Whether you’re interested in exploring the world of art history or honing your own artistic skills, a background in art will set you up for a creative career as a fine artist, photographer, art teacher, illustrator or graphic designer.
Program Overview
See the world through an artistic lens.
At Western Colorado University, the Art program emphasizes an academic approach to artistic training and focuses on building a strong foundation in design and drawing. Studio courses revolve around classical materials employed in a contemporary manner and grants you access to a faculty who are masters in traditional and cutting-edge artistic practices, technologies and industry-standard software.
Through diverse coursework, you’ll learn how visual arts shape various social and cultural contexts. You’ll also be offered the tools you need to explore critical contemporary issues through an artistic lens. If you want to practice your own artistic concepts, the courses in visual design, drawing and photography will provide a valuable outlet for creative expression.
A strong foundation
Students participate in a drawing foundations course, which gives special attention to line, value, perspective, texture, and shape.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
A minimum of 39 credits is required, including the 27-credit Art Foundation Courses and 12 credits of Art electives (nine credits must be at the 300- or 400 -level).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art Foundation Courses | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance (six semesters with “S” grade required) | 0 |
| ART 119 | Foundation Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 120 | Foundation Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 171 | Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional | 3 |
| ART 172 | Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional | 3 |
| ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
| ART 222 | Art History I | 3 |
| ART 223 | Art History II | 3 |
| ART 319 | Intermediate Drawing | 3 |
| ART 400 | Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| ART 119 | Foundation Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 171 | Foundation Design: Two-Dimensional | 3 |
| ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
OR |
||
Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course |
|
| ENG 102 | Academic Writing (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 105 | Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| ART 120 | Foundation Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 172 | Foundation Design: Three-Dimensional | 3 |
| ART 173 | Foundation Design: Digital Art and Design | 3 |
OR |
||
Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course |
|
| COM 202 | Academic Writing and Inquiry (GT-CO2) | 3 |
OR |
||
Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course |
|
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| ART | Intro Studio Art Course | 3 |
| ART 222 | Art History I | 3 |
| COM 202 | Academic Writing and Inquiry (GT-CO2) | 3 |
OR |
||
Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course |
|
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| ART | Intermediate Studio Course | 3 |
| ART 223 | Art History II | 3 |
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| ART | Intro/Advanced Studio Art Course | 3 |
| ART 319 | Intermediate Drawing | 3 |
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| Intermediate/Advanced Studio Art Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 12 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| ART 400 | Artist's Portfolio/Senior Exhibition | 3 |
| Intro/Advanced Studio Art Course | 3 | |
| ART/Minor | ART Elective or Minor course | 3 |
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 000 | Exhibition and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
| Intermediate/Advanced Studio Art Course | 3 | |
| ART/Minor | ART Elective or Minor course | 3 |
| Gen Ed/Minor | General Education or Minor course | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 121 | |
Courses listed in the Fall are only offered in Fall. Courses listed in the Spring are only offered in the Spring. With the exception of ART 286 Introduction to Watercolor, and ART 271 Typography and their Intermediate counterparts, Intro classes are exclusively offered in the Fall and Intermediate courses are offered exclusively in the Spring. Advanced offerings are available for all disciplines every semester.
ART 000 Exhibition and Convocation Attendance and ART 319 Intermediate Drawing are offered in both the Fall and the Spring.
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Eligibility
- Full-time student
- Successfully completed a minimum of 60 credits
- Must be an Art major seeking an education certificate
- Demonstrate both a strong interest in art education and the potential to become a successful teacher in art
- Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Description
This scholarship is provided as a gift from Ethel Rice and Owen Sharp originating from the estate of Mary Alber.
Award depends on funds available.
Selected by: Donor Scholarship Committee.
Eligibility
- Full-time formally admitted Art majors
- Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours
Description
To provide scholarship assistance for Art students, and to honor Dr. August (Gus) Grosland, who worked long and hard to support funding for Art students. Dr. Grosland’s record of service to Western and its student began in 1949 and continued through 1979 when he retired.
