The highly ranked Department of Art’s degree programs provide creative students with the critical and artistic skills needed to excel in contemporary and multidisciplinary art and design practices. The art curriculum fosters positive collaboration, the creation of innovative and technically advanced artworks, and encourages the sharing of diverse points of view. 

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is the most studio-intensive, professional-level degree for artists and designers. Approximately 44 of the 72 required studio credits are spent in intermediate and advanced-level studio courses, allowing art and design students to graduate with a highly advanced portfolio. Most art majors decide to follow this degree path during their sophomore or junior years. With excellent planning and time management, it can be completed in four years.

All of the degree programs in art feature a rigorous foundation program, a set of six courses that students often complete by participating in the popular Contemporary Art & Artists First-Year Interest Group (FIG), before branching out into one or more specialized areas:

• 4D Digital Media
• 4D Video and Performance
• Ceramics
• Drawing/Painting
• Glass/Neon
• Graphic Design
• Metals/Jewelry
• Printmaking/Book Arts
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Wood/Furniture

Potential careers for artists include creative director, content marketing manager, arts administrator, studio manager, glassblower, metal fabricator, carpenter, illustrator, commercial or fine arts photographer, primary/secondary school art teacher, gallerist, or studio artist. Our graduates also work as community arts organizers, user experience designers, technical assistants for major film companies, jewelry designers and fabricators, book designers, museum preparators, and more!

The Department of Art believes that hardworking students who learn to harness and nurture their creative energies today will be the people influencing progress tomorrow. Come join us!

How to Get in

Program Admission Overview

Students interested in the Art–BFA degree, or Art-BFA with the Graphic Design named option, initially enroll in the Art–BS degree or Art-BS with the Graphic Design named option while completing prerequisite coursework and establishing other criteria for BFA eligibility. A BFA mentoring meeting to review a portfolio of work is part of the BFA selection process. Students will typically declare the BFA in their junior year and must have attained a minimum of junior standing. For the BFA, a BFA mentoring meeting may be scheduled during the semester that the required courses will be completed. For the BFA: Graphic Design named option, the declaration may be submitted during the semester that the required courses will be completed, with the exception of ART 102 2D Foundations and ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms, which must be successfully completed.

Application and Admission

New freshmen and off-campus transfers are admitted directly to the Art–BS degree program and receive an ART classification. All art degree programs currently admit on-campus students to begin in the fall, spring, and summer. Requirements and selection criteria may be modified from one application/admission period to the next. Potential applicants should consult the School of Education's Undergraduate Admissions page for updates to eligibility requirements prior to submitting an application.

Application Procedures

Prospective UW–Madison Applicants

The Office of Admissions and Recruitment makes final determinations regarding admission criteria and the status of all applicants. Additional information, including submission guidelines, is available on the How to Apply page of the art department's website.

Current UW–Madison Students

On-campus students interested in pursuing the BFA must first apply to the Art–BS degree program. A meeting with an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Art is required, and can be scheduled using Starfish, or by contacting the Department of Art at 608-262-1660. Upon completion of the BFA mentoring meeting (see additional details below), students will complete an application signed by an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Art to move into the BFA program.

Transfer Students

Applicants not already enrolled on the UW–Madison campus must be admissible to the university to enroll in a School of Education program. Admission to UW–Madison requires a separate application and admission process. See UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment for application information. Note that off-campus transfer students will be held to the UW–Madison admission GPA requirements. BFA candidates cannot transfer directly into the BFA program; instead, they will be admitted to campus as if pursing a BS–Art degree (ART classification) and can apply for the BFA program once enrolled on campus. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to meet with the Department of Art advisor prior to coming to campus; call 608-262-1660 to schedule an appointment. Prospective transfer students are strongly advised to meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office in advance of their application; to schedule, call 608-262-1651.

Students With a Previous Degree

Prospective applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office in advance of their application. Consultations with advisors are available in person or via telephone; to schedule, call 608-262-1651.

Applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree are admitted to the School of Education as either an Education Special student or a second degree student, depending on their interests and academic background. Admission as an Education Special student indicates that that the student has an interest in pursuing certification in a subject area studied during the initial degree; another degree is not awarded for this "certification only" coursework. Second degree students are seeking a second, unrelated degree from the School of Education, which may, or may not, include teacher certification. Candidates for limited enrollment programs must meet all admission eligibility requirements for the program and must compete with the eligible applicants for program admission. More information is available here.

