UTexas

Bachelor of Arts

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

Core Curriculum

All students must complete the University’s Core Curriculum. In the process of fulfilling the core curriculum and other degree requirements, all students are expected to complete the Skills and Experience flags:

  1. Writing: two flagged courses beyond Rhetoric and Writing 306 or its equivalent
  2. Quantitative Reasoning: one flagged course
  3. Global Cultures: one flagged course
  4. Cultural Diversity in the United States: one flagged course
  5. Ethics: one flagged course
  6. Independent Inquiry: one flagged course

Courses that may be used to fulfill core curriculum and flag requirements are identified in the Course ScheduleThey may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements, unless otherwise specified. Please note, students may not earn the cultural diversity and global cultures flags from the same course. Students are encouraged to discuss options with a departmental academic advisor.

Studio Art Major

Prescribed Work

  1. Foreign language: Beginning level proficiency in a foreign language.
  2. Social and behavioral sciences: Six semester hours chosen from the following areas: anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, linguistics, psychology, and sociology. A course counted toward this requirement may not also be counted toward any core curriculum requirement.
  3. General culture: Three semester hours chosen from the following areas: architecture, classics (including classical civilization, Greek, Latin), comparative literature, humanities, philosophy, and interdisciplinary fields outside the Department of Art and Art History such as American studies, African and African diaspora studies, Asian studies, Latin American studies, Mexican American studies, and women’s and gender studies. The student is encouraged to choose coursework of a multicultural nature. Courses outside the Department of Art and Art History that are cross-listed with courses in the department may not be used to fulfill this requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may not also be counted toward any core curriculum requirement.
  4. Science, technology, and mathematics: Six semester hours of coursework. Courses must be chosen from computer science, mathematics, and the fields of study included in the science and technology, part I, requirement of the core curriculum. A course counted toward this requirement may not also be counted toward any core curriculum requirement.

Major Requirements

  1. Studio art: 30 semester hours, consisting of Studio Art 311C, 312C, 313C, and 314C, and 18 additional semester hours of studio art, of which at least 12 hours must be upper-division.
  2. Art history: 12 semester hours, consisting of Art History 302303 and six hours of upper-division coursework in art history. Several of the courses which may be used to complete this requirement are also approved to fulfill the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum and may be used to fulfill both.

Electives

Nine to 15 semester hours chosen from courses either within or outside the Department of Art and Art History. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BA with a major in studio art: 120 semester hours as outlined above.

Art History Major

Prescribed Work

  1. Foreign language: Intermediate level proficiency in a foreign language.
  2. Social and behavioral sciences: Six semester hours chosen from the following areas: anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, linguistics, psychology, and sociology. A course counted toward this requirement may not also be counted toward any core curriculum requirement.
  3. General culture: Three semester hours in one of the following areas:
    1. Architecture
    2. Classics, including classical civilization, Greek, Latin (but excluding any courses in Greek or Latin that are used to fulfill the language requirement)
    3. Music
    4. Philosophy
    5. Radio-television-film
    6. Theatre and dance
    7. Programs of special concentration, such as women’s and gender studies and Latin American studies

A course used to fulfill requirement 3 may not also be counted toward any core curriculum requirement.

Major Requirements

  1. Studio Art 311C or 312C
  2. Art history: 36 semester hours, consisting of
    1. Art History 302, 303304, 321, and 375
    2. Twelve semester hours of upper-division art history courses chosen to meet four of the following geographical areas:
      1. Africa
      2. Asia & Pacific
      3. Europe
      4. Middle East
      5. The Americas
    3. Nine semester hours of upper-division art history courses chosen to meet three of the following four periods:
      1. Prehistoric-600
      2. 600-1500
      3. 1500-1900
      4. 1900-present

Several of the courses which may be used to complete requirement 2 are also approved to fulfill the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum and may be used to fulfill both.

Electives

Twelve to 18 semester hours chosen from courses either within or outside the Department of Art and Art History. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BA with a major in art history: 120 semester hours as outlined above.

Design Major

Prescribed Work

Foreign language: Intermediate level proficiency in a foreign language.

Major Requirements

  1. Design courses: 32 semester hours, consisting of:
    1. Design 304305, and six additional semester hours of lower-division DES coursework
    2. Design 374 with a grade of at least C-
    3. Seventeen semester hours of design courses, of which at least eight hours must be upper-division. Design 336 and 337 may not be counted. 
  2. Art/design history/theory/criticism courses: Nine semester hours chosen from
    1. Art History 303
    2. Design 308
    3. Design 336 or 337 (Topic 1: History of Graphic Design)
  3. Performance review: Design 131. A design major must register for the performance review course during the second semester of sophomore year, and present a portfolio of his or her works for review by designated design faculty at the end of the semester. The works to be included for review are specified by the design faculty. In order to enroll in courses numbered Design 340 or higher, the student must pass this performance review.

Several of the courses which may be used to complete requirements 1 and 2 are also approved to fulfill the visual and performing arts requirement of the core curriculum and may be used to fulfill both.

Electives

Eighteen semester hours chosen from courses either within or outside the School of Design and Creative Technologies. Additional elective coursework may be needed to provide the total number of semester hours required for the degree.

Total Minimum Requirements

For the BA with a major in design: 120 semester hours as outlined above.