Amount of award determined by available funds.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time Western Senior majoring in Art
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or above
- Student must exhibit service to the Art program by involvement with the ART League or other co-curricular art activities
- Preference will be given to a BFA Senior Veterans of the United States Armed Forces
Description
This scholarship is provided by Dr. Al Caniff.
Amount: $1000
Selected by: Art Faculty in consultation with the Financial Aid Office.
Application:
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time, formally-admitted junior Art majors or English majors (apply with the English Department)
- Demonstrate creativity, contribution, scholarship and leadership
Description
To provide scholarship assistance for an outstanding junior Art or English major to honor the memory of Charles J. Gerhardt, one of Western’s most outstanding students, and to perpetuate his name as a symbol to other young men and women of outstanding achievement. The award will alternate ever year between an Art and English major.
Amount of award determined by available funds.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Must have a 3.0 or higher
- Must be an Art major
- Full-time students
- Must have completed at lease two semesters at Western
Description
This scholarship is provided by the family members of Mabel de Koevend.
Award depends on funds available. Scholarship may be renewable.
Selected by: Art Faculty
APPLICATION:
Contact the Art Department for scholarship application and deadline information.
970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time, formally-admitted Art majors
- Students must have and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Preference given to students meeting one or more of the following criteria: demonstrate financial need, non-traditional students, single parents, women, minorities, participants in Western Spectrum and those using technical assistance
Description
Established by Dr. Heather Orr, Professor of Art (Art History), to provide scholarship assistance for Art students, honoring the memory of renowned Mayanist and beloved mentor Linda Schele.
Amount of award determined by available funds.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time, formally admitted Art majors
- Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours
- Have and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or greater
Description
To provide scholarship assistance to deserving Art students. Established by Ethel M. Rise, beloved Western librarian.
Amount of award determined by available funds. Renewable.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time Art majors demonstrating financial need.
Description
To provide scholarship assistance to Western students majoring in Art. Established by Gene’s wife, Rebecca, and his two children, Jami and Josh. Gene Tobey provided two of the Art sculptures on the Western campus, The Pathfinder and Bugling Elk.
Amount of award determined by available funds. Renewable.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time student
- Must be a junior or a senior majoring in either Art or English
- Must have and maintain a 3.25 or above cumulative GPA
Description
This scholarship is provided by the family and friends to honor the memory of one of Western’s most outstanding students and to perpetuate their name as a symbol to others of outstanding achievement. The award will alternate every year between an Art and English major.
Award depends on funds available.
Selected by: Scholarship Selection Committee of the Department of Art and Music or Scholarship Selection Committee of the Department of Communication Arts, Language and Literature.
Application:
Submit a letter of application and a letter of recommendation from a faculty member in the appropriate department to the chairperson of the appropriate department (follow links below).
Deadline is April 1st.
Eligibility
- Students majoring in Art
- Must be a full-time student who has completed minimum of 30 hours
Description
This scholarship is provided by Dr. “Gus” Grosland, Professor of Art and Chairman of the Art Department for many years.
Award depends on funds available.
Selected by: Art faculty
Application:
Please contact the Art Department for more details.
970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time, formally admitted Art majors with an 3-D Design emphasis (i.e. sculpture, ceramics, jewelry), who demonstrates a dedication to excellence
- Students must have and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or greater
Description
To provide scholarship assistance for Art students in the 3-D emphases, celebrating the memory of James (Mac) Irwin.
Amount of award determined by available funds.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Outstanding junior or senior female Art students
- 2.5 cumulative GPA minimum
Description
This scholarship is provided by the family and friends of Marsha Julio, spouse of long- time Western Art Professor Pat Julio.
Award depends on funds available.
Selected by: Western Art Scholarship Selection Committee.
Application:
Contact the Art Department for more information
970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility:
- Must be a full-time student
- Must be pursuing a major or minor in art, music or the performing arts.
