As part of a cohort of Art majors, entering First-year students take core foundation classes, including Drawing I and II, Art History I and II, 2-D Design and 3-D Design. During their second year, Studio Art majors continue required coursework, and also start their chosen sequence classes, such as Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpture, Printmaking, or Art History. Studio majors take two sequences of at least two classes beyond the required coursework to develop skills in specific media areas. All studio majors are encouraged to take additional course work in their chosen media as electives, to further strengthen their work.??

Coursework is augmented by the changing exhibitions of professional work in the Art Department Watkins Gallery, as well as student exhibitions in the Weber gallery. Visiting artists present lectures, gallery talks, workshops, and critiques. Students form art clubs reflecting their interests, such as Creative Commons and Mud Club. These clubs and other campus groups organize trips to regional art centers, where students encounter historic and contemporary masterworks.