Programs of Art

The programs of study offered in Art are based on the conviction that the artist is of essential value to his or her time and culture. Opportunities are provided to help the individual develop talents in an orderly and logical manner. Programs of study offered in Art are for students seeking careers as teachers, as advertising/graphic design professionals, as studio artists, and for those planning to attend graduate schools.

Advertising/Graphic Design

The Concord University Advertising / Graphic Design program prepares students for careers in graphic design and illustration. Students in this program will learn about design for the web, publications, packaging, and advertising. They will also learn traditional and digital techniques in illustration, as well as 35mm and digital photography, art direction, and printing technology.

Students will learn about graphics in a state-of-the-art Mac Lab that features newer Apple Macintosh computers and advanced technology to aid in understanding the creative process. Graduates will leave with skills in many of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Many students also acquire digital illustration and animation experience in programs like Procreate and Clip Studio. Students will create a portfolio to showcase their work to future employers, as well as gain experience with resume-building, local internship, and interviewing.

This program is closely aligned with the Studio Art program and is designed to fulfill the Mission and Goals of Concord University. As such, students will also become knowledgeable in design principles and the use of traditional fine art media. There is a dual focus on learning creative and artistic skills while also learning the latest in computer graphics and digital technology. Faculty bring to the classroom years of real-world knowledge and experience in both fine arts and graphic design.

This program prepares students for careers and/or graduate programs in fields such as:

  • Graphic Design
  • Web Design
  • Packaging Design
  • Publication Design
  • Advertising Design
  • User Interface (UI) Design
  • Branding Media
  • Social Media Design
  • Art Direction
  • Creative Direction
  • Photography
  • User Experience (UX) Design
  • Multimedia Design
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Gaming
  • Animation
  • Freelance Design

Advertising and Graphic Design

  1. Students will demonstrate a depth of knowledge of industry standard software and apply diverse methods of problem solving and inquiry to art making.
  2. Student will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze and improve their advertising/graphic design output.
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate their knowledge of advertising/graphic design clearly and effectively.
  4. Students will demonstrate awareness of the multiple contexts in which advertising/graphic design can function.

Studio Art

  1. Students will demonstrate a depth of knowledge and apply diverse methods of problem solving and inquiry to art making.
  2. Student will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze and improve their artistic output
  3. Student will demonstrate their knowledge of art making clearly and effectively.
  4. Students will demonstrate awareness of the multiple contexts in which art can function.

Alignment with University Goals

  1. Knowledge/Mastery of Content
  2. Critical Thinking
  3. Communication
  4. Personal, Civic, Cultural, and Global Competence