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Degree Offerings:
A Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
- Excellent foundation for entrance into a career or graduate study.
- For highly motivated, talented and competitive students pursuing art as a profession.
- Earned in ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and three-dimensional design.
- Requires a senior exhibit and portfolio.
A Bachelor of Arts Degree
- For students pursuing art as part of a liberal arts education.
- For teaching art at the primary or secondary level.
- A more general curriculum than the B.F.A.
- Senior exhibit and portfolio required.
Special Programs:
Scientific Illustration Program
The Art and Design and Biology departments offer strong technical knowledge and intensive training in illustration techniques. This program leads to careers in advertising, textbook illustration or graduate study.
Minor in Art History
Unites studies in anthropology, languages, literature, philosophy, political science, religious studies and world history. Studio art majors and others pursue art history courses to enrich their majors and prepare for careers in museum and gallery work, arts management, visual communications and architecture.
Outstanding Facilities
- Ceramics studio
- Slide library for art history
- Printmaking studio
- Drawing and jewelry studio
- Well-equipped Mac lab
- Sculpture shop
- Photography/graphic design studios
- Painting studio
- Growing permanent collection of original works
Private work areas are available to upper-level students enrolled in directed studies.
Alma’s Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery showcases the work of important American artists, major American museum traveling exhibitions and selected student work. The Art and Design Department hosts the Alma College Statewide Print Competition, featuring a nationally known juror and speaker.
Internships
Gain on-the-job experience in museums, graphic design firms, advertising agencies, newspapers, printers and with area arts organizations.
Performance Scholarships
Art Performance Scholarships up to $1,000 and the Distinguished Performance Award in Art, which can provide up to full tuition, are renewable for four years. Apply for admission to Alma and submit a portfolio of your work. Students receiving Art Performance Scholarships complete performance requirements. Contact the Art and Design Department for portfolio instructions and deadlines.
Career Possibilities
Alma graduates tend to wait a year or two before going on to graduate or professional school. This is typical; nationally, the average age of graduate students in art is 27.
Alma’s Art and Design alumni have attended:
- American University
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- University of Michigan
- The Center for Creative Studies
- Cooperstown (School of Restoration)
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Michigan State University
- University of New Mexico
Career Options for Art Graduates
- Archaeology
- Library management
- Architecture
- City planning
- Medical illustration
- Crafts
- Film
- Museology
- Fine art
- Printing
- Framing
- Publishing
- Gallery management
- Teaching
- Television
The Alma Difference
Alma’s faculty take a personal interest in your growth and success and help you map out your career strategy. The Art Student’s Miscellany includes extensive information on courses of study and career planning.
The faculty also help you write your resume, plan for graduate school, evaluate your portfolio and prepare for job interviews.
