BFA in Studio Art
Express your creativity, refine your technique and prepare for a professional career in the arts by earning a studio art degree from Rowan University.
Why choose Rowan's Studio Art program?
If your goal is to turn artistic talent into a professional career, Rowan University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in studio art degree program makes it possible. This studio-intensive program balances technical training with creative exploration, giving you the tools to refine your craft and the space to discover your unique artistic voice. Throughout the program, you’ll engage with art practices by attending exhibitions, learning from guest speakers and attending field trips to world-class museums. All of these opportunities inspire new ideas and perspectives in your craft.
With concentrations ranging from animation to graphic design and contemporary realist art, you can shape your studio art degree around your interests and career goals. Additionally, the program’s emphasis on studio experience, professional exposure and portfolio preparation ensures that by the time you earn your diploma, you can pursue work in the arts, contribute to creative industries or elevate your skills through graduate study.
Key Considerations
From tuition and degree requirements to application deadlines, this section highlights the key details you need to know about completing Rowan’s studio art major.
Quick Facts
Months To Complete
Credits
Fall Entry Term
Spring Entry Term
Summer Entry Term
Studying Studio Art at Rowan
Discover the curriculum, undergraduate concentrations and studio experiences that define Rowan’s studio art BFA degree program.
What You'll Learn
In Rowan’s 120-credit studio art program, you’ll spend your time doing what artists do best—experimenting, practicing and refining your craft. You’ll take courses in drawing, sculpture, design and digital media that give you the tools to create with confidence. Additionally, art history classes connect your work to the movements and ideas that shaped the field. You’ll also choose an undergraduate concentration that allows you to specialize your coursework and prepare for the kind of art career you want to pursue:
What makes our studio art degree distinctive is the range of electives you can explore. With dozens of studio options, you might dive into ceramics, metals and jewelry, photography, animation, biomedical art or web design. This variety allows you to broaden your skills, refine your interests and create a professional portfolio that reflects your artistic direction, whether your next step is graduate school or starting your career.
Studio Art Key Courses
- Color and Design: Two Dimensional
- Digital Media and Techniques
- Drawing I: Representational Drawing
- Expressive Drawing
- Introduction to Sculpture
Note: The course information above is not official and is subject to change. For an official list of available courses, please review the Rowan University Academic Catalog.
How You'll Learn
More than a third of your coursework in the studio art major is spent in the studio—over 51 credit hours dedicated to drawing, painting, sculpting, designing and more. These classes ensure you produce work that reflects your growth and creativity. Throughout the program, you’ll build and refine a portfolio that showcases your best pieces and demonstrates your readiness for professional opportunities or graduate school.
Your learning also extends beyond the studio walls. You’ll take trips to art museums, explore exhibitions at the Rowan Art Gallery and discover how today’s artists are shaping the field. These experiences deepen your creative perspective and inspire the portfolio you’ll develop with guidance from faculty mentors.
Admission Requirements
To apply to Rowan University’s studio art degree program, complete the application steps outlined below.
- First-year application through one of three platforms:
- Application fee of $65
- Official high school transcript(s)
- Letter(s) of recommendation/teacher evaluations
- Personal essay
After completing your application, a representative from Rowan’s Office of Admissions will confirm your application status and notify you of any missing information. There may be additional actions or materials required for admission to the program.
Note: Rowan University is test-optional. You may submit your SAT or ACT scores, but you won’t be penalized if you choose not to.
Need assistance with your application? Our Office of Admissions team is here to support you—email admissions@rowan.edu to reach out.
Tuition and Aid
Rowan’s studio art degree offers strong value for artists seeking professional-level training. Additionally, we support students like you with a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities to make your education affordable.
Explore tuition information, financial aid resources and scholarships.
You get to know people doing different kinds of art and take other art classes that interest you. The classes share a lot of technical abilities that are helpful for the future.
Leann C. Cumberland County, NJ
Everything humans create is part of a design. It's impossible to see something without seeing its design, which makes the never-ending drafts worth it.
Jason P. Camden County, NJ
I think everything in my major is fun and rewarding. I find that like all of the art professors just really want to help you in any way possible.
Megan K. Monmouth County, NJ
I love having multiple art spaces where I can practice and hone my craft. That was a major motivator for me to branch out and learn new techniques.
Christine S. Camden County, NJ
Careers and Outcomes
If you’re wondering what you can do with a studio art major, the answer is: more than you think. A career in the arts can take many different forms, and that’s what makes it so powerful. You might pursue life as a professional artist, work in museums or cultural institutions, use your skills to teach and mentor future artists or take on roles in digital media and animation. At Rowan, we prepare you with real-world experiences, portfolio development and the flexibility to explore different concentrations until you find the path that’s right for you.
Upcoming virtual information sessions and events
Rowan’s virtual information sessions for the studio art BFA degree program give you a closer look at our studio culture, concentrations and portfolio-building opportunities. Faculty will share how courses and studio time prepare you for careers in fine art and design, while advisors explain admissions requirements and deadlines. You’ll also learn about trips to world-class museums and galleries that enrich the program. Sign up to explore how Rowan supports your growth as an artist.
Ceramics at Rowan
One of the strengths of Rowan’s studio art degree is the opportunity to explore new mediums and grow through practice. Junior Auden Rannels describes starting out in ceramics as a challenge—and also one of the most rewarding parts of the journey: “You can always take an introduction class, start out small, and work your way to bigger projects… I slowly developed my skills and learned a lot of techniques that made me a skilled artist.”
Related Programs
Explore other art and design degree programs at Rowan University.
Ready to learn more about Rowan?
Make your creativity your career
Graduate as a confident, skilled artist ready to share your work, pursue graduate study or launch a career in the creative industries. Apply to Rowan University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art degree program and take your art to the next level.