Visual Arts (BA)

The University of Toledo’s Bachelor of Visual Arts Degree program is perfect for students who want a broad liberal arts education combined with solid art skills in a variety of media.

Faculty in the accredited Department of Art encourages students to experiment. Visual art majors can do advanced work in 2D Studies, 3D Studies, Digital and Photographic Art and New Media Design Practices. You will learn how to think and write as well as how to draw, ship artwork and launch an exhibit. You will leave UToledo with real-world skills that allow you to find work in a constantly evolving job market.

If you decide that you want a more intense studio art experience, you can apply to our Studio Art Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program as early as spring semester freshman year. Graduates in Studio Art receive a BFA and usually pursue graduate school or careers as studio artists.

Top Reasons to Study Visual Arts at UToledo

Flexible, practical skills.

Visual Arts bachelor’s degree students learn the skills critical in today’s job market. They learn:

• “Soft skills” like critiquing, writing, research and problem solving
• “Hard skills” like tool use, computer use and digital technology

Personal connections to faculty.

Faculty members exhibit their work and invest in their students. They bring their research and experiences into the classroom.

Classes on the campus of the world-renowned Toledo Museum of Art.

The four-story UToledo Center for the Visual Arts on the TMA’s campus is home to the Department of Art. Students are steps away from the museum's 45 galleries, art reference library and visual resources collection.

Community collaborations.

Build your resume and portfolio with hands-on experience. Art majors have:

• Curated exhibitions at “guerrilla galleries” in downtown Toledo
• Designed and produced a 158-foot-long mural for a UToledo engineering building
• Seen their artwork displayed on billboards in Toledo and the Detroit area through the Digital Billboard Project
• Traveled with professors to New York City, Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago, Japan and China for classes and conferences

Internships.

Hone your skills at places like The Arts Commission in Toledo, the Toledo Museum of Art and UToledo’s Department of Art.

The latest art-making tools.

The UToledo Art Department has a wood shop and foundry for bronze casting and metal forging. Art students have access to 3D printers, dark rooms, two digital studios, a laser etcher and CNC router.

Art Print Center.

Students hired at the Art Department’s cutting-edge center create museum-quality prints and acquire real-world skills.

Accredited.

The Department of Art in UToledo's School of Visual and Performing Arts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Graduate school options if you want to teach art.

• UToledo's Art Education graduate degree program offered in partnership with the Judith Herb College of Education
• UToledo’s Licensure & Alternative Master's Program (LAMP). Students who hold a bachelor's degree in art can earn licensure and a master's degree in art education at the same time.