Students acquire a solid foundation in art and design, and assess which area of the visual arts fits best with their individual proficiencies and interests. Effective research, problem-solving, and conceptualization skills are developed to prepare them for future studies in art and design. The breadth of hands-on studio art courses available provides an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques, while refining existing ones. Students develop a portfolio of their work, which will be valuable when applying to specialized art or design programs.