Prepare for a career in studio production by developing your creative process and artistic techniques in studio areas such as drawing, ceramics, printmaking, sculpting, and painting. The art program introduces you to a variety of media as well as concepts in aesthetics, art history, and art criticism. This degree also lays the foundation for further graduate study.

93%

of art graduates felt professionally prepared by their education

96%

of seniors believe the faculty are genuinely interested in their welfare

90%

of seniors grew in their relationship with God during their time at Northwestern

Why study art at Northwestern?

Faith is the foundation of who we are and it fuels what we do. God’s creative work in our lives gives us the confidence to use our struggles as inspiration, to fuel our creative fire and point back to Him. You can learn how the joy, hardships, and discovery in your faith can produce remarkable results in your own work.

We have facilities available for you to explore your creative side. Our department houses a drawing classroom, ceramics studio, painting studio, and a design lab. You may feature your art in the student gallery for the public to view. Faculty, who are artists themselves, encourage you to compile samples of your work for a professional portfolio to show prospective clients and employers.

With campus so close to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, students can take advantage of opportunities in Minnesota’s thriving art and business industries. Other opportunities include field trips to major art and design centers, like the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Swedish Institute to view others’ work and be inspired.

If you have a flair for creativity, enjoy working with your hands, and want to show your talents to the world, this might be the right degree for you.

What will you learn?

You will develop an appreciation for aesthetics, become detail oriented, and learn to solve problems.

Some classes include:

Drawing
Design Concepts
19th and 20th Century Art History
Sculpture
Painting

View Course Catalog

Since graduating Northwestern in 2011, I’ve earned an MFA in Ceramics from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My work has been represented by Stuart & Company Gallery since the summer of 2014 and I help manage Skybox Studios, an artist collective and studio in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood.

Shaina

Department of Art & Design, 2011

Careers in art

There are a variety of career and academic pathways that begin with a degree in art.

View Art Careers

Related Programs

Add a minor to your degree to expand your expertise.
Here is a list of similar majors that may interest you.

Meet your professors

Professors at Northwestern are focused on their students first. Our faculty include experts in their respective fields who want to help you grow in your faith while you earn your degree.

Meet the entire department

Rick Love, MFA

Chair, Department of Art & Design
Associate Professor of Art & Design

Before coming to University of Northwestern, Rick Love taught as an adjunct at the University of Minnesota, as well as Madison Area Technical College. He also has worked as a fine art printer and...

Read Full Bio

Iyare Oronsaye, MFA

Assistant Professor of Art & Design

Iyare Oronsaye is a digital artist, director, and animator who has worked on a range of projects within the production industry. He has experience both as a traditional artist working from hand-drawn...

Joe Smith, MFA

Professor of Art & Design

Joe Smith received his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1998, he joined the Northwestern faculty in 2001. He is the recipient of several grants and fellowships, including The McKnight...

Contact Information

Department of Art & Design

Totino Fine Arts Center, F3380
3003 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55113

651-628-3399

artdesign@unwsp.edu