Art

The Art Department is staffed by practicing artists and designers who regularly exhibit and/or publish their work.

The Art Department seeks students willing to work hard and perform with a degree of independence. Each student is encouraged to explore various media and techniques to provide a broad base from which to select and pursue his/her primary goal.

Common Career Paths

Some of the top jobs for those with background in Art include art director, creative director, user experience (UX) designer, multimedia artist, animator, graphic design artist, and much more. 

Common Salary Ranges for Graduates

As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with Art degrees. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:

• Arts, drama, and music teacher: $86,240
• Art and design worker: $58,910
• Art director: $115,430
• Animator: $86,220

Average Tuition Cost

The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.

Goals

1. Upon completion of the course of study within an Art Department curriculum, students will demonstrate understanding of the history and theory of art,
2. Demonstrate ability to identify visual art objects and relate them to their historical and cultural contexts,
3. Demonstrate knowledge of vocabulary necessary to understand and discuss art,
4. Demonstrate the ability to combine knowledge of art history and studio processes, and
5. Demonstrate proficiency in at least one creative studio process.

Minor Requirements

The minor in Art consists of 18 credits distributed as follows:

Required Courses

Art History Courses

ARH 2530 Survey of Art History I (3)

Select one course (3 credits) from the following list of art history courses:

Studio Courses

Select 12 credits of studio art courses, in one studio skill, to be determined in consultation with the art faculty and dependent upon the student’s chosen concentration.

Note: ART 1010 and ART 2030 are prerequisites for all studio courses which may increase the total credit hours for the A.A. or minor beyond 18.