Bachelor in Art/Art Studies (Bachelor's)

For Bachelor in Art/Art Studies (Bachelor's), tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $64,000..

The programme combines studio practice with historical and critical analysis of art and visual culture. Students engage with visual media through research, creative production, and examination of sociohistorical contexts. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking about representation, power, and privilege in visual forms. Students develop independent voices through either creative work or scholarly inquiry.

Focus areas include studio art, history and criticism, museum studies, digital photography, decolonizing the museum, gender and visual culture.

The major requires 36 credits, with coursework divided between studio art and history/criticism tracks. Studio majors complete a yearlong thesis and exhibition at the Bates Museum of Art. History and criticism majors complete independent research projects, which may include museum or archive work.

Graduates enter careers in museum and curatorial studies, architecture, art therapy, education, film, and art conservation.

Applicants must submit a portfolio for studio art tracks or a writing sample for history and criticism tracks. High school transcripts and standardized test scores are required. Additional materials include letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

The programme totals about 36 credit hours. on-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 13% of applicants.

Students at Bates take part in a campus community that connects academic life with social responsibility and the wider city of Lewiston. Campus activities include arts and athletics, concerts, readings, plays, exhibitions, and dance performances. Public and community events, alumni activities, and student-led conversations add to the range of experiences available beyond scheduled classes. The college's calendars also include orientation, holidays, examinations, registration, commencement, and reunion.

Academic choice is central to the Bates experience. Students can choose from 38 majors and 29 minors, or create an interdisciplinary major through the Independent Interdisciplinary Studies program. The faculty community includes scholars, scientists, and artists who support students through personalized mentorship. Academic opportunities extend from first-year seminars to senior thesis work, with an emphasis on intellectual inquiry, reflection, personal growth, and engagement with the world beyond the campus.

International students can connect with Bates through virtual information sessions, student-led Bobcat Chats, and an on-demand virtual campus tour. The admission team provides regional contacts for applicants selecting their country or region, alongside opportunities to speak with current students or admission staff. Bates is located at 2 Andrews Road in Lewiston, Maine. In-person visits include a student-guided campus tour, an information session, and opportunities to learn about admission and financial aid.