Studio Art Emphasis

Art majors with studio art emphasis will earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Southern Indiana. At USI, the difference between the two degrees lies within the University Core 39 Curriculum. A minor in studio art is also available.

Find class descriptions and major/minor requirements on the University Bulletin.

Why study studio art?

The studio emphasis immerses students in the creation and understanding of artworks. Students can choose to concentrate in ceramics, drawing, jewelry, painting, printmaking, sculpture, or woodworking. Each area focuses on teaching critical thinking skills, crafting tangible objects (both functional and non-functional), and offers concrete skills in professional practice. The curriculum also allows for cross-disciplinary exploration and collaborative work, which ultimately make students better artists and visual communicators.

Your art major with studio art emphasis will prepare you for employment or graduate school.

USI studio art alumni have built careers in a variety of areas, including:

• Matthew Gehring ‘98 is an Associate Professor of Art, Sculpture and Three-Dimensional Design at SUNY Suffolk. 
• Shannon Corrigan ‘91 directed the Emmanuel Gallery, a tri-institutional campus exhibition space in Denver, CO from 2005-2014.
• Brock Flamion ‘08 & Lisa Booe ’08 run a successful pottery studio in Asheville, NC.
• Ben T. Clarkson ‘09 is a wwoodworker / designer at Three Tree Studio in Indianapolis, IN.
• Donald Stahlke ‘92 received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) award.  He has been a resident at the Kohler Arts Program for Ceramics and at Long Island University’s summer Program for Painting and Printmaking. He exhibits nationally, and is an Exceptional Needs Instructor.
• Nick Jay ‘13 is a designer/fabricator at 1220 Exhibits in Nashville, TN.
• Heather DeLonga ‘09 is a sculptor represented by the Bronx Zoo Gallery, NY and by Revolver SF in San Francisco, CA.
• Ben Sutter ‘09, is a successful independent artist who has several large-scale public commissions in Indiana and Florida.
• Jonathon Goebel ’00 is a printmaker and Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI.
• Hyeryun Park ‘11 is an Office Operations manager at the Guna Foundation, a non-profit documentary film studio in Berkeley, CA..
• Laura Walker ‘05 is the Federal Programs Project Coordinator for the city of Salem, Oregon.
• Melanie Scott Dockery ‘97 is an exhibiting painter and Adjunct Art Faculty member at Heartland Community College in Normal, IL.
• Sara Rapee ’06 owns and manages her own jewelry business, Sara Rapee Designs.
• Hannah Bailey ‘11 is the Gallery Curator at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY.
• Liz Furhman-Bragg ’01 is Registrar of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science.
• Kyle Fitzgerald ‘10 owns Fitzgerald Lunch House in Indianapolis and a practicing artist.
• Nick Mason ’08 owns and operates his own pottery business, selling his work regionally, nationally, and through the American Craft Council Wholesale Show.

USI studio art alumni have been accepted to top tier graduate schools including:

• Yale University
• Pratt Institute
• Parsons the New School for Design
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Clemson University
• School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston-Tufts
• San Francisco Art Institute
• California College of Art
• Texas Tech University
• University of Mississippi
• University of Delaware
• Indiana State University
• Indiana University
• Eastern Carolina University
• Louisiana State University
• Purdue University
• Washington University of Saint Louis
• DePaul University
• University of Louisville
• Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
• University of Georgia

Your studio art major will prepare you for employment and/or creative research with the following skills:

• Technical and conceptual skills in your chosen media
• The ability to critically observe/evaluate your own work and the work of others
• Digital portfolio preparation
• Knowledge of how to submit artworks for juried exhibitions/grants/residencies
• Organizational and writing skills
• Verbal presentation skills including timed presentations with the use of appropriate images
• Assisting professional artists with installation and realization of artworks through our art gallery, and through our visiting professionals program
• The opportunity to be involved in community art related activities through programs such as Empty Bowls
• Skills in the use of contemporary tools and equipment. Equipment in each studio is detailed on the facilities page.