KyCAD's Research-Driven Academic Program

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At KyCAD, we embrace the ability of the arts to reflect the times. We place the artist’s voice in equal position to the skills that an artist utilizes.

From histories to new technologies, from crafts and material practices to a digital world of the virtual and unreal, we encourage our students to investigate the roots of what it means to be human. Artists use not only intuition and speculation, but spiritual, emotional, analytical, and material ways to search for and create knowledge.

Our curriculum includes professional practice and prepares students to apply their creative skills to numerous career pathways. The confidence with analog and digital literacies gained in art school prepares a KyCAD graduate* for opportunities to enter an adaptable workforce in burgeoning cultural and creative industries.

BFA in Studio Art | Academic Catalog

Our Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art* is a four-year professional degree centered on intensive studies in the arts. Students work with diverse materials and processes that blend the boundaries between traditional and emerging media including drawing, painting, sculpture, digital media, performance, installation, and community art projects. See our Full Academic Catalog Archive.

Body Art

Obsessed with tattoos, piercings, or body painting? KyCAD is launching the first-ever Bachelor of Fine Arts in Body Art in the U.S.—designed for bold, creative students ready to break boundaries. Explore the human body as a canvas for storytelling, identity, and social change. You’ll study tattoo design, piercing, digital art, sculpture, and fashion, while diving into the ethics, history, and theory behind body art.

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Explore apprenticeships with licensed local tattoo artists, brand-building skills, and connections to entrepreneurs, you’ll be invited to enter the booming $4.83B tattoo industry.

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Digital Fabrication

Into 3D printing, laser cutting, or tinkering? At the Kentucky College of Art + Design (KyCAD), the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Fabrication blends art, tech, and innovation to help you turn ideas into real-world creations. Explore tools and platforms like Adobe Creative Suite, CAD software, CNC milling. Utilize circuit boards and other digital fabrication technologies. You’ll plan, prototype, and build with precision— while learning to minimize waste and think sustainably.

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KyCAD’s six-week model encourages hands-on learning and teamwork with students in fashion, sculpture, and design. You’ll gain real-world skills for careers in product development, public art, creative tech, and manufacturing.

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Experimental Fashion

See clothing as sculpture, protest, or performance? At KyCAD, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Experimental Fashion program treats fashion as wearable art and cultural storytelling. Blend fashion, theater, and fine art to design pieces that challenge norms. Learn industrystandard and DIY techniques to craft wearable works that live between costume, sculpture, and performance.

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Explore sustainability, community, and the social impact of design. Whether you’re building avant-garde looks or starting your own brand, you’ll connect with artists and performers shaping fashion’s future. Graduates go on to careers in fashion, theater, and fine art—or pursue innovative graduate programs.

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Film

Dream of making movies or working behind the scenes? KyCAD’s new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film program launches as Louisville becomes a national filmmaking hub—with $75M in state incentives and new sound stages planned by 2027. Unlike traditional film programs, KyCAD puts each student in creative control of their filmmaking from the first day of classes. You’ll learn to direct, edit, write, and produce—combining narrative and experimental approaches to develop your unique voice.

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Connect with local filmmakers, festivals, and institutions like the Speed Cinema and the Louisville Film Office. Build your portfolio and gain experience that sets you apart. Prepare for entry-level roles in film, or continue into advanced programs that value innovation and originality.

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Graphic Design

Love visuals, tech, and making a difference? At KyCAD, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is built for creative minds ready to shape the future. Learn to work with industry standards such as Adobe Creative Suite while exploring Artificial Intelligence, typography, layout, and storytelling. You’ll dive into design thinking and human-centered design to create work that sparks change.

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Explore the possibility to intern with major companies like Humana and GE Appliances, build your portfolio, and network with professionals. Whether you’re into branding, packaging, or motion graphics, this program gives you the skills to thrive in fast-moving design fields.

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Olfactory and Sensory Arts

Ever felt a scent spark a memory or shift your mood? At KyCAD, we’re launching a bold new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Olfactory and Sensory Arts program focused entirely on the power of perfume—where science meets art and emotion. We’ve partnered with American Perfumer to bring you a program where you will learn how to craft your own fragrances, design packaging, and market your creations. Explore scent as a tool for storytelling in fashion, film, wellness, and immersive tech.

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Dive into multisensory design—blending smell, touch, and taste—and build skills in graphic design, marketing, and creative entrepreneurship. Internships with indie perfumers and opportunities for field study, with possible study travel to Paris to connect you to the global fragrance scene.

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Studio Art

Curious about exploring painting, sculpture, performance, digital art, and more—all in one journey? KyCAD offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts, a program for pioneers ready to expand artistic possibilities. Rethink what art can be by combining disciplines—visual arts, design, digital media, performance, among many other forms. Shape projects that break traditions and encourage experimentation. Courses include collaborative studios, and hands-on work from drawing and installation to audio-visual art and socially engaged practices.

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Study groundbreaking artists who’ve reshaped how we see the world. Collaborate with experts in art, culture, and emerging technology. Whether your goal is gallery exhibitions, public art, digital platforms, or immersive experiences, this program equips you to create a career that matches your vision.

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Rebekah Calhoun '25