Where Can I Find Art and Design Courses in New Hampshire?

Career Information for Art and Design Students in New Hampshire

If you are interested in taking art and design courses in New Hampshire, there are several private and public colleges that offer bachelor's degree and continuing education programs in fine arts or graphic design. While a formal education is not required to become an artist or a craftsperson, classes in foundation and studio art can help you acquire the professional-level skills you need to progress in the field. However, graphic designers and multimedia artists usually need a bachelor's degree in a related major to obtain an entry-level position.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2010, 10% of craft and fine artists worked in performing arts and sports-related fields, while design services and publishers employed the majority of graphic designers. In the same year, 11% of multimedia artists and animators, as well as 5% of craft and fine artists, worked in the film and video industries.

Job Growth and Salary Info

As reported by the BLS, between 2010 and 2020, craft and fine artists across the country will see a 5% increase in employment, which is slower than average when compared to other careers. A similar rate of 8% is projected for multimedia artists and animators, with graphic designers looking at a 13% growth in jobs, which is about as fast as average for all careers.

According to the BLS, in 2011, fine artists (illustrators, painters and sculptors) and craftspeople nationwide earned median hourly wages of over $21.00 and nearly $13.00, respectively. In May 2011, there were nearly 900 graphic designers in New Hampshire who earned annual mean wages of about $45,000, as well as an unspecified number of multimedia artists and animators who received salaries of almost $63,000 a year.

Art and Design Bachelor's Degree Programs in New Hampshire

Keene State College

• Program: Bachelor of Arts in Art and Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Specialization Areas: Graphic design and studio art; dual degree in graphic design and studio art
• Program Length: 120 credits
• Tuition: $10,410 per year for NH resident students; $17,310 per year for non-resident students (2012-2013; full-time, matriculated students; excludes fees)
• Admission Requirements: Letter of recommendation and a 20-piece digital or slide portfolio
• Prerequisites: College preparatory work in English (4 years), math and science (3 years), social studies (2 years) and electives (2 years)
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 5,100 undergraduates and 100 graduate students
• Address: Art Department, Keene State College, 229 Main Street, Keene, NH 03435
• Phone: 603-358-2040

The undergraduate art programs at Keene State College can help you acquire the educational background you need to work as a graphic designer or a visual artist or to pursue graduate-level studies in the arts. If you are interested in earning the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, you must first apply to the Bachelor of Arts program; both options will allow you to specialize in either graphic design or studio art.

The foundation requirements for both degrees include topics in art history, design and drawing, and if you major in studio art, you can also take classes in ceramics, painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture. The curriculum for the program in graphic design includes courses in time- and Web-based media, digital imaging and typography. As a student in the fine arts program (studio art or dual major in art and design), you will be assigned your own individual studio space and have the opportunity to participate in a solo exhibition.

New Hampshire Institute of Art

• Program: Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Specialization Areas: Ceramics, graphic design, illustration, interdisciplinary art studies, painting and photography; art education certification; minors in printmaking and writing
• Program Length: 120 credits
• Tuition: $19,540 per year (2012-2013; full-time, matriculated students; excludes fees)
• Admission Requirements: Personal statement, two letters of recommendation, portfolio with 15-20 pieces and an in-person review (alternative portfolio formats for students who are unable to attend an interview)
• School Type: 4-year, private (not-for-profit); nearly 500 undergraduates and less than 10 graduate students
• Address: 148 Concord Street, Manchester, NH 03104
• Phone: 603-836-2589

The New Hampshire Institute of Art is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges; to date, it is the only school in the state to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In addition to professional studio work, the program requires 42 credits in the liberal arts, including art history, English, math, science and social science.

The foundation program in drawing and design is similar to that found in traditional colleges, and additional degree requirements include a sequential course of study in your major and a senior studio practicum. If you decide to specialize in graphic design, you will be able to take classes in typographic and Web design, communication, fine arts and motion graphics. Along with the undergraduate program, the institute offers a Master of Arts in Art Education.

Plymouth State University

• Program: Bachelor of Arts in Art or Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Specialization Areas: 2D or 3D studio art, ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, printmaking, sculpture; minors in art, art history, ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture
• Program Length: 120-122 credit hours
• Tuition: $10,410 per year for NH resident students; $17,310 per year for non-resident students; $16,656 per year for New England Board of Higher Education Students (2012-2013; full-time, matriculated students; excludes fees)
• Admission Requirements: Academic recommendation, essay and a digital, physical or Web portfolio consisting of 10-20 pieces with an accompanying statement
• Prerequisites: College preparatory work in English (4 years), math, science and social studies (3 years) and foreign language (2 years)
• School Type: 4-year, public; nearly 4,500 undergraduates and approximately 1,200 graduate students
• Address: Art Department, MSC 21, Plymouth State University, 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264
• Phone: 603-535-2201

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts programs at Plymouth State University share a common core curriculum, and the requirements include classes in color and design, figure drawing, landscape drawing and 3D structures. Depending on your major, you may also be required to take electives in computer technology and quantitative reasoning or write a thesis.

