For people in Massachusetts to begin a career in art, they should enroll in an accredited art institution that offers a program of their choice.
There are many different programs and degrees that students can choose among. Whether their interest is in web design, painting, art history or art education, there is a program for them.
Following are some of the leading art schools in the state of Massachusetts.
Colleges and Universities
Below are some of the best Colleges and Universities in the state of Massachusetts.
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater State University, located in Bridgewater, offers several exemplary art programs, accredited with the New England Association for Schools and Colleges. Some of the extraordinary programs they offer include art history, art education, fine arts, graphic design, crafts, new media and photography. For people to learn about any of these programs and the other sensational programs offered by Bridgewater, they can visit the university’s website at-http://www.bridgew.edu/. They may also request information by calling the school’s information desk at-508-531-1000 or by writing to-131 Summer Street, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 02325.
Students, who choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree of art in art education, will need to complete the following core skills requirements-Writing Rhetorically, Writing Rhetorically with Sources, Transition to Advanced Mathematics or Foundations of Logical Reasoning, Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning, Human Communication Skills or Public Speaking or Oral Interpretation, three Humanities electives, two Natural Science courses (one with lab), two Social and Behavioral Science courses, two Writing Intensive electives, one Speaking Intensive course, two Global Culture electives, one Multiculturalism course, Application of Quantitative Skills, United States and Massachusetts Constitutions, and First-Year Seminar.
Students will also need to complete the following career-preparation courses to earn their degrees-two Fine and Performing Arts courses, Survey of Ancient and Medieval Art, Early Modern Art and Architecture, Drawing I and II, Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, Photography I, Painting I, Sculpture I, Survey of Art from the 14th Century to the Present, Printmaking I, Graphic Design I or Digital Imaging and Four-Dimensional Design, Ceramics I, and one Non-Western Art History course.
Bristol Community College
Located in Fall River, Bristol Community College also offers several phenomenal art programs, accredited with the New England Association of Colleges and Schools. Some of the astounding programs that Bristol offers include animation and motion graphics, fine arts, graphic design, web design and media arts, culinary arts, and theater. Aspiring artists can learn about the college’s admissions process by calling them at-508-678-2811 or by visiting them online at-http://www.bristolcc.edu. They can also write to the campus at-777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02720.
Students, who choose to earn their associate’s of art degrees in fine arts, will need to fulfill a variety of general education and major, program requirements. The general education requirements are as follows-Composition I/College Writing, Composition II/Writing About Literature, Fundamental Statistics or Modern College Mathematics, Introduction to Philosophy or Ethics or Principles of Sociology or The Sociology of Social Problems, and Lab Science.
The major, program requirements include the following classes-History of Art-Ancient/Medieval and World Art, History of Art-Renaissance to Modern, Survey of Modern Art, Visual Art Colloquium, Drawing I through III, Two-Dimensional Design I and II, Three-Dimensional Design I and II, Digital Photography, Careers in the Visual Arts, and no less than five of the following classes-Introduction to Illustration, Painting I and II, Printmaking Relief, Printmaking Intaglio, Sculpture, Photography I, Photography II/Digital, Computer Graphics, Senior Art Capstone, and Cooperative Work Experience I.
Elms College
Another school in Massachusetts, accredited with the New England Association of Colleges and Schools and that offers first-class programs in art, is Elms College, located in Chicopee. Some of the outstanding programs offered by Elms College are fine arts, music, and theater. Those individuals, who would like to study within any of these areas, can find out about the programs online at-http://www.elms.edu. They can also request brochures by calling the college at-413-594-2761 or by writing to them at-291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, Massachusetts, 01013.
The general education curriculum for the bachelor’s degree in fine arts program consists of the following courses-one Religious Studies course, one Physical Education course, Literature, History, Philosophy, Natural Science, Mathematics, Technology, Rhetoric, First-Year Seminar, three Communication intensive courses, Information Literacy, Foreign Language or American Sign Language, and Cultural Understanding course.
The program-specific courses within the curriculum consist of the following courses-Fine or Performing Arts, Drawing and Design I, Drawing II, Painting I and II, Design II, Art History Survey I and II, Printmaking I, Watercolor Painting, Pottery or Sculpture, Art Senior Thesis, and two or more of the following courses-Introduction to the Arts, Word and Image, Women in Art, Modern Art, American Art, Photography, Fibers, and Advanced Sculpture.
Emmanuel College
Located in Boston and accredited with New England’s Association for Colleges and Schools, Emmanuel College also offers several splendid art programs for aspiring artists. Some of the excellent programs they offer include art history, art therapy, photography, graphic design, studio art and performing arts. If people want to find out about these programs, a terrific place to start is by checking out the college’s website at-www.emmanuel.edu. They can also request a catalog by calling-617-735-9715 or by writing to-400 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115.
Students, who choose to major in studio art, will need to complete the following foundational courses-Quantitative Analysis, First-Year Seminar, Scientific Inquiry, Historical Consciousness, Social Analysis, Aesthetic Inquiry, and Religious Thought and Moral Reasoning.
They will also need to complete the following program-oriented courses-Survey of Art I and/or II, Basic Drawing I and II, Introduction to Digital Processes, Modern Art, Design and Composition, Life Drawing, 3D Form Studios, Senior Studio, at least two additional Art-Related electives, Thesis, Senior Exhibition, and Senior Art Capstone.
