AcademicsUndergraduate AcademicsBA Visual Arts

BA in Visual Arts

Visual Arts Degree

Discover your artistic edge, cultivate a mindful art practice, and thrive with Naropa’s Visual Arts Degree.

Program Overview

The visual arts major transcends mere technique or style; it empowers students to merge inner creativity with external observation. Students gain confidence in their creative vision and the technical skill and critical thinking necessary to articulate that vision. Whether refining figure drawing, shaping clay on a pottery wheel, or crafting an artist statement, our students engage deeply with authenticity and introspection. The Visual Arts program offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts, alongside minors and certificates in Visual Arts, a minor in Film and Media Studies, and a minor in Contemplative Art Therapy.

At Naropa, contemplative practices are integral to our Visual Arts program, enriching both the creation and expression of art.

Recognized as one of the top Visual and Performing Arts Colleges in Colorado in 2020, Naropa boasts a rich tradition in fine arts. Our campus features four art galleries, a state-of-the-art 2D studio, a recording studio, an extensive art library, and dedicated spaces for pottery, sculpture, and media arts.

From the outset, faculty and mentors encourage experimentation in form, technique, and methodology, fostering artistic freedom within a vibrant community of undergraduate students, graduate mentors, and dedicated faculty.
Violet brush

Quick Facts

Yellow brush

Program Format

Naropa University’s undergraduate program spans four years, leading to a fully accredited Bachelor of Arts Degree. The Visual Arts Degree entails a 36-credit major with elective studios in diverse painting media, calligraphic forms, sculpture, pottery, and photography. Core courses encompass drawing, world art history, contemplative and studio practices, and professional readiness. Specialized mentoring in Advanced Studio Practice, Warrior Artist, and Portfolio and Gallery Presentation prepares students for their final project—an exhibition at the prestigious Nalanda Art Galleries, complete with a digital portfolio and artist statement.

Two people sitting together side by side, only visible from the chest upwards. One is a man with short grey hair and round glasses, and the other is a woman with long, wavy dark brown hair. They are both wearing aprons and their hands are stained with clay.

Course Spotlight

The Contemplative Artist

At the heart of the term “contemplative” lies the essence of observing and seeing. Originally associated with divination, it referred to an open space designated for observation. Contemplation involves a thoughtful and meditative form of observation. Through mindfulness meditation, studio assignments, and selected readings, students delve into the art’s cosmology, exploring its genesis, the intricacies of perception, cultural influences, and the convergence of the personal and public in an individual’s aesthetic sense.

Degree
Requirements

A Bachelor of Arts degree (120 credits) consists of a Core Curriculum (24 credits) and at least one major as well as minors and/or elective courses of the student’s choosing.

The Visual Arts Major has a total of 36 credit hours.

Visual Arts Degree Requirements

  • ART-101 2-D Design: Art Techniques and Experimentation (3)
  • ART-125 Introduction to Drawing (3)
  • ART-200 The Contemplative Artist (3)
  • ART-301 Reconceptualizing Art History (3)
  • ART-340 Contemporary Art History 1945 to Present (3)
  • ART-102 Contemplative Ceramics: Form and Human Contact (3)
  • ART-105 Art and Consciousness: Mixed Media & Self-Exploration (3)
  • ART-132 3-D Ephemeral Art (3)
  • ART-155 Figure Drawing (3)
  • ART-180 Sculpture (3)
  • ART-215 Watercolor (3)
  • ART-245 Introduction to Painting: Realism (3)
  • ART-285 New Forms in Ceramics: Advanced Skills in Historical Clay Techniques (3)
  • ART-311 Mixed Media (3)
  • ART-325 Drawing II: Precision, Perception, and Form (3)
  • ART-345 Painter’s Laboratory (3)
  • ART-355 Eco-Art (3)
  • ART-360 Contemplative Photography (3)
  • ART-455 Making Conscious Media (3)
  • ART-490 Special Topics in Visual Arts (3)
  • ART-499 Independent Study: Visual Arts (0.5-4)
  • TRA-120 Ikebana/Kado I (3)
  • TRA-220 Ikebana/Kado II (3)
  • ART-385 Advanced Studio Practice (3)
  • ART-440 Warrior Artist: Risk and Revelation in Studio Art (3)
  • COR-440 Capstone II (3)

Total: 36 credits

Why Choose Naropa?

Contemplative Education

A Naropa education diverges from conventional art schools by encouraging introspection and personal discovery of creative vision, complemented by mastering artistic techniques to manifest that vision.

Blue brush

Enriching Community

Your journey of artistic and personal growth is nurtured within a vibrant community of artists, performers, scholars, writers, and healers. Culminate your artistic evolution with the Portfolio & Gallery Presentation at Naropa Gallery, celebrating with your supportive arts community.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Embracing cultural diversity, Naropa University offers scholarships and financial aid options, including student employment, to ensure accessibility for all undergraduate students.

Blue brush
A woman is sitting on her knees and leaning forward and to the left with her torso. She's wearing black clothes which are partially stained with clay. There is clay all around her and on her hands and face. She seems to be experimenting with the material.

How this Program Prepares You

Introspective Approach

Embrace risk-taking to foster personal artistic growth with Naropa’s contemplative approach in the Visual Arts BA program. Whether honing figure drawing skills, sculpting clay, or crafting an artist statement, authenticity and introspection guide your creative process.

Careers in Visual Arts

Beyond artistic skills, Naropa equips you with the tools to thrive as a professional artist. Discover your unique artistic path with guidance from Naropa’s esteemed visual arts faculty.

Artistic Development

Explore artistic freedom within Naropa’s dynamic community of visual artists, writers, scholars, and thinkers. Experiment with diverse forms, methods, and techniques to expand your creative horizons.

What You'll Learn

Mindfulness

Engage deeply with your art through mindfulness practices and self-exploration.

Artistic Community

Become part of a dynamic community of visual artists, writers, scholars, and thinkers.