Study For Your Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Near Chicago Today

Explore the coursework, career options, and lifelong skills you’ll receive with a BFA from Governors State University. Take steps toward your dream of becoming a professional artist or find out how creative and design skills can serve you in another career. Major in Art to launch your career and ignite your passion at GovState.

Governors State’s Bachelor of Fine Arts offers an interdisciplinary approach in the visual arts with concentrations in Studio Arts or Film, allowing students to explore and create within the discipline of their interests. Moreover, the GovState campus is located within the internationally renowned Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park. This “museum in the prairie” serves as a living laboratory for the union of art, nature, and university life.

With coursework in art history, ceramics, drawing, digital imaging, film, graphic design, glass, painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture, students are free to explore one or several disciplines as they begin to formulate their individual vision. And in the senior year, BFA students conclude their studies by presenting a senior project of their creative work, which provides an opportunity to share the visual result and evidence of their creative investigations and research.

Why Study Art?

There’s something immeasurably rewarding about the study, practice, and creation of art. This essential part of modern society encourages introspection, sparks joy, and marks iconic moments in history. Join artistic movements both locally and globally to help shape the way individuals, communities, and countries express themselves and communicate with others. Explore the career options in the art industry or find out how your degree can help you foster real-world skills in other industries.

Art not only enriches individual lives—it is essential to the health of any society, as it is practiced and experienced collectively. Governors State’s Bachelor of Fine Arts offers an interdisciplinary approach in the visual arts with concentrations in Studio Arts or Film, allowing students to explore and create within a particular discipline. Moreover, the GovState campus is located within the internationally renowned Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park. This “museum in the prairie” serves as a living laboratory for the union of art, nature, and university life.

With coursework in art history, ceramics, drawing, digital imaging, film, graphic design, glass, painting, printmaking, photography, and sculpture, students are free to explore one or several disciplines as they begin to formulate their individual vision. In the senior year, BFA students conclude their studies by presenting a senior project of their work, which provides an opportunity to share their creative investigations and research in an exhibition in the GovState Visual Arts Gallery.

Studying art at GovState is an immersive experience that helps you hone your talents while also giving you a breadth of knowledge. We offer plenty of studio opportunities and raw materials to let you practice your craft in a welcoming space. Every artist needs different tools, so find a studio that fits your needs!

The program covers a range of courses including non-Western art, film, drawing, painting, photography, and other aspects of Fine Art. Some courses are required to build a substantial foundation of art knowledge and experience, while others are elective. Customize your coursework with electives that point you toward your career goals and expand your knowledge of subjects you’re passionate about.

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Reach Your Career Goals

A BFA prepares visual artists with an emphasis on the lifelong production of professional creative work. Graduates who continue to produce often go on to build a professional exhibition record, showing in galleries and museums, while others choose other career paths that utilize skills developed in the program, such as entrepreneurship, critical thinking, marketing, and problem-solving. Advanced study at the master’s and Master of Fine Arts level is also common, especially for students interested in teaching at the university level. 

Fine artists are employed in a range of careers to create stunning work using various media. Whether you’re passionate about painting, sculpting, drawing, or digital designs, an art degree from Governors State University can give you the training and professional connections you need to succeed.

Dive into principles of art design, criticism, history, and an in-depth practice in your chosen medium. Spend time in a fully equipped studio practicing your craft and participate in lively discussions about what it means to be an artist in the modern world.

Teaching art at the university level is an incredibly rewarding experience. Use your knowledge and abilities to not only practice your craft but also train up a new generation of passionate artists and art advocates. A BFA from GovState is a stepping stone to a career in art in Chicago, the United States, and around the world.

Real-World Application

GovState’s art program prepares students with the drive and determination needed to succeed as professional artists and with the skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship valued by employers. GovState’s student club Art Forum allows student artists to sell and showcase their work at biannual art markets on campus, fostering skill-building in such areas as networking and marketing.

Some of these skills come naturally to an artist, while others can be learned in the welcoming, diverse environment at GovState. Studying art can help you learn these real-world skills:

• Open-mindedness
• Critical observation
• Complex reasoning
• Attention to detail
• Project management

Today’s job market is constantly changing, so you may not know what your career will look like in the future. Prepare for any role with the real-world skills you learn in a Fine Arts program at GovState. Employees, managers, and CEOs all need these skills for working effectively with people in a wide range of positions and industries.

Jobs & Salaries You Can Get With a Fine Arts Degree

What exactly can you expect out of a Fine Arts degree? The experience is rewarding enough, but Fine Art students can also find success in a range of careers that require their exact skillset. Here are some art and design careers that GovState BFA graduates can expect to enter upon graduation:

• Fine Artist
• Art Director
• Graphic Designer, Illustrator
• Animator
• Creative Entrepreneur
• Gallery Director, Curator, or Museum Worker
• Arts Teacher, Professor, or Instructor

Create handmade products to sell directly to customers or become a designer in one of these growing industries. A Bachelor of Fine Arts from GovState teaches you to understand the design elements you need for a successful career in many fields. Whether you wish to pursue creation, design, or instruction, you can expect to find a career that plays to your strengths. 

Salaries vary depending on your location, experience, and chosen occupation. Some artists choose to work part-time in their craft, which can also affect the average salary of the position. Earn between $28,000 and 94,000, on average, for roles ranging from graphic designer to art director.

Artists can choose an entrepreneurial route or join an existing company to practice their craft. Whether you dream of selling your own oil paintings or are looking forward to a welcoming community of digital designers, a BFA in Art prepares you for your professional role.

If you don’t see a career path that fits your talents and passions, ask your advisor about other career goals. The flexible skills and commitment to excellence that come from a BFA program at Governors State University can equip you for a range of professional roles and many responsibilities. Let your imagination help you connect your passions with a satisfying career.

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Ready to Apply?

Apply now to find out how you can launch a career in the field of art. Learn more about a bachelor’s in art program from GovState and get ready to pursue your passions in Chicago’s Southland. Explore the program requirements, meet the faculty, and discover what student life looks like on our diverse and accepting campus. Join a community of artists and scholars to see how you can expand your horizons and improve your craft with a BFA program.

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