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Subject · 586 verified programs

Studio Arts degrees

Degrees centered on hands-on studio practice across media, often within a liberal arts or art school setting.

Also called: Studio Art, Art (studio), Visual Arts, Fine Art Practice, Creative Arts.

216 BA / BA (Hons) · 206 BFA · 93 MFA · 42 Other bachelor’s award · 21 MA · 3 PhD · 2 Other master’s award · 2 BDes · 1 Other research doctorate · 54 official concentration, 496 dedicated degree, 34 named major, 2 documented pathway

586 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About studio arts study

Studio arts is a label for degrees in which students spend a large share of their time making work in a studio. The term is common in North America and is often used where an institution wants to emphasize practice alongside general education, though many schools use it interchangeably with fine arts. Students typically work across several media before choosing an area of emphasis.

Coursework tends to combine media-based studios, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics or sculpture, with art history and critique. In liberal arts settings, studio courses sit beside academic courses in other disciplines, so the degree may be broader in scope and less exclusively professional than a conservatory-style program. Capstone projects or senior exhibitions are common.

In this directory, studio arts is related to fine arts but is listed separately because institutions name and structure these degrees differently. It differs from design fields, which focus on briefs and users, and from art history, which is primarily written and research-based. A studio arts major can be general or may carry an official concentration in a specific medium.

What study typically involves

  • Foundation studios in drawing, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design
  • Media-specific studios such as painting, printmaking, ceramics or sculpture
  • Critique practice and presenting work to peers
  • Art history and visual culture courses
  • Digital or photographic media in many programs
  • Independent projects and a senior or thesis exhibition

Award titles. Studio arts study commonly leads to a BA, BFA or BA (Hons) at undergraduate level and to an MFA or MA at postgraduate level. Some institutions also offer research degrees with a practice component. The exact title and its balance of studio and academic work differ by institution, so the official program page is the authority.

Studio arts often appears as a major in a liberal arts degree or as an MFA concentration, sometimes with a medium emphasis. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Many studio arts programs ask for a portfolio, typically a set of images of recent work and sometimes drawings from observation. Liberal arts programs may place more weight on the overall application, including essays and academic records, while art school programs may place the portfolio at the center.

Practices differ widely by country and program. Some institutions ask for a portfolio only after admission, for entry into the major, or for a particular concentration. Postgraduate programs commonly request a statement and a coherent body of work.

Requirements change and must be confirmed on each program’s official admissions page. No portfolio guarantees acceptance, and this directory does not prescribe a universal format.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA level, funding in some programs may take the form of teaching assistantships, studio or technician roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships. At undergraduate level, support is more often scholarship or aid based. Doctoral options with a practice component are less common and funded in varied ways.

Terms differ by program and by year, and many students receive only partial support or none. Applicants should confirm details with the program and should not assume funding is included.

Costs beyond tuition. Studio arts students commonly pay for materials, studio or lab fees, printing and framing, and shipping or installation costs for exhibitions.