Art, Design & Art History

Our Programs

Studio Art majors engage hands-on with materials, tools, and technologies as they learn to express ideas visually and to speak and think critically about art.

You’ll start by experimenting across many modes of making in the Core Courses - our foundation classes in color, design, drawing, 3D, and time-based art. From there, you’ll select a concentration that shapes your upper-level work and supports the development of your individual practice.

Students pick one of these areas to concentrate:

Art Education
Ceramics
Graphic Design
Illustration
Museum Studies
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
General Studio

In the final year, students take part in the Capstone Experience, an intensive opportunity to create a cohesive body of work in your chosen concentration. Ongoing feedback with peers, faculty, and visiting professionals help guide the development of this work. The program concludes with a public exhibition in the Mazmanian Gallery.

Graduates of our program go on to become studio artists, graphic designers, art educators, art preparators, sign painters, museum professionals, and more!

The department offers the following majors: Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with concentrations in Art Education, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture; as well as, the Master of Art, Specialization in Visual Arts degree. Additionally, the department offers a Post-Baccalaureate (Art Education).

Framingham State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Art History Majors learn about art and culture through the study of images, objects and artifacts from around the world. You’ll take a wide range of classes introducing you to an array of methods and approaches covering different historical periods, cultures, and media. Among our diverse courses include The Art of Asia, Latin American Art, and Contemporary African-American Art History. A degree in Art History is a foundation for any type of career that requires the ability to read and write, identify and solve problems, and think critically.

To further your knowledge, you will regularly visit local art museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Danforth Museum.

As a student in our department, you’ll also have access to our private collection of artifacts and free access to the Danforth Art Museum. The Danforth, located near campus, merged with Framingham State University in 2018 as a cultural resource serving the region by enriching our community through exhibiting, collecting, and teaching through dynamic and responsive programming. Many recent graduates have been awarded internships at the Danforth as well as various local museums.

Graduates of our program go on to become Collection Managers, Gallery Directors, Museum Archivists, Exhibit Designers, and more!

The department offers the following majors: Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with concentrations in Art Education, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture; as well as, the Master of Art, Specialization in Visual Arts degree. Additionally, the department offers a Post-Baccalaureate (Art Education).

Framingham State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

An art minor is a valuable addition to any major because it strengthens creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that are useful across fields.

By completing just five additional courses - many of which can also fulfill general education requirements - students gain hands-on experience in making, analyzing, and understanding art.

The minor broadens perspective, enhances a résumé or portfolio, and offers a meaningful way to bring creativity into academic and professional goals without requiring a large time commitment.

Students pick one of these areas to concentrate:

Graduates of our program go on to become Collection Managers, Gallery Directors, Museum Archivists, Exhibit Designers, and more!

The department offers the following majors: Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with concentrations in Art Education, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture; as well as, the Master of Art, Specialization in Visual Arts degree. Additionally, the department offers a Post-Baccalaureate (Art Education).

Framingham State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Experiential Learning

Internships

An internship in studio art, graphic design, or art history offers students practical experience that connects classroom learning with real-world professional practice.

Students find opportunities both on and off campus - in our gallery and museum, the communications office, and various other departments, as well as with numerous businesses, organizations, and cultural institutions in the local community.

These internships strengthen resumes and portfolios, build professional networks, and provide insight into potential career paths while developing confidence and skills that enhance employability.

Study Abroad

Our semester-long study abroad program gives students the chance to fully immerse themselves in another culture while continuing to make progress toward their degree. Because the cost is often equivalent to a regular semester, students can experience life and learning abroad without taking on additional financial burden.

Living and studying in a new environment for an entire term allows for deeper engagement with local communities, sustained exposure to global art and design traditions, and a more independent, transformative learning experience.

Students return with broadened perspectives, increased confidence, and enhanced adaptability, qualities that strengthen both their academic work and future career opportunities.

Study Tour

Our instructor-led study tours offer students an extraordinary opportunity to experience art, culture, and history firsthand in destinations such as Peru, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Italy.

Guided by faculty, these immersive programs deepen understanding of global artistic traditions while broadening personal and academic perspectives. Students gain access to world-class museums, architecture, and cultural experiences while earning course credit. It’s an incredible chance to learn, create, and grow while exploring the world. These short-term study tours offer students who might not be able to travel for an entire semester an opportunity to study abroad in a more flexible way.

Exhibition Spaces

Mazmanian Gallery

Centrally located in the McCarthy Center, Mazmanian Gallery is the on-campus gallery of Framingham State University, and features student, faculty and visiting artist exhibitions

Visit The Gallery

Student Capstones

Studio Art majors present their capstone projects in a senior exhibition in the McCarthy Center, Mazmanian Gallery. The exhibition includes a reception and provides students with the opportunity to have their work viewed by visiting professionals.

Danforth Art Museum

The Danforth Art Museum at FSU is a comprehensive museum featuring rotating collections from regional artists as well as an extensive permanent collection of more than 3,500 works of art across all media from the 19th century to present day.

Visit the Danforth

Student Spotlight: Art History Student - Anthony 'AJ' Green '26

AJ is an Art History major with a minor in Museum Studies. As the curatorial fellow at FSU's Danforth Art Museum, he has curated the permanent collection installation. He has also gained professional experience toward a career working at a museum.