Art

School Overview

104 Art

The School of Art serves a dual role within the educational structure of the University of Washington. It is both a professional school and an academic department. As a professional school it trains students for active careers in the visual arts; as a school of the College of Arts and Sciences it offers studio and lecture courses. All of its course offerings and its curriculum requirements are based on the underlying philosophy that an awareness and understanding of the visual arts are necessary to a liberal education, and that a liberal education is necessary to the training of a professional artist.

Undergraduate Program

Adviser
104 Art, Box 353440
(206) 543-0646
uaskart@uw.edu

The School of Art offers the following undergraduate programs:

• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in art history, design studies (incorporates elements of the Bachelor of Design degree in industrial design and visual communication design programs), interdisciplinary visual arts, or painting and drawing.
• The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in fibers, metals, painting and drawing, photomedia, printmaking, or three-dimensional forum.
• The Bachelor of Design degree with majors in industrial design, interaction design, or visual communication design.
• A minor in interaction design.
• NOTE: The design studies, fibers, metals, and printmaking programs are not currently admitting new majors.

Bachelor of Arts

Design Studies, Interdisciplinary Visual Arts (IVA), Painting and Drawing (Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Painting and Drawing, but not both.)

Department Admission Requirements

The minimum GPA for application to the School of Art is 2.50.

NOTE: Design Studies is not currently accepting students.

Admission to the Interdisciplinary Visual Arts Major for Freshmen or Currently Enrolled Students: After completing 5 credits of introductory level art (100/200 level), students meet with an Art adviser to declare the major.

Admission to the Interdisciplinary Visual Arts Major for Transfer Students: Students complete the equivalent of 5 credits of introductory art (100/200 level) prior to transferring. Once admitted to the UW, they meet with an Art adviser to declare the major. Prior to transfer, students may address questions to uaskart@uw.edu.

Admission to the Painting and Drawing Major for Freshmen and Currently Enrolled Students: After completing ART 190, students meet with an Art adviser to declare the major.

Admission to the Painting and Drawing Major for Transfer Students: Once admitted to the UW, students meet with an Art adviser to enroll in ART 190. Students who transfer with college credits in painting and drawing may wish to present a portfolio for advanced placement in the program. Prior to transfer, students may address questions to uaskart@uw.edu.

Major Requirements

Design Studies (80 credits)

Major not currently accepting students.

Interdisciplinary Visual Arts (63 credits)

1. 20 credits of introductory art selected from ART 120, ART 124, ART 126, ART 131, ART 133, ART 140, ART 165, ART 166, ART 190, ART 201, ART 202, ART 208, ART 226, ART 227, ART 233, ART 234, ART 245, ART 246, ART 272, ART 273, ART 290, ART 292
2. 25 upper-division credits in art selected from ART 327, ART 328, ART 329, ART 332, ART 333, ART 334, ART 335, ART 338, ART 339, ART 342, ART 345, ART 350, ART 351, ART 352, ART 353, ART 360, ART 361, ART 383, ART 390, ART 392, ART 393, ART 427, ART 450, ART 457, ART 458, ART 483, ART 484, ART 490, ART 492, ART 496, ART 498, ART 499, ART H 498, ART H 499
3. 18 credits in art history, with a minimum 8 upper division credits, and at least one course from both the Western and non-Western approved lists

Painting and Drawing (60 credits)

1. 5 credits: ART 190
2. 15 credits drawing classes: 5 credits of ART 290; 5 credits of ART 390; 5 credits of ART 490
3. 25 credits painting classes: 5 credits of ART 292; 5 credits of ART 293; 5 credits of ART 392; 5 credits of ART 393; 5 credits of ART 492
4. 15 credits of ART history (with a minimum 5 upper division) to include one from ART H 203, ART H 380, ART H 381, or ART H 384; one non-Western from ART H 205, ART H 206, ART H 215, ART H 230, ART H 311, ART H 312, ART H 313, ART H 315, ART H 318, ART H 330, ART H 331, or ART H 337

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Fibers, Metals, Painting & Drawing (Students may earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts or a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Painting & Drawing, but not both), Photomedia, Printmaking, Three-Dimensional Forum

Department Admission Requirements

The minimum GPA for admission to School of Art BFA programs is 3.00.

