At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BFA

Focused on the needs of 21st-century artists, the art major prepares students with the conceptual and technical abilities needed to succeed in the professional world.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art

Step inside our studios!
Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design

Develop a rigorous art practice — focusing 80+ credit hours on making fine art or animation and interactive work — with UMass Lowell's B.F.A. in Art.

In small classes led by practicing artists, you’ll build a strong foundation in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media while also exploring areas like UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface) design, animation and digital media. 

Gain professional experience through internships with museums, galleries and creative firms like Draft Kings and iRobot. In the senior year, you'll prepare a portfolio and be ready to enter your chosen art discipline at a professional level.

Focus Your Studies

Choose a focus area based on your interests and career goals.

Career Outlook for Art Majors

  • $73,000

    Median annual salary for bachelor's degree holders in New England
    Source: Lightcast, 2025

  • +27.8%

    Projected job growth in New England (2023–2035)
    Source: Lightcast, 2025

What Can You Do with a Degree in Art?

Our alumni have established successful careers as professional artists and work across diverse roles, including:

  • Studio Artist
  • Art Director
  • Illustrator
  • Art Therapist
  • Gallery Director
  • Teacher
  • Animator
  • UX/UI Designer
Art and design student painting in a UMass Lowell studio

Career Placements

  • Adidas
  • Curriculum Associates
  • Disney
  • Draft Kings
  • Hill Holiday
  • iRobot
  • National Geographic
  • Apple

Graduate Schools

  • Chicago Art Institute
  • Rhode Island School of Design
  • Boston Architectural College
  • Rochester Institute of Technology

What Our Students Are Saying

"You are surrounded by passionate artists, talented professors and helpful resources here at UML. This has significantly boosted my confidence and inspiration to create. There is nothing more motivating than being believed in by your community."
— Sophear Tim, Animation

"My time at UML has redefined my understanding of what art can be; it has changed the way I perceive the world and expanded the limits of what inspires me."
— Selena Guerrero, Studio Arts

Courses You'll Take as an Art Major

Sample course topics include: 

  • Printmaking
  • Digital Foundations
  • Drawing
  • 2D and 3D Animation
  • Game Design
  • Interactive Media
  • Photography
  • View All Art Courses

Year-by-Year Course Plan

Check out our degree pathways, which offer sample plans for completing your degree in four years.

For students who entered fall 2023 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I /
First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW)		3
ARTS.1010Art Concepts I Studio3
ARTS.1130Digital Foundations3
ARTS.1550Drawing I3
FAHS.1090First Year Experience Seminar1
xxxx.xxxxMath Perspective (MATH) - MATH.1110 (QL) recommended13
Total16

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
ARTS.1020Art Concepts II Studio3
ARTS.2010Form and Content (SRE)3
ARTS.1560Drawing II3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3
Total15

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARHI.2030History of Art I (AH)3
ARTS.27202D Animation I3
ARTS.27603D Modeling and Animation I3
ARTS.2780Interactive Media I3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARHI.2040History of Art II (DCA)3
ARTS.3811 /
ARTS.4811		Game Design: Narrative /
Game Design II		3
ARTS.2770Compositing and Motion Graphics3
ARTS.xxxx /
DGMD.xxxx		Concentration Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSciences with Lab Perspective (SCL)4
Total16

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARTS.2960Character Layout and Design3
ARHI.2210 /
AEST.2210		20th Century Art (WOC)3
ARTS.xxxx /
DGMD.xxxx		Concentration Elective23
ARTS.xxxx /
DGMD.xxxx		Concentration Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARTS.2741Storyboarding and Comics3
ARTS.3780Interactive Media II3
ARTS.xxxx /
DGMD.xxxx		Concentration Elective23
AEST.xxxxAesthetics / Critical Studies3
xxxx.xxxxScience with Lab Perspective (SCL)4
Total16

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
AEST.3420The Language and History of Animation3
ARTS.4930Senior Studio I (AIL), (CTPS), (IL)3
ARTS.2210Internship3
ARTS.xxxx /
DGMD.xxxx		Concentration Elective23
xxxx.xxxxScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Perspective (STEM)3
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARTS.4980Senior Studio II3
ARTS.xxxx /
DGMD.xxxx		Concentration Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3
Total12

Total Minimum Credits = 120

1Quantitative Literacy (QL) is fulfilled outside the Art Department requirements. The department recommends that all majors take MATH.1110 which fulfills both the Math Breadth of Knowledge requirement and the Quantitative Literacy ELO. See QL course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill this requirement. Art students may also satisfy QL by taking ARTS.3820 Art and Design of Data Visualization as a concentration elective (this course is taught biannually).

