Studio Art Major
You’re driven to create—it’s your passion and how you see your career unfolding. As a Studio Art major at Drake University, you’ll work with dedicated faculty committed to cultivating your talents as you hone your vision as a contemporary artist, working within areas such as painting, printmaking, drawing, or sculpture.
College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus
Program Options
Whether pursuing a B.A. or B.F.A., all Studio Art majors specialize in drawing, painting, printmaking, or sculpture and complete a capstone project highlighting their work. Students either fully concentrate on their specialization or take a cross-disciplinary approach to their studies.
B.A. in Studio Art
Cultivate your artistic talent while delving into another academic field with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. In addition to your declared area of emphasis, this general studies degree gives you the flexibility to explore your interests and career goals through a second major or multiple minors.
B.F.A. in Studio Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts is an intensive studio art program that provides professional preparation for creative careers and graduate work. The B.F.A. requires exceptional commitment to your craft: you’ll build industry-ready skills and acquire a personal aesthetic philosophy.
Studio Art Minor
Students outside the Department of Art and Design who are interested in exploring their talent and engaging in basic visual practices can declare a minor in Studio Art. You can either focus on a particular medium or sample several.
Drawing
Drawing is our primary visual language and a technical foundation for all students majoring in the visual arts. By studying drawing, you’ll develop your formal abilities as the basis for expressive representation and communication.
Painting
Painting carries a vast history, spanning every continent and culture. Equally, painting seeks an expansive future. Through sustained observation, focused making, and critical dialogue, students develop the necessary tools to build a meaningful, durable practice.
Printmaking
Learn relief, intaglio, and lithographic techniques in a spacious, well-equipped creative space inside the Studio Arts Hall. You’ll become proficient in essential printmaking tools, materials, and processes and learn how—and when—to use each.
Sculpture
You’ll develop an understanding of how materials and processes can communicate ideas while developing comprehensive skills in wood/steel fabrication, casting, and mixed medium construction. Our well-equipped and spacious studios, including forging, laser cutting, and 3D printing, support your development of a distinctive body of sculpture.
Double Major
We encourage students in our B.A. programs to pursue double majors and cross-disciplinary studies. Popular second majors include psychology, creative writing, math, biology, music, theatre, and anthropology.
Meet the Faculty
The faculty in our Department of Art and Design hold the highest degrees in their fields and are practicing artists, designers, and scholars.
Outside the Classroom
The time to define your creative vision starts now. Establish your signature style in studio spaces equipped with industry-standard equipment before lengthening your résumé with projects and exhibitions.
Mentorship
Each of the Art and Design department’s eight full-time faculty are as committed to teaching and mentorship as they are passionate about their art. You’ll get personalized guidance from professionals eager to cultivate your artistic vision.
Internships
We’ll help you tap into department partnerships to find experiences that maximize your talent. Studio Art majors have interned for the Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Public Library, Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design, and more places seeking fresh creative input.
Studios, Labs, and Workshops
You’ll have regular access to studios, labs, and workshops outside of class time—an important element of our hands-on, practice-based education. Fully equipped spaces support creative exploration and technical mastery and are where your portfolio starts to take shape.
Collaborative Projects
Drake students play an active part in Des Moines’ lively arts scene. Department partnerships provide opportunities to display your own work, learn from established professionals, or lend your skills to on- and off-campus community projects.
Student Organizations
Take field trips, attend lectures and exhibitions, discuss art, and organize campus activities through VAAD, the Visual Arts Association of Drake.
Merit Scholarships
Entering first-year and transfer students can apply for the Art and Design Honors Scholarship or the Fine Arts Scholarship. For more information, email artdesign@drake.edu.
Careers & Skills
Studio Art majors unleash their visions as artists and in art-related fields such as teaching, museums, and gallery operations. Our graduates go on to teach at colleges and universities across the country. They work for both local and national museums and make costumes in Hollywood.
Your preparation starts here in classes, exhibition opportunities, and internships, progressing into a portfolio that demonstrates your abilities.
Employers
- Des Moines Art Center
- Iowa National Heritage Foundation
- Des Moines Art Center
- Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design
Skills
- Learn the fundamentals of art
- Develop an understanding of art history that informs your approach
- Critical thinking and professional communication skills
- Conducting research
- Project management
Salary & Growth Outlook
Median salary of craft and fine artists in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Take the Next Step
Develop a style and approach all your own as a Studio Art major at Drake.
