The Carnegie Mellon School of Art, housed within one of the most respected research universities in the United States, brings together contemporary art, cutting-edge technology, and critical discourse. As an interdisciplinary School, we believe art does not exist independently of society, politics, or the natural world, and neither should your art education. Our interdisciplinary curriculum enables you to harness your knowledge, passion, and perspective to make art that both engages with and shapes the world. Resources through the College of Fine Arts and the University offer additional opportunities to expand your academic interests and collaborate with students across disciplines.
| TWO ART DEGREE PATHS |
| BFA: Designing Your Own Roadmap | BXA: Combining Art with Other Disciplines |
| Our Bachelor of Fine Arts program offers maximum flexibility to develop your unique practice. You’ll explore interdisciplinary, conceptual art-making combined with any academic courses that you’re interested in. | Exclusive to CMU, the BXA Intercollege Degree Program integrates studio art with other academic Colleges within the University, perfect for students with a clear idea of how they want to combine art with another discipline. |
| Art Studios: 60% (no majors) | Art Studios: 30% |
| Academics: 30% (no concentrations) | Academics: 40% (declared concentration based on BXA academic choice) |
| Electives: 10% | BXA Seminars: 30% |
| LEARN MORE HERE | SEE BELOW FOR MORE |
BXA Intercollege Degree Program
The BXA program is a formal means of integrating study in the humanities, sciences, or computer science with your artistic practice, and you will graduate with a BHA, BSA, or BCSA degree. In this program, you will pursue exciting new discoveries in fields that bring together academic rigor and creative exploration. Art students who follow this path combine a foundation in studio art with study in another academic college to envision new ways to create and expand our understanding of contemporary art.
You can apply to the School of Art for one of the following programs:
- Bachelor of Humanities & Arts (BHA)
Choose from the 30+ concentrations offered by the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Popular concentrations include: Gender Studies, Global Studies, Languages, Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Statistics & Machine Learning. - Bachelor of Science & Arts (BSA)
Choose from concentrations in natural sciences or mathematics, including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Neurobiology, or Physics. - Bachelor of Computer Science & Arts (BCSA)
Many students interested in the intersection of art and technology think they must follow the BCSA path, but this is only one option among many at CMU. Study areas such as computer science theory, algorithmic processes, and in-depth coding, in addition to your own artistic practice. - Bachelor of Engineering Studies & Arts (BESA)
Choose from concentrations including Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Additional Majors & Minors
CMU offers more than 90 minors for undergraduate students in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, computer science, and business. Outside of the IDeATe minors listed below, popular choices for art students include: Human-Computer Interaction, Film and Media Studies, Design, Creative Writing, and Gender Studies. Some students also choose to pursue an additional or secondary major.
IDeATe: Integrative Design, Art, & Technology Network
The IDeATe program offers courses and undergraduate minors in:
- Game Design
- Animation & Special Effects
- Sonic Arts
- Media Design
- Design for Learning
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Intelligent Environments
- Physical Computing
- Soft Technologies
The IDeATe curriculum focuses on hands-on collaborative learning and is structured to combine students from many different disciplines. Facilities such as collaborative classroom spaces, an equipment lending library, and dedicated fabrication and computing labs support student experimentation. Courses are taught by experts from across the university including faculty in the Schools of Art and Design, the Colleges of Engineering and Computer Science, the Entertainment Technology program, and the Tepper School of Business, among others. The IDeATe Gallery documents and showcases innovative student work.
STUDIO for Creative Inquiry
Housed in the College of Fine Arts, the Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry is an incubator space to explore the intersection of the arts, science, technology, and culture with university faculty, your peers across CFA, and visiting artist fellows. Projects developed at the STUDIO have been featured internationally at venues including the Centre Pompidou, the Design Museum London, Ars Electronica, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Pittsburgh Biennial.
Past STUDIO projects have uncovered previously unknown Andy Warhol artworks on floppy disks, launched a cyberfeminist collective, and created artwork to send to space with contributions from more than 150 individuals.
The STUDIO facilitates expert conversations through the Steiner Speaker Series, performances and events, and conferences such as Art && Code. The STUDIO also provides grants and microgrants for undergraduate projects, and has funded over 300 projects by CMU faculty, staff, and students through these grants.