2Concentration Electives:

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment.

See the catalog policy for details.

Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

  • SS - Social Sciences Perspective - 9 credits
  • AH - Arts and Humanities Perspective - 9 credits
  • SCL - Sciences with Lab Perspective - 6 credits
  • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective - 3 credits
  • CW - College Writing I and II - 6 credits
  • MATH - Math Perspective - 3 credits

Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

  • AIL - Applied and Integrative Learning
  • CTPS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • DCA - Diversity and Cultural Awareness
  • IL - Information Literacy
  • QL - Quantitative Literacy
  • SRE - Social Responsibility and Ethics
  • WOC - Written and Oral Communication

Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.

For students who entered fall 2022 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I /
First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW)		3
ARTS.1010Art Concepts I Studio3
ARTS.1130Digital Foundations3
ARTS.1550Drawing I3
FAHS.1090First Year Experience Seminar1
xxxx.xxxxMath Perspective (MATH) - MATH.1110 (QL) recommended13
Total16

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
ARTS.1020Art Concepts II Studio3
ARTS.2010Form and Content (SRE)3
ARTS.1560Drawing II3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3
Total15

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARHI.2030History of Art I (AH)3
ARTS.2350Sculpture I3
ARTS.2610Photography I3
ARTS.2710Painting I3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARHI.2040History of Art II3
ARTS.3350Sculpture II3
ARTS.3610Photography II3
ARTS.3710Painting II3
xxxx.xxxxScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Perspective (STEM)3
Total15

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARHI.221020th Century Art (WOC)3
ARTS.2670Printmaking I3
ARTS.2700Figure Drawing3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
AEST.xxxxAesthetics / Critical Studies3
ARTS.xxxxConcentration Elective23
ARTS.xxxxConcentration Elective23
ARTS.xxxxConcentration Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSciences with Lab Perspective (SCL)4
Total16

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARTS.4550Thought Made Visible3
ARTS.4930Senior Studio I (AIL), (CTPS), (IL)33
ARTS.xxxxConcentration Elective23
AEST.xxxxAesthetics / Critical Studies3
xxxx.xxxxSciences with Lab Perspective (SCL)4
Total16

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ARTS.2210Internship3
ARTS.4980Senior Studio II3
ARHI.3520Contemporary Art and Culture (DCA)3
ARTS.xxxxConcentration Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
Total15

Total Minimum Credits = 122.

1Quantitative Literacy (QL) is fulfilled outside the Art Department requirements. The department recommends that all majors take MATH.1110 which fulfills both the Math Breadth of Knowledge requirement and the Quantitative Literacy ELO. See QL course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill this requirement. Art students may also satisfy QL by taking ARTS.3820 Art and Design of Data Visualization as a concentration elective.

2Concentration Electives:

3Concentration students must complete ARTS.3350 Sculpture II, ARTS.3710 Painting II, and ARTS.3610 Photography II before applying to ARTS.4930 Senior Studio I. These courses are taken sequentially in their subject areas.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their advisement report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.

Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

  • SS - Social Sciences Perspective - 9 credits
  • AH - Arts and Humanities Perspective - 9 credits
  • SCL - Sciences with Lab Perspective - 6 credits
  • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective - 3 credits
  • CW - College Writing I and II - 6 credits
  • MATH - Math Perspective - 3 credits

Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

  • AIL - Applied and Integrative Learning
  • CTPS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • DCA - Diversity and Cultural Awareness
  • IL - Information Literacy
  • QL - Quantitative Literacy
  • SRE - Social Responsibility and Ethics
  • WOC - Written and Oral Communication

Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.

Why study art at UMass Lowell?

Student photographing another student with a tablet computer in a UMass Lowell studio

Cutting-Edge Technology

Our facilities offer ample studio space and current technology including:

  • Cintiq drawing tablets
  • Laser cutters
  • 3-D printers & scanners
  • Motion capture & virtual reality technology
Group of students seated at a round table discussing video game design

Interested in Video Game Design?

Learn how you can combine programs to prepare for the fast-growing video game industry.
A group UMass Lowell Study Abroad students pose for a photo in front of ruins in Greece.

Study Abroad

Explore the world through art with study abroad programs in France, Italy and more!
Professor and student review artwork in a UMass Lowell art studio

Career Connected Experience: The UMass Lowell Guarantee

Every first-time, first-year UMass Lowell student will have the opportunity to pursue at least one Career Connected Experience (internships, co-ops, clinical placements, service learning, study abroad and more) during their undergraduate career — earning pay, credits or both before they graduate.

Students have had internships at places like:

  • NASA
  • Adidas
  • iRobot
  • PayPal

Take the Next Step

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Life on Campus and Beyond

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