Studio Art
Studio Art B.A. and B.F.A.
The Department of Art offers the B.A. and B.F.A. degree in Studio Art. Students pursuing the B.A. degree need only apply to UMaine; there are no additional admissions requirements. Students admitted to the B.A. program may apply to the B.F.A. program anytime after their third semester.
The B.F.A. in Studio Art is a professional degree with a choice of six concentration areas: Drawing, Digital, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Cross-Disciplinary. Each concentration area consists of 18 credits of area-specific advanced studio work, with the Cross-Disciplinary concentration allowing a more individualized pathway for students to develop and combine skills across a range of courses. Each B.F.A. student will work closely with their academic advisor to choose and direct their concentration area courses.
Studio Art Minor
The minor in Studio Art is designed for non-majors who are interested in developing a basic understanding of art production and studio practices. A total of 21 credits is required. Transfer credit is subject to approval by the Department of Art studio faculty.
Studio Art Program Learning Outcomes
Through the completion of the BA or BFA in Studio Art, students will develop:
- Understanding of professional standards and accomplishments in the visual arts
- Breadth and depth of knowledge (use of a wide range of tools, technologies, and structures inherent to the discipline/subject)
- Understanding of content, tools, and structures
- Independent and critical thinking
- Ability to articulate and express ideas with appropriate language
- Understanding that knowledge is collectively built
- Ability to effectively state and solve creative problems
- Ability to set, organize, and realize goals
- Resourcefulness and tenacity in working through problems
- Innovative thinking in all phases of problem solving
- Confidence in ability to meet creative challenges of the field
- Awareness of the responsibilities of the artist to the larger community
Additional Information
Field experiences are often integrated into individual courses, with visits to a variety of studios, museums, and galleries. Recent trips have included NYC, Mass MoCA, Boston’s Institute for Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, the DeCordova Museum and sculpture park, the Portland Museum of Art, The Farnsworth Museum, and The Maine Center for Contemporary Art. Local resources include the University of Maine Museum of Art, the Hudson Museum in the recently renovated Collins Center for Art, and the Page Farm and Home Museum.
Student Groups and Awards
The Department of Art offers a number of scholarships to qualified first-time undergraduate students who study art at the University of Maine. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit and evidence of accomplishment in the study of Studio Art, Art Education, or Art History. For scholarship information, applications forms, and interview dates, contact the Department of Art. Applications must be received in the Department of Art by mid-January.The UMaine Art and Design Collective, a membership organization run by interested majors, has an annual agenda that reflects interests of its members. In the past, student art organizations have planned exhibitions (on and off campus), educational programs (visiting artist workshops), and a variety of events including trips to various Maine museums and galleries, occasionally striking out for NYC, Boston, Quebec and Montreal.
Career and Graduate Opportunities
Diverse career opportunities exist for Department of Art graduates. The degrees offered prepare students for a wide range of vocational choices inside as well as outside the field of art. They also provide a solid foundation for those choosing to go on for graduate study. Many graduates of the Department of Art have developed careers in different aspects of Studio Art, Art Education and Art History, including graphic design, fashion design, museum administration, arts administration, and multi-media.