Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Art is awarded upon the completion of 120 hours, of which 42 hours are Core Curriculum requirements. Forty-five (45) of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.
The B.A. degree in Art recognizes the completion of a program of study that includes foundation study, some specialization in studio art practices, and a broad foundation in art history. The curriculum aims primarily toward breadth of experience in the context of a liberal arts education rather than professional specialization.
Students seeking the B.A. degree in Art are exempt from the COLFA Second Language Requirement.
Admissions
To pursue a Studio Art degree, B.A. or B.F.A., students must first apply to UT San Antonio through the general admission process (click here to view the admissions page).
Students must also apply to the School of Art through a separate portal. Students applying for either the B.A. or B.F.A. program will be required to include a digital portfolio consisting of 10-15 works and a creative statement. Portfolio requirements and guidelines are listed on the School of Art website (https://colfa.utsa.edu/art/).
If a student is not admitted to the B.A. or B.F.A. program on their first attempt, they may choose to reapply to their program of choice after completing the Foundations (gateway) courses in Art and Art History. All students may apply for acceptance into the B.A. or B.F.A. program a maximum of three times.
Transfer students must also complete the separate School of Art application and portfolio requirements for placement into the B.A. or B.F.A. programs. If a transfer student who has already completed all their Foundations courses is not admitted on their first attempt, they can reapply the following semester. Again, all students may apply for acceptance into the B.A. or B.F.A. program a maximum of three times.
Transfer students who wish to receive credit for upper-division studio art courses taken at another institution must present a portfolio of work to the department before the registration period. This portfolio should consist of four to six original examples or a digital portfolio of artworks completed for each upper-division course taken at another institution for which the student wishes to receive credit.
Once admitted, studio art majors are expected to make consistent, satisfactory progress toward their degree. A student who fails to meet this expectation will be asked to meet with a program area advisor and may be required to change their major. Information on the studio art admission process and portfolio requirements can be found on the School of Art website (https://colfa.utsa.edu/art/).
The B.A. degree is earned in person through face-to-face instruction. Classes meet Monday through Friday (usually 8am-7pm), and students hoping to obtain a degree must be present in class and ready to learn. The time to complete this degree depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
Students must complete all lower-division course requirements for this degree prior to enrolling in more than fifteen (15) hours of upper-division coursework.
All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.
Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the B.A. degree in Art must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.
AHC 1113 and AHC 1123 may be used to satisfy the core requirements in Creative Arts and Component Area Option as well as major requirements.
Click here to view the list of all Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.
Gateway Courses
Students pursuing the B.A. degree in Art must successfully complete each of the following Gateway Courses with a grade of “C-” or better in no more than two attempts. A student who is unable to successfully complete these courses within two attempts, including dropping a course with a grade of “W” or taking an equivalent course at another institution, will be required to change their major.
Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 (core and major) 1 | 3 |
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present (core and major) 1 | 3 |
| ART 1003 | Foundations I 1 | 3 |
| ART 1013 | Foundations II 1 | 3 |
| ART 1023 | Foundations III 1 | 3 |
| ART 1213 | Drawing I 1 | 3 |
| 9 |
| Painting: Basic | |
| New Media: Basic | |
| Photography: Basic | |
| Printmaking: Basic | |
| Sculpture: Basic | |
| Ceramics: Basic | |
| |
| AHC 4353 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Art History and Criticism | 3 |
| ART 3033 | Interdisciplinary Contemporary Studio Topics | 3 |
| |
| ART 4973 | B.A. Senior Seminar (to be taken in student's final semester prior to graduation) | 3 |
| |
| |
| Total Credit Hours | 78 |
Note: For the B.A. degree in Art, the major grade point average is calculated using only ART and AHC courses.
