Art, B.A.

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The BA in Art is a four-year liberal arts degree in studio art. The program provides an in-depth studio experience while allowing for a substantial number of non-art electives. It is designed for students who want to focus in art, but also have strong interest in disciplines outside the visual arts. Students may take up to 60 credits of studio courses (designated ART) toward the degree.

Program Requirements

The minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core curriculum and electives) required for the major: 45.

Grades of C- or better must be earned to satisfy all major or minor requirements.

Minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core curriculum and electives) required for the Art major: 45
Minimum grade requirement for major courses listed below: C-
Minimum GPA requirement for major courses listed below: 1.67

Art Foundation (15 credits)

ARH 111 - Art History: Prehistoric through Medieval Credits: 3
ARH 112 - Art History: Renaissance to the Present Credits: 3
ART 141 - Surface, Space, Time (2D) Credits: 3
ART 142 - Surface, Space, Time (3D) Credits: 3
ART 151 - Fundamentals of Perceptual Drawing Credits: 3

Art History Requirements (9 credits)

Three ARH 300- or 400-level art history courses

Studio Art Requirement (21 credits)

Choose one concentration and the associated sequence of courses and electives:

No more than 60 credit hours with ART designation may be used to fulfill the 120 credit-hours degree requirement.

Ceramics Concentration Requirements

ART 231 - Introduction to Ceramics I Credits: 3
ART 232 - Introduction to Ceramics II Credits: 3
ART 332 - Intermediate Ceramics Credits: 3
ART 431 - Advanced Ceramics I Credits: 3
Two 200-level ART electives in two different studio disciplines
One 300-level ART elective

Major Courses that Satisfy Core Requirements

Students are encouraged to explore Core courses that also count towards their major or minor. Courses listed below are part of this major and also satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Course lists that satisfy each requirement can be found on the Core Curriculum webpage.

Writing, Reading, and Inquiry 3:
Quantitative Reasoning:
Creative Expression: ART 141 , ART 142 , & ART 151
Cultural Interpretation: ARH 111 & ARH 112
Science Exploration:
Socio-cultural Analysis:
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship: ARH 312
Culture, Power, and Equity: ARH 310 & ARH 311
International: ARH 111 & ARH 112
Engaged Learning: ART 341 , ART 400 , ART 407 , ART 408 , ART 431 , ART 441 , ART 461 , ART 471 , ART 491
Capstone: ART 431 , ART 461 , ART 471 , or ART 491

USM Core Requirements

Students must complete all Core and degree requirements as part of the Graduation Requirements. For more information, see Academic Policies.

The USM Core Curriculum provides a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal arts education that fulfills general education requirements. It is designed to help students become globally aware, purposeful, and lifelong learners.

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor. For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.