ART AND DESIGN
Bachelor's Degree Programs (BFA)
From canvas to the web, arts abound at UW-Whitewater.
Pursue your passion for the arts — and a creative, fulfilling career. We offer high-quality degree programs specializing in graphic design, multimedia arts, education, art history and, of course, the studio arts medium that interests you most.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
Living their passion
94% of Art and Design students were employed in their field or in graduate school after graduation. (2018-2019)
Crossman Gallery
UW-Whitewater Art and Design students have access to regional, national and international exhibits right on campus.
Visiting Artists
The Annette and Dale Schuh Visiting Artist Endowment supports an annual visit of a visual artist of a significant stature to UW-Whitewater. It offers a transformative visual arts experience to Art and Design students.
Why study Art and Design at UW-Whitewater?
Here are a few highlights of our high-quality, engaging Art and Design program:
- You will have many opportunities to interact with faculty and visiting artists as well as working professionals.
- Enjoy three campus galleries and plenty of chances to see student work — and exhibit your own.
- Our studio model means large blocks of time dedicated toward honing your art.
- Our program is practical: You’ll learn not only technical aspects of producing art in a studio and across disciplines, but also about high-tech components of art production.
- We are proud to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design — a mark of exceptional quality and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in Art and Design collegiate education.
What our Art and Design students do
Exhibit their creative work
Hone their artistic skills in on-campus studios
Have the opportunity to work with nationally- and internationally-renowned artists
An art education degree brought healing, connection and joy
As a child, Hollyn battled cancer, missed a significant portion of school and wondered if she would be able to continue her education. As she settled into the Department of Art and Design within the College of Arts and Communication, she said the entire faculty were instrumental in helping her chart her future path in life.
Art of the pitch — and pitching art
Art major Emma Siskoff says creativity is her first passion. But so, too, is entrepreneurship.
Siskoff, who aspires to create custom works for customers, was one of a handful of artists who pitched at the Self-Employment in the Arts national conference in Chicago. She has established a business, Emma Siskoff Art, and recently launched a website.
Campus opportunities and hands-on experiences
Shows and exhibits
Students participate in various shows and exhibits throughout their time at UW-Whitewater, including junior and senior reviews and the annual juried student show.
Schuh Visiting Artists Program
A highlight of our Art and Design offerings, this program brings a premier visual artist to campus. Students interact with this special guest through attending lectures and participating in workshops.
Learn more »
Internships
Many art students, especially those with a graphic design major emphasis, choose to participate in a field internship that can take them to galleries, centers, schools, advertising agencies and other related organizations.
Travel study and study abroad
Art and Design students, specifically art history majors, can benefit from an international experience. UW-Whitewater students have the option to take a short-term travel study or spend a semester abroad.
Student arts organizations
Join an art-related club (or start your own):
- AIGA – Graphic Design
- ALLOY – Metalsmithing
- BFA Mentorship Organization
- Ceramics Club
- Print Farm – Printmaking
- Sculpture Club
- Student Art Educator's Organization
Our facilities
UW-Whitewater is home to some of the most impressive art facilities in the state, including a multi-million dollar print studio and one of only three sculpture foundries in Wisconsin universities.
We have fully equipped studios for:
- Ceramics
- Drawing
- Metalsmithing
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Photography
- Sculpture
Crossman Gallery in Greenhill Center of the Arts
Crossman Gallery serves not just as a place for the public to view and enjoy regional, national and international exhibits of all kinds, but the venue also serves as a learning lab for students. For example, art history majors frequently visit to learn about curation of artwork.
Learn more about Crossman Gallery »
What our graduates do
Museum directors and curators
Arts educators
Illustrators and graphic artists
"UW-Whitewater felt like home."
Dan Schunk graduated in 2009 with a B.A. in Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design. He now works as the Vice President of Brand and Creative Strategy at TIME. Dan attributes his success to UW-Whitewater and the experiences he had as a student saying “I couldn’t have chosen a better place.”
"The Stories We Carry”
Ger Xiong, who earned a BFA in 2017 after earning an A.A. in 2016, is interviewed for his use of traditional Hmong techniques to tell a modern story through art. Xiong is a Minneapolis-based artist and maker who uses textiles, metals and jewelry to create physical depictions of his experiences as a Hmong American and to preserve the greater history of his cultural identity.
“It completely changed my life.”
Barbara Knuth graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an emphasis on Metalsmithing and Jewelry. Barbara found her way to the Department of Art and Design after taking a semester off to explore majors, and she never looked back. She now is the head of a full-time jewelry program at a high school in Seattle, WA.
“Whitewater was the perfect fit for me.”
Jake Magyar graduated in 2010 with a B.A. in Graphic Design and a minor in Multimedia. Since then he has worked with a variety of agencies in Madison, Chicago and Milwaukee. Of his time at UW-Whitewater he says “the class sizes were small and I could seek the attention I needed.”
“I learned how to work hard for what I wanted.”
Marissa Guthrie graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Graphic Design and Metals. She says that “understanding how to construct objects in metals, while also dealing with graphics allowed me to better understand function.”
Art and Design: Career success
Here are just a few roles our Art and Design students have accepted since graduation:
- Designer
- Graphic artist
- Illustrator
- Curator
- Director of arts organizations
- Marketing professionals in arts organizations
- Museum director
- Art manager
- Public art manager
- Exhibition design and production
- Studio artist
- Arts administrator
- Arts educator
- Bench jeweler
- Studio technician
Many art and design majors also pursue MFA (Master of Fine Arts) programs after graduation.
Hired Before Graduation
April Wright from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, earned an A.A. in fine arts and was hired as an art assistant with Cowyard Studio in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
"I'm most proud of graduating with honors, winning first place at the Juried Student Art Exhibition in 2021 and second place in 2023, and graduating at my age with multiple disabilities!”
Hired Before Graduation
E Jeninga from Delavan, Wisconsin, earned a B.A. in art and was hired as a communications consultant with Marriage and Family Focus in Madison, Wisconsin.
"I'm most proud of designing the University Center concourse mural, presenting undergraduate research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), and redesigning the campus radio station website."
Our Art and Design faculty
UW-Whitewater’s Art and Design faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized artists from across the disciplines.
Want to learn more about earning an Art and Design degree?
262-472-1324 | artanddesign@uww.edu |
UW-Whitewater offers the following Art and Design degree options below. Studio Art choices are Ceramics, Drawing, Metals and Jewelry, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) — Art | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) — Art, Graphic Design emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Arts — Art | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Arts — Art, Graphic Design emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Arts — Art History emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Arts — Media Arts and Game Development, Media Arts emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science in Education – Art Education | 4-year plan [PDF]
Minors:
- Art
- Art Studio
- Art History
- Expressive Arts (Coming in 2025)
- Media Arts and Game Development
Licensure:
In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements, Art and Design students require a set of core courses that vary depending upon major or emphasis.
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in Art and Design.
