"Now I know why people go to school for Art."
- Ian Blethen
Art Student
"Studying the visual arts provides a solid foundation for many field careers. A person capable of analyzing information, creating solutions, listening to the ideas of others and offering constructive criticism will be a valuable contributor in any workplace. As a bonus, you get to get really messy while you are at school."
- Peter Precourt
Assistant Professor of Art
Home » Academics » UMA Colleges » Arts and Humanities » Art
Degree Offered: B.A. with concentrations in ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture
Offered on the Augusta campus
Picture yourself in a wide range of studio classes, including design, ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. You’ll complement those studio courses with explorations in art history, providing a foundation for success in the many varied careers related to artistic expression.
UMA’s outstanding Bachelor’s and Associate degree programs in Art will provide you the freedom and support to evolve your own creative potential, while preparing you for a career as an elementary or secondary art teacher, arts administrator, commercial or exhibiting artist.
Our Bachelor’s program is a collaborative endeavor with the University of Maine at Farmington, affording students at both schools with access to more extensive and better equipped facilities, combined library resources, a more diverse faculty, and an enriched educational experience.
Graduates of our BA program will:
- be prepared for entry into post-baccalaureate degree programs in visual art
- possess a strong foundation and understanding of the elements and principles of art design, and will gain an appreciation of major art movements and artists of the post and present
- have developed strong technical competencies in at least two studio disciplines
- have the ability to exhibit professionally
- gain an awareness of the creative potential of the new technologies such as computer imaging
- be exposed to a wide range of intellectual diversity
SKILLS YOU'LL ACQUIRE
As a UMA Art student, you'll develop abilities ranging from specific knowledge of the artistic expression to analysis of art works, their quality, purpose, and meaning. Critical thinking and writing skills, along with an understanding of materials and process, will enable you to contribute to and succeed in many professions. The following is a selected list of skills and abilities acquired through the study of art:
| Organization | Communication |
|---|---|
| Visual organization Organizing in 3-D Accurate observation & recording Planning Working independently Attending to details | Communicating images Communicating concepts Visual communication Expressing ideas through various media Understanding art as a cultural and social phenomenon |
| Analysis/Technical | Artistic |
| Evaluating aesthetic Analyzing data Applying knowledge creatively Working with tools Working with hands | Strong color sense Sensitivity to beauty Aesthetic awareness Sketching/drawing Demonstrating artistic expression |
Careers You Can Seek
Our B.A. degree in Art can serve as a foundation for many diverse career paths. The selected list below offers a few options that may be available to you.
| Fine Arts & Crafts | Printing & Media |
|---|---|
| Potter Photographer Jeweler Weaver Glass Blower Basket Maker Printmaker Furniture Maker Painter | Book Jacket Designer Graphic Designer Art Director Greeting Card Designer Cartoonist Children’s Book Illustrator Medical/Scientific Illustrator Copy Camera Operator Special Effects Artist |
| Education/Community | Business/Industry |
| Teacher’s Aide Art Teacher/Professor City Cultural Events Planner Gallery/Museum Curator or Director Docent Art Critic Exhibition Installer Art Therapist Interior Designer | Fashion Designer/Illustrator Advertising Sales Retail Buyer Computer Imager Image Consultant Product/Package Designer Merchandise Displayer Artists’ Agents Craft Shop Owner/Operator Industrial Designer Fabric Designer Color Separator |
View this program's current checksheet (PDF document)