Art, BA

This degree program is designed for those students who want to combine a broad-based liberal arts education with an expanded study of contemporary studio art practices or an in-depth study of art history. Students will experience the visual arts through a variety of disciplines, approaches, and tools, gaining the skills and languages to extend the possibilities of visual expression. The study of art history, criticism and theory will complement studio work by providing the contexts for historical and contemporary art production. Because it is a BA degree, students study foreign language and take a variety of courses from departments through the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Fulfilling a minor program is a popular option and gives the student the opportunity to pursue a field of individual interest.

Bachelor of Arts In Art

Students have many minor programs from which to choose. Some students pursue the minor in Education through the College of Education, which includes courses that are part of the teaching certification program. Certification requirements include broad-based content examinations. Therefore, students choosing the Education minor should refer to the supplemental information sheet available through the School of Art to help them select courses in preparation for these exams and future teaching. Other students may select minors in fields of personal interest, including foreign languages or the humanities. Building on courses in the major program, some students may be interested in the minors in Interdisciplinary Arts (IART), or the 18-hour Art History minor. Another option is to explore minor programs in other colleges, such the College of Technology’s offerings in Computer Graphics Technology and Graphic Communications Technology.

Download an information sheet about the Art, BA degree.

COMPLEMENTARY MINORS

Fulfilling a minor program is a popular option and gives the student the opportunity to pursue a field of individual interest. Students choose from many options including a minor in Education through the College of Education, which includes courses that are part of the teaching certification program (speak to your advisor to learn more about certification requirements). Building on courses in the arts, some students may be interested in an Interdisciplinary Arts (IART) or Art History minor. Another option is to explore minor programs in other colleges, such as the College of Technology’s offerings in Graphic Communications Technology or Motion Media.

INTERNSHIPS

Internships with Houston-based exhibition spaces are encouraged. Advanced undergraduate students whose Studio Art GPA are 3.0 or better, and MFA students may submit proposals to the area coordinator to do internships with alternative spaces, non-profit arts organizations, or museums for 3 semester credit hours. FotoFest continues to be a major resource for student internships. Other organizations that have participated are the Houston Center for Photography, Southwest Alternate Media Project, DiverseWorks, the Blaffer Gallery, Project Row Houses, the Aurora Picture Show and the Contemporary Art Museum Houston.

Careers

Exhibiting artist showing work in galleries, museums and alternative arts spaces
Teachers in public-school systems (requires teaching certificate)
Entry-level positions with museums, galleries and non-profit arts organizations, and other careers which require research and analytical skills achieved through a liberal arts education
Art Therapy (requires further graduate study)
Fine arts-related industries like fabrication, art handling, documentation, web design and preservation
Teaching and research at colleges and universities (requires further graduate study).