As a professional degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design includes advanced courses in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as a for-credit internship. If you are a fine arts major, you will also have to undergo a yearly portfolio review and participate in a final exhibition. In addition to the undergraduate art degrees, Plymouth State University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, a Bachelor of Science in Art Education and a 5-year program that combines the Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Master of Arts in Teaching.

University of New Hampshire

• Program: Bachelor of Arts in Art or Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Specialization Areas: Art history, studio art and art education; minors in architectural studies, art, art history and studio arts
• Program Length: 128 credit hours
• Tuition: $16,422 per year for NH resident students; $28,882 for non-resident students (2012-2013; full-time, matriculated students; excludes fees)
• Admission Requirements: Academic or counselor recommendation and a portfolio for Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates
• Prerequisites: College preparatory work in English (4 years), math, science and social studies (3 years) and foreign language (2 years minimum); introductory studio art courses for Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates
• School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 12,600 undergraduates and 2,500 graduate students
• Address: Department of Art and Art History, Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824
• Phone: 603-862-2190

The admission requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of New Hampshire are similar to those of Keene State College in that, to be admitted, you will first have to apply to the Bachelor of Arts program. You can submit your application after you have completed the introductory studio art core, which includes classes in art history, drawing, painting and sculpture. The Bachelor of Arts program also includes electives in ceramics, photography, printmaking and woodworking.

As a student in the fine arts program, you will be able to pursue a departmental specialization in painting, sculpture or individualized studies. If you decide to design your own degree plan, your course of study might include a concentration in ceramics, drawing, furniture design, photography or printmaking. Although the university's art department does not offer classes in commercial or graphic arts, it can help you acquire the creative and visual skills you need to work in a related field.

Art and Design Continuing Education Programs in New Hampshire

Plymouth State University

• Program: Frost School of Continuing and Professional Studies
• Program Length: Approximately 3 credit hours per course
• Tuition: $435 per credit hour for NH resident students; $720 per credit hour for non-resident students (Fall 2012; excludes fees)
• Admission Requirements: Academic recommendation and essay (formal application), signed registration form and payment for continuing education course(s)
• School Type: 4-year, public; nearly 4,500 undergraduates and approximately 1,200 graduate students
• Address: Speare Building, Suite 116, MSC 10, 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264
• Phone: 603-535-2822

If you are interested in applied and studio arts but are not sure if you are ready for a formal degree program, Plymouth State University's continuing education school can provide you with the opportunity to study ceramics, drawing, printmaking and other related techniques through both its online and hybrid career and certificate programs, which include individual art classes. The course continuing education offerings for Fall 2012 include a number of classes found in the undergraduate art programs, and these can give you the chance to take some of the foundational art courses required for a degree. You can also study masks and myths, explore the personal aspect of painting or make pottery. As a formally admitted student who would like to pursue a degree, you will enjoy priority registration status and may be qualified for financial aid.

New Hampshire Institute of Art

• Program: Continuing Education
• Specialization Areas: General fine arts, interior design, painting, photography and printmaking
• Program Length: Approximately 1-3 years of part-time study for certificate programs; individual class lengths vary
• Tuition: Per course (e.g., $325 for a 15-week class that meets once a week for 2 hours)
• Admission Requirements: Must be at least 15 years of age, permission of parent or guardian for students under 18 years of age, certificate applicants must have a high school diploma and submit a personal statement, signed registration form and payment for certificate and continuing education course(s)
• School Type: 4-year, private (not-for-profit); nearly 500 undergraduates and less than 10 graduate students
• Address: 148 Concord Street, Manchester, NH 03104
• Phone: 603-836-2564

The New Hampshire Institute of Art offers a number of continuing education programs and classes, including non-credit, certificate programs in interior design, painting, photography and printmaking. The certificate programs are offered in partnership with the Sharon Arts Center, and in general, the requirements include a series of courses that can last up to 15 weeks each. For example, the painting program would require a total of 12 classes in drawing, oil painting and electives; at 4 classes per year, the certificate would take 3 years to complete.

In addition to the certificate programs, the institute offers workshops for aspiring and established artists in bookmaking, clay, fiber, glass, jewelry design and sculpture. Other continuing education offerings include a 1-week summer program on Mt. Washington that will provide you with the opportunity to paint and take pictures in the White Mountains.