Studio Art Major

Program Director: Brandon Morse

The Department of Art provides its students with the technical and conceptual tools needed to make innovative contributions to a visual culture in which traditional boundaries between the visual arts, design, film, video, and architecture have become increasingly blurred. The accomplished faculty members bring their professional experiences to the studio, providing a contemporary context for the development of skills and ideas. The department’s creative environment encourages creative problem solving, interdisciplinary experimentation, and the production of images, objects, and experiences that reflect a sophisticated visual literacy. From a shared foundation emphasizing traditional fundamentals of art and design, students move into media concentrations that encourage interdisciplinary interaction, particularly in developing digital technologies. This flexible interaction between traditional and new media is central to the department’s vision and the success of its mission.

In a society that increasingly defines itself in visual terms, artists and designers are critical in shaping its future. The creative atmosphere of the Department of Art’s studios is a fertile ground for the development of the complex skills and ideas needed to navigate and contribute to an evolving visual culture. Our location, just outside Washington, DC, and less than an hour away from Baltimore provides access to numerous museums, galleries, embassies and international institutions, which brings important real-world experience to students in our program.

Admission to the Major

The Department of Art offers three tracks to the B.A. degree. Track 1 is an open major, which requires no portfolio review, and requires 48 total credits for completion. All majors enter the department in Track 1.

Tracks 2 and 3 are specialized tracks with portfolio reviews for admission in the junior and senior years, and require 60 total credits for completion. Track 2 is for a B.A. with an Advanced Specialization in Digital Media, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, or Intermedia. Track 3 is for a B.A. with a concentration in Graphic Design.

See the department website for more information: http://art.umd.edu.

Placement in Courses

With appropriate AP or IB credit and scores, students may receive credit for ARTT100, ARTT110, or both. Contact department advisors for more information.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to manipulate form and content to produce artwork with visual integrity that expresses concepts coherently.
  2. Students will be able to demonstrate inventiveness and creativity.
  3. Students will be able to produce work that reflects concerns in contemporary visual art, including social, political and historical issues centered around diversity, equity and inclusion towards a broader understanding of the discipline in society.
  4. Students will be able to produce artworks that display excellent quality in presentation.

The Department of Art offers three tracks to a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.). All majors enter the Department in Track 1, the open B.A., and take a required group of six Foundation courses (18 credits). After completion of the Foundation courses, students may continue in Track 1 without portfolio review, or choose to submit a portfolio of work completed in Track 1 courses for admission into Track 2 or Track 3. Portfolio reviews for both specializations will take place during the spring semester, usually during late March.  

  • Track 1: B.A. in Studio Art. This is an open program with no portfolio admission requirement.  This track provides ample space for outside electives, encourages interdisciplinary interaction, and provides double major or double degree possibilities.  The Art Education Curriculum works with Track 1.  Credit requirements: 36 credits in Studio Art, and 12 credits in supporting courses in Art History and/or Art Theory, for a total of 48 credits.
  • Track 2: B.A. in Studio Art with Advanced Specialization. This track is restricted to students admitted by competitive portfolio review, and is aimed at students who envision graduate study or professional careers in art.  Students accepted into this track will complete, in addition to the requirements for Track 1, a 12 credit advanced specialization in specific media areas, including ARTT481 Advanced Specialization Seminar.  Areas of specialization include:  Digital Media, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Intermedia.  Credit requirements:  48 credits listed in Track 1 plus 12 credits in Advanced Specializations, for a total of 60 credits.
  • Track 3: B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. This track is restricted to students admitted into the Graphic Design concentration through a competitive portfolio review. This program provides a pre-professional orientation emphasizing interactive design, graphic design theory, and interdisciplinary research. Students accepted into the Graphic Design program must complete a specific sequence of courses at both the 3xx- and 4xx-level.  Graphic Design courses are only available to students who have been admitted to the Graphic Design concentration.  Credit requirements: 21 credits in Foundation and studio art electives, and 12 credits in supporting courses in Art History and/or Theory (ARTT361 Design Literacy: Decoding Our Visual Culture, a Graphic Design Concentration requirement, satisfies 3 credits of the supporting area for Graphic Design students) for a total of 60 credits.

Students interested in Track 2 may apply after the completion of at least two 3xx-level courses, plus completion or enrollment in at least one 400-level ARTT course. Students may re-apply one time.

Students interested in Track 3 must have completed or be enrolled in the required Foundation courses to apply to the specialization.  The strict course requirements in Graphic Design make early application to Track 3 optimal.  Students may re-apply one time.

Transfer students who have completed courses equivalent to the Foundation and intermediate courses at UMCP may apply immediately to Tracks 2 or 3 if they choose.

These are competitive programs with a limit of approximately 20 new students per year in the combined Art areas, and approximately 20 students per year in Graphic Design.  For information about the Portfolio review process for Tracks 2 and 3 please see the Department of Art website.

No course grade below the grade of C- may count toward the major. An overall GPA of 2.0 in the major is required for graduation.

