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Turn Your Creativity Into a Career

Eastern Washington University’s BFA in Art is an immersive, studio-focused program designed for students who are serious about developing their craft.

You’ll explore multiple disciplines, refine your artistic voice, and create a cohesive body of work through hands-on studio practice and research. Throughout your studies, you’ll work closely with faculty mentors, collaborate with peers, and gain real-world experience that prepares you for careers in the arts or for graduate study.

Your experience culminates in a professional thesis exhibition at the EWU Gallery of Art, where you’ll present your work publicly, just like working artists do.

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Why Get an Art BFA at EWU?

Get a hands-on education, real-world experience, and personalized support from faculty so you can launch your career with confidence.

Faculty Mentorship

Faculty Mentorship

Receive one-on-one guidance from experienced artists who support your growth and help you refine your work.

Dedicated Studio Spaces

Dedicated Studio Spaces

Create art in fully equipped studios and labs that enable you to experiment and build your portfolio at your own pace.

Career Preparedness

Career Preparedness

Develop transferable professional skills in writing and public speaking while developing a cohesive body of work for exhibition.

Residency at the HIVE

Residency at the HIVE

Apply for a six-month Emerging Artist Residency at the HIVE in Spokane after graduation.

Art Shows & Exhibitions

Art Shows & Exhibitions

Present your thesis in a public exhibition at the EWU Gallery of Art and gain experience installing and promoting your work.

Collaborative Community

Collaborative Community

Work alongside a cohort of fellow BFA students, sharing feedback, ideas, and inspiration throughout your creative process.

Find Your Focus

Customize your BFA by focusing on one area or combining disciplines:

  • 2D Art: painting, drawing, printmaking, illustration
  • 3D Art: ceramics, sculpture, installation, performance
  • Media: photography, digital art, video
  • Visual Culture: community-based and socially engaged art
"The EWU art program is a great place to grow as an artist." —Josie Flitton '26

Alum Spotlight

After graduating in 2025 with a BFA in Art, Rachael Chambers built a career at the intersection of art and community engagement.

As the Event Manager for Terrain, an art gallery in Spokane, she oversees event planning and artist coordination for major programs and fundraisers that celebrate the region’s creative culture.

EWU art graduate Rachael Chambers sitting next to her art

Applied Learning Opportunities

An EWU art student uses a pottery wheel to create a small bowl

  • Classroom-Based Applied Learning/Simulation: Practice professional skills and real-world decision-making through simulations and hands-on exercises in the classroom.
  • Community-Based Projects: Team up with local organizations on projects that allow you to solve problems and make a difference.
  • Internships: Get real-world experience (and often credit or pay) by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals.
  • Performance: Share your creative work through exhibitions, art festivals, and film screenings.
  • Student Employment & Leadership at EWU: Gain skills, connections, and confidence through on-campus jobs and leadership roles in student government, departments, or clubs.
  • Studio Work: Hone your craft in campus studios, using industry tools and techniques across digital art, ceramics, painting, printmaking, and photography.
  • Undergraduate Research: Collaborate with professors on research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.

Enhance Your Degree

Pair your BFA in art with a minor that aligns with your interests and career goals. Here are a few popular options:

Media Writing Minor

Enhance the writing skills artists often rely on, including exhibition texts, grant applications, and promotional materials.

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Visual Culture Minor

Gain a deeper understanding of how art relates to history, identity, and society while sharpening your critical-thinking skills.

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Psychology Minor

Investigate how people perceive and respond to visual experiences.

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Anthropology Minor

Examine cultures, traditions, and human experiences across various communities.

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Careers in Art

Art careers span various industries, from digital media and entertainment to fine arts and fashion.

Creative Director

Curator

Arts Organization Leader

Professional Artist

Art Educator

Art Student Stories

EWU art major Skylar Miller standing in front of Showalter Hall

Applied Learning Shapes Art Major’s Creative Journey

Through internships, exhibition work, and multidisciplinary art practices, Skylar Miller explores creativity as a meditative...
Knapp with James Lavadour's Torch (2012). Oil on panel, 48 x 60 in. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon:

An Eagle’s Full-Circle Experience in the Arts

Alumna Danielle Knapp is back at the MAC with a blockbuster exhibition.

While a student at EWU, alumna Danielle Knapp’s curatorial ambitions got a big boost from...
Photo of four students with mural.

Students Leave Their Mark at Eastern

Lessons learned through the Art in the Community mural project help two graduating seniors prepare...
Biological Illustrations | Art Exhibition

Biological Illustrations | Art Exhibition

Student Works | BIO 470 & ART 496 | May 15 - June 9

This collection includes materials documenting the development of the Cheney campus, starting from the Benjamin...
Photo of students forming a "human river" through the grass.

‘When the River Becomes a Cloud’ Exhibit Opens

The exhibit at the EWU Gallery of Art runs through Feb. 4.
Travis Truly stands in front of his mural exhibit.

Student Artist Leaves His Mark in Ashes

Travis Truly's spring exhibit featured unique sketched art that continues to inspire conversations.
Rococo Repoussé: Student Work Display, ART 313

Rococo Repoussé: Student Work Display, ART 313

Feb. 5 - Feb. 28, 2024

The students of ART 313 “Art Across Time: 17th century-Present” investigated the complex nuances associated...
EWU Art Grads Display Works at The Hive®

EWU Art Grads Display Works at The Hive®

New partnership between the EWU Art Program and Spokane Public Library is providing graduating students...
Fresco Secco to Buon Fresco: Student Work Display

Fresco Secco to Buon Fresco: Student Work Display

A project of Art Across Time: Prehistory-17th Century, ART 312

The students of ART 312 “Art Across Time: Prehistory-17th Century” have engaged with the rise...

Art BFA FAQs

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art is a professional degree focused on hands-on studio practice and portfolio development. In a BFA program, you’ll spend most of your time in the studio, taking courses in areas such as painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, and digital media. You’ll build technical skills, explore various art forms, and develop your unique artistic style.

Upon graduation, you’ll have a polished portfolio and the skills necessary to launch a career in the arts or pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program.

The main difference between a BA in Art and a BFA in Art is the level of focus on skill development.

A BFA in Art is a more intensive, career-focused degree. You’ll take more art courses, spend more time creating art, and build a professional portfolio. This degree is ideal if you want to work in the creative industries or pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA).

A BA in Art offers a broader liberal arts education, combining art courses with general studies. It’s a good option if you want to study art alongside another subject or explore multiple academic interests.

Yes, if you’re serious about your art. A BFA in Art is designed for students who want to develop their craft, build a career in the arts, or pursue a graduate degree. At EWU, you’ll spend most of your time in the studio creating art, exhibiting your work, and gaining hands-on experience so you graduate ready for creative careers or an MFA program.

A BFA can lead to more career paths than most people expect. The skills you build—creative thinking, problem-solving, communication, and project management—are valuable in a wide range of careers.

Art majors can work as studio artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, curators, and creative professionals across industries. Many also go into arts leadership or nonprofit work, or pursue graduate school.

No, there is no separate application required for the BFA in Art. You can declare the major and get started.

If you’re transferring from another college (including Spokane Falls Community College), articulation agreements may allow your credits to transfer smoothly. Reach out to the program for guidance on your next steps.

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

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Art

140 Art Building
Cheney, WA 99004

EWU Art Gallery
22 7th St
Cheney, WA 99004