At North Dakota State, visual arts students are presented with a unique opportunity as they reach their final year. Each student may attempt a Baccalaureate capstone project, which prepares him or her for a career in the arts.

Senior Bailey Monson participated in the Baccalaureate program this semester. As a visual artist, Monson has interest in both graphic design and painting.

Artistic inspiration comes easily to Monson, who says he “(thrives) on expressing it through any medium possible.” He is fascinated by the relationship between the city and society, and hopes to “break new ground by creating visually stunning layouts and graphics.”

The Baccalaureate program aims to nurture participants’ interests and to improve their artistic skills. Before his or her final semester at NDSU, each student submits a concept to faculty members, who then review it.

If their concept is approved, students are accepted into the program.

“The students begin the long journey of applying all they have learned as a student into a final project that displays their skills and knowledge as an artist,” Monson says.

Each participant’s work is subject to frequent scrutiny.

“Throughout the semester, each student works vigorously to prepare their work to be presented to faculty and peers every other week. During this time the faculty critique your progress and project itself,” Monson says.

This critical attention is welcomed. It helps each artist’s project reach its highest artistic potential.

“As each artist develops their project, elements of their project may change due to the feedback of faculty and peers,” Monson says.

Monson believes his experience has been highly rewarding.

“This program helped me tremendously to develop myself as an artist,” he said. The program not only encourages participants to master their craft, it also introduces them to some “real-world” aspects of an artistic career.

“The program requires you to participate in a gallery show with artist talks and a reception. Beyond this the program requires postcards, business cards, a resume, a website, an invoice, an image list, a biography and headshots, all of which allow the artist to experience what will have to be done in order to make it as an artist,” he says.

After graduating, Monson says he hopes to be a graphic designer in Minneapolis.