Majors under the Departments of Design and Digital Media at Westphal College are supported by the Visual Studies Program, which provides foundation coursework in 2D design, 3D design and drawing, in addition to more advanced studies in painting, printmaking, sculpture and multimedia.  

Foundation courses are a major component of the first-year experience for students working in the applied arts. Blending formal traditions in design education with state of the art technologies, this program prepares students to analyze visual information and collaborate with their peers in order to design intuitively and successfully. During the first year of study students will explore various methods of making, generate complex studio practices, harness their observational skills and become visually literate. The main goal of these courses is to explore creativity, while establishing a strong knowledge of design fundamentals. The accumulation of these core skills will empower students with confidence in their abilities as they enter into their fields of study.

Beyond the basic required courses, Visual Studies offers advanced coursework to further support students in their majors, fostering experimentation and developing critical analytical skills. Students have the opportunity to take studio courses in printmaking, painting, sculpture and multimedia. These may be taken as part of the Fine Arts minor.