Studio Art Major in Pennsylvania
The Studio Art program is perfect for creative high school students who want to express their faith through art. This program at a Christian institution opens doors to careers in graphic design, illustration and fine arts. Develop your skills and explore your passion in a supportive, faith-based environment.
100%
of first-year
students receive financial aid
students receive financial aid
98%
of the class of 2025 were
employed or in a graduate program
within 6 - 9 months after graduation
employed or in a graduate program
within 6 - 9 months after graduation
12:1
student to faculty ratio
Study Studio Art at a Christian University
At Messiah University, one of the top private Christian colleges in the U.S., you’ll prepare for an exciting career in studio art by choosing one of our exciting concentrations, depending on your degree type: graphic design and digital art, three-dimensional studies, or two-dimensional studies.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is intended for students who wish to experience a broad liberal arts education with an emphasis in the study of art and design. This program’s flexibility encourages you to take minors or double majors, such as history or marketing, so you can shape the studio art major according to your own specific areas of interest. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is designed for students wishing to maximize their studio immersion, particularly for those considering the pursuit of a graduate degree (MFA). While it retains much of the liberal arts breadth of the B.A., its focus is upon studio practice and theory.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) choose from three possible concentrations: graphic design, three-dimensional studies, or two-dimensional studies. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree choose from two possible concentrations: three-dimensional studies or two-dimensional studies.
As a studio art major at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Begin taking studio courses in your first semester.
- Learn from noted artists and designers through our visiting artists and lecturers each semester.
- Study with faculty who are practicing artists and designers and with an art historian who has worked in major museums.
- Study in an art and design program known for its rigorous curriculum and considered one of the best programs within the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) – and one of the only NASAD accredited schools in the CCCU on the east coast.
- Display your creative works regionally and at our yearly juried student art exhibition.
- Be well-prepared for graduate school through the B.F.A. program.
- Participate in the departmental honors program and/or independent study opportunities for in-depth research and study.
- Build a solid body of creative work in preparation for your capstone senior art exhibition.
- As a senior have a dedicated studio space in Frey Hall.
- Take our annual field trip to a major U.S. city to explore museums and galleries.
As a graduate of the studio art program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Studio artist
- MFA student
- Art therapist
- Graphic designer
- Art director
- Studio assistant
- Museum professional
- Illustrator
For more information on career planning for the studio art program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Programs related to Studio Art
In the Studio Art program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for Studio Art:
Studio Art (B.A.) Graphic Design and Digital Art Concentration
Studio Art (B.A.) Three-Dimensional Studies Concentration
Studio Art (B.A.) Two-Dimensional Studies Concentration
Studio Art (B.F.A.) Three-Dimensional Studies Concentration
Careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of this program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
Where they work
- 160over90
- Advanced Sports International
- Aesthetic Answers
- Andrus Group
- Boiling Springs High School
- Buxmont Academy
- Chester County Historical Society
- Decanter Co.
- Elexio
- Freer & Sackler Galleries (Smithsonian)
- Geometry Global
- Kansas State University
- Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection
- Liebenzell U.S.A.
- Messiah University
- Northern York County School District
- Parkdale High School
- Philadelphia City School District
- Prince George's County Public School
- Pure Gallery
- Randolph Township Schools
- Rethink Creative
- RFR
- Remains Lighting
- RespondCreate
- Sterilex
- Technical.ly
- The JDK Group
- The School District of Lancaster
- Visata Creative
- Veritas Academy
- Walker Mill Middle School
What they do
- Art Teacher
- Art Teacher (K-12)
- Art director
- Ceramic artist
- Chalkboard artist
- Children’s book illustrator
- Design agency founder
- Designer
- Design specialist
- Fibers artist
- Gallery Assistant
- Game designer
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator
- Marketing manager
- Middle School Art Teacher
- Mixed media artist
- Painter
- Photographer
- Printmaker
- Production artist
- Professor
- Scarf designer
- Sculptor
- Senior digital art director
- Server/Co-Small Events Leader
- Teacher
- Technical Writer and Project Manager
- Temporary Associate Curator
- Web designer
- Wedding invitation designer
Graduate school
- Brooklyn College
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Drexel University
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- New York Academy of Art
- Pratt Institute
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- School of Visual Arts
- University of Connecticut
- University of Dallas
- University of Texas Austin
98% of the Class of 2025 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Learning opportunities
The breadth and depth of our studio art major provide countless opportunities for you to test your creativity and hone your skills in graphic design, printmaking, papermaking, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and more. You can study off-campus at places including the Gordon Orvieto Program in Italy, or at Temple Rome. You’ll also display your creative works regionally; show your work at our yearly juried student art exhibition; and have the opportunity to participate in a practicum.
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
Our faculty and mentors
In the studio art program, you will learn from faculty who are practicing artists and designers and have had their work featured in shows and publications across the country and throughout the world. In addition, study with an art historian who has worked in major museums. You’ll also learn from noted artists and designers through our visiting artists and lecturers each semester.
Last updated: