Why Major in Studio Art?
The Watkins College of Art's B.F.A. in Studio Art begins with a core art and art history foundation. We offer areas of study in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics and sculpture. We believe that all mediums of art inform and enhance one another. Upon completion of the program, you will emerge a polished, well-rounded fine artist with strong vocational footing.
During your time at Belmont, you will have the opportunity to attend many artist talks, workshops and studio visits. You will be able to professionally exhibit your work in one of our four gallery spaces. Your senior year, you will create your final, cohesive body of work in the senior exhibition course; a class that culminates your time here as an artist.
The program will prepare you for a career as a professional artist, for employment opportunities in a wide variety of art-related fields or for admission to graduate school. Studio majors work closely with their advisor and teachers in the department to best plan their career or graduate education path. Most graduate M.F.A. programs require that students have a broad range of studio courses with an exceptional portfolio of creative work, something we pride ourselves on helping students achieve.
Program Details
Curious about your coursework? View requirements for this degree in the course catalog.
Your major will provide you with a wide array of opportunities including but not limited to:
- Study abroad (Semester, Maymester or Summer)
- Study away for a semester in alternate markets through Belmont USA (N.Y.C., L.A., Washington D.C.)
- Internships- Our relationship to Nashville’s professional creative community is personal and rich. We will assist you with internship placement to ensure the experience is a good fit.
- Four campus gallery spaces to professionally exhibit your work
- Opportunities to present at campus-wide research symposiums and professional conferences
- Kappa Pi, an international honorary art fraternity
- Compete in local, regional and international art/design competitions
We encourage you to explore the exceptional work our students create in their programs.
The Watkins College of Art requires all students applying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree to submit a portfolio as a part of the admissions process. You must first be admitted to Belmont before hearing a decision from Watkins.
Portfolios submitted before December 1 will be considered for the Watkins Merit Scholarships. Any applications submitted after December 1 will be considered for admission, but not for departmental scholarships.
View all Portfolio Guidelines
Deadlines for the Portfolio and Belmont application:
December 1 for scholarship consideration
April 1 for incoming freshmen students
June 1 for incoming transfer students
What if I am accepted to Belmont but not the BFA program?
Any applicants not accepted into a BFA program will have the option to be enrolled in a second major of their choice. We encourage applicants to select one of our Bachelor of Arts majors (Art Studies, Art History, or Photographic Studies). At the end of the student’s freshman year and completion of foundational courses, the student will be eligible to reapply to the BFA program through another portfolio review.
The Watkins College of Art has significant scholarship opportunities for students. Last year, the college offered more than 55 scholarships to incoming students valued over $380,000.
Applicants who intend to pursue a degree in the Watkins College of Art and wish to be considered for the merit-based scholarship must submit a portfolio of work in art and/or design. Students must have their Belmont application and portfolio submitted by December 1 to be eligible for the scholarships.
Please visit the Portfolio Guidelines page for more specific details.
Need-based scholarships will be determined from a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the official form that families use to apply for college financial assistance from the federal government.
Studio Minor
A studio minor is an excellent way to balance or integrate your creative interests with the practical concerns of your chosen major. All courses in this minor have a relationship to the fundamental practices of visual art.
Students engage in a full range of creative expression in both 2D and 3D forms and can use those experiences to expand, enhance and refine their visual skills and knowledge. In addition, the minor serves as a means to develop better powers of critical analysis.
Painting Minor
The primary goals for the painting minor are knowledge of and proficiency in painting practice, supported by craftsmanship, individual initiative, creativity and the ability to interpret ideas through artistic expression. Students are required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of value, color, composition, drawing and expression, and the role these elements play in conveying meaning in their work. Students study the use of acrylic, oil, watercolor and mixed-media, and demonstrate through the development of their work proficiency in a range of painting methods that may include landscape, portrait, the figure, abstraction and experimental paint application techniques.
Photography Minor
Photography minors first study the basics of composition, design, lighting, processing and printing film and producing effective prints. With additional classes students are enabled to explore photography as an expressive, personal tool, reflecting its status as a fine art medium. Students primarily explore traditional darkroom techniques, in addition to digital photography. Students also have the opportunity to explore non-traditional techniques in upper-level classes. At all levels, emphasis is placed on creativity, personal expression and the quality of finished prints.
Illustration Minor
The Illustration program allows students to dig deeper into narrative and visual development, sequential art, graphic novels, children's books, art licensing and more. This minor is the perfect companion for every storyteller at Belmont. Visual stories predate oral and written traditions by a long shot, so dive into the deep end of human DNA and show your stories. Learn how to craft successful images combining what you see with what you imagine. Excellent drawing skills are not required but a sense of play and purpose will aid in your journey to visualize short and tall tales.
In addition to Belmont University's Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation, the Watkins College of Art is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Career Possibilities
- Fine Artist
- Gallery/Museum Curator
- Art Conservationist
- Art Director
- Professional Photographer
- Art Therapist
- Muralist
- 3D Product Design
- Production/Set Design
What You'll Learn
- Painting
- Drawing and Figure Drawing
- Printmaking
- Photography
- Ceramics
- Sculpture
Alumni Testimonial
Lane Carnell
“My time as a studio student has empowered me to explore a marketplace of ideas and allowed me to capture my own true lens for this world. Without the guidance of the faculty and staff at Belmont, I would not have made the dive into the art realm.”
Alex Milford
“Watkins College of Art at Belmont has much to offer for artists looking to expand their skills across multiple disciplines. I love the small class sizes that make the program feel cozy and personal. Watkins is great at providing professional opportunities through exhibitions at the WAG and more. It’s much more than just an undergrad program at a liberal arts college, there’s wonderful faculty and peers to surround yourself with and you definitely get what you put in.”
"Watkins College of Art at Belmont has much to offer for artists looking to expand their skills across multiple disciplines. I love the small class sizes that make the program feel cozy and personal. Watkins is great at providing professional opportunities through exhibitions at the WAG and more. It’s much more than just an undergrad program at a liberal arts college, there’s wonderful faculty and peers to surround yourself with and you definitely get what you put in."
Zoe Simpson, Class of 2024
"I've picked up so many skills and passions that I had never focused on before. I have met so many personable professors already and it makes me excited to continue my time in Watkins. My major requires me to take at least one course in most mediums offered at Watkins. I love this because it is not restrictive, and it allows me to figure out what I enjoy over time."
Lily van Wijk, Class of 2027
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Ellie Aldrich
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.6772
Email Ellie