Our program includes a multi-cultural history of textiles, contemporary fiber artists, and the integration of traditional techniques with digital media. Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of fibers and its visual language, while learning its traditional processes and contemporary applications.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Core | 45 | |
| First Year Program | 15 | |
| Art & Design Core | 15 | |
| BFA Degree Requirements | 31 | |
| Area of Concentration | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 130 | |
University Core
The minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Arts is 120; the minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts is 130. Students who need background preparation courses in math, English, foreign language, and chemistry may need additional credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | ||
| Compentencies 1 | ||
| English Parts A & B 2 | ||
| Math Parts A & B 2 | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | ||
| Distribution Requirements 1 | ||
| ARTHIST 101 | Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture (counts as Humanities GER) | 3 |
| ARTHIST 102 | Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture (counts as Humanities GER) | 3 |
| Social Science | 6 | |
| Natural Science (1 course with lab) | 6 | |
| Cultural Diversity 2 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Advanced ARTHIST course | 6 | |
| Select 3 arts areas outside Art and Design | 9 | |
| Select 3 credits in an arts area | 3 | |
| Select 9 credits outside Peck School of the Arts | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
| 1 | Learn more about the General Education Requirements. |
| 2 | Credit may be utilized in required curriculum areas. |
First Year Program
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 cumulative GPA required: | ||
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 106 | Art Survey | 3 |
| ART 108 | 2D Concepts | 3 |
| ART 109 | 3D Concepts | 3 |
| ART 118 | Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Art & Design Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 200 Level Studio Electives 1 | ||
| Select 3-6 credits of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Drawing II 2 | ||
| Color Studio | ||
| Introduction to Digital Studio: A/V Strategies 3 | ||
| Introduction to Design 4 | ||
| Introduction to Digital Filmmaking | ||
| Introduction to Typography | ||
| Dynamic Typography | ||
| Design Workshop: | ||
| Fiber Workshop: | ||
| Introduction to Painting | ||
| Painting and Drawing Workshop: | ||
| Introduction to Photography 5 | ||
| Sculpture Workshop: | ||
| Design for Digital Fabrication | ||
| Jewelry and Metalsmithing Workshop: | ||
| Ceramics Workshop: | ||
| Introduction to Print and Narrative Forms | ||
| Printmaking Workshop: | ||
| Select 3-6 credits of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Fibers | ||
| Introduction to Sculpture | ||
| Introduction to Jewelry and Metalsmithing | ||
| Introduction to Ceramics | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| ART 309 | Issues in Contemporary Art: | 3 |
| ART 509 | Art & Design Seminar: | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | Complete 9 credits total, not applicable if fulfilled as part of degree curriculum. |
| 2 | Required for Painting and Drawing concentration. |
| 3 | Required for Digital Studio Practice concentration. |
| 4 | Required for Design and Visual Communication concentration. |
| 5 | Required for Photography and Imaging concentration. |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art & Design Electives | ||
| Select 27 credits (15 credits must be 300-level and above studio courses) | 27 | |
| Senior Capstone | ||
| ART 604 | Professional Practices | 3 |
| ART 605 | BFA Exhibition | 1 |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fibers Introductory | ||
| ART 231 | Introduction to Fibers | 3 |
| Fibers Core | ||
| Select six of the following: | 18 | |
| Woven Structure I | ||
| Pliable Materials/Sculptural Forms | ||
| Print, Paint and Dye on Fabric | ||
| Screen Printing on Fabric | ||
| Special Topics in Fibers: | ||
| Woven Structure II | ||
| Digital Imaging for Fabric | ||
| Mixed Materials: Concept/Object | ||
| Cloth Construction: Surface to Structure | ||
| Fibers-Independent Study | ||
| Fibers Capstone | ||
| ART 531 | Senior Project in Fibers | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Art BFA – Sample Curriculum in Fibers
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| (Includes OWC-A and QL-A Requirements) Students must be aware of the prerequisites for the 200-level course they wish to take in the second semester of the First Year and enroll in the appropriate First Year Program courses in fall. | ||
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 106 | Art Survey | 3 |
| ART 108 or ART 109 | 2D Concepts or 3D Concepts | 3 |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 109 or ART 108 | 3D Concepts or 2D Concepts | 3 |
| ART 118 | Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Fibers | ||
200-level studio in Art | ||
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Students are reminded that admission to the Art & Design Program requires completion of the 36-credit Art-Intended requirements and that all First Year Program courses must be completed in the first 45 credits (usually in fall semester of sophomore year) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Fibers | ||
200-level studio in Art | ||
| 200-level studio in Art | 3 | |
| 200-level studio in Art | 3 | |
| ART 309 | Issues in Contemporary Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 101 | Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture 2 | 3 |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 337 or ART 336 | Screen Printing on Fabric or Print, Paint and Dye on Fabric | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Woven Structure I | ||
| Special Topics in Fibers: | ||
| Mixed Materials: Concept/Object | ||
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| ARTHIST 102 | Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture 2 | 3 |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 333 | Pliable Materials/Sculptural Forms | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Print, Paint and Dye on Fabric | ||
| Digital Imaging for Fabric | ||
| Cloth Construction: Surface to Structure | ||
