At the University of Dayton, a fine arts degree provides an intensive, professional exploration of fine art media. In this program you'll develop a portfolio and career plan through an emphasis in ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking or sculpture.
Every March, we take the opportunity to recognize outstanding student achievement at the Horvath Student Juried Exhibition. Professional artists are invited to jury the show and select awardees.
Fine art students are invited to share their work outside of the University and across the Dayton community through the department's Index Gallery, student run pop-up exhibitions and the annual regional student exhibition at The Contemporary Dayton.
In addition to the professional experience gained through UD, students explore the work of professional artists when they travel to New York City to visit galleries and museums.
The University of Dayton is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Ready to take the next step? Explore admission options or schedule an academic visit to learn more about fine arts at UD.
The fine arts degree allows you to hone your formal, technical and conceptual skills and to collaborate with faculty on independent special interest problems. Students graduate prepared to enter the field of fine arts and/or to continue fine art studies in graduate school.
Though there is no portfolio application/entrance requirement, all majors in the department go through a major review upon completion of the foundation courses.
In this review — known as the Exchange — all majors are evaluated by a committee of three faculty members from the department. The review is 30 minutes and results in a written evaluation of student progress toward their degree.
This is a sample plan of study for students starting at UD in the 2025-26 academic year. This is a recommended course sequence, but your schedule may vary depending on previously earned college credits, course availability, advisor recommendations, and your personal goals and interests. Please contact your holistic advisor if you have any questions.
At the University of Dayton, our flexible undergraduate curriculum, known as the Common Academic Program (CAP), encourages you to integrate knowledge — and put it to use.
Wondering how college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) will apply to your undergraduate degree? Use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out.
Visit the Academic Catalog for official major requirements, prerequisite(s), course descriptions and more.
The department requires the purchase of a MacBook Pro for all art education majors at the start of classes in the first semester. Additional computer requirements information can be found on the UDit website.
Students can double major or minor with the B.F.A. but will need to work closely with an advisor in scheduling classes.
At the University of Dayton, applying is free and test scores are optional. When you apply, you'll automatically be considered for a merit scholarship.
Learn about our admission process, then apply using UD's application or the Common App.
Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success. And with high graduation and success rates, UD is an excellent value.
To help you cover your costs, a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time work study are available. The University also accepts transfer credits and credit by exam for undergraduates, giving you more flexibility to add a double major or minor or participate in a transformational experience like study abroad or co-op.
Get more than your foot in the door — get ready for success. At our College of Arts and Sciences, you will have the opportunity to combine the classroom and business world together in a way that allows you to further sharpen your skills. It’s a key reason why employers love hiring our students — they can hit the ground running.
Let’s create your future. Now you know what we’re about: community, personal attention, hands-on learning, integrity and global thinking. Take the next step and connect with us today.
Our faculty and staff are here to support you throughout your fine arts journey at UD.