Areas of Study

Art Education

WVU offers a nationally accredited BFA in Art Education with Teacher Certification, a professional track degree with a studio concentration to teach art in the schools, pre-K through grade 12. We also offer an MA in Art Education and an online Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Art.

Art History and Museum Professions

The BA in Art History and Museum Professions provides a foundation in the history of art and architecture in its cultural and theoretical context and with our Technical Art History courses, a depth of knowledge of the science behind the art that is unrivaled. Additionally, you can opt for a 3+3 accelerated program to earn your BA and JD in Law in just six years.

Art Therapy

WVU's BA in Art Therapy blends studio art training with psychology and counseling courses to prepare students for careers that use visual art mediums to target therapeutic issues.

Ceramics

WVU is one of only a few schools in the nation with a ceramics production line, bringing student productions to the general public through biannual pottery sales. The full range of ceramic course work is available in the BFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 3D Studio and Public Art and the nationally-recognized MFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 3D Studio and Public Art.

Design Studies

The BS in Design Studies is for students interested in working in creative fields, using design thinking to provide innovative solutions to challenges facing our world today. It is an interdisciplinary program with linkages to sustainability, journalism, preservation, event planning, business, electronic media and a host of other professions.

Digital Art and Animation

The BFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in Digital Art and Animation fosters creative exploration in the production of durational media – instead of static art objects – including digital video, animation, installation, interactivity, and sound design. Graduate study in time-based art is also available in the MFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in Digital Art and Animation.

Fashion Design and Merchandising

The BS in Fashion Design and Merchandising program produces future leaders in a dynamic and global industry that operates at the intersection of creativity, technology, commerce and culture. Through experiential learning, students address some of the most complex issues facing the industry today to create a more sustainable fashion future.

Game Design

The MA in Game Design is a fully online master's degree program for emerging game designers who would like to expand and build upon their conceptual, production and project management skills, as well as to further their professional credentials.

Game Design and Interactive MEdia

The BA in Game Design and Interactive Media allows you to use graphics, animation, apps and more to create interactive audiovisual media experiences, from mobile phone apps to video game production and beyond.

Graphic Design

The BFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in Graphic Design begins with learning a foundation in typography, color, symbolic drawings, design for small and large formats and design thinking. We run a model design studio, Studio 2453, that serves up to 30 clients per year. Our MFA in Art and Design involves rigorous research to find new ways to communicate effectively. Graduate students are expected to present a paper at a major conference.

Interior Architecture

As a BS in Interior Architecture student, you’ll learn to identify, research and creatively solve problems in the design of functional and high-quality interior environments. You'll explore different approaches to design, interior construction, sustainable practices, interior materials and building codes.

Painting

The BFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media provides training in traditional and experimental oil and acrylic media and exploration of both figurative and abstract imagery. An MFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media invites students to consider interdisciplinary media and multicultural sources of inspiration for their work.

Photography

In the BFA in Art and Design with emphasis in 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media degree, students develop unique and compelling forms of expression. Facilities including a traditional darkroom and a digital imaging lab, a diverse curriculum, and a supportive and challenging faculty all aim to aid students in their individual journeys as artists. An MFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media is also available.

PRintmaking

Explore monoprinting, relief, silk-screen, computer-mediated images and alternative printing processes in the BFA in Art and Design with emphasis in 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media degree. Coursework in printmaking pays particular attention to developing personal imagery, while providing a solid foundation in the techniques of lithography and intaglio. An MFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media is also available.

Sculpture

The BFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 3D Studio and Public Art provides a thorough introduction to many different materials and processes and is structured to enhance the student’s ability to solve structural, spatial, formal, and conceptual problems. Initially, students concentrate on basic construction techniques and craftsmanship and then explore various tools and techniques used in the wood and metal shops. Large-scale works are encouraged and may be exhibited on the grounds of the Canady Creative Arts Center. An MFA in Art and Design with an emphasis in 3D Studio and Public Art is also available.