From ONU.edu/news

Who said you can’t have a bright future with an Art & Design degree?

Ohio Northern University has a strong history of nurturing budding artists in their craft, launching hundreds of successful careers. To carry on this legacy while also modernizing its program offerings, the Getty College of Arts & Sciences has launched a new and improved major combining key learning outcomes from two related fields of study – studio arts and graphic design.

The reimagined Art & Design major provides a solid foundation for creative students with all different interests and career aspirations in creative roles. It also incorporates added flexibility so students can tailor the program to complement their specific interests.

“The program cultivates students to become resourceful and adaptable artists and/or designers in our society,” says Brit Rowe, BFA ’93, professor of art & design. “Students graduating from our program still need to have strong, creative and critical thinking skills, and to be able to adapt and grow in various art and design related fields.”

Students can expect the same hallmarks of any ONU education – student-centered instruction, high-impact learning outcomes, and ample creative opportunities. Like the program’s forerunners (studio arts and graphic design), the new major is also focused on technical, conceptual, and critical thinking skills.

To broaden students’ foundational knowledge, new classes have also been added to the curriculum, such as Digital Technology. Other new courses include Comics, Social Media Design, and Environmental Design.

During the second and third year, students will take art and design courses, as well as elective studio courses that allow them to explore and develop specific areas of interest. The fourth year culminates with advanced studies, including the capstone course while completing a minor.

“Along with this new major, we are strongly encouraging students to pursue at least a minor in another related discipline, such as theater arts, psychology, public relations, social media, computer science, or arts administration,” says Rowe. “We want students to pursue their career interests and their passions to make them more marketable after graduation.”

The Art & Design major also has more flexibility built into the curriculum to allow students to conduct research, internships, study abroad, or any other creative opportunity that would be appropriate for the student’s career goals.

Compared to other colleges with similar programs, Ohio Northern’s Art & Design program boasts a higher number of dedicated faculty, introducing students to a broader range of specific disciplines. In addition, Ohio Northern’s small class sizes offer each student more individualized attention from faculty.

“We are excited to launch this new major,” says Rowe. “Our program can give students the interdisciplinary skills and the experience they need to succeed in today’s evolving, creative industry. If a student wants to be a graphic designer, a scenic designer, an art therapist, an exhibition designer, or even an arts administrator, students will be able to easily combine their coursework to best position themselves for creative opportunities.”