B.A. Art + Design
Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Programs
Key Information
Campus location
Fort Lauderdale, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 33,510
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Scholarships
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Introduction
An Artistic Approach to Your Career
Multimedia artist. Illustrator. Photographer. Art educator or critic. Uncover your passion, refine your skills and define your brand as a creative professional. Visual artists and designers work across all industries, and the digital revolution has elevated and incorporated visual communication into daily life. Nova Southeastern University’s Art + Design program positions you to take full advantage of your creative potential.
NSU’s B.A. in Art + Design curriculum includes liberal arts coursework in addition to core courses in the visual arts—making you more attractive to prospective employers. You’ll have the option of focusing your studies on studio art or graphic design. And you’ll get hands-on experience in NSU’s on-campus printmaking, drawing, painting, graphic design, ceramic and sculpture studios. At NSU, you’ll connect with visual art every day and have countless opportunities to attend art talks, shows, and openings, or serve as a volunteer or intern at local galleries and events.
Why Should You Major in Art + Design at NSU?
- Competitions and exhibitions to showcase your work;
- Student-run literary and art journal: Digressions;
- Museum-quality installations on campus;
- Develop your personal art portfolio to show to prospective employers or clients;
- Access to on-campus studios for printmaking, drawing, painting, graphic design, ceramic, and sculpture;
- Free membership to Fort Lauderdale’s NSU Art Museum;
- South Florida is home to a vibrant cultural arts scene that hosts many local and international art shows;
- Workshops and lectures by renowned art and design professionals;
- Internships and independent studies catered to your interests within the South Florida art landscape;
- Experiential and client-based opportunities to further expand real-world learning.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Art + Design provides students with a dynamic and comprehensive instructional program in the visual arts with concentrations in studio art or graphic design. As an Art + Design major, you’ll gain a solid grounding in fundamentals of color, art history, photography, and other foundational core courses to develop your skills and focus your work. Our on-campus studios, gallery, and museum-quality installations let you connect with visual art every day. As an art major at NSU, you're also a member of Fort Lauderdale’s NSU Art Museum and are encouraged to visit the latest international exhibit, attend art talks, and show openings.
Core Courses (19 credits)
- Introduction to Drawing
- Fundamentals of Color
- Two-Dimensional Design
- Digital Photography
- Art History I
- Art History II
- Senior Project
Graphic Design Concentration
Required Courses (12 credits)
- Graphic Design I
- Graphic Design II
- Graphic Design III
- Typography
Elective Courses (select 9 credits from the following courses)
- Digital Photographic Design
- Printmaking
- Professional Print Design
- Special Topics in the Arts
- Web, Mobile, and Interactive Design for Communication
Studio Art Concentration
Required Courses (12 credits)
- Life Drawing
- Painting I
- Three-Dimensional Design/Sculpture
- Methods and Materials
Elective Courses (select 9 credits from the following courses)
- Graphic Design I
- Painting II
- Ceramics I
- Printmaking
- Special Topics in the Arts
Major Electives
Electives (select 6 credits from the following courses)
- Introduction to Arts Administration
- Women in the Arts
- Museum Studies and Gallery Practices
- Internship in the Arts
Experiential Learning/Internships
During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of hands-on opportunities to gain real-world experience in our on-campus art studios. NSU students have worked on a number of projects including:
- Murals on and off-campus
- Client-based community art projects: Heart2Art, Ceiba Group, PACE, AAUW workshops, etc.
- Client-based re-branding/re-designing for non-profits
- Creating works from the Makerspace lab in the Alvin Sherman Library
- Planning and participating in on-campus and off-campus community events like StoryFest and the Small Press Fair
You’ll also have access to Fort Lauderdale’s NSU Art Museum, where you can visit the latest international exhibit, attend an art talk or show opening, or serve as a volunteer or intern. Some NSU Art + Design students have obtained internships at companies like Bombshell Productions and Venice Magazine at Whitehaus Media Group.
Dual Admission
Reserve your seat in one of NSU’s graduate or professional schools while you earn your bachelor’s degree. With NSU’s Dual Admission program, you don’t have to worry about competing with thousands of other students for a spot in a highly selective graduate program. The Premier Program gives you an opportunity to get a head start on your career, so you can start earning sooner.
Arts and Sciences Minors
Integrating minors across the arts and science curricula allows Halmos College undergraduates to be creative and critical thinkers through their diverse learning experiences. You’ll gain fresh perspectives by thinking experientially as well as experimentally.
Career Opportunities
Explore Career Opportunities in the Arts
At NSU, you’ll take general courses in math, science, and English while also gaining a solid foundation in the fundamentals of color, art history, photography, and other core art courses. As a graduate of this program, you can become a leader in a variety of positions including advertising designer, animator, art critic, art director, art teacher, graphic designer, illustrator, multimedia artist, museum educator, photographer, web designer, and more.
Average Starting Salary
Salaries you can earn with a B.A. in Art + Design vary widely because of the many career offerings associated with this degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics some of the average annual salaries of popular jobs include:
- Art Directors – $94,220
- Multimedia Artists and Animators – $75,270
- Web Developers and Digital Designers - $73,760
- Graphic Designers – $52,110
Shark Destinations
NSU Art + Design alumni go on to enjoy exciting and rewarding careers. You’ll find graduates at companies like Creating Better Days, Collective Ventures, and Venice Magazine at Whitehaus Media Group. They hold positions such as curator and in-house artist, marketing and packaging designer, and graphic designer. *
*Data provided by NSU’s Office of Career Development.