Frequently Asked Questions

"The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birthgiver. In a very real sense the artist (male or female) should be like Mary who, when the angel told her that she was to bear the Messiah, was obedient to the command." Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art

No one “becomes” an artist as one might become a pharmacist or an accountant. An artist is less the product of a learned skill-set and more an intentionally developed means of seeing and communicating. Artists are born, and then spend the rest of their life learning what to make of their giftedness. Some will make the necessary investments to learn and strengthen and expand their art, and in so doing earn for themselves the opportunity to see God-given abilities blossom into new creation. But sadly for the majority, this process is too frightening, too uncertain. These individuals will abandon, or even worse, toy with the idea of making art without the necessary dedication to see it realized.

Why study art? Because God has made you for the purpose of creative engagement and you want more than anything to follow His and your passion by developing these abilities to their fullest. For you, art isn’t a “hobby”; art is a vocation of worship and service. For you, we’ve built a creative community of like-minded individuals to spur on technique, exposure, and critical thinking, preparing you for a lifetime of artistic exploration. We hope you’ll join us.

Yes! Artists are at their core creative problem-solvers and visual communicators, two highly desired skills in today’s hypervisual culture. 

With a strong foundation of design and color theory, a broad exposure to art history and the liberal arts, and the learned practice of a studio discipline in a variety of materials and media, the studio art graduate is capable of moving into a wide range of careers in many different fields. Many graduates choose to develop their craft working in their own studios while building connections with galleries, opportunities for exhibition, and private commissions. Others will continue onto advanced degrees such as the Master of Art Education, the Master of Arts in art therapy, the Master of Fine Arts in studio art, or related degrees in art history or art philosophy, all of which provide many more career possibilities.

Working within the gallery/museum structure offers still additional opportunities, and the arts administration minor at Cedarville prepares students to understand the business side of the art market, as well as working within an arts organization. Speaking of minors, many studio art students will graduate with a minor in graphic design, which provides an overview of the techniques and tools of the industry, ideal for those seeking a career in illustration.

While there are undoubtedly easier paths, neither is studio art a field without real and exciting opportunities. For those called to be artists, the possibilities are great! And, we’ve never been too interested in just taking the easy path. We hope you’ll join us.

No, you do not need to present a portfolio of work for entrance into the art program as a freshman. All entering freshmen are admitted into the studio art major on a conditional basis. After the second semester of study, freshmen are evaluated by the art and design faculty to determine whether they are making adequate progress to continue in the program and/or exhibit the talent necessary to be successful in their chosen fields. Students who do not show satisfactory progress and/or talent will be advised to consider other majors unless they show significant improvement.

At the end of the second semester of the sophomore year, studio art majors are required to apply to the department for upper-divisional standing. The sophomore review is an evaluation of classroom work and performance and intuitive abilities necessary to succeed in the student’s chosen discipline. The art and design faculty will evaluate the student on the basis of academic progress, grade averages in major courses, and intuitive abilities necessary to succeed in the discipline. If necessary, the student may be required to present a portfolio representing every area of his or her work in studio art courses at the University. The portfolio should include original two-dimensional work and a CD of images of three-dimensional work. Students who do not pass their sophomore review will not be allowed to continue in the major.

The art department grants two annual financial scholarships, The Rietveld Fine Arts Award, and the Alumni Scholarship Award; however, neither of these is awarded to freshmen.

Academic awards, as well as need-based scholarships, are available through the University, offering up to a combined annual total of $14,000. Other scholarship opportunities are made available through Cedarville Athletics, the One Campus Leadership Scholarship, The Presidential Leadership Award, and transfer student aid. For eligibility and additional information, please visit Financial Aid.  

More than 90 percent of Cedarville students receive some type of financial aid when including merit and need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and employment.

Yes! The artist is in many ways the product of his or her exposure, filtering the images, sounds, experiences of a lifetime into new forms of expression. And one of the best ways to increase your exposure is to travel! Cedarville has developed relationships with other universities around the globe that allow our students to complete required course work while spending a semester abroad. Imagine studying drawing in Florence, watercolor in Athens, art history in Barcelona — a literal world of possibilities (see what we did there?) begins with Cedarville’s International Programs!