Course Sequence Guide for B.A. Degree in Art
This course sequence guide is designed to assist students in completing their UT San Antonio undergraduate Art degree requirements. This is merely a guide, and students must satisfy other requirements of this catalog and meet with their academic advisor for individualized degree plans. Progress within this guide depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
Note: Students desiring to transfer into the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art degree program should follow the B.F.A. Four-Year Academic Plan listed after the B.F.A. Degree Requirements.
B.A. in Art – Four-Year Academic Plan
For students not planning on transferring into the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art degree program.
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 () 1 | 3 |
| AIS 1223 | AIS: Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| ART 1003 | Foundations I 1 | 3 |
| ART 1213 | Drawing I 1 | 3 |
| WRC 1013 | Freshman Composition I () | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present () 1 | 3 |
| ART 1013 | Foundations II 1 | 3 |
| WRC 1023 | Freshman Composition II () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| POL 1013 | Introduction to American Politics () | 3 |
| ART 1023 | Foundations III | 3 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Spring |
|---|
POL 1133
| Texas Politics and Society ()
or Civil Rights in Texas and America | 3 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ART 3033 | Interdisciplinary Contemporary Studio Topics () | 3 |
| AHC 4353 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Art History and Criticism | 3 |
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ART 4973 | B.A. Senior Seminar | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| | Credit Hours | 13 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 120 |
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Art is awarded in recognition of successful completion of prolonged and intensive studio coursework with supportive studies in art history and criticism. The final two years of study include the choice of a single specialization track or an interdisciplinary track. For the single specialization track, students choose one area of study from the following concentrations: Ceramics, Drawing, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture. This track is supported by the student taking additional studio art electives. Alternately, students may choose to pursue an interdisciplinary specialization by combining two concentration areas. The University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The B.F.A. degree in Art is awarded upon the completion of 120 hours, of which 42 hours are Core Curriculum requirements. Thirty-nine (39) of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.
Students seeking the B.F.A. degree in Art are exempt from the COLFA Second Language Requirement.
Admissions
To pursue a Studio Art degree, B.A. or B.F.A., students must first apply to UT San Antonio through the general admission process (click here to view the admissions page).
Students must also apply to the School of Art through a separate portal. Students applying for either the B.A. or B.F.A. program will be required to include a digital portfolio consisting of 10-15 works and a creative statement. Portfolio requirements and guidelines are listed on the School of Art website (https://colfa.utsa.edu/art/).
If a student is not admitted to the B.A. or B.F.A. program on their first attempt, they may choose to reapply to their program of choice after completing the Foundations (gateway) courses in Art and Art History. All students may apply for acceptance into the B.A. or B.F.A. program a maximum of three times.
Transfer students must also complete the separate School of Art application and portfolio requirements for placement into the B.A. or B.F.A. programs. If a transfer student who has already completed all their Foundations courses is not admitted on their first attempt, they can reapply the following semester. Again, all students may apply for acceptance into the B.A. or B.F.A. program a maximum of three times.
Transfer students who wish to receive credit for upper-division studio art courses taken at another institution must present a portfolio of work to the department before the registration period. This portfolio should consist of four to six original examples or a digital portfolio of artworks completed for each upper-division course taken at another institution for which the student wishes to receive credit.
Once admitted, studio art majors are expected to make consistent, satisfactory progress toward their degree. A student who fails to meet this expectation will be asked to meet with a program area advisor and may be required to change their major. Information on the studio art admission process and portfolio requirements can be found on the School of Art website (https://colfa.utsa.edu/art/).
The B.A. degree is earned in person through face-to-face instruction. Classes meet Monday through Friday (usually 8am-7pm), and students hoping to obtain a degree must be present in class and ready to learn. The time to complete this degree depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
Students must complete all lower-division course requirements for this degree prior to enrolling in more than fifteen (15) hours of upper-division coursework.
Most students will fulfill the requirements for this degree with 120 semester credit hours, of which 42 hours are Core Curriculum requirements.