Note: The fibers, printmaking, and metals programs are not currently admitting new majors. Students may check with Academic Advising and Student Services for updated information, uaskart@uw.edu.

For currently enrolled students

Admission to Painting and Drawing: Students complete ART 190, then meet with an Art adviser to declare the major.

Admission to Three-Dimensional Forum: Students complete ART 124 and one of ART 201, ART 202, ART 233, ART 272, or ART 273, then meet with an Art adviser to declare the major.

Admission to Photomedia: Admission is competitive. Students enroll in ART 140 spring quarter of their freshman year to prepare the portfolio required for the competitive selection process for ART 241 autumn quarter. Students selected to register for ART 241 spend autumn quarter working with the photomedia faculty, revising their portfolio which is then used to select students admitted to the photomedia major in winter quarter. See department website at art.washington.edu for timing and suggestions for successful completion of portfolio requirements.

For transfer students

Admission to Painting and Drawing, and Sculpture: Once admitted to the UW, students meet with an Art adviser to enroll in ART 190. Students who transfer with college credits in the proposed area of study may wish to present a portfolio for advanced placement in the program. Prior to transfer, students may address questions to uaskart@uw.edu.

Admission to Three-Dimensional Forum: Once admitted to the UW, students meet with an Art adviser to enroll in the appropriate art course. Students who transfer with college credits in the proposed area of study may wish to present a portfolio for advanced placement in the program. Prior to transfer, students may address questions to uaskart@uw.edu.

Admission to Photomedia: Admission is competitive. Transfer students must apply for admission to the UW for summer or autumn quarter, must have completed an equivalent course to ART 140, and must submit their portfolios by mid-August for consideration to register for ART 241 autumn quarter. Students selected to register for ART 241 spend autumn quarter working with photomedia faculty, revising their portfolios which are then used to select students admitted to the photomedia major in winter quarter. See department website at art.washington.edu for further information on timing and suggestions for successful completion of portfolio requirements.

Admission Policy for Postbaccalaureate Applicants: Postbaccalaureate study in studio art is limited; admission requirements vary within each major. See information concerning specific postbaccalaureate admission online at department website: art.washington.edu.

Major Requirements

Fibers (85 credits)

Major not accepting new students

Metals (85 credits)

Major not accepting new students

Painting and Drawing (95 credits)

1. 5 credits: ART 190
2. 15 credits drawing classes: 5 credits of ART 290; 5 credits of ART 390; 5 credits of ART 490
3. 45 credits painting classes: 5 credits of ART 292; 5 credits of ART 293; 5 credits of ART 392; 5 credits of ART 393; 10 credits ART 492 or 5 credits of ART 492 and 5 additional credits ART 490; 15 credits of ART 494
4. 15 credits studio art or related electives
5. 15 credits of art history, with a minimum 5 upper-division credits, and at least one course from both the Western and non-Western approved lists

Photomedia (80 credits)

1. 60 credits: ART 140 or adviser-approved course; ART 241; ART 338; ART 340; ART 341; ART 342; ART 343 (10 credits); ART 361; ART 440 (15 credits)
2. 10 credits: Approved ART electives or related adviser-approved courses
3. 10 credits of art/art history, with a minimum 5 upper-division credits, and at least one course from both the Western and non-Western approved lists
4. Successful completion of photomedia portfolio review

Printmaking (85 credits)

Major not accepting new students

Three-Dimensional Forum (80 credits)

1. 20 credits of ART 453
2. 30 credits from one of the following tracks:
   1. Ceramics: ART 201; two of ART 202, ART 233, ART 272, or ART 273; ART 353 (15 credits) or ART 353 (10 credits) and either ART 332 or ART 333
   2. Glass: ART 233; two of ART 202, ART 272, or ART 273; ART 333 (15 credits) or ART 333 (10 credits) and either ART 332 or ART 353
   3. Sculpture: ART 273; two of ART 201, ART 233, or ART 273; ART 332 (15 credits) or ART 332 (10 credits) and ART 333 or ART 353
3. 15 credits of ART or adviser-approved electives.
4. 15 credits in art history, with a minimum 5 upper-division credits, and at least one course from both the Western and non-Western approved lists

Bachelor of Design

Department Admission Requirements

The minimum GPA for admission to School of Art Bachelor of Design programs is 3.00.

