Department of Art

Undergraduate Degrees

Artists and designers enhance the quality of life by interpreting and reflecting upon the time in which we live through creative means. Thought-provoking, aesthetically pleasing and intellectually challenging works of art appeal to the eye and mind, making us aware of the diversity of human life.

K-State offers a variety of degree options through the Art Department, these include:

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts with concentration in Visual Communication Design
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts with concentration in Studio Art
    • Areas of practice in Studio Art include Ceramics, Digital and Expanded Media, Drawing, Metalsmithing & Jewelry, Painting, Photography, and Printmaking
  • Bachelor of Arts (Art History)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Studio Art)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

Students in the B.F.A. program complete a rigorous and arts-centered curriculum. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is a professionally oriented degree designed primarily for those planning to become professional artists, art teachers or designers. Greater discipline is placed on actual practice in the creative arts. Students complete foundations core curriculum before going through a spring Portfolio Review, required for admittance into their Area of Focus.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

The Bachelor of Art degree allows for a less specialized, broader development in the arts. It is a degree used by students who wish to major in Art, as well as, another degree plan outside of Arts. The B.A. degree explores the humanities, sciences, languages and social sciences expansively. Students pursuing a general B.A. Art degree may specialize in art history or studio art. Students in the B.A. program complete the same foundations course work as the B.F.A. students however, B.A. students do not need to complete a portfolio review before beginning their areas of focus.

B.F.A. Foundation Requirements (First year in Program)

All students wishing to earn a B.F.A. degree in the Department of Art complete the one-year Foundation program which includes four Studio courses and a one credit hour course, Art Careers Seminar. .

The Spring semester in which the Foundation requirements are completed, B.F.A. students take ART 205 and submit a portfolio for review to be admitted in the concentration of their choice. .

Required Foundation Studio Courses (Starting Fall 2024):

  • ART 105: Art Careers Seminar
  • ART 174: A&D: Mixed Media Process & Exploration Lab
  • ART 180: A&D: Color, Light, & Perception Lab
  • ART 194: A&D: Community & Env Engagement Lab
  • ART 200: A&D: Visual Representation and Fabrication Lab
  • ART 205: Portfolio Review

Incoming Freshmen/First Year Transfers

A subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite of software is a requirement for the majority of the Department of Art courses, including Foundation courses, Ceramics, Digital and Expanded Media, Photography, Visual Communication Design, as well as a number of other art electives. One subscription per year is all that is needed to cover this requirement for all courses taken during that year.