Visual Arts Studies

Roger Williams University offers two degree tracks for visual artists—the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Fine Arts, to fit your educational and career goals. All of our faculty members are internationally active, professional artists in our teaching-centered program. In addition, our rotating Visiting Artist Program brings artists from around the country and around the world to campus each semester.

The interdisciplinary nature of the program situated within a strong liberal arts curriculum provides a model of study that allows students to explore multiple areas of interest that then inform their creative work and give students a broader skill-set than most arts programs. Our strength is the amount of attention given to each individual student-artist as they develop through the program - preparing them for a future in the arts by cultivating technical proficiency in a number of media, conceptual understanding through ongoing criticism and dialogue and understanding of the cultural context in which they are working.

Visual Arts Studies Mission Statement

The Visual Arts program offers media concentrations available in Film, Animation and Video; Painting, Drawing and Printmaking; Photography and Digital Media and Sculpture. Study abroad opportunities are available in Florence, Italy and Pont-Aven, France, and classes at RWU are often characterized by frequent visits to galleries, studios and museums in New York and Boston.

Applicants must submit a portfolio to demonstrate previous experience, skills level and potential for development.  For details, please see the Special Requirements for Undergraduate Admissions web page, or contact the SAAHP Office at (401) 254-3681, or saahp@rwu.edu.