Due to the large number of major courses in the B.F.A. degree, full-time art students should enroll in two studio art courses, one art history and criticism course, and one or two Core Curriculum courses each semester. Art majors in the B.F.A. program should request an appointment with the undergraduate advisor for art programs before all enrollment periods. In order to complete all B.F.A. degree requirements in a timely fashion, both full-time and part-time art students should register every term for twice as many credits in their major course requirements as in Core Curriculum courses. Students seeking teacher certification should consult the Interdisciplinary Education Advising and Certification Center.
All candidates for the degree must complete 66 semester credit hours of art (ART) and 15 semester credit hours of art history and criticism (AHC).
All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.
Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the B.F.A. degree in Art must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.
AHC 1113 and AHC 1123 may be used to satisfy the core requirements in Creative Arts and Component Area Option as well as major requirements.
Click here to view the list of all Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.
Gateway Courses
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art must successfully complete each of the following Gateway Courses with a grade of “C-” or better in no more than two attempts. A student who is unable to successfully complete these courses within two attempts, including dropping a course with a grade of “W” or taking an equivalent course at another institution, will be required to change their major.
Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| |
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 (core and major) 1 | 3 |
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present (core and major) 1 | 3 |
| ART 1003 | Foundations I 1 | 3 |
| ART 1013 | Foundations II 1 | 3 |
| ART 1023 | Foundations III 1 | 3 |
| ART 1213 | Drawing I 1 | 3 |
| ART 2113 | Painting: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2223 | New Media: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2313 | Photography: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2413 | Printmaking: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2613 | Sculpture: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2713 | Ceramics: Basic | 3 |
| |
| |
| Interdisciplinary Contemporary Studio Topics (repeated for a total of 6 hours) | |
| Interdisciplinary Topics in Art History and Criticism (repeated for a total of 6 hours) | |
| |
| |
| Ceramics: Advanced | |
| Drawing: Figure | |
| Drawing: Intermediate | |
| Drawing: Advanced | |
| New Media: Advanced | |
| Painting: Intermediate | |
| Painting: Advanced | |
| Photography: Intermediate | |
| Photography: Advanced Topics | |
| Printmaking: Advanced | |
| Sculpture: Advanced | |
| |
| |
| Studio Seminar: Professionalism | |
| B.F.A. Senior Project | |
| B.F.A. Senior Exhibition | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Total Credit Hours | 84 |
Note: For the B.F.A. degree in Art, the major grade point average is calculated using only ART and AHC courses.
Course Sequence Guide for B.F.A. Degree in Art
This course sequence guide is designed to assist students in completing their UT San Antonio undergraduate Art degree requirements. This is merely a guide, and students must satisfy other requirements of this catalog and meet with their academic advisor for individualized degree plans. Progress within this guide depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
B.F.A. in Art – Four-Year Academic Plan
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AIS 1223 | AIS: Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 () 1 | 3 |
| ART 1003 | Foundations I 1 | 3 |
| ART 1213 | Drawing I 1 | 3 |
| WRC 1013 | Freshman Composition I () | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present () 1 | 3 |
| ART 1013 | Foundations II 1 | 3 |
| WRC 1023 | Freshman Composition II () | 3 |
| ART 2113 | Painting: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2223 | New Media: Basic | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ART 2313 | Photography: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2413 | Printmaking: Basic | 3 |
| ART 2613 | Sculpture: Basic | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| AHC 4353 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Art History and Criticism | 3 |
| ART 1023 | Foundations III | 3 |
| ART 2713 | Ceramics: Basic | 3 |
| ART 3033 | Interdisciplinary Contemporary Studio Topics () | 3 |
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AHC 4353 | Interdisciplinary Topics in Art History and Criticism | 3 |
| ART 3033 | Interdisciplinary Contemporary Studio Topics () | 3 |
| ART 3933 | Studio Seminar: Professionalism | 3 |
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| POL 1013 | Introduction to American Politics () | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| AHC 4333 | Topics in Art History and Criticism | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ART 4983 | B.F.A. Senior Project | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ART 4993 | B.F.A. Senior Exhibition | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 120 |
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History and Criticism
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Art History and Criticism is awarded upon the completion of 120 hours, of which 42 hours are Core Curriculum requirements. Thirty-nine (39) of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.
