Program Overview

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Bachelor of Arts in Art

About

The Department of Art offers its students an education in the visual arts as an integral part of a comprehensive educational experience. Our degree programs offer intense, professional education in the aesthetics and theories of the visual arts. Students will be trained in the skills and intellectual awareness that are the basis for a future of creative and professional achievement in the visual arts.

Available Options

• Concentration in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking The Painting, Drawing & Printmaking concentration at UNLV focuses on the exploration of two-dimensional areas. Students have the opportunity to encounter a variety of processes including intaglio, lithography, the drawing techniques and media of watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. Communication skills are developed through periodical critiques. Historical and contemporary examples are presented and discussed in class, resulting in a thorough investigation within the concentration.
• Concentration in Photography The Photography Area of Concentration provides students with a solid foundation in technical, aesthetic, conceptual, critical and practical skills necessary to thrive in the challenging and diverse world of photography. Students in this area work in traditional and non-traditional mediums with a pluralistic approach to picture making, learning both film-based and digital technology with emphasis placed on photography as a Fine Art. Students will define their individual photographic style in terms of both content and approach, and once technical and conceptual skills are solidified, students develop a portfolio that shows their unique personal view of image making.
• Concentration in Sculpture The B.A. in Art with a concentration in Sculpture at UNLV centers around practical knowledge and conceptual development. Students attain the skills to fabricate artworks in traditional media such as wood, metal and plaster, and later expand to more conceptually challenging questions and methods. Critique skills are developed as a class, while historical and contemporary examples are discussed through lectures. Students leave the program with physical and conceptual skills that can lead to the beginning of an art practice, employment or advanced learning opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

Concentration in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking

• Demonstrate functional levels of drawing skills with varied media.
• Recognize and be able to interpret major works of art pertaining to the art history courses taken.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the elements and principles of students' chosen area of concentration.
• Articulate and critically respond to both familiar and unfamiliar works of art through critical dialogue.
• Understand the function of presentation and/or the exhibition process of personal works in public gallery or other cultural venue.

Concentration in Photography

• Demonstrate functional levels of drawing skills with varied media.
• Recognize and be able to interpret major works of art pertaining to the art history courses taken.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the elements and principles of students' chosen area of concentration.
• Articulate and critically respond to both familiar and unfamiliar works of art through critical dialogue.
• Understand the function of presentation and/or the exhibition process of personal works in public gallery or other cultural venue.
• Demonstrate technical, aesthetic and conceptual skills in traditional, digital and experimental photographic processes.
• Produce a portfolio of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in photography.

Concentration in Sculpture

• Students graduating with a concentration in Sculptural practices will have the confidence and ability to manipulate new and existing materials with various methods and conceptual approaches to create works of art. This confidence is gained through working with wood, metal, plaster and other media with hands-on experience and a wide range of hand and power tools. In critique, students develop skills to examine, discuss and improve their work and the work of their peers. Advanced assignments introduce kinetic, interactive and public-based artwork and their unique demands, expanding the notions of what and where sculpture can be. Through projects and individual exploration, training in the wood and metal shops and the development of creative problem solving, their skills sharpen and become applicable to their artwork as well as practical applications.

Career Possibilities

Concentration in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking

• Students are prepared for a variety of careers in the visual arts from practicing studio artist to gallery and museum work, illustration. The BA in Art with a concentration in painting, drawing and printmaking also prepares students for graduate study on the MA or MFA level.

Concentration in Photography

• Fine Art Photographer
• Photographer's Assistant
• Studio Photographer
• Wedding Photographer
• Photographic Stylist
• Freelance Photographer
• Digital Image Specialist
• Portrait Photographer
• Lab Technician
• Editorial Photographer
• Industrial/Corporate Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Photojournalist
• Studio Owner/Manager
• Photographic Sales
• Stock Photographer

Concentration in Sculpture

• The B.A. in Art with a concentration in sculptural practices from UNLV prepares students for careers in the arts and the workplace. The conceptual and practical skills students acquire provide them opportunities in careers such as, but not limited to; gallery, museum and commission based artist, museum or gallery exhibit preparator, custom fabricator, art fabricator, wood or metal shop employee, artist's studio assistant, the fields of carpentry, welding and more.

Requirements

Art (BA)

• The Department of Art offers its students an education in the visual arts as an integral part of a comprehensive educational experience. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art programs offer intense, professional education in the aesthetics and theories of the visual arts. Students will be trained in the skills and intellectual awareness that are the basis for a future of creative and professional achievement in the visual arts.

