is structured in an open-ended way so students desiring to augment their major with more creativity can pursue that desire as best suits them.
The Minor in Art History is a customizable accompaniment to any major. Students are free to take courses in their areas of interest as they gain art-historical skills useful for providing enhanced humanities skills involving critical thinking and visual literacy.
The Certificate in Museum Studies is open to students studying on any degree track. It provides a specialized focus on the museum world and its professions. Students gain historical insight into the development of the museum as well as practical skills useful for working in museums.
The Master of Arts in Art History is a graduate degree for students seeking to pursue advanced study in the history of art. Working closely with faculty mentors, students pursuing this degree develop individualized research projects on topics of their choosing and gain specialized expertise and skills useful for advancing careers in the visual arts or preparing for doctoral study in art history.
The Master of Fine Arts in Art is a terminal graduate degree for students interested in all areas of art or design. Students pursue individualized courses of study tailored to their interests, and they work closely with faculty mentors to advance their artistic practices and creative research. A studio residency program, access to studio space and regular critiques with faculty and peers enables students to expand the overall scope of their creative interests.
The online Master of Arts in Art and Technology is a 33-credit hour program that can be completed in as few as 18 months. Rooted in both a theory of art and art history, the program’s comprehensive curriculum bridges the world of art, design and technology, positioning students to utilize emerging technologies to push the boundaries of digital creation in the 21st century. Graduates of this program will have the ability to work as graphic designers, animators, game developers, programmers and more.
This program is shared with OU Online and you can view more details about this program through their website.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Art History is a terminal graduate degree in art history. The OU School of Visual Arts offers a unique Ph.D. program with three areas of emphasis: Native American Art History, Art of the American West, and European Art. Students work closely with faculty mentors to develop original research that prepares them for careers in academia and museum professions.