The B.A. degree in Art History and Criticism program offers art historical studies in the context of a liberal arts education. This degree program emphasizes critical thinking, research, and writing skills in order to prepare students for careers in the arts in a variety of fields requiring a liberal arts background, or pursuing graduate studies in art history and related fields.
Students must complete all lower-division course requirements for this degree prior to enrolling in more than fifteen (15) hours of upper-division coursework.
All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.
Students seeking the B.A. degree in Art History and Criticism must complete the COLFA Second Language Requirement. General requirements are listed on the College of Liberal and Fine Arts page of this Undergraduate Catalog.
Core Curriculum Requirements (42 semester credit hours)
Students seeking the B.A. degree in Art History and Criticism must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree.
AHC 1113 and AHC 1123 may be used to satisfy the core requirements in Creative Arts and Component Area Option as well as major requirements.
Click here to view the list of all Core Curriculum Component Area Requirements.
Gateway Courses
Students pursuing the B.A. degree in Art History and Criticism must successfully complete each of the following Gateway Courses with a grade of "C-" or better in no more than two attempts. A student who is unable to successfully complete these courses within two attempts, including dropping a course with a grade of “W” or taking an equivalent course at another institution, will be required to change their major.
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 | |
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present | |
Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 (core and major) 1 | 3 |
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present (core and major) 1 | 3 |
| ART 1003 | Foundations I | 3 |
| ART 1013 | Foundations II | 3 |
| ART 1023 | Foundations III | 3 |
| AHC 4933 | Art Gallery and Museum Internship | 3 |
| |
| Topics in Ancient to Colonial Americas (May be repeated for up to 6 credits towards this section when topics differ.) | |
| Topics in Latin American Art (May be repeated for up to 6 credits towards this section when topics differ.) | |
| Contemporary Art | |
| |
| Topics in Art History and Criticism (May be repeated for up to 9 credits towards this section when topics differ) | |
| Interdisciplinary Topics in Art History and Criticism (May be repeated for up to 6 credits towards this section when topics differ) | |
| Fundamentals of Museum Studies | |
| |
| ART 4973 | B.A. Senior Seminar | 3 |
| |
| |
| |
| Total Credit Hours | 78 |
Note: For the B.A. degree in Art History and Criticism, the major grade point average is calculated using ART and AHC courses.
Course Sequence Guide for B.A. Degree in Art History and Criticism
This course sequence guide is designed to assist students in completing their UT San Antonio undergraduate Art History and Criticism degree requirements. This is merely a guide, and students must satisfy other requirements of this catalog and meet with their academic advisor for individualized degree plans. Progress within this guide depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation, student time management, work obligations, and individual financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during Summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.
B.A. in Art History and Criticism – Four-Year Academic Plan
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AHC 1113 | Art History: Prehistory-1350 () 1 | 3 |
| AIS 1223 | AIS: Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| ART 1003 | Foundations I 1 | 3 |
| WRC 1013 | Freshman Composition I () | 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| AHC 1123 | Art History: 1350-Present () 1 | 3 |
| ART 1013 | Foundations II 1 | 3 |
| WRC 1023 | Freshman Composition II () | 3 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| ART 1023 | Foundations III | 3 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Spring |
|---|
| POL 1013 | Introduction to American Politics () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 18 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| AHC 4933 | Art Gallery and Museum Internship | 3 |
POL 1133
| Texas Politics and Society ()
or Civil Rights in Texas and America | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 12 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
HIS 1043
| United States History: Pre-Columbus to Civil War Era ()
or United States History: Civil War Era to Present
or Texas History | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Spring |
|---|
| ART 4973 | B.A. Senior Seminar | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| | Credit Hours | 13 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 120 |
