ART + ART HISTORY + DESIGN FACT SHEET

Student seated in front of a canvas in a UW painting studio.

The School of Art + Art History + Design engages with the essential issues of our time through the study of visual history and literacy, manifested through creative research and process, visual communication, and innovative and socially responsible design. The School's focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of new practices enhances both studio and classroom learning as well as fostering dynamic engagement and critical discourse. Our students are inspired to learn through a rigorous and creative academic experience, competitive internships, and international opportunities.

VISIT DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

HIGHLIGHTS

Learning Beyond the Classroom. The Divisions of Art, Art History, and Design identify and provide programming outside of the classroom that enriches the student experience. Students participate in lectures, workshops, field trips, and collaborative research projects with renowned faculty and visiting artists, scholars, and designers.

Students sit on the floor of the Jacob Lawrence Gallery looking at art on the walls.

Spaces to Create. Our facilities across three buildings offer undergraduate majors and graduate students the studio space, technology, and equipment to ideate and fabricate creative work in a wide range of mediums and disciplines. This includes the Art Building with a newly renovated first floor (including a ceramics studio, a glass blowing space, and an Advanced Concepts fabrication lab), the Ceramic + Metal Arts Building, and the Sand Point Studios and Gallery.

Opportunities to Exhibit. The School offers students spaces and opportunities to showcase their creative work while in their programs. As part of the School’s graduation programming, Art seniors show their capstones in the newly renovated Jacob Lawrence Gallery, while the MFA graduates exhibit their thesis work in the Henry Art Gallery. Graduating Design students (BDes and MDes) showcase their capstone and thesis projects in the annual Design Show in the Jacob Lawrence Gallery and on the Design Show website, an online gallery of cumulative student projects.

Applicable Learning. Art History graduate and undergraduate students advance and apply their learning through research and curatorial internships and fellowships in galleries and museums, such as the Seattle Art Museum, the Burke, and more. The MA in Art History: Practicum-Track program offers a practical approach to Art History in which students create projects that investigate and advance areas in the field.

594

Undergraduate majors

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

The Division of Art offers a BA in Art with concentrations in Painting + Drawing, Photo/Media, Interdisciplinary Visual Arts, and 3D4M: ceramics + glass + sculpture, as well as Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Painting + Drawing, New Genres, and 3D4M: ceramics + glass + sculpture. The Division of Art History offers a BA in Art History, a minor in Art History, and three graduate programs: MA in Art History (thesis track), MA in Art History (practicum track), and an Art History PhD degree. The Division of Design offers a Bachelor of Design (BDes) degree in Industrial Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication Design, and a Masters of Design (MDes) degree.

Two students test painting colors on paper in an art studio.

Art, Art History, and Design students graduate with the following:

Practiced problem-finding and problem-solving skills 
Expertise in visual literacy 
Polished presentation and communication skills
Collaboration and leadership experience 
Research methods and the ability to complete resulting projects 
Motivated for and by critical feedback 
Ability to network, create, and engage in community

Students

Autumn 2024

594 Undergraduate majors
17 Master of Fine Arts students
7 Master of Design students
2 Master of Arts students
10 Doctor of Philosophy students

Degrees Awarded

June 2024

115 Bachelor of Arts (Art)
26 Bachelor of Arts (Art History)
59 Bachelor of Design
8 Master of Fine Arts
7 Master of Design
2 Master of Arts
1 Doctor of Philosophy

Recognition + Support

The generosity of donors continues to provide students with yearly scholarships and awards. Last year nearly 80 students received over $500,000 in support, including more than a dozen new graduate students who received recruitment packages. Students in our programs have been recognized nationally and internationally with awards including the University of Washington President's Medal, Husky 100, Bonderman Travel Fellowship, the AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship, the GRAY Award for student design, Rometti Prize, Core77 Design Award, and IDSA Merit Awards.

FACILITIES

Students working in UW glassblowing studio.

The School of Art + Art History + Design has three buildings with extensive studio, classroom, and seminar space with technical staff support for students to research, create, and show creative work, including:

Art Library
Fabrication studios/shops: ceramics, foundry, blacksmithing, metals, glass, wood
State-of-the-art computer labs with industry-standard software
Museum-quality printing/plotting centers
Digital equipment checkout services
Digital Fabrication Lab
Five galleries and other spaces dedicated to showing student work

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Our faculty frequently collaborate with arts organizations, institutions, and businesses, forging strong community relationships that result in innovative outcomes and enriching, unique opportunities for our students. The Academic Advising & Student Services office connects students to resources and internship opportunities and offers career-building programming such as workshops and networking events with alumni.

Students graduate with a collaborative mindset, confidence, and the critical problem-solving skills needed to participate in a wide range of personal, professional, and creative pursuits. Our graduates become accomplished professionals working in a variety of positions including: creative directors, museum curators, UX/UI and product designers, gallery owners, practicing artists, academics, researchers, and more.

GLOBAL LEARNING

Large group of students holding up a banner that reads "UW Design in Taiwan."

The School participates in and contributes to art, art history, and design communities through faculty and student exchanges, research, study abroad opportunities, exhibitions, and conferences throughout the world. Our faculty-led study abroad programs and exploration seminars provide students with a global learning experience in Rome, Taiwan, London, and the Netherlands/Belgium, while allowing them to receive credit toward their UW degree.

FACULTY