Art
February 3, 2022 2026-03-25 21:32ART
Art at Rocky Mountain College
The Rocky Mountain College art department strives to provide transformational art experiences for our majors and minors as well as students taking a core curriculum art course. The diverse mediums, practices, and approaches students can explore both broaden challenge their artistic vision. Our art courses are taught by artists and art historians who are active professionals and experts in their fields
Classes range from metalworking and ceramics to painting, drawing, printmaking, and photography. We use new media alongside traditional and experimental media. In studio art courses you are just as likely to be using Adobe Creative Cloud as mud, rocks, and sticks. Our art history classes cover global perspectives in art from the dawn of humanity to today’s most cutting-edge artists and challenging artistic approaches.
Professor Forsgren draws on his firsthand experience studying and working abroad to introduce students to Czech modernist, Post-war Japanese avant-garde, and contemporary Latin American art movements. Dr. Asplund teaches classes related to her Ph.D. research on the history of light in artwork from stained glass windows to contemporary light artists.
Why Choose Art at Rocky
Our students are involved in the Montana art scene… We research the petroglyphs and paintings in caves around Billings as well as the region’s rich traditions of both indigenous, Western, and contemporary art. Students can visit and intern at exceptional institutions like the Yellowstone Art Museum and Tippet Rise Art Center. There are thriving local exhibition spaces like Kibler & Kirch, Northcutt Steele Gallery, the Billings Public Library, and our own Ryniker-Morrison Gallery and Art Collection, which provide students the opportunity to show their artwork to the community.
We love getting out of the classroom to make art. Beyond our beautiful campus, complete with an art collection that includes monumental outdoor sculptures and impressionist paintings. At the edge of the plains and the mountains, Billings is a great place to gain inspiration from accessible and epic outdoor experiences in the Beartooth, Pryor, and Crazy Mountains, and Montana’s high plains. Not to mention Yellowstone National Park!
$54K
average annual pay for Bachelor’s Degree in Art in Montana, with salaries for Art Education roles showing a higher average of $64K annually.
Major and Minor Learning Outcomes
Graduates of RMC’s Art programs will:
- Acquire visual literacy and fluency in contemporary and historical art practices
- Appreciate and analyze the diversity of global artistic traditions
- Develop craftsmanship and technical skill across a range of media
- Engage critically with art’s evolving role in society and culture
- Create, present, and discuss original artwork and curatorial projects
- Recognize and value difference through curiosity and openness
- Apply visual thinking to interdisciplinary contexts, from education to business
88%
of students are placed in internships
Coursework and Requirements
Beginning with foundational studio and art history courses, your studies at RMC open up a wide range of paths. You may find yourself drawing from observation, designing jewelry, photographing landscapes, or creating installations.
Electives allow you to emphasize painting, sculpture, digital media, or art history. Practicum experiences and gallery involvement bring your learning to life, as do opportunities for internships and study abroad. Art Education majors complement studio work with K-12 licensure courses, gaining skills to inspire others in the classroom.
Course highlights include:
Courses like Art & Ecology invite you to consider sustainability and environment as artistic themes. In The Body & Identity, you’ll explore figurative art and questions of diversity and representation. Imaging Text & Data teaches you to visualize information in new ways, while Museum Studies brings you behind the scenes of gallery curation and exhibition design. Many classes encourage outdoor work or field trips, turning Montana’s landscapes into your studio.
Explore Areas in Art
Whether you’re majoring in Studio Art, preparing to teach as an Art Education major, or adding a creative edge with an Art minor, RMC offers pathways that match your passion.
Art Major
Dive deeply into studio art, combining technical skill-building with conceptual exploration. You’ll cultivate a portfolio across traditional and digital media, ready for graduate study or entry into the creative industries. Careers include visual artist, designer, illustrator, photographer, gallery assistant, curator, or arts nonprofit work.
Art Education Major
Prepare to inspire the next generation as a K-12 art teacher. This pathway builds strong artistic skill and visual literacy, then integrates teaching methods and practical classroom experience. You’ll be ready for Montana state licensure and equipped to lead in schools, museums, or community programs. For full licensure details, see the Education Program page.
Art Minor
Add creative depth to your academic journey. The Art minor is an excellent complement to majors in areas such as business, education, biology, communication, or any field where visual thinking, creative process, and aesthetic awareness enhance your success.
Art Education Minor
Ideal for students planning a teaching career, youth programs, or community engagement, this minor builds your confidence as both a maker and mentor. Art Education minors complete studio courses, foundational art history, and methods of teaching art.
“At Rocky Mountain College, I received a top-tier education from exemplary professors who truly care about each student. The psychology coursework and unique educational activities, coupled with excellent mentorship, prepared me well for clinical psychology doctoral studies. My mentors supported me in every way possible when I applied to various graduate programs. My experiences at RMC will always be among my fondest memories.”
Katherine A. Kitchen Andren, Ph.D.
Career Ready
Our graduates become working artists, business owners, gallery directors, curators, and art directors. Others choose to apply their passion to helping the next generations discover art by teaching; we offer a degree in K-12 Art Education. All will be guided on their journey by faculty who are passionate about art and visual literacy. Taking every student into account we strive to provide individualized feedback and art experiences.
Field Experience and Mentorship
Your Rocky art experience is enriched through gallery work, internships, campus exhibitions, and collaborative projects—often undertaken with the support of experienced faculty who know your strengths and aspirations. Whether preparing your senior show, interning at a community arts center, or joining study trips around the region and beyond, you’ll find the encouragement, feedback, and confidence to shape your artistic future.
Connect and Learn More
Ready to inspire the next generation?
Information
Majors:
Art
Art Education
Minors:
Art
Art Education
Faculty
Todd R. Forsgren
Meredith Munson
- Contact
- Call: (406) 657-1026
- Text: (406) 606-6440
- Email: admissions@rocky.edu
