Bachelor of Art
Art

Get a practical art degree that equips you to make a living while you pursue your creative goals.

Oakland University’s Bachelor of Arts in Art stands out for small classes and attentive faculty. Our undergraduate art degree offers strong personal guidance that lets you explore your passion and maximize your potential. You’ll also develop marketable workforce skills in our art program, becoming proficient in writing, critical analysis, and multimedia technology. Our art degree includes excellent opportunities to exhibit your artwork, study abroad and gain internship experience. You’ll graduate with an art degree that supports your creative objectives as well as your career needs.

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Oakland University’s Bachelor of Arts in Art stands out for small classes and attentive faculty. Our undergraduate art degree offers strong personal guidance that lets you explore your passion and maximize your potential. You’ll also develop marketable workforce skills in our art program, becoming proficient in writing, critical analysis, and multimedia technology. Our art degree includes excellent opportunities to exhibit your artwork, study abroad and gain internship experience. You’ll graduate with an art degree that supports your creative objectives as well as your career needs.

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Art Degree: The Oakland University Advantage

Students appreciate Oakland’s visual arts program for its supportive, welcoming environment. We promote cooperation over competition and encourage individuals to experiment, take risks, think independently, and discover what they’re capable of.

Our bachelor’s degree in art also provides you with:

  • Individual attention. Most classes in Oakland’s undergraduate art program have 12 students or fewer, ensuring that you get one-on-one instruction and training. You’ll build strong faculty relationships that help you identify your strengths, refine your technical skill, and develop a unique artistic identity.
  • Creative inspiration. Art majors at Oakland enjoy access to the most current art-making technology, including 3D printers, mural-scale digital printers, laser cutters, microcontrollers, and other advanced tools. You’ll have various opportunities to exhibit your art, collaborate with other students, and interact with prominent artists and designers through the art program’s high-profile lecture series. 
  • Real-world experience. Our art degree offers study-abroad opportunities in Italy, Holland, and France. You can intern at the university art gallery on campus, or arrange off-campus work placements with galleries, nonprofits, cultural institutions, or even local businesses or nonprofits. The bachelor’s degree in art culminates in a capstone project that showcases your creativity, writing ability, and critical analysis. 
  • Highly accomplished faculty. You’ll learn from active artists who offer life lessons along with textbook instruction. Many of our art degree instructors are high-profile creators who’ve earned national attention in publishing, exhibition, or art criticism.
  • Flexible curriculum. The art degree includes distinct specializations in drawing, painting, photography, and interactive art and technology. Any of these specialties can be paired with a course sequence in K-12 education, enabling you to get licensed as an art teacher after graduation.

What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Art?

Oakland University’s art bachelor’s degree equips you with multiple ways to earn an income, while supporting your creative practice. Employers in many fields value our graduates for their ability to think independently and communicate effectively, as well as their work ethic, adaptability, creativity and proficiency. Recent graduates of our art program have gone on to careers in: 

  • Professional Art Practice
  • Photography
  • Interactive and Media Art
  • Digital Art, Creative Media, Content Creation
  • Museum, Gallery and Collections Management
  • Exhibition Design and Installation
  • Artist Assistance and Studio Production
  • Arts Administration and Programming
  • Community and Public Arts
  • Theater and Production Arts
  • Art Direction and Creative Production
  • Freelance and Entrepreneurial Practice

Graduates also pursue graduate study in art, museum studies, education, and related fields, preparing for advanced professional practice, teaching or further specialization.

Art Degree: What You’ll Learn

The art major requires the completion of 62 credits, that begin with foundational courses in art, art history, and critical theory, and are followed by multidisciplinary art course requirements in areas such as art and technology, drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture. Remaining degree requirements include art history electives, special topics, seminar, portfolio design & professional practices, and thesis courses.

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Programs Related to the Bachelor’s Degree in Art

Not sure if the art degree is right for you ? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.

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