Criteria for Admission

• Previous Art–BS or Art-BS Graphic Design named option degree program status.
• Cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 based on UW–Madison campus coursework, as modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule (detailed below).
• For the BFA degree and the BFA degree with the Graphic Design named option, successful completion or concurrent enrollment in the following courses:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  ART 102	2D Foundations	3
  ART 104	3D Foundations	3
  ART 107	Introduction to Digital Forms	3
  ART 108	Foundations of Contemporary Art	3
  ART 208	Current Directions in Art	3
  ART 212	Drawing Foundations	3
  One course from each of the following. See Requirements section for course options:
  2D Studio
  3D Studio
  4D Studio
  Graphics

• For the Graphic Design named option, must have successfully completed ART 102 2D Foundations and ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms.
• Minimum 3.0 Art studio course GPA.
• BFA mentoring meeting.
  • The declaration process includes a portfolio and artist statement that must be submitted only after all prerequisite coursework has been completed or during the semester the courses will be completed. The portfolio must contain images of work completed in college art courses. BFA mentoring meetings are held throughout the academic school year.

Last 60 Credits Rule

Two grade point averages will be calculated to determine candidates' eligibility to programs. GPAs will be calculated using

• all transferable college level coursework attempted, and
• the last 60 credits attempted.

The higher GPA of these two will be used for purposes of determining eligibility. If fewer than 60 credits have been attempted, all credits will be used to calculate the GPA. Graded graduate coursework will also be used in all GPA calculations. ("Attempted" coursework indicates coursework for which a grade has been earned.) For more information on this rule, see this link.

University Requirements

All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later. 

Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.

Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements

For more information see the policy.

University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements

All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.

School of Education Degree Requirements

Communication: Breadth and Depth

Courses designated as Communication A (Comm A) and Communication B (Comm B) help students learn how to gather and assess information from a variety of sources and to present different kinds of information, insight, and analysis to diverse audiences. Comm A courses focus on essential communication skills and Comm B courses teach research, writing, and communication skills within a disciplinary area. 

Quantitative Reasoning: Breadth and Depth

Quantitative Reasoning A courses provide students with foundational skills in mathematics, computer science, statistics or formal logic that are needed for dealing with quantitative information. In Quantitative Reasoning B courses, students use quantitative tools in the context of other disciplines or course material.

Liberal Studies Requirements

All students are required to complete a minimum of 40 credits of Liberal Studies coursework. This requirement provides an opportunity to do some academic exploration beyond the scope of the major. Students take courses in areas of particular interest and also have an opportunity to sample the wide selection of courses offered across the university. Coursework is required in humanities, social studies (social science), science, and cultural and historical studies. Some elective coursework is also needed to reach the required number of credits.

The School of Education’s Liberal Studies requirements can be used to satisfy the campus-wide Core General Education requirements. Communication A and B, and Quantitative Reasoning A and B coursework can also be used towards Core General Education and other requirements. Academic advisors can suggest courses that will count in multiple places.

A basic outline of the liberal studies is included below. Students must consult the detailed version of the requirements for more information about course selection and how the liberal studies requirements apply to this major.

Are you interested in switching to the School of Education? If so, you should run a “what-if” DARS report. It will show how many of these requirements you have already met and are unmet.

Humanities

Complete a minimum of 9 credits from these categories.

Fine Arts Courses

Social Studies

Science

Complete a minimum of 9 credits, including Physical and Biological Science. A laboratory science course is also required. The lab course can count toward the Biological or Physical Science requirement if it has the requisite breadth designation.

Laboratory Courses

Cultural and Historical Studies

Complete three requirements met by separate courses. Any of these courses can also be used to meet other requirements if it has the relevant breadth designation. A single course cannot satisfy more than one of the three Cultural and Historical Studies requirements listed below.

United States or European History Courses

Global Perspectives Courses

Liberal Studies Electives

Program Structure

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program in art has four components: 

• Liberal studies courses expose students to a broad range of academic disciplines. The university-wide General Education requirements also encourage this breadth of study.
• The Foundations Program requires six interrelated studio and aesthetics courses designed to prepare first-year students for further study in studio art and design.
• Aesthetics coursework gives students an opportunity to study both the history of art and contemporary developments in the visual arts.
• Major requirements permit in-depth studies of studio art. After taking courses in the Foundations area, students complete coursework in each of the four studio areas: 2D, 3D, 4D, and Graphics. BFA students are required to reach an advanced level in two studio disciplines.

