Messiah College

What you’ll study

The curriculum starts with studio courses in the first semester and continues through advanced studio, art history, and pedagogy classes. Students choose a concentration—graphic design, digital art, three-dimensional, or two-dimensional—while completing the same number of studio courses as a studio art major. Field experiences begin in sophomore year, with Saturday Art School, sophomore, junior, and senior field placements in K-12 settings.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have finished high school and show a commitment to both art and teaching. A portfolio or evidence of artistic work is often requested, though specific prerequisites are not listed.

Career prospects

Graduates can work as K-12 art teachers, museum educators, community art directors, or in international schools. Opportunities also exist in colleges, state arts councils, entrepreneurial ventures, and traditional roles tied to studio concentrations such as graphic design or illustration.

Scholarships & funding angle

Every first-year student receives financial aid, and the program’s 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports personalized guidance. The university’s accreditation and strong placement record—98% of the 2025 class in employment or graduate study within 6-9 months—underscore the value of this investment.