May 09, 2026  
2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog

Art, Visual Arts Concentration, B.A.


Art and Design   
615-898-2461
Kathleen O’Connell, program coordinator
Kathleen.Oconnell@mtsu.edu

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art with a concentration in Visual Arts is designed for students seeking a broad foundation in art, design, and art history within a liberal arts context. Students should consult with their advisors each semester to plan their course of study.

No more than 50 percent of coursework (60 credits of 120 required) for the degree may be completed using courses in the Department of Art and Design. Art and Design course prefixes include the following: ART, DSGN, ILLU, IXD, and ARTH.

Academic Map


Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Art, Visual Arts, B.A., Academic Map   

Degree Requirements


True Blue Core (TBC) 41 hours
Major Requirements 48 hours
     Major Core    15 hours*
     Visual Arts Concentration    33 hours
World Language 12 hours
Minor 15-18 hours
Electives 1-10 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the True Blue Core curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill True Blue Core requirements, the number of elective hours will increase.

True Blue Core (41 hours)


True Blue Core (TBC)  requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

The following courses required by the major meet True Blue Core requirements:

  • ART 1920  (CCE)
  • 3 credit hours from foreign language 1010, 1020, 2010, or 2020 (NWC)

Major Requirements (48 hours)


Majors must maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 in the major.

Major Core (15 hours)


Visual Arts Concentration (33 hours)


21 hours from the following:

  • 2D Studio 3 credit hours
  • 3D Studio 3 credit hours
  • Graphic Design 3 credit hours
  • Studio or Graphic Design 6 credit hours
  • Art History (upper division) 6 credit hours

World Language (12 hours)


Students meet this requirement by successfully completing the 2020-level or a higher course in a single world language. Students may take 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 in sequence, or they may use the MTSU Language Placement Test to start at the appropriate level. See Bachelor of Arts Degree  for additional details.

Minor (15-18 hours)


Electives (1-10 hours)


Curriculum: Art, Visual Arts


Freshman Fall


Subtotal: 16 Hours


Freshman Spring


Subtotal: 16 Hours


Sophomore Fall


  • 3 credit hours
  • Non-Written Communication 3 credit hours
  • History and Civic Learning 3 credit hours
  • World Language 3 credit hours
  • Quantitative Literacy 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours


Sophomore Spring


  • World Language 3 credit hours
  • Elective 1 credit hour
  • Minor course 3 credit hours
  • History and Civic Learning 3 credit hours
  • Creativity and Cultural Expression/Elective 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 13 Hours


Junior Fall


Subtotal: 15 Hours


Junior Spring


  • 3 credit hours
  • 2D or 3D Studio course 3 credit hours
  • Graphic Design course 3 credit hours
  • Minor course 3 credit hours
  • Human Society and Social Relationships 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours


Senior Fall


  • 3 credit hours
  • Studio Art/Graphic Design courses 3 credit hours
  • Upper-division Art History 3 credit hours
  • Human Society and Social Relationships 3 credit hours
  • 2D or 3D Studio 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours


Senior Spring


  • Minor courses 6 credit hours
  • Studio Art/Graphic Design course 3 credit hours
  • Elective/Minor course 3 credit hours
  • Upper-division Art History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 15 Hours