For currently enrolled students

Admission to Industrial Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication Design: Students must complete DESIGN 166. Students receiving a minimum grade of 3.7 or higher in DESIGN 166 are admitted into the design program. Students who do not receive a minimum grade of 3.7 can apply to the design program via the design workshop in June. For details on the design workshiop, see the department website: art.washington.edu.

For transfer students

Admission to Industrial Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication Design: Students must complete DESIGN 166 (see admission requirements for currently enrolled students) or the equivalent of DESIGN 166 at their previous school, apply for admisson to the UW, and attend the design workshop in June. It is highly recommended that transfer students meet with a School of Art adviser prior to applying to the UW to discuss the design workhshop and selection process. See program guides at department website for specific information: art.washington.edu.

Admission Policy for Postbaccalaureate Applicants: Postbaccalaureate study in studio art is limited; admission requirements vary within each major. See information concerning specific postbaccalaureate admissions online at department website: art.washington.edu.

Major Requirements

93-98 credits, as follows:

Industrial Design (93 credits)

1. 5 credits prerequisite: DESIGN 166
2. Successful completion of design admission selection process
3. 33 credits: DESIGN 207, DESIGN 208, DESIGN 209, DESIGN 210, DESIGN 211, DESIGN 212, DESIGN 488
4. 10 credits of art history
5. 30 credits: DESIGN 316, DESIGN 317, DESIGN 318, DESIGN 321, DESIGN 322, DESIGN 323
6. 15 credits: DESIGN 445, DESIGN 446, DESIGN 447

Interaction Design (93 credits)

1. 5 credits prerequisite: DESIGN 166
2. Successful completion of design admission selection process
3. 33 credits: DESIGN 207, DESIGN 208, DESIGN 209, DESIGN 210, DESIGN 211, DESIGN 212, DESIGN 488
4. 10 credits of art history
5. 30 credits: DESIGN 381, DESIGN 383, DESIGN 384, DESIGN 385, DESIGN 386, DESIGN 387
6. 15 credits: DESIGN 481, DESIGN 483, DESIGN 484

Visual Communication Design (98 credits).

1. 5 credits prerequisite: DESIGN 166.
2. Successful completion of design admission selection process.
3. 33 credits: DESIGN 207, DESIGN 208, DESIGN 209, DESIGN 210, DESIGN 211, DESIGN 212, DESIGN 488
4. 10 credits of art history
5. 30 credits: DESIGN 366, DESIGN 367, DESIGN 368, DESIGN 376, DESIGN 377, DESIGN 378
6. 20 credits: DESIGN 466, DESIGN 478, DESIGN 479, DESIGN 480

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: Students receiving an undergraduate degree in art can expect to develop strong writing, analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills. Students learn to recognize the power of the visual image and understand its importance in a world increasingly dependent on the aesthetic and technical skill of trained artists and designers to create images that communicate information and ideas across cultures and generations.

  In addition to becoming practicing artists, art graduates find careers in fields such as gallery and museum management, arts education, arts administration, photojournalism, film making, graphic and product design, interior design, teaching, advertising, art therapy, and visual and digital technology.

• Instructional and Research Facilities: None.
• Honors Options Available: Photography Honors (see Academic Advising and Student Services for requirements).
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: The School of Art has several programs that help students develop professional practices and expand their knowledge outside the UW: internships for credit, Artist in Residence programs, K-12 Educational Partnerships, and the Studio Art Rome program.
• Department Scholarships: Scholarships are available annually to enrolled majors (see Academic Advising and Student Services for details)
• Student Organizations/Associations: Students majoring in the studio arts have the opportunity to participate in several student associations: Hephestium (metals), Zeeware (ceramics), Broadclothes (fiber), Printmakers Association (printmaking), a photo guild, and the Inter Arts Council. These organizations raise funds though the sale of members' work to support visiting artists and lectures and to sponsor student involvement in regional arts events.