- Must have financial need
Description:
This scholarship is provided by Carol Buswell in honor of her husband Lloyd Buswell, nicknamed “Buzz”who earned his BA in Industrial Arts and Education from 1974 -1978.
Award depends on funds available
Application:
Please complete and submit Western’s Common Scholarship Application
Eligibility
- Full-time, formally-admitted junior or senior female art majors
- Have and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater
Description
To provide scholarship assistance for female Art students, honoring Marsha Julio as an accomplished artist, student of nature and exuberant lover of life.
Amount of award determined by available funds.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Must be a full-time student
- Successfully completed a minimum of 60 credits
- Must be a declared Art major
- Must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Description
This scholarship is provided as a gift from Ethel Rice, revered Western librarian.
Amount: $1000
Selected by: Donor Scholarship Committee.
For information on how to apply, contact Western’s Art Department.
Eligibility
- Art majors
- Demonstrate financial need
- Student must be full-time
- Must maintain a 3.0 GPA
- Preference will be given to non-traditional students, single parents, women, minorities, participants in Western Spectrum and those using technical assistance
Description
This scholarship was established by Heather Orr, Ph.D.
Award depends on fund availability.
Selected by: Art Faculty in consultation with the Financial Aid Office.
Application:
Please contact the Art Department for application information.
Eligibility
- Must be a graduating Art Major with skills in sculpting, preferably in hand built ceramics
Description
The Brian Hirsh Award has been established by Joel and Barbara Hirsh to provide an award to a Western Colorado University Senior majoring in Art. This scholarship serves to honor the art talent of Brian Hirsh, a 2001 graduate of Western who passed away in 2012. The small award is for a graduating senior, to give them a start in their career, perhaps to start a website, to cover a fee or an art show or art supplies; however, there are no strings attached.
Scholarship Recipient Selected by:
The recipient will be determined by the Art faculty, in consultation with Financial Aid.
Application: Contact the Department of Art and Music for scholarship application and deadline information.
970.943.2071 | Quigley Hall 101
Find out more about Western’s Art Program at www.western.edu/art.
Eligibility
- Full-time undergraduate students
- Either be Art majors or non-majors taking Art class(es) having demonstrated artistic talent (regardless of medium)
- Have significant financial need
- Must have a GPA of 2.5 or greater
- All things being equal, preference shall be given to students who have a passion for athletic recreation, historic preservation and/or animal welfare.
Description
The Linda M. Sweitzer Memorial Art Scholarship has been established through the gift from the TWC Foundation (Daniel Warner ’68) to celebrate the life and memory of Linda M. Sweitzer ’71, by providing scholarship assistance to Western Colorado University students who have an interested and demonstrated talent in Art and have significant financial need.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Full-time Art students
- Have completed at least two semesters (sophomores, juniors, or seniors)
- Have and maintain academic eligibility with a GPA of 3.0 or greater
Description
The Mabel de Koevend Memorial Scholarship has been established to provide scholarship assistance to Western Colorado University Music and Art students. This scholarship was established by members of her family to celebrate the memory of Mabel de Koevend.
Application
Contact the Art Department at 970.943.3093 | Quigley Hall 202
Eligibility
- Art majors who have been accepted into the Art program
- Demonstrate financial need
Description
This scholarship is provided by Gene’s wife, Rebecca, and his two children, Josh and Jami, and other family and friends.
Award depends on funds available.
Selected by: Art Faculty
Application:
Please contact the Art Department for application and deadline information.
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2022. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western’s highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming first-year students.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Get Involved
Make your education a life changing experience.
A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.
- Gallery Exhibits: Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.
- Pathfinder Magazine: An annual publication for student creative work.
- Student Art League: A branch of the Council for Creative expression, the Student Art League is dedicated to providing visual arts, experiences, professional development, educational opportunities and outreach for art students.
A gallery experience
Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.
News & Research
Department Information
Art Department
Department Chairperson
S. Chase Hutchison, MFAArt Department Chair, Associate Professor of Art
Administrative Assistant
Anna FlynnAdministrative Assistant
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Quigley Hall 202
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231