
Trying to dig a little deeper into Colorado State’s majors, just starting out in your major search, or want to see what it looks like to be a student in a certain major? Our “3 reasons” series is the perfect place to start. In each installment, we’re bringing you three standout reasons to choose a major, written by the people who work and teach in those majors every day.
The Art (B.F.A.) major is a fine arts degree designed for creatives who want the creation of art to be their career path. It brings together research, exploration, and experimentation with various art forms and materials. In the art major, you’ll find a warm, welcoming community of makers, thinkers, and scholars who are dedicated to the pursuits of creation, education, design, and research. You will gain an understanding of visual culture that is valuable for setting the foundation for a creative life. Here are three reasons to explore the art major further.
#1: You can concentrate in any of our 10 areas of artmaking.
With 10 different art concentrations, you’ll be able to explore your own ideas through various mediums, and choose which to tailor your degree around. No matter which concentration you choose, your experiences in the studio will help you gain the fundamental knowledge and mastery necessary to communicate meaning in a work of art. You’ll have access to the Visual Art Building that houses tools and equipment to master traditional fine art and craft techniques alongside cutting-edge technologies such as digital fabrication and electronic art.
#2: You’ll be immersed in a creative community that supports learning and growth.
We believe in the transformative nature of community and encourage our students to engage in the arts at the local, regional, national, and international level. From your first day in the Visual Arts building, you’ll be surrounded by creative, curious students like yourself. Together, you will learn how to give and receive supportive feedback in critiques and explore new concepts and ideas. Outside of the classroom, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved with our artistic student organizations where you can make long-lasting connections and develop professional skills to support your studio practice both in school and beyond. Incoming first-year students also have the option to join the Arts & Creative Expression (ACE) community, a residential learning community of artists, housed in Parmelee Hall.
#3: You’ll gain valuable, transferable skills to give your career a head start.
You’ll come out of the art major with a diverse range of desirable skills, including creative thinking, time management and organization, project management, written and verbal communication skills, emotional intelligence, giving and receiving constructive criticism, problem solving, and many others. We want our graduates to be engaged, ambitious, and equipped to step into the next stage of their lives where their skills, knowledge, and confidence will allow them to pursue a successful career as creative thinkers. As a graduate of a liberal arts program, you’ll have access to career resources that will help you prepare for your career after college and along the way.
Ready to learn more about the Art (B.F.A.) major?
Explore the art concentrations, see the spaces you’ll create in, browse art events, and more.