BA and BFA in Art: Studio Art, Graphic Design and Photography

With UDC’s Art Program, you will explore your creative interests, expand your skills and techniques, and follow your artistic vision. Regardless of your creative focus, you will be equipped with the tools needed to navigate today’s creative marketplace. The UDC Art Program prepares you through a wide range of creative courses: you will explore art & design theory, traditional visual art techniques, and innovative art technology.

Choose from concentrations in Studio Art, Graphic Design, or Photography. Unlock your creativity and get started on the path to your dream creative career!

Curriculum and Requirements

For any of the Art Program concentrations, your first courses will explore conceptual thinking, drawing, design, photography, and digital tools. In focused studio courses and art history subjects, you will gain a sophisticated understanding of art theory, technique, and practice. In advanced studio classes, you will integrate your knowledge and skills to develop a portfolio which reflects your personal creative vision.

The Art degree is 120 credit hours for completion, regardless of your choice of concentration. Your first year of creative exploration in the BA/BFA degree program will help you decide which concentration is best suited to your expression. You can select one of the following concentrations:

Studio Art — includes advanced courses in painting, printmaking, figure drawing, as well as illustration, sculpture and ceramics.

Graphic Design — includes communication arts & design courses exploring logos, Branding, posters, digital typography, web design, publication design, illustration, and animation.

Photography — includes digital photography classes as well as traditional darkroom techniques, photographic lighting, portrait photography, commercial photography, and fine art photography.

Programs of Study

Studio Art concentration

Graphic Design concentration

Photography concentration

Organizations and Activities

Meet new friends and enjoy creative collaboration by getting involved with student organizations and activities! Our student groups organize creative social events, field trips, and special guest lecturers. The Art Program has two student organizations:

The UDC Art Students Union — contact Professor Davide Prete

The UDC Photo Club — contact Professor Iwan Bagus

Admission Requirements and How to Apply

Want to apply for admission into the Art Program at UDC? Contact Art Program Coordinator Professor Rukman Niyangoda at rniyangoda@udc.edu for more information.

If you are a transfer student, you can submit an application and portfolio to be considered for admission into the program. To be considered for admission, you must:

• Submit your application through the Office of the Registrar
• Have an average grade of C or higher
• Successfully complete the portfolio review

For information about how to submit a transfer portfolio, contact Professor Rukman Niyangoda, at rniyangoda@udc.edu.

To learn more about our financial services before applying for our program, please reach out to us at 202-274-5941 or visit our financial aid page!

Admissions

Scholarship Opportunities

Program Outcomes

Skills Learned

During your time in the Art program, you will learn to:

• Use core elements of design to create work that effectively communicates a message.
• Solve visual problems using an understanding of visual literacy.
• Generate original concepts for visual communications.
• Discuss art and design in oral and written communications.
• Analyze and critique artwork using professional language and appropriate terminology.
• Create work in a variety of media and formats.
• Work collaboratively with other artists and designers.
• Engage in independent creative development.
• Manage the professional presentation of your portfolio of work.
• Use the latest technologies to create art and designs.

What’s Next?

In our program, you will acquire a range of skills pertaining to the three primary concentrations: Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Photography. Regardless of your professional aspirations, you’ll be ready to pursue any number of the following careers following graduation:

Graphic Design:

• Print graphic and web designer
• Advertising designer
• Presentation designer
• Publication designer
• UX/UI designer
• For-profit agency
• Non-profit agency
• Creative agency
• Tech company
• Government agency

Studio Art:

• Animator
• Art teacher
• Cartoonist
• Ceramicist
• Display designer
• Gallery manager
• Illustrator
• Installation artist
• Landscape and portrait painter
• Muralist
• Printmaker
• Sculptor
• Public artist
• Digital artist
• Theatrical set designer/painter

Photography:

• Commercial photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Fine art photographer
• Photojournalist
• Photography instructor
• Private and governmental agencies

Our students have earned impressive national awards while studying in the Art Program. UDC Art Program graduates have gone on to extraordinary successes in the visual arts, and we are proud to be the launchpad of their careers in the arts.

Contact Us

Want to learn more about the BA and BFA degrees in the art program? Contact us today!

Professor Rukman Niyangoda
UDC Art Program Coordinator
Division of Arts and Humanities
Van Ness Campus
Building 42 – B14
202-274-7353
rniyangoda@udc.edu