Are you interested in studying the visual arts? We offer the B.F.A. in Studio Art and Art Education and the B.A. in Art History, Studio Art, and Media Arts.
Our art education program has trained most of South Carolina’s K-12 art teachers. The major is a combination of art studio, art history, and teacher education courses.
Our art history program allows for specialization in Renaissance, Baroque, and 18th Century art; 19th and 20th-century American art and architecture; African American art and art of the Black Diasporic South; Asian art and architecture; as well as film and photographic history and theory. We offer broad survey and special topics courses in art history on a regular basis.
Pursuing the B.A. in Media Arts empowers you to develop creative projects using diverse media platforms and tools and to assess the historical and contemporary impact of media industries and forms. Beginning in fall 2025, students can choose to specialize in either media production or media studies, and all students can pursue a capstone experience, including interning at a media production company, pursuing an original research project, or working in a media archive. Every course towards a Media Arts B.A. places students at the center of an intellectually challenging and practical curriculum. Build your skills and confidence as you prepare to enter the diverse and rapidly expanding field of media.
The Studio Art and Design program area offers two degrees. The B.A. in Studio Art is a well-rounded liberal arts degree that is flexible enough for students to easily include a double major or a minor. The B.F.A. is a professional degree that prepares art and design students for professional practice in an area of specialization. No matter which degree you choose, as a student in the School of Visual Art and Design you will benefit from outstanding facilities, direct mentoring from faculty, and hands-on experiences. Our art and design students are pursuing internships and independent research, and are active in Columbia’s thriving arts community.