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| Advanced Art History choice 2 | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Special Topics in Fibers: | ||
| Woven Structure II | ||
| Mixed Materials: Concept/Object | ||
| ART 509 | Art & Design Seminar: (subtitle) | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| Advanced Art History choice 2 | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 604 | Professional Practices | 3 |
| ART 433 or ART 436 | Digital Imaging for Fabric or Cloth Construction: Surface to Structure | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 605 | BFA Exhibition | 1 |
| ART 531 | Senior Project in Fibers | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| Art & Design Elective | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| University Core 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 130 | |
| 1 | Consult your academic advisor in the Peck School of the Arts Student Services Office for requirements in the Core Curriculum. PSOA Arts Distribution Requirement is part of the 45-credit Core: 9 credits outside of Art & Design, in 3 of the 4 other departments in PSOA: Dance, Music, Theatre, or Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres. |
| 2 | The 12 Art History credits count in the Core Curriculum. Six credits (ARTHIST 101 and ARTHIST 102) count as Humanities GER. |
Art & Design Undergraduate Admission Requirements
To be admitted in good standing, applicants (incoming freshmen and transfer students) must meet general University requirements. Applicants to the Art & Design program must also submit a portfolio of artworks and additional supporting materials, as described below, for review by Art & Design faculty:
- Art & Design Portfolio form. Complete the form and send it in with the packet. (Form is online at uwm.edu/arts/apply/.)
- Portfolio of artworks. Provide 8-10 examples of artwork you created in the past two years. If your portfolio includes drawings, we recommend that you include at least three drawings from observation (not photographs). Identify each image by media, size, and year of completion in a separate document. JPEG files at 2000px max preferred.
- Statement of Intent. Upload a one-page pdf that describes how your interests and past experiences relate to your intended college choice and career path. Students who have little to no prior formal art training are encouraged to write a more extensive statement.
Art & Design awards art scholarships based on this incoming portfolio. To be eligible for department-level scholarships, incoming new freshmen & transfers must complete the requirements above by December 15. Portfolios will be accepted after this date for general admission to the department.
General information: 414-229-4763; art-admission@uwm.edu; uwm.edu/arts/art-and-design/.
Appeal Process
An appeal process is established for students who do not meet the department's criteria for admissions, classification, GPA, and area of concentration enrollment management requirements. The appeal process will provide an opportunity for individual students to request admission as an art major or enrollment into courses as exceptions to the department's enrollment policies based on defined, pre-determined conditions. All appeals are to be directed to the Undergraduate Advisor or PSOA advisor, who will forward the appeals to the department chair or appropriate appeals committee. The department chair or appeals committee will consult with the First Year Program Director, area head, faculty, advisors, and student if necessary before making a decision.
Advancement to Major
Students accepted into the Art & Design program receive priority registration over non-art majors. To advance to the Art & Design major, students must complete the following: 36 credits outlined below with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher:
- Complete First Year Program courses (15 credits; see course list below)
- Oral and Written Communications Competency Part A (OWC-A);
- Quantitative Literacy Competency Part A (QL-A);
- A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Complete 9 credits required 200-level studios (see course list below).
- Students pursuing the Design and Visual Communication BFA have additional requirements: complete ART 124, ART 221, and ART 223 with a B- or better; and pass the Design and Visual Communication Portfolio review.
- Students should complete the above to advance to major within the first 45 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 106 | Art Survey | 3 |
| ART 108 | 2D Concepts | 3 |
| ART 109 | 3D Concepts | 3 |
| ART 118 | Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Location: Theatre 120
Hours: 9AM-4PM Monday through Thursday, 9AM-2PM Fridays
(closed on university holidays)
Contact: (414) 229-4763
Academic advising is an important aspect of long-term academic success. At the Peck School of the Arts, we offer professional academic advising in the following undergraduate disciplines: art, dance, film, music, and theatre.
Advisors provide students with individualized advising to assist them in areas such as: degree requirements, major options, course selection, campus resources, college success strategies, graduation assessment, academic policies and procedures, etc.
For more information on Peck School of the Arts advising, please visit http://uwm.edu/arts/advising/.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or greater in the major and the academic department's recommendation.
High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or greater and the academic department's recommendation.
Departmental Honors are granted to students recommended by their academic department for Honors excellence in performance not reflected in the GPA.
Dean's Honors are granted to students with major achievements in one or more of the arts.
Honors in the Peck School of the Arts
Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors Degree and Honors Degree with Thesis
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. In schools and colleges in which fewer than 15% of the traditional students have a 3.500 GPA, all-university honors will be awarded to approximately the top 15% of graduating students. A criterion GPA (not lower than 3.200) for this 15% will be calculated based on statistics from the previous comparable semester. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.