Art & Art History
The BFA degree at UNH offers a comprehensive foundation in both studio art and art history, preparing you for a career as a working artist or advanced graduate study. Here you'll be able to create art through diverse media — from sculpture and ceramics to woodworking and furniture design — while developing your unique creative vision.
You’ll find inspiration through our Visiting Artists program and by exploring the vibrant arts communities of Portsmouth and Boston. This program also offers the opportunity for B.F.A consideration through portfolio submission. You’ll graduate with both the artistic skills and practical knowledge needed to thrive in the professional art world.
*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.
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Whether you plan to work as an artist or pursue graduate studies, our fine arts degree will prepare you with a solid foundation in art history and studio art. Students admitted to the studio arts program may submit a portfolio of work to be considered for the B.F.A. Through your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to work with a broad array of media, with access to facilities including our sculpture, ceramics, and woodworking and furniture design studios.
You’ll develop and refine your creative vision while in the fine arts degree program at UNH, also gaining a practical understanding of what it takes to survive as a working artist. You’ll find inspiration through the Gallery of Art and Paul Creative Arts Center on campus, and within the arts-rich community of Portsmouth just minutes away. The fine art museums of Boston are within an hour’s drive. You’ll also meet and learn from artists and historians from around the world through our Visiting Artists & Art Historians program.
Incoming first-year and transfer applicants wishing to enter the bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree program must first apply for, and be admitted to, the bachelor of arts (B.A.) in the Arts: Studio Art option. Students may submit a B.F.A. portfolio after they begin their studies at UNH, as early as the spring semester of their first year. A full faculty review is held each spring semester.
The B.F.A. curriculum provides advanced training for students who plan to enter professional graduate school or pursue careers as professional artists.
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Core Foundation | ||
| ARTS 510 | Principles of Design | 4 |
| ARTS 532 | Introductory Drawing | 4 |
| ARTS 567 | Introductory Sculpture | 4 |
| Core Supplemental | ||
| Select one 500/600 level 2D course from the following: | 4 | |
ARTS 536 | Introduction Printmaking: Intaglio | |
ARTS 546 | Painting Design I: Perceptual Painting and Color Theory | |
ARTS 640 | Drawing Workshop | |
| Select one 500-level 3D course from the following: | 4 | |
ARTS 501 | Introductory Ceramics | |
ARTS 525 | Introductory Woodworking | |
| Select one Photography course from the following: | 4 | |
ARTS 551 | Introduction to Darkroom Photography | |
ARTS 552 | Introductory Digital Photography | |
| Core Seminars | ||
| ARTS 598 | An Artist's Life | 4 |
| ARTS 798 | Seminar/Senior Thesis (two-semester course) | 8 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Select five (5) Studio courses in a concentration (see concentration courses below) | 20 | |
| Advanced Studio Seminar | ||
| ARTS 780 | Advanced Studio Seminar | 4 |
| Core Art History | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | |
ARTH 474 | Introduction to Architectural History | |
ARTH 480 | Introduction to Art History | |
ARTH 485 | Introduction to Global Art History | |
| Select two 600-level or above art history courses from the following: | 8 | |
ARTH 674 | Greek Art and Architecture | |
ARTH 678 | Romanesque and Gothic Art | |
ARTH 681 | Early Renaissance Art | |
ARTH 682 | The High Renaissance | |
ARTH 686 | Sex and Sensuality in 18th-Century Art | |
ARTH 688 | Histories of Late 19th & 20th Century European Modernism | |
ARTH 694 | Vision and Modernity: From Panorama to Early Film | |
ARTH 695 | Topics in Art History | |
ARTH 795 | Understanding Art History: An In-Depth Overview | |
| Total Credits | 72 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ARTS 601 | Ceramics Workshop (may be repeated) | |
ARTS 610 | Principles of Typography | |
ARTS 611 | Animation and Motion Design | |
ARTS 612 | Interaction & Game Design | |
ARTS 613 | Design and Place | |
ARTS 614 | Design and People | |
ARTS 625 | Wood/Furniture Design Workshop (may be repeated) | |
ARTS 636 | Printmaking Workshop (may be repeated) | |
ARTS 651 | Photography Workshop (may be repeated) | |
ARTS 667 | Sculpture Workshop (may be repeated) | |
ARTS 796 | Independent Study: Studio Art (K: Wood Design, may be repeated) |
The possible areas of concentration within the department are painting, sculpture, ceramics, design, drawing, printmaking, photography, and furniture design. Proposals for individualized programs are accepted only by permission of the departmental chairperson, the major adviser, and the departmental bachelor of fine arts committee. Candidates applying for the bachelor of fine arts program are required to submit a portfolio to the B.F.A. committee, which meets each spring semester.
The Discovery Program capstone requirement may be fulfilled by completing .
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program.
Program Learning Outcomes
Introductory (500) Level: