Art

Art
Visiting Artist Lecture Series
Scholarship Opportunities
Art Gallery
Art Faculty
Contact Us

Create a Career in Art

Elevate your artistic skills and prepare for your next chapter at Eastern Washington University. In our Art program, you’ll explore a diverse range of disciplines, including ceramics, sculpture, fiber arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, and digital media.

With access to dedicated studio spaces and mentorship from practicing artists, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills every day. You’ll also gain practical experience through internships, research projects, and gallery installations, allowing you to graduate with a portfolio that showcases your unique artistic voice.

Art classes are open to all majors and skill levels, so you can explore your creativity no matter your field of study.

Whether you want to exhibit your work, pursue graduate studies, launch a creative career, or teach the next generation of artists, EWU gives you the tools, professional experience, and confidence to make it happen.

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Art Degree Options

Choose a track that aligns with your interests and career goals.

Art BFA

Art BFA

Hone your skills while exploring creative career paths or preparing for advanced study.

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Art Education BFA

Art Education BFA

Prepare to teach art in K–12 classrooms through studio and teaching experience.

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Why Study Art at the Region's Polytechnic?

Launch your creative career—whether you want to make, curate, research, or teach art.

Hands-On Learning & Studio Access

Hone your skills in dedicated spaces, including painting and ceramics studios, a woodshop, a sculpture studio, digital labs, and more.

Real-World Experience

Complete internships with local galleries, art organizations, and after-school programs while building professional connections.

Exhibition Opportunities

Showcase your work in the EWU Gallery of Art, with multiple exhibitions per quarter, including the annual student symposium.

Career-Ready Portfolio

Graduate with a polished portfolio that showcases your work to employers, galleries, or graduate programs.

Flexible Focus Areas

Explore traditional and contemporary media (or both) and choose which medium you want to specialize in.

Small Class Sizes

Get to know your professors, connect with your peers, find community, and receive personalized guidance in every class.

Student Spotlight

"EWU is a great place to be, mainly because of the faculty. They're invested in [students] succeeding, being the best they can be, and diving into work that matters to them." — Ashley Vaughn

EWU Art Facilities

We offer a variety of bright, open studio spaces designed for hands-on creative work, and they’re available to art students throughout the day. When classes aren’t in session, you’re welcome to use the studios to create, experiment, and build your portfolio.

Our facilities include:

  • Digital Art Lab
  • Painting & Drawing Studio
  • Sculpture Studio
  • Woodshop
  • Photography Darkroom
  • Ceramics Studio
  • Printmaking Studio
  • Student Gallery Space
  • …and more

Interested in seeing them for yourself? Schedule a campus tour through the Visitor Center and let them know you’d like to check out the Art Building.

EWU students in the ceramic studio.

Art Student Stories

Learn more about what we've been up to!

EWU art major Skylar Miller standing in front of Showalter Hall
Applied Learning
Applied Learning Shapes Art Major’s Creative Journey
Knapp with James Lavadour's Torch (2012). Oil on panel, 48 x 60 in. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon:
Alumni
An Eagle's Full-Circle Experience in the Arts
Photo of four students with mural.
Giving Stories
Students Leave Their Mark at Eastern
Archive & Past Events
Biological Illustrations | Art Exhibition
Photo of students forming a "human river" through the grass.
'When the River Becomes a Cloud' Exhibit Opens
Travis Truly stands in front of his mural exhibit.
Student Artist Leaves His Mark in Ashes
More Art Stories

EWU Art Classes

Learn from passionate, experienced faculty who bring real-world insight from their creative practice and professional work. In addition to studio-based learning, you’ll study art history and theory to understand how art influences culture and society. Topics you may learn about include:

  • Image and Technology
  • The Body in Art
  • Prehistoric to Contemporary Art
  • Art and Community
  • Art As a Social Act
  • History of Photography
Students provide feedback on each other's artworks

Art Degree Scholarships

Art students are awarded approximately $5,600 in scholarships each year—just one part of the $9.7 million EWU awards annually to nearly 1,500 students through a single scholarship application.

Scholarships aren’t just for top GPAs or athletes—they’re based on your major, background, community service, and more. And the best part? Scholarships are free money you don’t have to pay back.

The EWU General Scholarship Application for the academic year opens Nov. 1 and closes Feb. 1.

Apply for Scholarships

art students standing in front of a painting and smiling

Visiting Artist Lecture Series

Every year, the Visiting Artist Lecture Series (VALS) brings artists, critics, and educators to EWU. The series creates space for dialogue about creative practice, cultural issues, and the evolving role of art in society

Past VALS guests have included an impressive lineup of artists and scholars, such as:

  • Wendy Red Star
  • Caledonia Curry (Swoon)
  • Natalie Ball
  • Raphael Soldi
  • Shana Moulton
  • Cara Levine

Learn More

EWU Art Program FAQs

Start by enrolling in foundational art courses as early as possible, especially if you’re considering a major in art.

Key courses include:

  • ART 201: Image and Technology – learn the elements and principles of design using digital tools
  • ART 202: Techniques and Materials – explore a range of hands-on art-making processes

You’ll also complete general education courses alongside your studio work. Many art courses can count toward general education requirements, helping you stay on track.

As you begin, you’ll work with an academic advisor to map out your degree. Once you declare a BFA in Art or Art Education, you’ll also be supported by a faculty advisor in the Art program.

Yes! EWU offers three art minors:

An art program minor pairs well with many majors and helps you build creative thinking, problem-solving, and visual communication skills—all of which are valuable in fields like business, design, marketing, and more.

Yes! Our courses are open to students of all experience levels and academic backgrounds, whether you’re exploring a new creative interest or adding a minor to your degree. We offer everything from bookbinding and printmaking to photography and video.

Yes! EWU art graduates have been accepted into graduate programs at various top-notch universities across the country, including:

  • University of Texas at Austin
  • Cranbrook Academy of Art
  • Pratt Institute
  • San Francisco Art Institute
  • Mills College
  • University of California, San Diego
  • Alfred University
  • University of Idaho

…and many more.

If you’re transferring from another college, many credits may transfer automatically. For art-specific coursework, it’s best to connect with the Art Program Director after you’re admitted.

They’ll review your previous work and help ensure you don’t repeat courses unnecessarily.

Wondering where an art degree can take you? There are various career opportunities for art majors, including:

  • Artist
  • Art Critic
  • Creative Director
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Fashion Designer
  • Gallery Director
  • Graphic Artist
  • Illustrator
  • Photographer
  • Stage Designer
  • Sound Designer
  • Teacher
  • Visual Effects Artist
  • Web Designer
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The EWU Art Program

140 Art Building
Cheney, WA 99004

Contact Us

For further questions or inquiries, please contact:

Jenny Hyde
Program Director for Art
P: 509.359.6997
E: jhyde@ewu.edu

Ready to declare an Art Major? Declare HERE!