Can you Receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Online?

Yes, there are a wide variety of highly renowned schools that offer bachelor’s degrees in art in an online format. Art classes have classically been taught in studio settings, but as the digital age has opened up new mediums with endless possibilities, art degrees online have become a popular format for forward-thinking art students. There are a number of advantages to earning your bachelors degree in an online format, including:

• The ability to balance employment with classes so you can work on your classwork wherever and whenever it is most convenient for you.
• Art classes demand a large time commitment, as projects can be worked on endlessly, and an online format allows you to work whenever inspiration strikes.
• Digital art is in high demand in the age of the internet, which allows your work to reach a global audience.
• You will not have to pay for housing or transportation, which decreases the total expenses for your degree.

Many great schools have become aware of these advantages and are investing in their online art programs. If any of the schools in our rankings pique your interest, be sure to follow the links to their websites and request more information. There are some resources that a campus provides that cannot be reproduced online, so there are some things that an online art student will have to provide for themselves, which are:

• A stable, high-speed internet connection
• A relatively new computer that is compatible with your program’s software
• A studio with necessary art supplies

System specifications differ by program, so you should be sure to ask about whether or not you will have to invest in your home setup. Most schools offer multi-platform support for their art classes so that you can access course content using Mac OS X, iOS, Windows, or Android operating systems. Fortunately, most programs have technical support helpers available for their students whenever they require them.

Classwork for online art courses is often completed using software which has become a staple of digital design. The software programs that you will typically be able to gain a high level of command of include:

• Adobe Creative Suite programs: Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, and others
• FinalCut Pro
• GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
• Inkscape
• CorelDRAW

Honing your technical skills with these programs are valuable workplace skills in almost any business setting. If you are still unsure about whether or not an online art degree is the right path for you, be sure to check out our article that goes into detail about the Pros and Cons of Online College.