The faculty of the Department of Art and Music at Framingham State University facilitate a collaborative, innovative and interdisciplinary learning environment which focuses on academic excellence in the areas of visual art, art history, art education, music history and music theory. As part of a liberal arts institution, the faculty encourages hybrid and tangential relations with other fields as a way of aiding the student in identifying the most effective way to articulate their individual vision. The program is designed to help students pursue creative endeavors while also imparting specific skills appropriate to the various disciplines of fine arts, communication arts, art education, and scholarly and professional endeavors in art history, museum studies and music.
Application to Major
All candidates for the Studio Art or Art Education major regardless of concentration are required to submit a portfolio, which will be reviewed by the faculty. Applicants for Admission into the Art Major must attend one of the scheduled Portfolio Reviews on campus
The portfolio should contain 10-15 examples of the students’ work created from direct observation, preferably, and using a variety of media, techniques, subject matter, and scale. Reproductions and photographs are not to be submitted, only original art work which best showcases the students’ ability and ambition. The portfolio should emphasize the students drawing skills and should include at least one self-portrait and one still-life, and may include sketchbooks along with more experimental pieces.
Please note that all completed applications to the Studio Art and Art Education program will be acted upon as undeclared majors by the Admissions Committee at the end of March if they have not yet completed the Portfolio Review Requirement, current FSU students who want to declare either the Studio Art or Art Education Concentration must participate in one of the scheduled Portfolio Reviews before you can enroll in certain Studio Art courses.
Careers in Art and Art History
Many ask "what can I do with an art degree?". You love to draw, paint, and sculpt, but you're not sure how to translate your passion into a career. Pursuing a career as a full-time artist, designer or scholar is possible, if you have the tenacity.
About 62% of artists are self-employed. Many, however, find work with museums, galleries, schools, advertising agencies, magazines, newspapers, and movie studios. Employment of artists and related workers is expected to grow faster than average: 16% through 2016, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Being an original and creative thinker and problem-solver is valuable in almost any field. At Framingham State University we challenge our students to think along the periphery, to arrive at unique solutions to complex problems. These abilities ensure success in any number of fields after graduation. Click here to see a list of possible career paths for both Studio Art and Art History majors.
