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Art Program

Art

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Degree Type

Major, Minor, K-12 Licensure

Department

Art Department

At Western, Art is a discipline, not an activity. Featuring truly world-class courses, studios and instructors, a degree in Art from Western is path to career opportunities as an educator, a graphic designer, a production artist, a commercial photographer or as a fine artist.

Program Overview

Art Course

See the world through an artistic lens.

At Western Colorado University, the Art program emphasizes an academic approach to artistic training and focuses on building a strong foundation in design and drawing. Studio courses revolve around classical materials employed in a contemporary manner and grants you access to a faculty who are masters in traditional and cutting-edge artistic practices, technologies and industry-standard software.

Through diverse coursework, you’ll learn how visual arts shape various social and cultural contexts. You’ll also be offered the tools you need to explore critical contemporary issues through an artistic lens. If you want to practice your own artistic concepts, the courses in visual design, drawing and photography will provide a valuable outlet for creative expression.

A strong foundation

Students participate in a drawing foundations course, which gives special attention to line, value, perspective, texture, and shape.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.

A minimum of 39 credits is required, including the 27-credit Art Foundation Courses and 12 credits of Art electives (nine credits must be at the 300- or 400 -level).

Course List
Code Title Credits
Art Foundation Courses
ART 000Exhibition and Convocation Attendance (six semesters with “S” grade required)0
ART 119Foundation Drawing I3
ART 171Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional3
ART 172Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional3
ART 173Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design3
ART 219Foundation Drawing II3
ART 222Art History I3
ART 223Art History II (GT-AH1)3
ART 319Intermediate Drawing3
ART 400Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition3
Total Credits27
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART 171 Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional 3
ART 119 Foundation Drawing I 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
MATH 105 Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) 3
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 3
 Credits16
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART 172 Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional 3
ART 173 Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
OR
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 3
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART 222 Art History I 3
ART Intro Studio Art Course 3
ART Intro Studio Art Course 3
ART 219 Foundation Drawing II 3
OR
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 3
 Credits15
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART Intermediate Studio Course 3
ART Intermediate Studio Course 3
ART 223 Art History II (GT-AH1) 3
ART 219 Foundation Drawing II 3
OR
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART Intro/Advanced Studio Art Course 3
ART 319 Intermediate Drawing 3
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 9
 Credits15
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
Intermediate/Advanced Studio Art Course
OR
ART 319 Intermediate Drawing 3
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 12
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
ART 400 Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition 3
Intro/Advanced Studio Art Course
OR
ART 319 Intermediate Drawing 3
ART/Minor ART Elective or Minor course 3
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 6
 Credits15
Spring
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance 0
Intermediate/Advanced Studio Art Course
OR
ART 319 Intermediate Drawing 3
ART/Minor ART Elective or Minor course 3
Gen Ed/Minor General Education or Minor course 9
 Credits15
 Total Credits121

Courses listed in the Fall are only offered in Fall. Courses listed in the Spring are only offered in the Spring. With the exception of ART 286 Introduction to Watercolor, and ART 271 Typography and their Intermediate counterparts, Intro classes are exclusively offered in the Fall and Intermediate courses are offered exclusively in the Spring. Advanced offerings are available for all disciplines every semester.

ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance and ART 319 Intermediate Drawing are offered in both the Fall and the Spring.

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

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Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Art gallery

Make your education a life changing experience.

A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.

  • Gallery Exhibits: Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.
  • Pathfinder Magazine: An annual publication for student creative work.
  • Student Art League: A branch of the Council for Creative expression, the Student Art League is dedicated to providing visual arts, experiences, professional development, educational opportunities and outreach for art students.

A gallery experience

Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.

News & Research

Western’s Art Department Chair Chosen for Prestigious Fellowship

Western’s Art Department Chair Chosen for Prestigious Fellowship

Read More about Western’s Art Department Chair Chosen for Prestigious Fellowship
Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

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Natalie performs during a theatre show

Pride Month, Tokenism, and Being Queer at Western

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Art History’s Unique Final Exam

Art History’s Unique Final Exam

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museum manager hanging up artwork

Western’s MGMM Program Receives Donated Gallery

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Student at computer with book

Liberal Arts Programs at Western Provide Practical Job Skills

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Person looking at painting

Artists Showcase Their Resiliency During Annual Event

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western quigley hall art students

The Quigley Quarantine Quarterly Binds Hearts Through the Arts

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online courses

Western Colorado University moves summer courses online

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Bringing the art of dance to the Gunnison Valley highlights the spirit of community for Western’s Honors Program

Bringing the art of dance to the Gunnison Valley highlights the spirit of community for Western’s Honors Program

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Department Information

Art Department

Department Chairperson

Tina Butterfield, MFA

Professor of Art; Art Department Chair

Administrative Assistant

Autumn Coleman

Administrative Assistant II

Contact Information

970.943.3093

970.943.2329

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Quigley Hall 202
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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