In professional practice, visual artists trained in sculpture create finished pieces of art by carving, casting, welding, or gluing a wide range of materials, including clay, stone, and wood.
Contemporary sculpture now utilizes a variety of processes including 3D printing. A sculptor’s work can be exhibited in museums, galleries, corporate settings, or as public installations.
The AUM Department of Fine Arts offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Sculpture concentration. This concentration is geared toward individuals interested in pursuing a career as an artist or to prepare for a fine arts graduate studies program.
Most sculptors work in a studio environment that is large enough to accommodate their tools, materials, and finished work. Some sculptors will work in furniture design, interior design, or industrial design. They work in museums, in manufacturing, and in the film industry. According to the Art Career Project, about half of all sculptors are self-employed. Some sculpture professionals are product designers, toy designers, model makers, and motion picture modelers.
In this BFA concentration, students spend most of their time getting practical, hands-on experience in a supportive and collaborative environment. Guided by experienced faculty, class sizes tend to be small, which promotes student and faculty interaction. Traditional and contemporary methods (such as 3D modeling and 3D printing) are taught. Faculty provide constructive feedback and encourage students to work interdisciplinary as they build upon their professional portfolio.
Other concentrations in this BFA degree program include Painting and Drawing, Photography, and Graphic Design.
What you will know with a Sculpture concentration from AUM
When you know how to blend creativity, forward thinking, and technical skills to realize a creative vision, you can gain recognition by applying it to just about any purpose.
Know past and present methods for sculpting—from the traditional approach to computer-based, 3D modeling.
You’ll learn people skills like communication and problem-solving while receiving a well-rounded visual arts education, including a choice of electives to personalize your sculpture degree.
Because our faculty has real-world experience and we expose you to hands-on learning opportunities, you’ll know what to expect in this career before you graduate.
Check out our Career Discovery Board on this page to begin exploring your options. Contact us by phone or email so we can get you the answers you need.
Sculptors with a BFA often have an advantage over informally trained colleagues. A fine arts graduate from AUM has an educational background that lends artistic insights that clients want.
Universities and government entities of all sizes commission works from freelance sculptors. Design firms hire sculptors for physical and computer-based sculpting and modeling. Your visual arts skills could lead you to a number of employment opportunities.
The BFA is more of a professional course of study where you design and create works like sculptures, paintings, or photography, while the BA focuses more on the academics, like visual arts and history.
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
| Career/Job Title | Entry-level Education | Job Growth 2020-2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Director | Bachelor’s Degree | 11% (Faster than average) | $97,270 |
| Craft and Fine Artist | Bachelor’s Degree | 14% (Faster than average) | $49,120 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | Bachelor’s degree | 16% (Much faster than average) | $77,700 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
At AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.
Our academic departments include Communication and Theatre, Criminal Justice, Economics, English and Philosophy, Fine Arts, History and World Cultures, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, and Army ROTC. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with a concentration in Sculpture
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, fine arts, and electives. Contact the Department of Fine Arts for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.
| Course Number | Course Name | What you will know… |
|---|---|---|
| VISU 2312 | Sculpture I | Here are the basics: an intro to sculptural problems, practices and materials. |
| VISU 3122 | Advanced Drawing | Here, you’ll get a lot of hands-on drawing with and emphasis on creativity and composition. |
| VISU 3322 | Sculpture 2 | More advanced sculptural problems, practices and materials. |
