The study of art encompasses the creation of visual objects and investigation into their social context, their past and their meaning in art history. With the various options for study available in our art program, you'll gain many opportunities to create and a thorough understanding of the creative process.
Overview
Our art department's creative spaces and opportunities, avenues for individual and group projects, professors with varied art backgrounds and several majors and minors offer many paths to fulfillment and future success.
By working with both studio and graphic arts, students are given opportunities to expand their artistic horizons, define and use current methodologies and firmly grasp the importance of their work in multiple aspects of modern society. Students and faculty boldly explore the tangible and the rhetorical dimensions of art.
Clubs including Arts Alive and Break Thru Design let you connect and collaborate with peers while developing additional portfolio pieces, while internships and co-op opportunities add to your professional qualifications.
We offer multiple studios specializing in ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, painting, photography and foundation design, plus woodshop and digital-imaging labs.
Bachelor of Art Tracks
Offerings in art history are particularly extensive for a college the size of Oswego. Students take a two-semester survey of art and may select upper-division courses in Twentieth-Century, Chinese, Japanese, Islamic, Native American arts; or Museum Studies. Students in museum studies and art history look for careers in institutions and archives.
Offerings include drawing, design, graphic design, web design, multimedia design, illustration, photography and printmaking.
The Illustration program includes the study of traditional, mixed, and digital media in 2 and 3D applications. In our program, students develop techniques and approach through a wide range of illustration projects designed to promote exploration across the field.
Interaction Design students explore the intersection of storytelling, technology, communication, and design. Study includes a combination of theory and practice that moves beyond the visual to explore all aspects of interaction and motion design.
Studio offerings include drawing, design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and graphic design.
Curriculum
BA Program and Tracks
Our BA degree allows you to specialize in the track of your choice and pursue a second major or minor that complements your career goals.
BFA Programs
For students seeking a demanding program with a high degree of focus, the BFA offers in-depth study of either studio art in the fine arts or illustration tracks, graphic design or interaction design. The BFA is limited to select students chosen through an additional application process. BFA Application
Bachelor of Arts - Graphic Design Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Bachelor of Arts - Interaction Design Bachelor of Fine Arts - Interaction Design Bachelor of Fine Arts - Studio Art Bachelor of Arts - Studio Art and Illustration
Tyler Art Gallery
The recently renovated Tyler Art Gallery allows students the opportunity to exhibit their work, and in some cases gain experience curating and installing their own show. The gallery on campus is just one place students may showcase their work, Oswego keeps a very active schedule for students to present at Oswego State Downtown and SUNY Oswego in Syracuse.
Outcomes
- Create a portfolio to present at interviews
- Gain familiarity with the works and intentions of major artists/designers and movements of the past and the present, both in the Western and non-Western worlds
- Develop ease of presenting work and discussing intentions and execution
- Attain ability to analyze works of art/design and critically evaluate them
- Build technical skills, perceptual awareness- and understanding of visual organization principles
Career Opportunities
BFA Career Opportunities can include:
- Fine Artist
- Art Director
- Photographer
- Illustrator
- Graphic Designer
- Concept Artist
- Museum Professional
- Art Historian
BA Career Opportunities can include:
- Gallery Worker
- Art Critic
- Museum Educator
- Photographer
- Illustrator
The art department prepared me to transition into the real world. I have had amazing opportunities to present my art and meet artists working in the field.
The best part about this major is the amount of different areas to study. The fact that I am a graphic design major but I have also learned photography, animation, motion graphics, web design, multimedia and app design is so helpful.
My favorite part about my art major is the small classes. I am a student who needs one-on-one attention to fully grasp concepts, styles and techniques. The professors are extremely knowledgeable about their subjects and are always passion driven.
Program Resources
NASAD Accredited
We are one of the select art departments to earn accreditation from the National Association od Schools of Art and Design.
The Oswego Guarantee
- Timely course offerings
- High touch connections to alumni
- Small student to faculty ratio
- Limited room & board increases each year
Internships
Learn what it's like to work in a professional setting while still in school.
Get Involved
- Arts Alive
- Break Thru Design
- Photography Club
- Student Art Exhibition Committee
Co-Ops
Apply for this full-time, paid integrated learning experience that allows you to gain hands on experience in a professional environment.
Faculty-Led Courses
This unique programs allows students to spend a few weeks studying a course topic before traveling to their destination abroad to experience what they learned in person, on location.
Study Abroad
Take classes and participate in internships while immersing yourself in all that region has to offer.