College of Visual and Performing Arts | Art | Degrees and Programs

Degrees and Programs

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School of Art Degrees u0026amp; Programs
Paint Studio Students

Foundations Program

The BFA degree is for students who are serious about pursuing careers as artists or art professionals. The BFA in Studio Art is a pre-professional degree leading to the MFA or directly to a career in the visual arts. While studio intensive, the BFA at UNCG is also a liberal arts degree with a solid grounding in the humanities and sciences.

The BA in Studio Art is a flexible degree, which combines a strong liberal arts education with studio practice. In addition, a BA is ideal for those students interested in a range of post-graduate fields and art related professional careers.

Depending upon the chosen secondary field of study, both the BA and the BFA studio degrees allow some flexibility for students to complete a double-major.

How do I choose which degree is right for me? These questions can help:

What do I want to do after I graduate?

Students who wish to do the following should pursue a BFA:

Attend graduate school in art (earn an MFA)
Work professionally as an artist
Teach art at a college or university— Students interested in teaching art at a college or university must complete an MFA to be qualified for such positions.
Teach art in K-12 schools (requires teaching licensure) –a BFA in Art Education leads to K-12 Art teaching licensure in NC
Work in a variety of arts-related professional fields such as commercial arts, arts entrepreneurship and community development, arts organizations or non-profits, like museums and galleries.
Students who wish to do the following should pursue a BA:

Attend graduate school in a non-studio art field
Engage a broader selection of fields
Combine the visual arts with other career aspirations

I’m interested in working in a commercial setting, do I still need a BFA?

Yes, in most cases. The BFA prepares you to be a professional artist, which also means in commercial settings.

Students with BFA degrees are prepared to do any of the following professional, commercial art careers, depending upon their area of degree concentration (Photography, New Media and Design, Sculpture, Painting and Drawing and Printmaking):

Photographer, metal fabricator, foundry owner/operator, sculpture technician, mold maker or sculpture construction, muralist, art supply specialist, art mover, web designer, graphic designer, motion graphics designer, printer, independent art instructor, gallery owner, museum or gallery preparator, videographer

I’m interested in focusing on more than one area of studio art, which degree should I choose?

The BA will enable you to focus in more than one area, however, within many of the BFA degrees you have enough art electives where you can create a secondary area.

Remember, the most important, overriding decision in terms of choosing a degree is what you want to do when you graduate. If you wish to go to graduate school in art and/or work professionally as an artist or art teacher, you should choose the BFA.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts in Art

The Bachelor of Arts in Art with a concentration in Studio Art combines a liberal arts education with the development of studio skills. Students do coursework in art history and studio art. The concentration is flexible to allow students to focus on one area or explore a broad range of courses. All students entering UNCG as studio art majors must complete the Foundations Program (see below).

The Bachelor of Arts in Art with a concentration in Art History is a liberal arts program with emphasis on the visual rather than the verbal tradition. An undergraduate degree in art history offers students an excellent preparation for entry into the workforce or as a foundation for graduate or professional school. Students who wish to pursue a professional career in this discipline should plan to enter an M.A. or Ph.D. program after graduation. In preparation for doctoral work, students should acquire a fluent reading knowledge of two foreign languages; German and French are usually recommended.

CONCENTRATIONS

Learn more about our BA in Art programs.

Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration

The Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration is an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree, combining leadership and management theory and training within a cultural and creative arts context. Intended to be pursued in conjunction with creative studies within home disciplines, this BA degree is ideal for students pursuing leadership and administrative roles within arts and cultural organizations across all major sectors and works well as a second major with other BA degrees in creative disciplines.

Learn more about Arts Administration.

CONCENTRATIONS

Art Museum Studies

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art is a pre-professional degree leading to the MFA or directly to a career in the visual arts as an artist or arts professional. While studio intensive, the BFA is Studio Art degree is a comprehensive degree with a solid grounding in the humanities and sciences.

Students in the BFA in Studio Art program concentrate in Animation, Ceramics and Sculpture, New media and Design, Painting, Photography, or Printing Making and Drawing.

Students entering UNCG who wish to pursue a BFA in Studio Art must submit to a portfolio review and successfully complete the Foundations Program.

CONCENTRATIONS

Learn more about our BFA in Art programs.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education
(with K-12 Licensure)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education focuses on developing advanced studio skills, art history content, technology applications, preparation in liberal studies, and art pedagogy. Upon successful completion of the art education program, students are recommended for “A” teacher licensure. The program prepares undergraduates to become competent, dedicated, and effective art educators at the elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8), and secondary (9-12) levels. Students entering UNCG who wish to pursue a BFA in Art Education must submit to a portfolio review and successfully complete the Foundations Program.

Learn more about Art Education.

Graduate

Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts

The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts is a full-time, two-year, sixty-hour degree. Students complete coursework in studio art, art criticism, art history, free electives as well as thesis work.

Learn more about the MFA in Studio Art.

Minors in the School of Art

An Art Minor engages students in a wide range of studio practices and contemporary art experiences. Students develop hands-on and theoretical approaches to problem-solving through creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Students can minor in art history, arts administration, general studio arts, or may choose a more focused minor in painting, new media & design, ceramics & sculpture, printmaking & drawing, interdisciplinary & social practice, or photography. Eigh­teen credit hours are needed to complete these minors.

CONCENTRATIONS

Learn more about Affiliated Art Minors in CVPA.