Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Create artwork demonstrating effective formal aspects
- Explain own artwork clearly and thoughtfully, using vocabulary of the discipline
- Demonstrate and recognize own personal creative language
- Identify artist or period of Art that provides creative influence
- Demonstrate professional documentation and presentation of their Art practice
Program Requirements
Students graduating with a B.A. degree in Studio Art will be prepared for entry into a professional school, a graduate program or the job market.
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus (5 credit hours) | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Subscore of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Subscore of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Intensive Course (300-level or above): | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Major Requirements
Students must successfully complete the major requirements below with at least 12 hours of the noted upper division (300+) course requirements completed at UMKC.
Intermediate and advanced courses typically require the foundation series and possibly other prerequisites. ART 495: Special Topics may be offered that can count towards the Studio Electives. Recent Special Topics include screenprinting, art book publishing, and advertising campaigns (with Communication Studies).
Another important part of the Studio Art program is the Junior Portfolio Reviews that happen each spring semester. Students gather around 10 of their strongest pieces to present to a group of faculty and guests for a comprehensive critique of their work with suggestions for areas of growth, classes to take before graduating, and more. Many students benefit from this process so much that they do it again as a senior.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | 9 | |
| Foundation Drawing | ||
| Foundation Digital Design | ||
| Foundation 2D Design | ||
| Studio Electives selected from at least 3 different areas: | 9 | |
| DRAWING: | ||
| Intermediate Drawing | ||
| GRAPHIC DESIGN: | ||
| Graphic Design and Typography I | ||
| PRINTMAKING: | ||
| Print Media I | ||
| PHOTOGRAPHY: | ||
| Photography I | ||
| MULTIMEDIA: | ||
| Digital Video and Motion Design | ||
| PAINTING: | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Additional Studio Electives: | 9 | |
Any course not already completed above. | ||
| Fibers I | ||
| Design Thinking | ||
| Painting II | ||
| Figure Drawing I | ||
| Interactive Media Design | ||
| Fibers II | ||
| Graphic Design and Typography I | ||
| Graphic Design and Typography II | ||
| 3D Modeling and Animation | ||
| Painting III | ||
| Painting IV | ||
| Student Design Lab | ||
| Directed Projects in Studio Art | ||
| Special Studies in Art: Internship | ||
| Art History Requirements | ||
| Select three from 200- and 300-level survey courses: | 9 | |
| From Cave Paintings to Cathedrals | ||
| From Michelangelo to Modernism | ||
| World Currents of Contemporary Art | ||
| Arts Of African and New World Cultures | ||
| Asian Art | ||
| One 400-level Art History course: | 3 | |
| Made in the USA: Latinx Art and Experience | ||
| Art Museums: History and Practice | ||
| Site-Specific Art: Within and Beyond the Museum Walls | ||
| Scope & Methods Of Art History | ||
| Special Topics in Art History | ||
| Required Studio (must be taken at least twice) | ||
| ART 375 | Interdisciplinary Studio Projects | 6 |
| Capstone: | 3 | |
| Professional Practices | ||
or ART 488 | Creative Project Development | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
General Electives
Students must take elective credit hours to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree, including at least 36 credit hours of coursework at the 300-level or above. The minimum required by the university is 120 credit hours, of which at least 30 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, but some degree programs require more.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 36 | |
Minimum GPA: 2.0; 2.5 in the major
Total Credit Hours: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
