Bachelor's degree in art

Art history courses range over periods and topics whose content focuses primarily on Western art. Periods include Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, modern and contemporary. Topics include modern propaganda, German art, Dada, advanced themes in global contemporary art and history of paleontology illustration.

Available degrees:

• Art (Art History), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Art History Specialization)

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The Arts, Land, and Environment minor offers an interdisciplinary learning experience through coursework at the Lake Tahoe Wayne L. Prim Campus and archival research at the Nevada Museum of Art. Combining studies in art, English, geography, journalism and sociology with outdoor exploration and museum-based learning, the program helps students fulfill core curriculum requirements while developing skills for careers focused on arts, land and environmental sustainability.

Available degrees:

• Arts, Land, and Environment, Minor

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The Book and Publication Arts program explores the book as both an artistic medium and a form of publishing practice, examining its evolution across cultures and throughout history. Through an interdisciplinary, mixed-media approach, students gain hands-on experience with traditional letterpress printing, typography and bookmaking while also utilizing contemporary digital design tools and fabrication technologies.

Available degrees:

• Art (Book and Publication Arts), Minor

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The focus of the ceramics program is to challenge students intellectually by providing an opportunity for an art-making experience with an emphasis on contemporary sculpture. The goal is to encourage and guide the evolution of each student's aesthetic sensibilities as they strive to understand and define their place in the world. 

Available degrees:

• Art (Ceramics), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Ceramics)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Ceramics)

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Offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the minor in digital interactive games can help you break into the industry with design, programming and producing skills.

Available degrees:

• Digital Interactive Games, Minor

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The digital media program is an interdisciplinary area for researching and implementing emerging media in contemporary art. Experimental practices and conceptual rigor underpin a diverse array of methods and strategies for creating critical meaning with digital technology. A collaborative and socially engaged approach anchors the program to contemporary issues connected to and extending beyond our cultural relationship to technology.

Available degrees:

• Art (Digital Media), Minor
• Art (Digital Media), Minor (Online)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Digital Media)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Digital Media)

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The drawing program helps students develop as individual artists by building strong foundational skills while exploring drawing and mark-making as forms of personal expression. Through observation, experimentation and critical inquiry, students expand their visual vocabulary, discover their artistic voice and develop strategies for communicating ideas through their work.

Available degrees:

• Art (Drawing), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Drawing)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Drawing)

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The graphic design program emphasizes hands-on design approaches, while critical analysis, theory, research and application will be explored. Students will become well-versed in graphic design competencies that will directly relate to marketplace requirements for hiring. The curriculum will focus on formal graphic design language, while exploring other media and studio art practices (3D, 4D, motion and virtual reality). 

Available degrees:

• Art (Graphic Design), Minor
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design

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Painting courses develop students' ideas by exploring different painting techniques and media through demonstration, investigation and experimentation.

Available degrees:

• Art (Painting), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Painting)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Painting)

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The photography program combines traditional image-making techniques with contemporary digital practices, helping students explore photography as a powerful tool for storytelling and creative expression. Emphasizing visual literacy, this program encourages students to develop their artistic voice, engage with evolving technologies and use imagery to examine personal, cultural and environmental issues.

Available degrees:

• Art (Photography), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Photography)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Photography)

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Available degrees:

• Art (Printmaking), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Printmaking)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Printmaking)

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The sculpture program provides a collaborative environment where students explore materials, objects and artistic concepts while developing their own creative voice through hands-on experimentation and critical dialogue. Emphasizing both traditional techniques and contemporary practices, the program encourages interdisciplinary innovation and helps students build the technical, conceptual and communication skills needed for creating sculpture and three-dimensional art.

Available degrees:

• Art (Sculpture), Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art (Emphasis in Sculpture)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art (Emphasis in Sculpture)

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In the PackTeach Art program, students prepare to be art teachers in grades 7-12 by studying both art content and education pedagogy. This innovative program provides a comprehensive major in art that includes courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, history of art, design, graphic or digital arts, photography and printmaking. In addition to the deep content knowledge of the art program, students also complete a major in secondary education, building their teaching and reflective skills to be excellent teachers in today’s secondary classrooms. This dual degree program supports the commitment of the University of Nevada, Reno to provide our communities with highly qualified, diverse professional educators. 

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The Department of Art, Art History and Design offers many areas of emphasis for students, including art history, art studio, book and publication arts, ceramics, digital media, graphic arts, painting and drawing, photography and videography, printmaking and sculpture. Students in this minor can explore a range of studio art practices in a variety of media. 

Available degrees:

• Art (Art Studio), Minor

The Time-Based Media/Videography minor is an essential focus of the photography curriculum. Time-Based Media/Videography curriculum includes classes that explore the moving image through the medium of digital video. Students will gain a broad understanding of contemporary video art production, concepts and theory in time-based media/video art and experimental film.

Available degrees:

• Art (Time-Based Media/Videography), Minor

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