Art

Studying art enhances creativity, sharpens critical thinking skills, improves attention, and prepares students for a wealth of careers. At UMass, we are committed to nurturing student artists who are passionate about creating work in a variety of disciplines, including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, animation, and intermedia (photography and video production). We seek to educate artists to be technically proficient, but also intellectually flexible—who can master the intricacies of their primary media, but also pursue their ideas across media as their interests evolve.

We offer several avenues of study so that students can choose the path best suited to them. Each route prepares students to become creative problem solvers, self-directed makers, and critical visual thinkers. The field demands (and our programs promote) the ability to be comfortable in situations where there are no clear answers and to examine questions from new perspectives. Students majoring in art balance their understanding of our increasingly digital world with a tactile and interpersonal intelligence and cultivate a mind that can engage with people, ideas, images, and things.