Available Options

• Concentration in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking
  • The Painting, Drawing & Printmaking concentration at UNLV focuses on the exploration of two-dimensional areas. Students have the opportunity to encounter a variety of processes including intaglio, lithography, the drawing techniques and media of watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. Communication skills are developed through periodical critiques. Historical and contemporary examples are presented and discussed in class, resulting in a thorough investigation within the concentration.
• Concentration in Photography
  • The Photography Area of Concentration provides students with a solid foundation in technical, aesthetic, conceptual, critical and practical skills necessary to thrive in the challenging and diverse world of photography. Students in this area work in traditional and non-traditional mediums with a pluralistic approach to picture making, learning both film-based and digital technology with emphasis placed on photography as a Fine Art. Students will define their individual photographic style in terms of both content and approach, and once technical and conceptual skills are solidified, students develop a portfolio that shows their unique personal view of image making.
• Concentration in Sculpture
  • The B.A. in Art with a concentration in Sculpture at UNLV centers around practical knowledge and conceptual development. Students attain the skills to fabricate artworks in traditional media such as wood, metal and plaster, and later expand to more conceptually challenging questions and methods. Critique skills are developed as a class, while historical and contemporary examples are discussed through lectures. Students leave the program with physical and conceptual skills that can lead to the beginning of an art practice, employment or advanced learning opportunities.

Learning Objectives

1. Demonstrate functional levels of drawing skills with varied media.
2. Recognize and be able to interpret major works of art pertaining to the art history courses taken.
3. Demonstrate working knowledge of the elements and principles of students' chosen area of concentration.
4. Articulate and critically respond to both familiar and unfamiliar works of art through critical dialogue.
5. Understand the function of presentation and/or the exhibition process of personal works in public gallery or other cultural venue.

Career Possibilities

Concentration in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking

• Students are prepared for a variety of careers in the visual arts from practicing studio artist to gallery and museum work, illustration. The BA in Art with a concentration in painting, drawing and printmaking also prepares students for graduate study on the MA or MFA level.

Concentration in Photography

• Fine Art Photographer
• Photographer's Assistant
• Studio Photographer
• Wedding Photographer
• Photographic Stylist
• Freelance Photographer
• Digital Image Specialist
• Portrait Photographer
• Lab Technician
• Editorial Photographer
• Industrial/Corporate Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Photojournalist
• Studio Owner/Manager
• Photographic Sales
• Stock Photographer

Concentration in Sculpture

• The B.A. in Art with a concentration in sculptural practices from UNLV prepares students for careers in the arts and the workplace. The conceptual and practical skills students acquire provide them opportunities in careers such as, but not limited to; gallery, museum and commission based artist, museum or gallery exhibit preparator, custom fabricator, art fabricator, wood or metal shop employee, artist's studio assistant, the fields of carpentry, welding and more.

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Fine Arts Student Advising Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

Please see Graduation Policies for complete information.

Art (BA) Degree Requirements - Total Credits: 120

General Education Requirements - Credits: 37-46

• First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3
• English Composition - Credits: 6
  • ENG 101 - Composition I
  • ENG 102 - Composition II
• Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3
• Constitutions - Credits: 4-6
  • HIST 100 - Historical Issues and Contemporary Society
  • PSC 101 - Introduction to American Politics
• Mathematics - Credits: 3
• Distribution Requirements - Credits: 19
  • Please see Distribution Requirements for more information
  • Humanities and Fine Arts - Credits: 0
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
  • Social Science - Credits: 9
    • One course each from three different fields
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking - Credits: 10
    • Two courses from Life and Physical Science; at least one course must have a lab
    • Analytical Thinking 3 credit course
• Multicultural and International Requirements - Credits: 0-6
  • Multicultural
    • one 3 credit course required
  • International
    • ART 261 is recommended and will satisfy both International and major requirements
  • These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements. A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. Visit the Provost webpage for the list of approved Multicultural and International courses.

Art (BA) Requirements - All Concentrations

Art Core Requirements - Credits: 24

• Art Core Requirements are required for all concentrations
• ART 101 - Drawing I
• ART 107 - Design Fundamentals I
• ART 108 - Design Fundamentals II-3D
• ART 156 - Design Fundamentals III
• ART 260 - Survey of Art History I
• ART 261 - Survey of Art History II
• ART 266 - Survey of Art History III
• ART 291 - Intro to Visual Arts Seminar

Art (BA) Concentrations - Credits: 30-40

• Students are required to complete one of the following concentrations. See required courses for each concentration below.
• Painting/Drawing/Printmaking Concentration - 40 Credits
• Photography Concentration - 36 Credits
• Sculpture Concentration - 30 Credits

General Electives - Credits 16-29

• The number of general electives necessary for each student varies based on how many credits a student uses to satisfy their degree requirements. The minimum number of degree-applicable credits required to earn this degree is 120.

