2 students working on an art project

Watkins College of Art

We celebrate the power of art and design to transform people, communities, cultures and the world.

Art Transforms

Explore your creative talents in a variety of fields in a community of learning and service. Our experienced faculty and state-of-the-art-facilities help foster an environment where you’re offered numerous opportunities to dive into your passions in a tangible way. Watkins strives to create a unique environment for students to grow both personally and professionally through the encouragement of autonomy and fostering collaboration among peers.

Small Class Sizes

Outstanding student-faculty ratios allow you to be individually challenged as you develop your strengths. Watkins programs are academically rigorous and taught by exceptional faculty members with significant industry experience in Nashville and beyond.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Watkins College of Art Scholarship Endowment is used exclusively to provide need and merit-based scholarships for incoming freshman, transfer or graduate students. The endowment is significant in size, providing immense opportunities for incoming students. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to submit portfolios and/or essays to be eligible for merit-based scholarships.

Customize Your Experience

Here you’ll get the chance to explore the intersections of all your interests. With our nine majors offered across both Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Arts (BA), and minors available in Art History, Design Communications, Painting, Photography, or Studio Art, there’s plenty of room in our curriculum for double majors or minors. For those looking to go beyond an undergraduate education, we offer an exceptional Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in the Visual Arts program.

With a foundation in the classic principles of art and design along with a commitment to teaching the most relevant advanced technologies in a community of learning and service, our degrees prepare graduates to find meaningful careers in their fields.

The Student Experience

Marina Ibrahim talks about her latest projects and the experiences that have been made possible by the Watkins College of Art.



Belmont Stories from Watkins

Take the next steps with us

Your journey at the Watkins College of Art begins here.