Types of Undergraduate Art Degrees at Concordia Nebraska

Are you interested in creative expression and how it can be used to educate, rehabilitate or display emotion? If so, an art degree from Concordia University, Nebraska may be right for you! With four different types of undergraduate art degrees – studio art, graphic design, art therapy and art education – Concordia's art program is a great fit for any student who wishes to explore their creative interests and how they can turn them into a career. 

Although there is much overlap between the classes required for each of Concordia’s four art-related degrees, each degree focuses on different aspects of a career as a professional artist.  

Studio art is a broad, multifaceted program that allows students to experiment with a variety of media as well as gain a profound sense of their own preferred style of artistic expression. Graphic design synthesizes a student’s artistic talents with those in virtual media. Art therapy – Concordia's being the only program of its kind in Nebraska – educates students to use creative methods as a therapeutic tool, and art education trains them to pass on artistic practices to the next generation.  

In each of these programs, students may take courses in 2D and 3D design, art history, observational drawing and visual studies. From there, more specialized courses allow students to pursue their passions and receive more specific training in the art vocations to which they’ve been called. Water-based media for studio art majors, social psychology for those in art therapy, and brand development for graphic design majors are just a few examples of these higher-level, more specific courses.  

Of course, the career outcomes for these majors also span a wide range of fields and specialties. Art education majors are most likely to end up teaching classes in elementary, middle or high schools, but they can also serve as museum educators or art coordinators. Likewise, studio art majors can enter many fields, serving as art directors, freelance artists, self-employed entrepreneurs and more.  

Graphic designers, especially those with an interest – or double major or minor – in marketing are especially employable in many different sectors of business and industry. Any company that requires branding or graphic design for marketing purposes may hire someone with a degree in the discipline. Art therapists, meanwhile, can find places for their talents working as a larger team of mental health professionals working to address the needs of specific clients. They may find employment in hospitals, schools, veterans’ clinics, private practices or other locations.  

A myriad of opportunities on campus exist for art majors to explore their career and creative interests. Art club is open to any students who wish to join and offers a variety of critique and demonstration nights, art workshops, guest speakers and more. The Center for Liturgical Art combines faith and art to allow students to create pieces that serve a purpose in the church. The theatre department invites students to design sets and costumes, and various clubs across campus look for graphic designers or photographers to increase exposure.  

Life as an art major at Concordia Nebraska is certainly never boring – and what’s mentioned above isn’t all! Art majors are also eligible for many scholarships, including the Leo Sieck Endowment, the Marxhausen Endowment, and the Class of 1933 Endowment. Some are open to all art majors, and others are specific to a certain program, like art education or studio art. In addition, the Brommer Art Center allows art students to apply for their own studio space to work on projects. Art majors can define themselves and their style and discover their vocation in unique, specific ways at Concordia Nebraska.  

Concordia Nebraska’s art department is a community of designers and visual artists dedicated to innovation, artistic integrity, and academic excellence. The opportunities for artists on campus are many, and students will graduate from art programs at Concordia with a competitive profile and skills as well as an understanding of their own callings and vocation. Learn more about applying to one of Concordia’s art programs here.