Schools Specializing in Art
Below are some of the Art Schools in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Located in Boston and approved by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools, Massachusetts College of Art and Design offers a vast array of art programs for people pursuing careers in art. Some of the remarkable programs that the college offers include animation, art history, art education, ceramics, fashion design, film/video, graphic design, illustration, and painting. Those people, who want to find out about these programs or the other programs that the college offers, can contact the school at-617-879-7000, or they can write to them at-621 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115. They can also find out about the programs online at-http://www.massart.edu.
Students, who wish to gain admission to the college, must submit a resume listing such things as employment history, community service served, school clubs, organizations and personal interests. They must also submit no less than two letters of recommendation and a 500 word essay describing their educational and career goals. Finally, all new art students must submit a portfolio containing at least 10 to 15 recent works of art. They must have completed these works within the past 24 months, and at least five of them should be observational pieces.
Students, who choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in illustration will need to take the following basic education classes-Written Communication, Freshman Seminar, Library Traditions, Social Science, Mathematics, Science, Writing or Literature, one additional basic education elective.
They will also need to take the following art-related courses-Drawing I and II, Visual Language I, Time, Form Study, seven Studio electives, Introduction to Western Art, three History of Art electives, Human Figure in Illustration, Media Techniques, Digital Illustration, Illustration I through IV, Technical Drawing, Conceptual Drawing, Advanced Drawing Project, Word and Image, two Degree Projects, and Illustration Portfolio.
Montserrat College of Art
Located in Beverly and approved by New England’s Association of Colleges and Schools, Montserrat College of Art offers many different terrific art programs for those students who wish to study art. Some of the many programs that Montserrat offers are graphic design, art education, painting/drawing, animation, book arts, printmaking, video, photography, sculpture Illustration and art history. For people to obtain full details on any of these programs, they can visit the college’s website at-http://www.montserrat.edu. They can also request a college catalog by phoning-800-836-0487 or by writing to-23 Essex Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915.
Before people can gain admittance to Montserrat, they must submit a short statement of their educational and career goals and at least two letters of recommendation. They should also submit a 10 to 15 piece portfolio of their most recent work that reflects the program of their choice. Students should visit the following webpage for a complete listing of the materials they may need at Montserrat-www.montserrat.edu/academics/images/Materials_List-Fall_2011.pdf.
Those individuals, who choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in painting, will need to fulfill the following basic education requirements-English Composition I and II, Humanities I and II, Humanities elective, Science, two Social Science courses, and two additional basic education electives.
They will also need to fulfill the following major, program requirements-Drawing I, Painting/Color and Light, 2D Design, 3D Design, Studio Forum, Art History I and II, Art Since 1945, Art History elective, Life Drawing I, two Drawing electives, Print/Photo elective, Methods and Materials, Painting I through IV, two Advanced Drawing electives, five Studio courses, Internship, Senior Fine Arts Seminar I and II, and at least one additional art-related elective.
The Art Institute of Boston
The Art Institute of Boston, accredited with the New England Association of Colleges and Schools, offers a wide array of art programs including fine arts, illustration, animation, design, photography and art history. Those students, who want to study within the institute, can contact the institute at-617-585-6600, or they may visit them online at-http://www.lesley.edu. They can also write to the institute at-700 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215.
For students to complete their application, they must also submit a personal essay describing a work of art they have completed. They must also submit a list of their accomplishments and interests, as well as, a portfolio of their most recent and original artwork. Portfolios should ideally be in the form of CDs or slides and should contain 10 to 15 pieces of work.
Those students, who want to earn a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in animation, will need to complete the following general education courses-English Composition, Writing and the Literary Arts, History elective, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and three additional General Education electives.
They will also need to complete the following program-related courses-Visual Thinking, Drawing Intensive, Conceptual Development I and II, Foundation Seminar Lecture I and II, Art in the Western World I and II, Choice of Foundation Drawing elective, Animation Basics I and II, 3D Media or Digital elective, Computer Animation I, Drawing for Animation, three Animation electives, Video I, History of Animation, Principles of Illustration, Concept Creation, Anatomy and Figure Drawing, two Studio electives, Computer Animation II/Maya, Animation Projects I and II, Art History elective, Advanced Art History elective, Business of Animation, Senior Animation Project, and Internship.
Studying Art in the State of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a terrific place to visit, and it is even a better place to study for aspiring artists of any genre. There are many top-notch art schools in the state, and the above schools only represent a sample of the long list of fine institutions in Massachusetts. Following is a list of more superb schools that aspiring artists may want to investigate.
- The New England Institute of Art in Brookline
- Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts in Waltham
- School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
- Williams College in Williamstown
- Northeastern University in Boston
- Tufts University in Medford
- Salem State College in Salem
- Springfield College in Springfield
Proper Preparation for Art Schools in Massachusetts
Before students enroll in art school, they will want to find out what materials they may need. Although the materials that students will need may vary depending on the school and program, there are some basic materials that all students should have. Following is a brief list of these materials.
- Sketchbooks and Tracing Pads
- Drawing and Writing Utensils
- Erasers and Sharpeners
- Glue Sticks and Masking Tape
- Cutting Knives, Scissors and a Stapler
- Various Measuring Tools
- Painting Supplies
- Digital Camera
Other Requirements
The admissions and graduation requirements also vary depending upon the school, program and the professor. However, there are many common requirements among all art schools that students need to be aware of. Many art schools require students to submit such things as essays, letters of recommendation and portfolios along with their admissions application.
They may also be required to perform an audition, attend an orientation, and schedule an interview with a school official.
For students to graduate from an art program, they will need to complete either an art capstone, project or thesis.
When students know what to expect and are well-prepared, they will be on the right road to a successful career in art.