Art Foundations Program

The Art Foundations Program is a series of interrelated studio and lecture courses to be taken by art and art education majors in their first year as preparation for further study in studio art and design. The program addresses the fundamentals of art through investigation of formal, technical and conceptual issues. The drawing, 2D and 3D design, digital media, and art historical lecture classes are designed to expose, broaden, and challenge students' understanding of contemporary art production.

Art Foundations classes are meant to be taken concurrently and the information covered in them is interrelated. Students completing the Foundations Program should enroll in ART 102 2D Foundations, ART 212 Drawing Foundations, and ART 108 Foundations of Contemporary Art for the fall semester and complete ART 104 3D Foundations, ART 107 Introduction to Digital Forms, and ART 208 Current Directions in Art in the spring. 

Most freshman art majors complete their foundations courses through participation in the very popular Contemporary Art and Artists First-Year Interest Group (FIG), which also creates a network of corresponding experiences and a peer community that will continue throughout the program and often beyond graduation. Students in FIGs enjoy studying with instructors dedicated to serving first year students, the opportunity to integrate related ideas from all three classes, and the ready-made opportunities to form support networks and lasting friendships.

Additional information about the Foundations Program is available on the departmental website.

Aesthetics Requirements

The BFA programs require a total of 18 aesthetics credits, including four required courses. The remaining credits will be met by selecting from a list of aesthetics electives. Liberal studies coursework in fine arts and literature can also can count as aesthetics electives. Additional courses may be approved by the art department advisor.

Required Aesthetics Courses

¹

 If taken prior to summer, 2018, ART 438 may count toward either the aesthetics or studio requirements, but not both. Effective summer, 2018, it may only count toward the aesthetics requirement. This course is designed for students pursuing graphic design.

Aesthetics Electives

Select from the following to complete the required 18 credits. Liberal studies coursework in fine arts and literature can also double count as aesthetics electives.

Elective Courses 

Major Requirements

The requirements listed here are effective for students admitted to the Art or BFA program effective summer, 2016. Students admitted prior to this time can find their major requirements listed in previous editions of the Undergraduate Catalog and on their DARS reports.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Program: Complete a minimum of 72 studio credits, including the specific coursework below. The BFA degree requires 126 total credits. Admission to the BFA program requires the completion of (or concurrent enrollment in) ART 102, ART 104, ART 107, ART 108, ART 208, ART 212, and one course in each of the 2D, 3D, 4D and graphics areas. Students must have a 3.0 GPA in their studio coursework to be considered for the BFA program and have attained a minimum of sophomore standing. Successful participation in a portfolio review is also part of the selection process. Application may be made during the semester that the required courses will be completed. See How to Get In for details about the application process.

Major residency requirement. The BFA program requires that at least 36 credits of major studio coursework be completed in residence at UW–Madison.

Art and BFA degree students have priority access to studio courses. Note: Some courses are offered for 3 or 4 credits; it is preferred that the course be taken for 4 credits.

Required Studio Foundations Courses

Complete the following:

Required Studio Breadth Courses

Select one course in each of the 2D, 3D, 4D, and Graphics areas. Students will also take ART 508 at least once and complete a 500-level or 600-level art studio course in at least two disciplines. BFA candidates are required to participate in an exhibit and concurrently enroll in a capstone course.

2D Studio

Select one of the following:

 3D Studio

Select one of the following:

4D Studio

Select one of the following:

Graphics

Select one of the following:

Art Colloquium

Complete the following:

Advanced Studio Requirement

Complete a 500-level or 600-level Art studio course in two disciplines. ART 508, ART 608, and ART 699 will not fulfill this requirement.

Exhibit Participation

BFA students must participate at least once in the department-sponsored exhibit, held in the spring semester. Requires concurrent enrollment in the professional practices/capstone course.

Professional Practices/Capstone Course

BFA students must enroll in this course during the required semester of participation in the department-sponsored exhibit. Currently, offered as ART 448 section 10; a unique course number will be forthcoming.

Elective Studio Courses

Select elective studio courses to reach the minimum of 72 credits.

Areas of Concentration

Although a specific emphasis is not required, students may wish to develop an area of interest within the requirements of the BFA program. Concentrations in multi-media, 2D studio, 3D studio, and printmaking are some of the available tracks listed on the art department's website. Students wishing to concentrate in graphic design should declare the Graphic Design Named Option when eligible.

GPA and Other Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

These requirements are based on UW–Madison coursework.

