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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

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

Deadline & Cost

For fall semester admission, applications submitted by the "priority deadline" of March 1 are given priority and will be notified of a decision by the end of April. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis through July 1.

For spring semester admission, the application deadline is December 1. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis through December.

Cost & Aid
Please refer to the following Admissions pages for more information:

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

 

 

Curriculum

Course Requirements


Introductory Courses (6 Credits)


Take two courses from the list below.

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 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 Gallery with students

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
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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