Total Credits: 120

Major Requirements - BA in Art - Painting/Drawing/Printmaking Concentration - Credits: 40

Additional Art Core Requirement - Credits: 3

• ART 477 - Art Since 1945

Studio Art Requirement - Credits: 12

• ART 102 - Drawing II
• ART 201 - Life Drawing I
• ART 221 - Beginning Printmaking: Intaglio
• or
• ART 222 - Beginning Printmaking: Lithography
• ART 231 - Painting I

Studio Courses Upper-Division Electives - Credits: 9

• ART 332 - Intermediate Painting
• ART 401 - Advanced Drawing
• ART 421 - Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio
• ART 422 - Advanced Printmaking: Lithography
• ART 432 - Advanced Painting

Art History Requirements - Credits: 6

• Select two of the following courses:
  • ART 434 - Topics in Contemporary Art
  • ART 461 - The History of Ancient Art
  • ART 462 - History of Medieval Art
  • ART 463 - History of Early Renaissance Art
  • ART 464 - High Renaissance and Mannerist Art
  • ART 465 - History of Northern Renaissance Art
  • ART 466 - History of Renaissance and Baroque Architecture
  • ART 467 - History of Southern Baroque Art
  • ART 468 - History of Northern Baroque Art
  • ART 469 - History of Eighteenth-Century Art I
  • ART 470 - History of Eighteenth-Century Art II
  • ART 472 - History of Art in the Nineteenth Century
  • ART 473 - Twentieth Century Art
  • ART 474 - History of American Art
  • ART 475 - History of Photography
  • ART 477 - Art Since 1945
  • ART 479 - Artistic Traditions of the Southwest
  • ART 480 - Art of China
  • ART 481 - Art of Japan
  • ART 493 - Individual Study in Art History
  • ART 495 - Special Topics in Art History

BFA Project/Exhibition - Credits: 6

• ART 496 - Bachelor of Fine Arts Seminar
• ART 497 - Bachelor of Fine Arts Project

Art Upper-Division Electives - Credits: 4

• Selected in consultation with BFA Committee Chair

Major Degree Requirements - BA in Art - Photography Concentration - Credits: 36

Studio Art Requirements - Credits: 30

• ART 135 - Photography I
• ART 216 - Sculpture I
• ART 337 - Intermediate Black and White Photography
• ART 342 - Digital Photography
• ART 347 - Beginning Commercial Photography
• ART 436 - Alternative Photographic Processes
• ART 442 - Intermedia
• ART 447 - Advanced Studio Practice: Photography
• ART 490 - Studio Internship

Art History Requirements - Credits: 6

• ART 475 - History of Photography
• ART 477 - Art Since 1945

Major Degree Requirements - BA in Art - Sculpture Concentration - Credits: 30

Studio Art Requirements - Credits: 24

• ART 102 - Drawing II
• ART 135 - Photography I
• ART 201 - Life Drawing I
• ART 211 - Beginning Ceramics I
• or
• ART 212 - Beginning Ceramics II
• ART 216 - Sculpture I
• ART 317 - Intermediate Sculpture
• ART 409 - Advanced Gallery Practices I
• ART 416 - Advanced Sculpture

Art History Requirements - Credits: 6

• Select two of the following courses:
  • ART 461 - The History of Ancient Art
  • ART 462 - History of Medieval Art
  • ART 463 - History of Early Renaissance Art
  • ART 464 - High Renaissance and Mannerist Art
  • ART 465 - History of Northern Renaissance Art
  • ART 466 - History of Renaissance and Baroque Architecture
  • ART 467 - History of Southern Baroque Art
  • ART 468 - History of Northern Baroque Art
  • ART 469 - History of Eighteenth-Century Art I
  • ART 470 - History of Eighteenth-Century Art II
  • ART 472 - History of Art in the Nineteenth Century
  • ART 473 - Twentieth Century Art
  • ART 474 - History of American Art
  • ART 475 - History of Photography
  • ART 477 - Art Since 1945
  • ART 479 - Artistic Traditions of the Southwest
  • ART 480 - Art of China
  • ART 481 - Art of Japan
  • ART 493 - Individual Study in Art History
  • ART 495 - Special Topics in Art History

Notes

1. Of the 120 credits required, 42 of these credits must be in upper-division course work (300-400), including courses taken in the major.
2. ART 493 may be taken only after completing at least one 400-level art history course with a B or better.
3. ART 309 may not be taken for Art History credit by Studio Majors.
4. ART 291 is a Milestone Experience course for Art B.A.
5. Dependent on art concentration area: drawing, sculpture, printmaking, painting, or photography, take ONE of the appropriate required concentration pathways: ART 401 or ART 416 or ART 421 or ART 422 or ART 432 or ART 447 are Culminating Experience courses for Art B.A.