Art Program

Explore your passion to create and express yourself with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from one of the most respected colleges for art in the nation.

As an art major at Hardin-Simmons University, you’ll enjoy intensive study in art, design, and multimedia to prepare you for a variety of careers and graduate programs. From diving into the rich history of art to mastering your specific medium and techniques, our B.F.A. degree will help you discover your strengths and join the centuries-long tradition of creating art.

While you practice the fundamentals of studio art, you will also develop necessary life skills like creative problem-solving, communication, and inspiring others through your unique expression. You’ll flourish as an individual in a distinctive Christian environment committed to the whole person: spiritually, ethically, and creatively.

A B.F.A. Degree Designed for You

Every artist is one of a kind, with something new to offer the world. That’s why our art degree program lets you dedicate 33 credits to learning a specific concentration:

  • Design (graphic design, industrial design, digital and physical design)
  • Fine Art Studio (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture)
  • Digital Media (illustration, film, animation, photography)

Interdisciplinary Studies (combine art with a second discipline outside of the art major)

Program Contact

Caleb Dulock-Assistant Professor of Art at the College of Fine Arts

Caleb Dulock

Art Department Head

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Why Earn Your Art Degree at Hardin-Simmons University?

Exhibition at Ira M. Taylor Memorial gallery at HSU

Hands-on Experiences

Art majors at HSU have many chances to engage in art-based internships around the city and in surrounding cities working in education at prestigious museums and galleries. With numerous volunteer opportunities at local art workshops and events, study abroad programs, and on-campus work-study services, you’ll build an impressive resume while practicing the craft you love.

HSU professor and student interacting in art class

State-of-the-art Classrooms and Studios

All art degree courses are held in the Frost Center for the Visual Arts, which holds large studios dedicated to sculpture, painting, drawing, and graphic design. Gain real-world experience working with the tools and technologies that you’ll use for the rest of your career in an environment that fosters inspiration and collaboration.

paint cans in art class

A Thriving B.F.A. Degree Program

The personal and professional success of our art majors is what makes us one of the top colleges for art in the country. Thanks to numerous student-run organizations, clubs, and honor societies exclusively for art degree students, our art majors make lasting connections with each other and their faculty mentors.

Students enjoy a Kappa Pi art show in the Ira M. Taylor Gallery in the Frost Building.

What Can You Do With a B.F.A. Degree?

Earning an art degree from HSU opens so many possible career and educational paths. Our art majors go on to work in a diverse range of settings — including schools, museums, galleries, startups, nonprofits, and international organizations.

Most of our art majors choose to pursue graduate programs to continue honing their skills and increasing their career potential.

With one of the most respected colleges for art, HSU prepares art majors who are highly sought-after for their experience, expertise, and Christian values.

Jobs for Art Majors

  • Teacher
  • Curator
  • Entrepreneur
  • Graphic designer
  • Painter
  • Photographer
  • Tour guide

Salary for Art Majors

The average salary for craft and fine artists is $49,960, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job growth is also much faster than average, with a predicted 14 percent growth rate in employment through 2030.

Program Details

As you earn your B.F.A. degree at HSU, you’ll be able to participate in our . Earn credit while you explore art history and culture in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Take art classes with our HSU partner, Santa Reparata International School of Art.

Learn more about the study abroad program for art majors.

Laptop requirement

Art majors pursuing concentrations in design or a digital media area are required to purchase a laptop prior to the beginning of sophomore year. The Apple MacBook Pro is the most appropriate system and is compatible with our art degree computer lab and software. Please contact the art program director for more details concerning current specifications. Laptops generally have an optimal technology shelf life of up to 3.5 years for students working in creative software. If you are bringing a laptop with you, it must be a recent model and capable of running any Adobe Creative Cloud software.

Digital cameras

Art majors interested in photography and film production should plan to purchase a personal camera prior to the beginning of sophomore year. The camera system must be a recent HDSLR or mirrorless camera with video capture and interchangeable lenses.

You’ve made an investment in your future by joining HSU. That’s why we’re invested in helping you afford one of the top art degrees in the country. Students earning their art degrees at HSU have exclusive access to a selection of renewable scholarships from within the program that are competitively awarded, as well as a general fine arts scholarship awarded by HSU to students showing interest and participation in the fine arts at HSU. Learn more about scholarship opportunities at HSU.

Students have a number of opportunities for getting involved and for professional development in the art program at HSU:

Internships

The ART 4389 Internship course has been used by various students to work in local businesses and gain professional work experience. These businesses have included local ad agencies, film production companies, art galleries and museums, and even Hardin-Simmons’ own Marketing office.

Undergraduate Private Studios

We offer our art majors 6 private student studio spaces, a privilege normally available in graduate study MFA programs only. These private studio spaces are competitively awarded to our high achieving undergraduate art majors and are used to give them dedicated space to privately work on projects, keep personal project supplies, and hone
their artistic craft.

HSU Student Art Competition and Exhibition

The art department holds an annual juried competition for students taking studio art courses to submit works for a chance to be exhibited in the Ira M. Taylor Memorial Gallery.

Art Work Study Program

Our work-study program gives students opportunities to develop professional skills by working in our computer lab, the front office and gallery, photography darkroom, digital printing lab, and shooting studio.

If you’re considering an art major at HSU, you may also be interested in learning about these similar programs:

Art Education Degree