• 2.5 minimum cumulative grade point average. This may be modified by the Last 60 Credits Rule.
• Cumulative major grade point average: 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all major studio coursework.
• Upper-level major coursework: 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all upper-level major coursework (Art courses numbered 214 and above, excluding ART 236 Bascom Course and ART 338 Service Learning in Art).
• Major Residency: Students must complete at least 36 major credits while enrolled in residence on the UW–Madison campus.
• Senior Residency. Degree candidates must complete their last 30 credits in residence on the UW–Madison campus, excluding retroactive credits and credits granted by examination.
• Total Credits: A minimum of 126 credits are required for graduation in the Art–BFA degree program.

Degree Audit (DARS)

UW–Madison uses “DARS” to document a student's progress toward the completion of their degree, including any additional majors and certificates. A DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report shows all the requirements for completing a degree and, against courses that are planned or completed, shows the requirements that have been met, and those that are unmet. A report can offer suggestions about courses that may be taken to meet specific requirements and can assist in the academic planning and enrollment process. Students can access a DARS report in the Course Search & Enroll app or Student Center via My UW.

DARS also has a "what-if" function. This feature makes it possible to request a DARS report as if pursuing another program, major, or certificate. It is an excellent tool if considering a new or additional area of study. School of Education students in a pre-professional classification such as Pre-Elementary (PRE) or Pre-Kinesiology should request a "what if" DARS report of their professional program of interest. For example, Pre-Elementary Education (PRE) students will request Elementary Education K-9; Pre-Kinesiology (PKN) students will request the Kinesiology report. Minors have their own DARS programs and are run separately from the main degree audit.

More information (including tutorials) on how to request and read regular and what-if DARS reports is available under the Resources tab on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

DARS is not intended to replace student contact with academic advisors. It creates more time in an advising appointment to discuss course options, research opportunities, graduate school, or issues of personal interest or concern to students.

DARS is used as the document of record for degree program, major, and certificate completion in the School of Education.

Learning Outcomes

1. Learn the fundamentals of art and design through investigation of form, technology and concept within a cohort of like-minded and diverse artists and designers.
2. Develop skills in research, creative problem solving, and professional practices.
3. Expand knowledge of historical, thematic, critical, and theoretical issues as a means of strengthening verbal and visual vocabulary.
4. Demonstrate a broad understanding of distinct concepts and practices in two-dimensional media, three-dimensional media, four-dimensional media, printmaking, photography, or graphic design media.
5. Demonstrate competency at an advanced level in at least two disciplines of student's choice. (Graphic design named options: one of the two disciplines must be in graphic design.)

Four-Year Plan

 Bachelor of Fine Arts: Art - Sample Four-Year Plan

This four-year sample graduation plan is designed to guide your course selection throughout your academic career; it does not establish a contractual agreement. Use it along with your DARS report, the Guide, and the Course Search and Enroll app to create a four-year plan reflecting your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests. Consult with your academic advisor(s) to develop a personalized plan of study and refer to the Guide for a complete list of requirements. You will likely revise your plan several times during your academic career here, based on your activities and changing academic interests.

A minimum of 126 credits are required. Six credits of liberal studies course work must be aesthetics-related and will count toward both liberal studies and aesthetics requirements.

Advising and Careers

Art Department Advising

Students declared in the BS–Art or BFA–Art major (including graphic design named options), as well as potential transfers into art, will meet with the undergraduate art program advisor or through email via artadvising@education.wisc.edu. 

Prospective freshmen and art studio/graphic design certificate students will meet with the prospective student and certificate advisor or through email via artadvising@education.wisc.edu.

Current Art majors can schedule an appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW. Certificate students can also use the Starfish app to schedule an appointment. Students are also strongly encouraged to confer with an advisor in the School of Education Student Services office on a regular basis, see below.

School of Education Advising

Academic Advising in the School of Education

Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, academic advisors are here to assist students with the adjustment to college, understanding their degree and career goals, and connecting them to resources. Advisors support prospective and current School of Education students in all programs through:

• Course selection
• Mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students
• Understanding degree requirements and progression
• Interpreting academic policies
• Helping students recognize their strengths and suggesting ways to expand their skills
• Expanding learning through activities such as study abroad, volunteering/work/internship, and by assuming leadership roles

Advising appointments are available in person, virtually, or over the phone. Current students schedule appointments through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made by calling 608-262-1651, or in person in Room 139 Education Building.

Academic Dean Support staff are also here for you when facing academic or personal challenges. We provide undergraduate School of Education students support, problem-solving, advocacy, resources, and approve exceptions to policies. 

