Why Become an Art Major at McNeese?
As a visual arts major in McNeese’s NASAD-accredited Bachelor of Arts degree program in visual arts, you will explore your talents and potential as a creative artist or future art educator within a liberal arts framework. While developing your technical skills, you’ll also explore how the history of art has evolved in the context of contemporary culture.
Visual arts degree program options
Choose from studio concentrations in ceramics, drawing, graphic design, photography, painting or printmaking, with the option to add a secondary concentration in art education grades K–12 to earn your teaching certification. Whichever path you choose, the visual arts undergraduate degree culminates in a senior portfolio exhibition, and you’ll graduate with a high level of accomplishment in current media-specific concepts, techniques, materials, software and equipment.
At a Glance
Degree Type: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Program Length: 4 years (120 credit hours)
Availability:
Art Bachelor’s Degree Program Concentrations
With a concentration in ceramics, you’ll investigate the full range of functional and sculptural ceramic production methods and techniques, clay and glaze formulation and kiln firing methodology. Emphasis is placed on historical and contemporary concepts in ceramics to help you develop your own personal voice within the medium.
Explore representational and innovative imagery with a concentration in drawing. You’ll learn the handling of various tools, materials and techniques in the rendering of still life, landscape and the figure, experiment with areas such as book structures and papermaking and study historical and contemporary approaches to drawing.
A concentration in graphic design will develop your ability to communicate ideas that inspire, inform and captivate consumers through visual elements, typography and graphics. You will learn to apply knowledge, research and problem-solving skills to computer-generated or hand-drawn visual concept designs that meet marketing needs, including logos, posters, annual reports, magazines, packaging and other delivery methods. Course content options also include illustration, digital and emerging media and screen printing.
Develop your understanding of design, color, composition and the conceptual aspects of painting with a concentration in painting. With this program, you will become familiar with contemporary developments and historical traditions in painting. Through the creation of a series of works, you will also develop your technical skills and your unique artistic voice in the medium.
Through the photography concentration, you'll learn the tools, techniques, processes and technologies in digital, traditional silver darkroom and alternative process photography. Course work focuses on the formal and conceptual development of imagery, informed by the history and critical theory of the photograph.
A concentration in printmaking will build your knowledge and skills in the traditional and alternative print processes of monotype, relief, silkscreen, intaglio and lithography. You will learn how to develop ideas from imagery to finished print editions, as well as other concepts in printmaking, including contemporary and historical theories.
What Can You Do with an Art Degree?
Majoring in art at McNeese is a great way to develop your talent and potential as a creative artist or future art educator within a liberal arts framework, as well as prepare for graduate art school programs across the country.
Graduate Schools or Programs
- Master of Arts in Visual Arts
- Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts
Potential Job Titles or Employers
- Art and Creative Agencies
- Art Gallery Assistant
- Craft and Fine Artists
- Community Arts Organizer
- Freelance Photographer
- Graphic Artist
- K-12 Arts Educator
- Muralist
- Production Artist
- Studio Artist
- Screen Printer
High School Portfolio Day
Each year, high school juniors and seniors, as well as parents and teachers, from Southwest Louisiana, Southeast Texas and across the country are invited to campus for a department tour and portfolio review. After the event, merit-based Distinguished Achievement Awards in Art, ranging in value up to $500, are given to select seniors who are already admitted as visual arts majors to McNeese.
Visual Arts Programming
The Department of Visual Arts presents annual and special events throughout the academic year that are open and free to all, including visiting artist lectures, workshops and gallery exhibitions.
Student Art Association
Participate in social and artistic events on campus such as the Annual Holiday Art Sale and Gumbowl Fundraiser, which raise money to send undergraduate students to national conferences and events.
Programs Related to the Bachelor’s in Art
Not sure if the art bachelor’s program is right for you? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at McNeese and talk about your options with a recruiter.
Program Contact
Lynn Reynolds - Department Head
337-475-5060