Visual Arts

  • BA
  • Major
  • Minor
Student painting on canvas.

Do you see the world through art—drawn to how images carry emotion, spark questions, and reflect the culture around us? The Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts at Montclair State prepares you to develop that instinct into a rigorous, expansive practice.

Our interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses in traditional and emerging media, including drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, metalwork, lens-based media, and digital rendering and 3D printing. You will study closely with expert faculty, as you learn to build your technical skills, develop your creative voice, and explore critical connections across art forms and ideas. Students regularly exhibit their work on and off campus, culminating in a capstone project that showcases their artistic and intellectual growth.

Graduates go on to careers across the creative industries or continue their studies at the graduate level.

Note: No portfolio required for admission. Internal transfer students must have a minimum 2.75 GPA.
 

Two students in a gallery, one student holding a sculpture up.

Program Highlights

  • Advanced Integrative Studios merging analog and digital skills
  • Portfolio development across 2D, 3D, and 4D media
  • Preparation for careers or graduate-level study in the arts
  • Opportunities to build professional relationships available through exciting weekly speaker series with renowned artists and arts professionals.
  • Real-world experience through internships, guest critics and trips to exhibitions.
  • Accredited: Montclair State University’s art and design programs are among the region’s most competitive, and meet the rigorous standards of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD)

Explore a Minor in the Visual Arts

If art is central to how you think and make—but you're pursuing a degree in another field—the Visual Arts minor gives you the structured studio time and faculty mentorship to develop your practice with intention.

The Visual Arts Minor is designed for undergraduates who want to explore art alongside their non-studio major. Offering an introduction to art history, design and hands-on studio work, the minor builds creative skills that can complement a related field, expand career opportunities, or satisfy an independent passion for the arts. 

See the curriculum.

Teach Students Art!

You can choose to teach art to students in P-12 or students with disabilities. Embark on a rewarding career that allows you to use your talents to teach others.

Visual Arts BA with Art Education Concentration (P-12) 

This professional degree within Montclair State’s Teacher Education program prepares you to inspire the next generation of artists. The Art Education concentration leads to initial certification to teach art in grades P–12 in New Jersey and beyond, and opens doors to teaching in museums, cultural centers and community organizations. 

Students begin with foundation courses in art and design, along with general education requirements, before applying to Montclair’s Center of Pedagogy. Once accepted, you’ll engage in rigorous education coursework paired with hands-on student teaching experiences. By graduation, you’ll have the creative expertise, pedagogical skills, and practical experience to lead engaging, meaningful art programs for diverse learners. 

See the curriculum.

Visual Arts BA/MAT with Teacher Certification in Art (P–12) & Teacher of Students with Disabilities Certification (P–12) 

The Combined BA/MAT program offers an accelerated path to earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Designed for future art educators, this program prepares you to teach art in preschool through grade 12 while equipping you with the skills to support students with disabilities. 

You’ll begin with undergraduate foundation courses in art and education before advancing to graduate-level coursework focused on best practices in art instruction. Clinical experiences and student teaching provide hands-on preparation for real classroom settings. Upon graduation, you’ll hold dual New Jersey certifications in P–12 Art Education and Teacher of Students with Disabilities, ready to lead inclusive, dynamic art programs in schools and community settings. 

See the curriculum.

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Undergraduate Admissions Office

Whether you’re looking to begin an application, have questions about transferring to Montclair or trying to check your application status, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is pleased to help you in any way we can.

Department of Art and Design

For more than five decades, the Department of Art and Design has educated artists and designers who interpret, impact and often shape the world as we experience it.