The Major

The major in Art leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art or the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art. The B.A. degree major incorporates more courses outside the Department of Art and is designed to provide an aesthetic and historical knowledge of the visual arts while affording an opportunity to develop creative ability in several media. Students completing the B.A. need to fulfill the foreign language requirement of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, as well as University requirements, which include  General Education courses, in addition to departmental requirements. Students completing the B.F.A. degree must satisfy University requirements, which include General Education courses, in addition to departmental requirements, but not the CHFA foreign language requirement.

The B.F.A. in Art degree offers seven concentrations: Animation, Art Education, Ceramics, Intermedia, Painting, Print Media, and Sculpture.

During the first year all majors take courses in the Foundations Program. This two-semester experience evolves through a weekly seminar which provides concepts, art history, demonstrations, guest artists, and field trips to major museums in New York City, Boston, and throughout the area. The Foundations Program helps students develop their proficiency in drawing, two- and three-dimensional design, and color, while providing an introduction to a variety of media and techniques basic to all the upper-level major disciplines. All Art majors are required to take a minimum of four courses in the History of Art and Architecture. It is recommended that students take introductory survey courses in the History of Art and Architecture while they are taking Foundations courses.

Art students are encouraged to take advantage of course offerings and faculty beyond the boundaries of the Department. The University and the Five College consortium offer rich opportunities for expansive study in the arts.

Studio Arts Majors culminate their BFA experience with the senior thesis, which is a year-long multifaceted project that includes forming a faculty committee, developing a body of work, a written thesis, an oral defense, and a solo exhibition.

Admission to the Majors

Undergraduate application to the Department of Art is a two-part process. Applicants submit an application to the Undergraduate Admissions Office and submit a portfolio directly to the Department of Art. For acceptance into Art programs (both the B.A. and the B.F.A.), applicants must be accepted by both the Admissions Office and the Portfolio Review Committee of the Department of Art. For more information about this process, visit http://www.umass.edu/art/admissions/freshman, email the Undergraduate Program at artadvisor@umass.edu, or call the Department’s main office, tel. (413) 545-6937.

Transfer students are not automatically accepted into the Art major. Interested applicants should plan to submit their portfolios directly to the Department, observing University application deadlines, to ensure timely review of their portfolios and avoid delay in academic progression. For more details, visit www.umass.edu/art. Certain local Massachusetts community colleges’ transfer students are accepted directly into the Department if they have fulfilled their Foundations requirements. Contact the University’s Admissions Office for more details.

Students already attending the University should contact the Department at (413) 545-1903 for more information on application to the Department.