Wesleyan's Art Department prepares confident and creative innovators for professional careers in an increasingly visual and global world. Community and business leaders already know that creative minds are progressive solution finders. They highly value the graphic designers, artists, videographers, photographers, illustrators, designers, teachers, and museum personnel whose Liberal Arts education demonstrates an enthusiasm for discovery of the new.
Personal, artistic, and intellectual growth are fostered in our Art programs, as students hone their skills in art, design, and art historical research. Through these studies, our students develop awareness of the relevant contributions their creative minds can make.
The Art Department offers a choice of two degree programs, the BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) and the BA (Bachelor of Arts). Both programs incorporate Wesleyan's Liberal Arts general education core. The BA student will gain a broad foundation in 2D and 3D media, and will build a more interdisciplinary degree through additional Liberal Arts electives. Often, our BA ART students will double major in Advertising Marketing Communication or may form a more interdisciplinary link to a Liberal Arts program outside of the Art Department. A student in the BFA program will focus on upper level studio art classes that prepare them, in more depth, for specific careers in the arts and higher education. In the Junior and Senior semesters of both programs, students may choose to concentrate their upper level ART studies from the following: painting, drawing, ceramics, graphic design, video, photography, sculpture, or printmaking.
Major: BFA or BA Art
Related Major & Minor: AMC (Advertising & Marketing Communication), Art Studio minor, Visual Studies minor
Academic Catalogue
Choose between 3 different degree programs: bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts, or bachelor of science in nursing.
* Offered Spring 2021
Find out more about our Pre-Professional programs here.
No one knows Wesleyan better than our alumnae who have experienced learning, living, and thriving at Wesleyan. Alumnae reflect on their experiences on campus and the impact on their lives through lifelong friendships to skills acquired on campus impacting their careers.
Alumnae quotes
A liberal arts education prepares you for your first job and your last. Wesleyan has a four-year plan to prepare students to make the connection between a liberal arts education and success in the workplace.
Career services
Wesleyan offers 23 majors and 30 minors, as well as eight pre-professional programs. Students also have the opportunity to self-design their own major, combining two or more interdisciplinary major programs.
Major listings
The ample space in our Murphey Art Building rivals that at many larger institutions, and offers the equipment necessary to explore 2D, 3D, and multi-media art making. Advanced undergraduate students are given personal studio space, and our facilities are accessible almost 24/7, enabling our students to work collaboratively or in solitude beyond their scheduled class time. Art students at Wesleyan have the opportunity to work under the guidance of supportive faculty, who consider it a priority to help each student pursue their individual interests and goals.
Our three campus art galleries are venues for exhibitions of student work, of our permanent collection, and of invited artists. Wesleyan’s Permanent Collection of Art provides research opportunities and internships. Our undergraduate students can choose to work as gallery docents, as conservationists, or as gallery assistants learning the nuts & bolts of working as professionals in commercial galleries or museums.
The Murphey Art Building is surrounded on 3 sides by a 100 acre arboretum, providing an outdoor classroom exploring creativity & innovation through the lens of Nature.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, Wesleyan art history students researched, curated, designed, and installed the exhibit Rebellious Women: Celebrating Women’s Suffrage, on display in the East Gallery, Porter Family Memorial Fine Arts Building, Wesleyan College. READ MORE >
Visiting artists share their expertise through exhibitions, workshops, and lectures. Our students also take advantage of internships through our many local museums, community and cultural organizations such as: The Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences, The Okmulgee Museum, The Tubman Museum of African and African American Art, The Macon Arts Alliance, Macon Film Festival, Fired Works, and the Hay House.
University of Georgia, Central Washington, Marlborough Gallery,
Southeby's London, Pratt Institute of Art, University of Nebraska,
Birmingham Museum of Art
Museum people love their jobs, working with the public, giving programs, explaining exhibits, and answering questions. You might be the director or business manager or the curator. You might handle fossils and other fascinating objects.
Be an owner or director! What type of museum are you creating? Art museum? Children’s museum? Local history? Science center? You’ll need a vision, community support, real estate, start-up and operating money, a building, and a strong work ethic.
Freelancers need to manage their time, money, and client base wisely in order to keep things running. Illustrations might be for books, manuals, textile, entertainment, packaging, character design, concept art and more.
Freelancers need to manage their time, money, and client base wisely in order to keep things running. Illustrations might be for books, manuals, textile, entertainment, packaging, character design, concept art and more.
A craftsman who composes visual material for print or digital display. Text is composed by a copywriter, and the graphic artist is responsible for selecting the appropriate font, color, and placement for maximum impact of the message.
As a teacher of art you might specialize in visual arts like illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, or graphic design. You can teach at the elementary, secondary, undergraduate, or postgraduate level, or give private lessons.
A designer might work on websites, in the video game industry, as a graphic, clothing, or package designer or any number of other areas.
In the film industry, a studio art major could design and construct sets, props, and backdrops, decorate a scene, edit film, be a producer, director, or animator, or design movie posters and other promotional materials.
Average percentage of international student population
Local museums and galleries where students can do internships and professional development
Of full time faculty members hold the highest degree in their fields
Wesleyan College is privileged to steward many arts and cultural events and share them with the community. Most are free and open to the public. Wesleyan art galleries are open M-F 1:30 – 5:00 PM and on Wesleyan Market Saturdays from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Tour our beautiful 200-acre campus featuring Georgian architecture, lush green spaces, recreational facilities, residence halls, and worship center.
Wesleyan College is home to five NCAA Division III sports: soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and softball. In addition, we offer an award-winning Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Equestrian program.
