| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
| 2025-03-01 | - |
| 2025-06-01 | - |
| 2026-09-01 | - |
| 2026-03-01 | - |
| 2026-06-01 | - |
| 2027-09-01 | - |
| 2027-03-01 | - |
| 2027-06-01 | - |
Program Overview
Art, BS
The highly ranked Department of Arts degree programs provide creative students with the critical and artistic skills needed to excel in contemporary, multidisciplinary art and design practices. The art curriculum fosters positive collaboration, the creation of innovative and technically advanced art works, and encourages the sharing of diverse points of view. Students can pair the BS Art degree with many different majors on campus in order to work toward specific career goals.
Program Structure
The bachelor of science (BS) degree program in art has five components:
- Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines.
- The Foundations Program requires six interrelated studio and aesthetics courses designed to prepare first-year students for further study in studio art and design.
- Coursework gives students an opportunity to study both the history of art and contemporary developments in the visual arts.
- Requirements permit in-depth studies of studio art.
- Credits to pursue individual areas of interest, such as a second major or additional studio credits.
Art Foundations Program
The Art Foundations Program is a series of interrelated studio and lecture courses to be taken by art and art education majors in their first year as preparation for further study in studio art and design. The program addresses the fundamentals of art through investigation of formal, technical and conceptual issues.
Aesthetics Requirements
- ART 108: Foundations of Contemporary Art
- ART 208: Current Directions in Art
- Select two additional courses from the following:
- ART HIST 201: History of Western Art I: From Pyramids to Cathedrals
- ART HIST 202: History of Western Art II: From Renaissance to Contemporary
- ART HIST 205: Global Arts
- ART 438: History of Graphic Design and Typography 1
Major Requirements
Complete a minimum of 45 studio credits, including the specific coursework below. No more than 58 studio credits will be counted toward the minimum 120 credits required for the BS degree.
Required Studio Foundations Courses
- ART 102: 2D Foundations
- ART 104: 3D Foundations
- ART 107: Introduction to Digital Forms
- ART 212: Drawing Foundations
Required Studio Breadth Courses
Select one course in each of the 2D, 3D, 4D, and Graphics areas.
2D Studio
Select one of the following:
- ART 222: Introduction to Painting
- ART 232: Life Drawing I
- ART 242: Watercolor I
- ART 302: Color
- ART 312: Intermediate Drawing I
3D Studio
Select one of the following:
- ART 214: Sculpture I
- ART 224: Ceramics I
- ART 244: Art Metal I
- ART 334: Wood Working
- ART 343: Metal Fabrication and Welding in Sculpture
- ART 354: Glassworking
- ART 454: Neon: Light as Sculpture
4D Studio
Select one of the following:
- ART 309: Digital Art and Code
- ART 318: Introduction to Video, Performance & Installation Art
- ART 338: Service Learning in Art
- ART 409: Digital Fabrication Studio
- ART 428: Digital Imaging Studio
- ART 429: 3D Digital Studio I
- ART 470: Special Topics in 4D Art
- ART 521: Installations and Environments
- ART 531: Screen Performance
Graphics
Select one of the following:
- ART 306: Relief Printmaking
- ART 316: Lithography
- ART 326: Etching
- ART 336: Serigraphy
- ART 346: Basic Graphic Design
- ART 348: Introduction to Digital Printmaking
- ART 376: Darkroom Photography
- ART 446: Artists' Books
Art Colloquium
Complete the following:
- ART 508: Colloquium in Art
Advanced Studio Requirement
Complete a 500-level or 600-level art studio course in at least one discipline.
Elective Studio Courses
Select elective studio courses to reach the minimum of 45 credits.
GPA and Other Graduation Requirements
- 2.5 minimum cumulative grade point average.
- Cumulative major grade point average: 2.5 cumulative grade point average in all major studio coursework.
- Upper-level major coursework: 2.5 cumulative grade point average in all upper-level major coursework.
- Major Residency: Must complete at least 24 credits of major coursework in residence on the UWMadison campus.
- Senior Residency: Degree candidates must complete their last 30 credits in residence on the UWMadison campus.
- Total Credits: A minimum of 120 credits to include at least 62 non-studio credits are required for graduation in the ArtBS degree program.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn the fundamentals of art and design through investigation of form, technology and concept within a cohort of like-minded and diverse artists and designers.
- Develop skills in research, creative problem solving, and professional practices.
- Expand knowledge of historical, thematic, critical, and theoretical issues as a means of strengthening verbal and visual vocabulary.
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of distinct concepts and practices in two-dimensional media, three-dimensional media, four-dimensional media, and in a choice of printmaking, photography, or graphic design media.
- Demonstrate competency at an advanced level in at least one discipline of student's choice.
Four-Year Plan
This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career.
- Freshman:
- Fall: Communication A, ART 108, ART 102, ART 212, ART 508, Liberal Studies coursework
- Spring: Communication A, ART 208, ART 104, ART 107, ART 508, Liberal Studies coursework
- Sophomore:
- Fall: Aesthetics Elective, Two Art Studio Breadth courses, Quantitative Reasoning A, Liberal Studies or General Elective coursework
- Spring: Aesthetics Elective, Art Studio Breadth course, Communication B, Liberal Studies or General Elective coursework
- Junior:
- Fall: Art Studio Breadth course, Art Studio Elective coursework, Ethnic Studies, Liberal Studies or General Elective coursework
- Spring: Art Studio Elective coursework, Quantitative Reasoning B, Liberal Studies or General Elective coursework
- Senior:
- Fall: Studio Elective coursework, Liberal Studies, Studio or General Elective coursework
- Spring: Advanced Studio Elective, Liberal Studies, Studio or General Elective coursework
Advising and Careers
The School of Education Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development. Career and Internship Advisors are prepared to help students with exploration of career and academic pathways, resumes, cover letters, job/internship search, interview preparation, and more.
Wisconsin Experience
UWMadisons vision for the total student experience, the Wisconsin Experience, combines learning in and out of the classroom. The Art Department provides a wide range of opportunities for students on campus and beyond, including courses that connect with the community, job opportunities, the chance to show work, and the ability to manage campus student organizations.