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PaintingMajor

We offer an immersive art experience that combines a small studio environment with the resources of a major research institution. You'll train in traditional and experimental oil and acrylic media and explore both figurative and abstract imagery.

Overview

What is Painting at WVU like?

Description

Our program introduces you to the traditional and contemporary foundations of painting. Learning is both one-on-one and collaborative to develop personal exploration and encourage engagement with a wider aesthetic range.

You are invited to seek multiple sources of inspiration in order to find the most fluent and expressive voice for your work. One-on-one advising prepares you to comprehend and engage with trends in the gallery market and critical theory. You are encouraged to research reputable graduate programs and other professional opportunities for further study and career advancement.

All interested students must apply to the University and submit a portfolio for the School of Art and Design for acceptance.

Painting program highlights:

Discover WVU Open House

High school students: Finding the right path can begin at Discover WVU, an open house on October 19 or November 16 designed to help you explore the possibilities and set your sights on the future you’ve always imagined. Register today!

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At a Glance

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Fast Facts

What makes Painting at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

You will learn and create in our Creative Arts Center studios and a full off-site production facility. You can attend lectures and new art openings at the state-of-the-art Art Museum of WVU. Local and regional field trips are taken to galleries and exhibitions in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Washington, D.C., as well as Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.

The program's reputation and quality faculty open many doors for you to continue learning through top graduate programs, or to launch into apprenticeships and studio work.

Academic Resources

  • Fully-equipped painting studios with natural lighting, including semi-private spaces for juniors and seniors. Our painting studios use new technology, including a canvas printer.
  • Fully-equipped art studios for printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, painting, photography and foundations classes.
  • Advanced digital technology, including access to 3-D printing.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

In addition to guaranteed admission agreements WVU has transfer articulation agreements with:

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Graduates go on to portfolio careers, private studios, artist residencies/internships and graduate school for the MFA in Painting. Our students have been accepted into highly-respected graduate programs throughout the country, including the New York Academy of Art and the University of Michigan.

Alumni have found employment at a variety of prestigious art institutions, such as the New York Art Studio and the FLY Children’s Art Center.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Painting major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Painting at WVU?

Major Map

Check out the course requirements and suggested plan of study for WVU's Painting major.

View the Major Map
 

For a program overview, learning goals and course descriptions, visit the course catalog.

Popular Courses

ART 111:
Drawing 1

The course emphasizes fundamental principles of drawing with a focus on building basic skills through direct observation, using traditional graphic media and expression.

ART 112:
Drawing 2

The course emphasizes fundamental principles of drawing with a focus on more expressive approaches to basic problems. Greater emphasis is placed on abstraction and non-traditional drawing processes and media.

ART 121:
Visual Foundations 1

The course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles and concepts of two-dimensional image making with an emphasis on color theory and design. Through creative assignments students develop abilities and visual awareness emphasizing the basics of color perception, form, proportion and rhythm.

ART 122:
Visual Foundations 2

The course incorporates projects involving abstract and representational ideas in three dimensions and investigates the basic concepts of line, plane, volume, form, mass, texture, composition and time.

ART 213:
Painting 1

The course serves as an introduction to painting with concentration on structure, techniques and imagery. Emphasis is on the development of skills in rendering works which express light, color and form integral to the medium.

ART 214:
Painting 2

The course provides the essential structure, techniques and iconography of painting. Its modern development, augmenting the traditional languages of painting, are clarified and isolated.

ART 313:
Painting 3

(May be repeated for a maximum of 36 credit hours.) The course reaffirms and expands formal criteria established in 213 and 214 and directs individual research into personal, historical and contemporary painting issues in oil, acrylic and related media.

Cost and Aid

How much does Painting at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2019-20 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

West Virginia Resident
Per Credit $413
Per Semester $4,956
Fall and Spring Semesters $9,912
Non-Resident
Per Credit $1,112
Per Semester $13,344
Fall and Spring Semesters $26,688
International
Per Credit $1,112
Per Semester $13,644
Fall and Spring Semesters $27,288
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Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Painting can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Learn More

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. In addition to guaranteed admission agreements Painting has transfer articulation agreements with:

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Painting at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Painting major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2020-21 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

What minors could I consider?

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Request Information

Want to know more about Painting at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.

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