Studio Art Minor
Do you want your education to include creative problem-solving, hands-on making, and visual communication? Are you interested in working collaboratively, thinking critically, and gaining skills in a wide range of material processes? The Studio Art minor is for you!
- Take classes in a variety of disciplines.
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Work in cutting-edge labs and facilities.
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Be in-the-know and participate in lectures and seminars by visiting artists and critics.
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Attend exciting performances and exhibitions at the Visual Arts Center.
Why Studio Art?
Think about the world differently. Build competencies in visual literacy and critical thinking while getting your hands dirty. We focus on both traditional and digital media. Learn how and why contemporary artists use both to fluidly explore and engage with the changing world around them.
Work with faculty who are renowned practicing artists. Be part of an inviting community of avid makers, critical thinkers, and active collaborators while pursuing your major field of study. Take a fresh, creative perspective back to your biology, business, or engineering classroom.
About the Studio Art Program
The Studio Art program is committed to the development of contemporary artists who are not only proficient makers, but also curious and inquisitive observers, critical thinkers, and resourceful self-initiators. Students in the Studio Art program benefit from small class sizes and well-equipped facilities, the numerous offerings of a tier one research university, and active relationships with the larger arts communities in Austin and beyond.
Rather than being limited to study in a single discipline, students explore media in and across multiple disciplines, including Painting & Drawing, Photography & Media, Print, Sculpture & Extended Media, and Transmedia (video / performance / digital media). Professionally active faculty and a rotation of visiting practitioners help students draw connections between their own work and contemporary and historical themes, while the academic offerings of the wider university enrich students’ knowledge of the broader contexts in which art is made and understood.
Coursework Requirements for the Studio Art Minor
Be Aware!
- Although the courses required for the minor are 3 credit hours, Studio Art classes meet for 6 hours per week. As you consider if the Studio Art minor is right for you, keep in mind that you will need to allow for 6 hours of in-person classroom time per week for each Studio Art class in your semester schedule.
- All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade point average of at least 2.50 in minor coursework.
Requirements
Fifteen (15) credit hours of Studio Art (ART) coursework chosen from the courses below.
- ART 352C
Painting for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 352D
Drawing for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 352E
Figure Drawing for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 352F
Print for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 352G
Sculpture for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 352J
Photography for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 352K
Transmedia for Non-Majors 3 credit hours / May be taken twice for credit - ART 350
Philosophy / Theory / Criticism 3 credit hours / May not be repeated for credit
Apply to the Studio Art Minor
The application to the Studio Art minor is open annually from August 1 – September 15 only. No applications can or will be accepted outside of that window.
Please review the application requirements below to determine if you are eligible to apply. If so, return to this page during the application window in order to access the application. Please note that the department is limited in the number of applications it can accept each year.
Application Requirements
- You must be on the 2018–2020 or a subsequent academic catalog in order to apply to and pursue the Studio Art minor.
- You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in order to apply to the Studio Art minor.
- You must have completed at least 30 hours of coursework, but no more than 90 hours of coursework in order to apply to the Studio Art minor. This total is calculated at the time you apply and includes Transfer and Credit By Exam credit.
- A Statement of Purpose is required in order to apply to the Studio Art minor and will be requested when you submit your application. This statement is reviewed by Studio Art faculty.
- The statement of purpose should include: What is your current major? How do you see the Studio Art minor contributing to your chosen major of study and/or career path?
- Word-count requirement: 200 words minimum / 300 words maximum
For complete information about minor requirements and eligibility at the University of Texas, please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What courses count towards minor requirements?
ART 352C, ART 352D, ART 352E, ART 352F, ART 352G, ART 352J, ART 352K, ART 350
Are all of the courses for the minor offered every semester?
No. Some of the mediums (like Figure Drawing and Transmedia) are not taught on a regular basis. In a typical semester, there are five or six classes offered that will count towards the minor.
Can Studio Art classes taken at another school be transferred and counted towards the minor?
Possibly. If you apply for and are approved for the minor, you may contact the Undergraduate Advisor with syllabi for transfer coursework. The faculty will review the syllabi and determine if the course(s) can count towards the minor requirements. Be aware that a maximum of 6 hours of transfer coursework may count towards the minor, as at least half of the required coursework in the minor must be completed in-residence at The University of Texas at Austin.
Can AP credit count towards the minor?
No. ART 319T via Advanced Placement credit for Studio Art may not count towards the minor.
Can other ART-prefix classes at UT count towards the minor?
Yes, with limitations. Occasionally non-major students are granted approval to take major-restricted ART classes at UT. If you apply for and are approved for the minor and take a restricted ART class prior to or while pursuing the minor, contact the Undergraduate Advisor to discuss a course substitution process. Be aware that a maximum of 9 hours of lower-division ART courses may count towards the minor, as minors must include a minimum of six hours of upper-division coursework.
If I take a class for the minor before I apply for and/or are accepted into the minor, does the class still count towards the minor requirements?
Yes. Any approved classes you take prior to pursuing the minor will automatically count towards the minor requirements if you are approved for the minor in the future.
Why is the application only open once a year?
The department is limited in the number of applications it can accept each year. Due to the small size of Studio Art classes, there is only so much availability for students to take those classes each semester and the department does not want to admit more students than can be adequately served by those classes. Limiting applications to once a year allows the department to effectively manage the size of the minor student population, ensuring approved students can take the classes they need.
Why does the application require that a student must have completed at least 30 hours of coursework, but no more than 90 hours of coursework?
As the department is limited in the number of applications it can accept each year, students with less than 30 hours should plan to apply in a later cycle. Typically, if a student has completed over 90 hours, they will not have time to complete the minor requirements prior to their planned graduation. If a student with over 90 hours can demonstrate that they can complete the minor requirements without extending graduation, they may contact the Undergraduate Advisor for info about a potential appeal to be allowed to apply.
Have a question not included above?
Contact the Undergraduate Advisor for the Department of Art and Art History.