Degrees and Programs

The Arts

Study for a degree or a concentration in the arts develops and deepens your understanding of your particular artistic interest and enhances your ability to express your own concepts and ideas. You can focus on fine or graphic arts, performing arts, creative writing, media arts, art history or arts management while you explore historical and cultural context, theoretical and philosophical issues and current developments and perspectives related to art. Your studies will help refine your research skills, your artistic technique and your ability to form and communicate ideas, images and critical judgments. Together with a faculty mentor, you create a program to meet your specific needs and goals.

Why choose a degree in the arts?

Students who study the arts can:

Degrees Available

As a regionally accredited college of the State University of New York, Empire State College offers the following degrees:

  • Associate of Arts
  • Associate of Science
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Professional Studies

Taking individual courses as a nondegree student is also possible and will offer you the same range and depth of courses and rigorous standards as matriculated undergraduate students.

Popular Concentrations

Study concentrations in the arts include practice, history and criticism in fields such as:

  • visual arts
    • sculpture
    • painting
    • crafts
    • photography
    • design
    • graphics
  • performing arts
    • dance
    • theater
    • music
  • media arts
    • film
    • video

You can focus on a single area such as painting, or create an interdisciplinary concentration that connects or combines perspectives exploring a theme or topic.

Special programs in the visual arts are offered at the Metropolitan Center in New York City.

Sample Degree Programs

The following illustrate what a degree program might look like. As a student, you will work with a mentor to design a degree plan that meets your educational goals.

Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the degree plans. If Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, you can download it for free from Adobe.