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Art & Art History Undergraduate & Graduate Programs

At UNC Charlotte, we believe that Art is vital. Vital to our students, our university, our communities and our future.

In the Department of Art & Art History, we foster leadership in art education, art history, studio art and graphic design, through critical thinking, creative practice and globally informed engagement with visual culture. The Department of Art & Art History offers a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and a B.F.A. in Art, with seven concentrations (art education, digital media, illustration, painting, photography, print media and 3D interdisciplinary studies). We also offer a B.A. in Art and a B.A. in Art History, a Minor in Art History and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design.

Study Art at UNC Charlotte

Below, find our majors, minors, and certificates offered in the Department of Art & Art History and click through to learn more about each.

student pinning up graphic design presentation to poster board
Graphic Design
This program provides an in-depth study of the field of graphic design, preparing students to enter a career in design, advertising, marketing, or other fields of visual communication.
Graphic Design, B.F.A.
student working with an elementary school student on her drawing
Art Education
This program produces successful art educators who are also practicing artists and researchers. You’ll train across a range of studio media and learn to teach others to appreciate and create art.
Art, Art Education Concentration, B.F.A.
view of student from behind head looking at her computer screen and working on a digital illustration
Digital Media
This program explores the intersection of art, technology, entertainment, and contemporary culture through time-based, interactive, and screen-based practices. It prepares students for careers in digital art, animation, motion graphics, video production, game design, and web design.
Art, Digital Media Concentration, B.F.A.
student with a large sketch book, drawing
Illustration
This program teaches you to create imaginative worlds through environment and character design, preparing you for concept development in the fields of animation, games, and film. You will also explore visual storytelling through editorial illustration for the publishing industry.
Art, Illustration Concentration, B.F.A.
student painting in the studio on a black canvas
Painting
This program introduces contemporary and historical approaches to abstract, mixed media, and figurative painting to prepare you for careers as a professional artist, artist studio assistant, public art muralist, stage or scenic designer, curator, gallery director, or art professor.
Art, Painting Concentration, B.F.A.
student holding up film strip in the dark room
Photography
This program introduces you to everything from classic film to cutting-edge digital techniques, mastering studio lighting and historical processes along the way and preparing you to exhibit your work in galleries, work in a photography studio, or launch your own creative enterprise.
Art, Photography Concentration, B.F.A.
female student working with the print machine in the studio
Print Media
This program prepares students to develop and produce their own limited editions (both photographic and hand drawn) individually and in collaboration, preparing them for jobs in fine art publishing, design, teaching, and historical archiving.
Art, Print Media Concentration, B.F.A
students siting at a table with recyclable material sculptures
3D Interdisciplinary Studies
This program brings together Ceramics, Digital Fabrication, Fibers, and Sculpture to offer a contemporary approach to making art in 3D, creating pottery, sculptural forms, installation environments, wearable pieces, and digitally fabricated structures.
Art, 3D Interdisciplinary Studies, B.F.A.
student in a gallery in Rome, sculpture in the foreground
Art History
Art history encourages appreciation of works of art and instills a vivid awareness of the social and historical context in which these works were produced. This program builds sharp analytical skills and broad cultural literacy, preparing students for a wide range of careers.
Art History, B.A.
professor and student working together on a sculpture in the studio
Art
This program is for those interested in pursuing a double major or continuing art study while preparing for a career in a field other than art. It is not intended for students interested in an in-depth study in a single studio area.
Art, B.A.
two students looking at a large wall sized roman painting
Minor in Art History
The minor in art history is open to students in any major, except those already pursuing the B.A. in Art History. Art history encourages appreciation of works of art and instills a vivid awareness of the social and historical context in which these works were produced.
Art History, Minor
art ed teacher working with an elementary school student on an art project
Graduate Certificate in Teaching for Art Education
This program, which leads to teaching licensure, is tailored for individuals who have completed a degree in studio art. It is the perfect fit for artists seeking to leverage their expertise by educating the next generation of artists.
Teaching: Art Education, Graduate Certificate

Explore Admissions

The Department of Art & Art History offers many opportunities to explore what life is like in our department! Experience our program up close as you visit campus, observe classes, meet faculty and staff or attend an exhibition. Visit this page for more information on admissions details. 

Learn about our application process!

Scholarship Opportunities

“As a recipient of the Broderick Adé Hogue Memorial Scholarship, I feel empowered to continue his legacy of elevating minority communities at UNC Charlotte. As a Filipino-American graphic designer and art historian, this scholarship allows me to further my studies and celebrates my ongoing dedication to promoting visibility for Filipino students within the college and throughout the University.”

Jonah Sanderson, B.F.A. in Graphic Design and B.A. in Art History

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