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
104 Art Building, Box 353440
206-543-0646
gradart@u.washintgon.edu

The Master of Fine Arts program offers an intense, two-year studio and seminar/classroom experience leading to an advanced degree in visual art. The program builds on prior, significant academic experience and studio work. Admission is competitive to any one of the following five programs: Ceramics, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, and Visual Communication Design.

The master's degree program in Art History at the University of Washington affirms that the MA degree is an independent degree useful in its own right. Successful applicants to the program normally have a broad undergraduate background in art history.

The PhD program in the Division of Art History prepares graduates for university-level teaching, curator positions at major museums, and independent research in the field. Before beginning work for the PhD, students should have completed a Master of Arts degree in the history of art.

Master of Fine Arts

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Master of Fine Arts program are required to have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or equivalent (determined by the quality of the applicant's work and equivalent experience, based upon the UW BFA requirements) with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the undergraduate art major.

The Graduate Record Examination is not required. Admission is on a competitive basis. Annual deadline for applications is February 1, for consideration for admission the following autumn quarter.

Degree Requirements

For each program, 90 credits are required, as follows:

Ceramics

1. Ceramics studio: 20 credits of ART 553
2. Interdisciplinary seminar: 25 credits of ART 590
3. Art history, theory, and criticism: 10 credits of approved courses
4. Studio electives: 15 credits of approved electives
5. Thesis: 20 credits of ART 700. The thesis is a natural outgrowth of the student's work. It can consist of one major work or a body of work that involves one central theme. Ceramics graduates exhibit their thesis work in the annual MFA exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery along with a one person show at the Ceramics Gallery.

Painting and Drawing

1. Drawing studio: 6 credits of ART 591
2. Painting studio: 25 credits of ART 592
3. Graduate seminar: 30 credits of ART 594
4. Art history, theory, and criticism: 10 credits of approved courses
5. Studio electives: 9 credits of approved electives
6. Thesis: 10 credits of ART 700. The thesis is a natural outgrowth of the student's work. It can consist of one major work or a body of work that involves one central theme. Painting and drawing graduates exhibit their thesis work in the annual MFA exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery.

Photography

1. Photography studio: 20 credits of ART 515
2. Interdisciplinary seminar: 25 credits of ART 590
3. Art history, theory, and criticism: 15 credits of approved courses
4. Studio electives: 15 credits of approved electives
5. Thesis: 15 credits of ART 700. The thesis is a natural outgrowth of the student's work. It can consist of one major work or a body of work that involves one central theme. Photography graduates exhibit their thesis work in the annual MFA exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery.

Sculpture

1. Sculpture studio: 20 credits of ART 552
2. Interdisciplinary seminar: 25 credits of ART 590
3. Art history, theory, and criticism: 10 credits of approved courses
4. Studio electives: 15 credits of approved electives
5. Thesis: 20 credits of ART 700. The thesis is a natural outgrowth of the student's work. It can consist of one major work or a body of work that involves one central theme. Sculpture graduates exhibit their thesis work in the annual MFA exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery.

Visual Communication Design

1. Design studio: 25 credits of ART 580/ART 582
2. Design seminar: 20 credits of ART 581
3. Art history, theory, and criticism: 15 credits of approved courses
4. Studio electives: 20 credits of approved electives
5. Thesis: 10 credits of ART 700. The thesis is a natural outgrowth of the student's work. It can consist of one major work or a body of work that involves one central theme. Design graduates exhibit their thesis work in the annual MFA exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery.

Master of Arts

• See Art History.

Doctor of Philosophy

• See Art History.

Scholarships and Teaching Assistantships

School of Art scholarships are awarded annually to new and returning students, based on merit. Applicants admitted to the MFA program may be offered School of Art scholarships for the coming year on an individual merit basis. Further application is not required.

The School of Art offers a limited number of teaching assistantships to incoming graduate students on an individual merit basis, as determined by each program. Enrolled graduate students may apply for a limited number of additional, competitive teaching assistantships.