UMass Boston

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Art BA

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Hone your critical thinking and visual literacy skills, launch your art career

Unlock your artistic potential and explore your creativity with the Bachelor of Arts in Art program at UMass Boston. Designed for students with a passion for visual arts, this program offers a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum that emphasizes hands-on experience, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary exploration.

In this program, you will:

  • Develop technical skills and mastery of various media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and digital media, enabling you to create visually compelling and conceptually complex works of art
  • Fine-tune your critical thinking and analysis skills, and emerge prepared to evaluate and interpret works of art from a variety of cultural, historical, and theoretical perspectives
  • Enhance your professionalism and career readiness skills, including portfolio development, exhibition planning, and grant writing

Career Possibilities

Work as professional artists, exhibiting your works in galleries and selling them to collectors and patrons. Become an art teacher at various levels, providing instruction to students in schools and community centers. Or, work in art therapy, helping clients to use art as a means of expression and healing. Whatever your goals, UMass Boston is here to support you.

Become a(n):

  • Professional Artist
  • Art Educator
  • Arts Administrator
  • Museum Curator
  • Art Therapist
  • Graphic Designer

Plan Your Education

How to Apply

Apply for Admission

Please review the first-year and transfer apply pages for important information about application requirements, deadlines, and application status check.

Apply as a First-Year Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Deadline & Cost

Early action deadline: November 1; Regular Decision Deadline: June 15

Financing Your Education

Become a Beacon and pursue your passion in UMass Boston’s diverse, supportive environment. Many students across our 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs receive financial aid—providing access to an education that’s exceptional and affordable. Click below to learn more about financial aid opportunities and deadlines.

Financial Aid Deadlines & Application Process 

Scholarships for First-Year & Transfer Students

For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu.

Curriculum

For detailed course descriptions, please visit the university catalog for Art BA.

Introductory Courses (6 Credits)

Take two courses from the list below.

  • ART 101 - Ancient and Medieval Art 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 102 - Renaissance to Modern Art 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 104L - Introduction to East Asian Art 3 Credit(s)

Art History Requirement (3 Credits)

Take one art history course between ART 300 and 369.

Studio Courses (9 Credits)

Take two 200-level studio art courses in two different media (drawing, printmaking, photography, video, digital media, sculpture) and one 300-level studio course from any media.

  • ART 208 - Introduction to Contemporary Practices in Fiber Art 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 281 - Drawing I 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 283 - Introduction to the Materials, Techniques and Concepts of Painting 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 286 - Materials, Processes, and Ideas: Introduction to Contemporary Sculptural Practices 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 287 - Introduction to Printmaking 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 293L - Photography I 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 295L - Introduction to Video 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 297 - Introduction to Digital Media Art 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 381W - Drawing Workshop 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 383 - Painting Workshop 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 386 - Sculpture Workshop 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 387 - Printmaking Workshop 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 393L - Photography Workshop 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 395L - Video Workshop 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 397 - Digital Media Workshop 4 Credit(s)

Art Electives (15 Credits)

Take five additional art electives. Only one 100-level course may be applied to this requirement. At least three courses must be at the 300-level or higher.

Independent study (ART 478 and ART 479), field work/internships (ART 488 and ART 489), and first semester honors (ART 491) courses cannot be applied toward this requirement.

Capstone (3 Credits)

Take one art capstone course. This course should be completed during the senior year when the student has earned 90 or more credits.

  • ART 481 - Seminar in Visual Studies 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 492 - Honors Project 3 Credit(s)

Related Minors

Art History Minor

Complete at least 18 credits from six courses including two survey courses and four electives.

Pass/fail: No courses taken pass/fail may be applied toward the minor.
Residency: At least four of the six courses for the minor, including two at the 300 level, must be taken at UMass Boston.

Graduation Criteria

Degree Requirements

If this is the student’s only or primary major, the degree requirements below must be completed for graduation.

See graduation requirements for more information.

University Requirements

College of Liberal Arts Requirements for Bachelor of Arts

Major Requirements

Complete 36 credits from 12 courses including two introductory courses, one 300-level art history course, three studio art courses, five art electives, and one capstone.

Pass/fail: No more than one course taken pass/fail may be applied to major requirements.
Residency: At least six art courses, including the capstone and three 300 or 400-level art electives, must be taken at UMass Boston.

Art student painting.

Art & Art History Department

The Art & Art History Department offers an array of courses in the history of Western and East Asian art and architecture, as well as studio courses in video, digital imaging, graphic design, sculpture, fiber, printmaking, photography, and painting.

Explore the Department of Art & Art History
Students rehearse orchestra playing flutes.

College of Liberal Arts

Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Liberal Arts.

Explore College of Liberal Arts