Major Programs
The Department of Art and Art History offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree with two options (studio art and art history), a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and a M.F.A. in Painting degree.
B.A. in Art - Studio Art Option
The B.A. in Art - Studio Art option prepares students for entrance into graduate schools and for a number of vocational opportunities in museum/gallery work and creative endeavor. The Department does not offer any courses in the commercial arts (graphic design, advertising, illustration, computer generated art, etc.), but it does provide a strong fine arts background for those wishing to enter the commercial art field.
Through a combination of introductory and specialized courses, the studio art curriculum offers breadth and depth to students who want considerable experience in several studio areas within a liberal arts context. Students choosing this major take both studio (2 D and 3 D) and art history courses and also fulfill the general education, writing intensive, and foreign language requirements of the University and the College of Liberal Arts. While a minimum of 13 courses and 52 credits are needed to fulfill the art major requirements, students are urged to develop a program with depth in one area (painting, sculpture, etc.), which may require completion of more than 13 courses.
Studio Art major requirement sheet
B.A. in Art - Art History Option
The Art History major provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of Western art from the ancient world to the late twentieth century and some exposure, as well, to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. All courses in the program teach basic skills of interpretation and critical analysis within the framework of broad cultural perspectives that connect the visual arts to larger historical developments. They also teach good writing and research skills. In addition, art history majors typically branch out into other fields, such as history, literature, and foreign languages. By the time they graduate, most majors are well equipped to pursue such traditional careers in the field as museum and gallery work, teaching, publishing, or librarianship. But because art-historical education is so broad, it also prepares students for a variety of other, more flexible options. For example, art history is one of the favored majors for admission to professional schools in fields such as law, business, or medicine, not to mention architecture.Students enrolled in the Art History option must complete a minimum of 11 courses and 44 credits in required courses and electives and fulfill the University general education, writing intensive, and foreign language requirements. Students contemplating graduate school should learn German and, if possible, either French or Italian.
Art history major requirement sheet
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
Incoming freshmen applicants wishing to enter the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program must first apply for and be admitted to the B.A. Art major - Studio Arts option. After taking the introductory studio art courses at UNH, interested students can then seek out two faculty to sponsor their application for the BFA program. Studio majors generally wait until they are well into the intermediate level courses before submitting a portfolio for the BFA review, which is held before a full faculty committee twice a year.
The BFA curriculum provides training for students who plan to enter professional graduate school or to pursue careers as professional artists. The 20 course (84 credits) curriculum is divided into two distinct units: (1) a basic unit of nine courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, sophomore seminar, and art history, and (2) an advanced unit of six courses in which students pursue in depth one of several groups of courses (drawing, painting, sculpture, or individualized programs). The individualized programs are designed with permission of the major advisor and the BFA Committee in one or more of the following subject areas: ceramics, photography, printmaking, and wood furniture design. Four or more additional courses are required for completion of the BFA degree: three art electives and the two semester Arts 798 (Seminar/Senior Thesis), which culminates in an exhibition of the student's work in The Art Gallery.
Art Education Program
There is no undergraduate art education major at UNH. The University does offer an approved art education program that is organized into a five year teacher education sequence. To be certified to teach elementary or secondary art in New Hampshire and in most other states, students earn a B.A. in Art – Studio Art option, take the required education courses, and complete a year long internship. Students considering the art education program should consult the UNH Undergraduate Catalog under the heading "Preparing for Teaching."
2-Dimensional Curriculum and Facilities
The two-dimensional curriculum is the largest in the department, and its breadth and content are shaped by the variety of approaches and expertise of the faculty. The 2-D courses are based on solid basic training and on the encouragement of independent and personal expression. Figuration and still life drawing are the core of the program. After completing Introductory Drawing, students pursue a wide variety of course offerings, choosing from oil painting, water media, photography, printmaking, and advanced drawing. Students work in classroom studios and participate in group critiques and seminars. Towards the end of the four year curriculum, individual works receive increasingly detailed review and critique. Students are taught to methodically evaluate their own and other students work.
North light and clerestory windows for even light distribution throughout the day illuminate the large, open studios. Class size varies, and upper level studio enrollment is usually about 15 students per class. Easels, drawing benches, and models are provided. Student works are exhibited in the corridors of the art wing of the Paul Creative Arts Center.
3-Dimensional Curriculum and Facilities
The three-dimensional curriculum offers concentrations in sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, and furniture design. While each of these programs has a distinct curriculum, together they interrelate to form a comprehensive area. Teaching is highly individualized, enabling students to understand and develop their own styles while learning the aesthetic principles and technical skills involved in class projects. Assignments are based on contemporary issues but always develop from a sound historical perspective. Class size is kept small to provide structured, personal instruction. Full time technical assistants and student fellows who provide further instruction and technical help outside of class assist professors.
The sculpture studio offers a complete bronze foundry, fabrication tools, equipment for work in wood and metal, gas and electric welding, a carving facility for wood and stone, hand and pneumatic tools, and a figure modeling area which provides quality space and light for anatomic modeling.
The ceramics studio offers opportunities for hand building, mold making, and wheel thrown work. Both utilitarian and sculptural aspects are explored. The studios are equipped with kickwheels, gas, electric and raku kilns.
The woodworking and furniture design studio has a well equipped shop in which the broadest range of techniques is pursued. A full complement of hand and power tools is augmented by facilities for clamping and gluing, bending, forming, and finishing wood. The furniture program includes Arts 725 Wood Multiples, which prepares students to enter such events as the biennial National Students Furniture Design Competition. UNH has had several prizewinners in recent years.