Career Advising in the School of Education

Through individual appointments, events, courses, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development.

Career and Internship Advisors are prepared to help students with:

• Exploration of career and academic pathways
• Resumes
• Cover letters
• Job/Internship search
• Interview preparation
• Mock interviews
• Graduate school search, applications and decisions
• Negotiating job or internship offers
• Professional networking
• Connecting with employers

Students are encouraged to meet with their Career and Internship Advisor early in their college experience to take full advantage of the resources and support available.

To make an appointment: log into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard.

For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at career-center@education.wisc.edu.

Information about common career pathways, ways to get involved and gain experience, and transferrable skills developed through this major can be found on the School of Education Career Center's Art Pathways webpage.

Wisconsin Experience

UW–Madison’s vision for the total student experience, the Wisconsin Experience, combines learning in and out of the classroom. Tied to the Wisconsin Idea and steeped in long-standing institutional values — the commitment to the truth, shared participation in decision-making, and service to local and global communities — the Wisconsin Experience describes how students develop and integrate these core values across their educational experience.

UW–Madison encourages students to mindfully engage in four core concepts throughout their time on campus: Empathy & Humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action.

Since its inception, the School of Education has embraced the concepts of the Wisconsin Experience, providing opportunities for students to learn in venues beyond the traditional classroom. Our students also independently seek out related activities and experiences, thus creating their own unique Wisconsin Experience.

Art and the Wisconsin Experience

The UW–Madison Art Department provides a wide range of opportunities for students on campus and beyond. Available resources include courses that connect with the community, job opportunities, the chance to show work, and the ability to manage campus student organizations. 

Visiting Artists

The art department is unique in its ability to bring in weekly visiting artists through the Art Colloquium series. A professional national or international artist comes to campus to provide an artist’s talk, studio visits, and general conversation about art-making with students. Individual courses often bring in visiting artists throughout the semester to provide workshops on unique techniques from those who specialize in particular processes.

Career Advising and Internships

The School of Education Career Center has a designated advisor for art students who can provide connections with hourly campus employment, internships, and career options after graduation. Art advisors host informational town halls for students to learn best practices in art entrepreneurship, applying to graduate programs, and how to get involved in art student organizations. The BFA capstone course also provides detailed instruction in writing a resume, cover letter, grant proposals, residency applications, and portfolio websites.

Service Learning

The art department offers a two-credit Service Learning in the Arts course in which students examine community-based art practices and the roles artists play in fostering civic engagement and cultural development. In partnership with Madison-area art organizations, students apply service-learning principles by creating impactful projects that address identified community needs, integrating academic study with hands-on experience.

Student Organizations

Student organizations are an excellent opportunity for art majors to establish connections with working artists, host workshops for the community, and raise funds for travel. Fresh Hot Press (printmaking), AIGA (graphic design), Mad Gaffers (glassblowing), Mad Metals (Metals), and Art Club are just a few of the art-related options. Student organizations are led by undergraduates and graduate students, with several using fundraising throughout the year to attend national conferences. Overall, there are multiple ways for undergraduates to refine their professional and technical skills in relation to their future career goals in the arts through student organizations.

Exhibiting Artwork

It is important for any artist to consistently show their work, and the art department does its part to provide this professional development to our students. Undergraduates may reserve one of our three large-scale galleries to install and document their work for future exhibition submissions. During the department’s Fall Open House, art student organizations exhibit together in one of its premier galleries. In the spring term, the BFA capstone course culminates in a group exhibition across two galleries, where students develop skills in collaboration, exhibition planning, installation, and lighting. Faculty guide participating students to clearly articulate the concepts and intentions behind their exhibited work. The art department works with students in many ways to help promote their work and develop the skills necessary to establish a thriving career in the world of art.

Study Abroad

The art department designates the Santa Reparata Institute for Studio Art (SRISA) program as one that meets the department’s philosophy of teaching and learning for Art majors. Located in the heart of Florence, Italy, this English-speaking program allows students to explore the rich tradition of Italian Art and offers the most access to courses that can satisfy art program requirements. In the summer, two Art faculty lead UW City as Studio: Drawing in Portugal, a three-credit study abroad program. Through visual and drawing skills, students acquire immersive knowledge through their interaction with the city and its natural and built environments as a venue that functions as a “studio.”

Resources and Scholarships

Information related to scholarships, academic and career advising, study abroad opportunities, student well-being, and other resources for students in the School of Education can be found on the School's Resources page.