Art

Unlock your creative potential while earning an art degree at ACU. Designed for students dedicated to building a professional career in the arts, including teaching, art therapy or graduate studies.
Department of Art and Design
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Unlock your creative potential while earning an art degree at ACU. Designed for students dedicated to building a professional career in the arts, including teaching, art therapy or graduate studies.

Main Content

Undergraduate Degrees

ART EDUCATION
ART THERAPY
STUDIO ART (3 Concentrations)

  • Ceramics
  • Painting
  • Sculpture

ART EDUCATION

The Bachelor of Arts in Art Education prepares students to teach in public or private schools, where art helps students foster creativity, communication, and critical thinking skills. Our faculty guides you through these learning opportunities thoughtfully, empowering you to teach the next generation. In addition to developing skills in various art media, students build a strong portfolio and gain hands-on experience in a local classroom during their final semester as student-teachers. Upon completion of the program, students will take their K-12 Art Certification.

ART THERAPY

The Bachelor of Science in Art Therapy is for students who want to combine a passion for art with service in mental health, psychology, and human services. The program uses artmaking as a therapeutic tool to enhance mental, emotional, and physical well-being, while offering diverse art experiences and foundational psychology knowledge. It prepares students for graduate work in Art Therapy, where further certification is required to practice professionally.

STUDIO ART

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art program helps students refine their artistic talents and explore various career paths, including design, illustration, art education, and gallery work. While some pursue independent artist careers, many graduates find success in fields like animation, fashion, or museum curation. The program provides a strong foundation for both artistic professions and related industries.

Careers in Studio Art

As a BFA graduate, you’ll be  prepared for a variety of careers, including:

  • Art Historian
  • Advertising Director
  • Set Designer
  • Special Effects Artists
  • Conceptual Artist
  • Commercial Photographer

Alumni Spotlight

 

McKenna Judd

Major: Art + Design
Grad Year: 2020
Current Job: Live Wedding Painter & Stationery Artist

What started as a weekly live-painting invitation at a local coffee shop has blossomed into a full-time wedding painting business for A+D alumna McKenna Judd ’20. After gaining confidence painting in public, she was asked to paint at a friend’s wedding—and immediately fell in love with capturing couples’ special moments through art. Today, McKenna creates live wedding paintings and hand-painted stationery, collaborating closely with couples, families, and vendors. “Aside from seeing the reactions of my clients, the most rewarding part has been turning what I love into an actual business,” she says. “As an artist, that can be such a scary leap of faith. I truly believe the Lord led me here, even when I doubted whether it was possible. I’m deeply thankful for the ACU  professors who poured into me. They challenged me, encouraged me, and helped me build the confidence to pursue art as a career.”