Track 1: B.A. in Studio Art

Course Title Credits
College Requirements
Foundation Courses
ARTT100Two-Dimensional Design Fundamentals3
ARTT110Elements of Drawing I3
ARTT150Introduction to Art Theory3
ARTT200Three-Dimensional Art Fundamentals3
ARTT210Elements of Drawing II3
ARTT255Introduction to Digital Art and Design Processes3
Intermediate Courses
Choose three courses total from at least two areas of the following:9
Painting:
Elements of Painting
Sculpture:
Elements of Sculpture: Metal Casting
Elements of Sculpture: Steel
Elements of Sculpture: Wood and Mixed Media
Printmaking:
ARTT340
Elements of Printmaking: Woodcut and Relief
Elements of Printmaking: Screen Printing
Digital Media:
Elements of Digital Media
Advanced Courses
Select one 3xx-level ARTT elective3
Select one 4xx-level ARTT elective3
Select one 4xx-level ARTT or Art Theory elective3
Supporting Area
200 level or above ARTH that satisfies a GenEd Diversity Requirement3
200 level or above ARTH that satisfies a GenEd Diversity Requirement3
Select two 3xx-/4xx-level ARTH or Art Theory electives 16
Total Credits48
1

Department recommends ARTH351: Twentieth Century 1945 to present

Track 2: B.A. in Studio Art with an Advanced Specialization

Course Title Credits
College Requirements
Foundation Courses
ARTT100Two-Dimensional Design Fundamentals3
ARTT110Elements of Drawing I3
ARTT150Introduction to Art Theory3
ARTT200Three-Dimensional Art Fundamentals3
ARTT210Elements of Drawing II3
ARTT255Introduction to Digital Art and Design Processes3
Intermediate Courses
Choose three courses total from at least two areas of the following:9
Painting:
Elements of Painting
Sculpture:
Elements of Sculpture: Metal Casting
Elements of Sculpture: Steel
Elements of Sculpture: Wood and Mixed Media
Printmaking:
ARTT340
Elements of Printmaking: Woodcut and Relief
Elements of Printmaking: Screen Printing
Digital Media:
Elements of Digital Media
Advanced Courses
Select one 3xx-level ARTT elective3
Select one 4xx-level ARTT elective3
Select one 4xx-level ARTT or Art Theory elective3
Supporting Area
200 level or above ARTH which satisfies a GenEd Diversity Requirement3
200 level or above ARTH which satisfies a GenEd Diversity Requirement3
Select two 3xx-/4xx-level ARTH or Art Theory electives 16
Select an Advanced Specializaton: 112
Digital Media
Painting
Printmaking
Sculpture
Intermedia
Total Credits60
1

Advanced media courses ending in 8 or 9 are repeatable up to 12 credits.

Digital Media

Course Title Credits
ARTT479Advanced Digital Media Studio (two repeatable)6
Select one of the following:3
Advanced Digital Media Studio 1
Elements of Photography
Advanced Photography Studio
ARTT34x
An ARTT34x course
Advanced Printmaking Studio
ARTT481Advanced Specialization Seminar 23
Total Credits12
1

3 cr. of ARTT498 may be substituted for ARTT479

2

Track 2 students only. Students in Department Honors Program may substitute the Honors Seminar for this course.

Painting 

Course Title Credits
ARTT428Advanced Painting Studio (three repeatable)9
ARTT481Advanced Specialization Seminar 23
Total Credits12
1

3 cr. of ARTT498 may be substituted for ARTT479 cr.

2

Track 2 students only. Students in Department Honors Program may substitute the Honors Seminar for this course.

Printmaking

Course Title Credits
Select one of the following:3
ARTT34x
An ARTT34x course
Advanced Printmaking Studio
ARTT448Advanced Printmaking Studio (two repeatable)6
ARTT481Advanced Specialization Seminar 23
Total Credits12
1

3 cr. of ARTT498 may be substituted for ARTT448 credit.

2

Track 2 students only. Students in Department Honors Program may substitute the Honors Seminar for this course.

Sculpture

Course Title Credits
Select one of the following:3
ARTT33x
An ARTT33x course
Advanced Drawing Studio
Advanced Sculpture Studio
ARTT438Advanced Sculpture Studio (two repeatable)6
ARTT481Advanced Specialization Seminar 23
Total Credits12
1

3 cr. of ARTT498 may be substituted for 438 credit.

2

Track 2 students only. Students in Department Honors Program may substitute the Honors Seminar for this course.

Intermedia

Course Title Credits
ARTT4xxAdvanced Studios (combination of inter-related courses) 19
ARTT481Advanced Specialization Seminar 23
Total Credits12
1

3 cr. of ARTT498 may be used for 4xx credit.

2

Track 2 students only. Students in Department Honors Program may substitute the Honors Seminar for this course.

Track 3:  B.A. in Studio Art w/ Concentration in Graphic Design

Intermediate and Advanced Graphic Design courses are restricted to students who have been accepted into the Design Concentration by an application process and competitive portfolio review. All Track 3 students must satisfy the following requirements:

Course Title Credits
College Requirements
Requirements
Foundation courses listed in Track 1 BA18
Supporting Area courses listed in Track 1 BA 19
Select six credits of the following:6
Experiential Learning
ARTT45x
Graphic Design Electives
Select six credits ARTT3xx / 4xx Art Electives6
Graphic Design Required Courses
ARTT355Intermediate Graphic Design Principles3
ARTT356Graphic Design Processes3
ARTT357Interactive Design3
ARTT454Advanced Graphic Design Principles: Design in Society3
ARTT455Three Dimensional Graphic Design3
ARTT458Graphic Design Portfolio3
ARTT361Design Literacy: Decoding Our Visual Culture 23
Total Credits60
1

One course of 3xx-/4xx-level ARTH or Art Theory electives is satisfied by ARTT361 under Graphic Design required courses.

2

Satisfies 3cr. of the Art History or Theory supporting area.

Graphic Design Elective Courses

Not all courses are offered every semester. Some are offered during Summer and Winter terms.

Course Title Credits
ARTT386Experiential Learning (Graphic Design Internship only)3-6
ARTT456Motion Design3
ARTT457Advanced Interactive Design3
ARTT459Advanced Graphic Design Studio3
ARTT488Advanced Special Topics in Graphic Design1-3
ARTT499Directed Studies in Graphic Design1-3

Other Requirements for the Major

Please go to Department of Art Website for more information:  www.art.umd.edu

Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the College of Arts and Humanities.

Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages: