Art and Art History
College of Arts and Humanities
Art 142
2535 McCarthy Mall
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8251
Fax: (808) 956-9043
Email: uhart@hawaii.edu
Web: hawaii.edu/art/
Faculty
*Graduate Faculty
*K. Lingley, PhD (Chair)—Chinese art history
*W. Kawabata, MFA (Associate Chair)—drawing and painting
*M. Babcock, MFA, PhD—fiber
*A. Bush, MFA—graphic design
*P. Chamberlain, MFA—electronic arts
*G. Chan, MFA—photography
*C. Cohan, MFA—printmaking
*D. Drexler, MFA—drawing and painting
*J. Ferreira, N.H. Dipl.—sculpture
*S. Groeniger, MFA—digital imaging
*J. Hamilton Faris, PhD—contemporary art history and theory
*P. Lavy, PhD—South and Southeast Asian art history
*C. Lee, MFA—graphic design
*R. Mills, MFA—glass, sculpture
*S. Spangler, MFA—ceramics
*J. Szostak, PhD—Japanese art history
*B. Taylor, MFA—ceramics
*D. Waite, PhD—Pacific art history
Affiliate Graduate Faculty
J. Feldman, PhD—Pacific art history
Degrees Offered: Undergraduate Certificate in Islamic Studies, BA in art with either a studio art or Art History focus (including minor), BFA in art, MA in art history, MFA in art
The Academic Program
The Department of Art and Art History (ART) offers two separate but interrelated programs. Art history, leading to the BA, affords the opportunity to study the arts of Asia, the Pacific, and the West in a historical and cultural context. The art studio programs provide students either with a broad-based, liberal arts approach via the BA or with a more focused studio specialization leading to the BFA. The latter is considered more appropriate for students intending to pursue the MFA at the graduate level.
The department is housed in an excellent three-story facility with painting studios, photography and computer labs (Macintosh equipped for graphic design and digital imaging, PCs for electronic arts), and fully equipped printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, and glass facilities. The UH Art Gallery is a prominent feature of the department’s programs. Six or seven major exhibitions are presented each year, many of which have received national recognition. Visiting artist programs supplement the regular course offerings.
Advising
Advising is mandatory for all art and art history majors. For advising, see the associate chair, Wendy Kawabata, in Art 142A, email: wendyak@hawaii.edu.
Undergraduate Study
BA Degree
This broad-based art degree provides students with a choice of a studio focus, where a wide range of visual arts media can be explored, or an art history focus, where the visual arts are studied in a historical context.
Requirements
Studio Focus
Students must complete 42 credit hours, including:
- 6 credits of art studio core: ART 113 and 116
- 12 credits of art history: ART 175, 176, and 6 credits at the upper division level
- 24 credits of art studio: 12 credits must be upper division
For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to programsheets/.
Art History Focus
Students must complete 42 credit hours, including:
- 11 art history courses (33 credit hours), including ART 175, 176, and 395
- Three studio classes (9 credit hours), selected in consultation with advisor
For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to programsheets/.
BFA Degree
The BFA degree in art is designed for those students who desire a focused preparation in the visual arts or who intend to pursue an advanced degree or career in art. Areas of specialization include: ceramics, digital imaging, drawing, electronic arts, glass, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture & expanded practices. Students are encouraged to cross media boundaries, and qualified students may opt to construct an individualized inter-media plan of study with faculty guidance and approval.
Students seeking admission to candidacy for the BFA must be a BA Art major and pass a portfolio review, which can take place only after the following requirements have been met.
- Completion of art studio core requirements: 113 and 116.
- Completion of art history core requirements: ART 175, 176, and 302.
- Completion of one 200-level studio elective not in student’s chosen area.
- Completion of a minimum of 9 credit hours in chosen area with an average of B (not B-) or better.
- Completion of 18 credits in UH Manoa core requirements exclusive of art department courses.
All studio areas will hold an annual BFA Portfolio Review in late spring, at least one week prior to registration.
Requirements
Students must complete 63 credit hours, including:
- Seven courses in one of the 11 program areas as indicated at the time of declaration (last 9 credit hours must be completed at UH Manoa)
- Two art studio core courses (6 credit hours): ART 113, 116
- Three art history core courses (9 credit hours): ART 175, 176, 302
- Four art history elective courses (12 credit hours)
- Five art elective courses (15 credit hours)
For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to programsheets/.
Minor
Requirements
- 21 credits in art, 15 of which must be from non-introductory courses
Courses used to meet General Education Core requirements cannot be credited toward the minor.
Students interested in pursuing a teaching career in elementary and secondary art education should seek advisement from the College of Education.
Graduate Study
The Department of Art and Art History offers two master’s degrees, the MA in art history–Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis), and the MFA in studio–Plan A only.
MA in Art History
The MA in art history emphasizes the arts of Asia and the Pacific. Applicants for the degree must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or its equivalent from a recognized foreign institution. An undergraduate major in art history is desirable, but not necessary. In support of the application for admission, all applicants are required to send three original letters of recommendation, a sample of written work (preferably an art history seminar or term paper), and General Test scores from the GRE directly to the art department prior to the application deadline. The application form for graduate admission should be sent under separate cover to Graduate Division.
Plan A Requirements:
Students must complete 36 credit hours, including:
- ART 670 Art Historical Methodology
- 9 credit hours of seminars in Asian and Pacific art history
- 6 credit hours of ART 700 or thesis
Students intending to engage in studies leading to the PhD are strongly encouraged to complete course work beyond the minimum MA Plan A requirements.
Plan B Requirements:
The non-thesis program is for students wishing to teach in community colleges or at the high school level. Required are 36 credit hours of which 18 must be taken in courses numbered above 600 including:
- ART 670 Art Historical Methodology
- 9 credit hours of seminars in Asian and Pacific art history
In either plan, up to 9 credits, with advisor’s approval, may be earned in appropriate advanced courses in other UH Manoa departments.
The more suitable plan will be mutually determined by the faculty and the student.
Students must also demonstrate a reading knowledge in a foreign language appropriate to their field of specialization, chosen in consultation with the area advisor. For more information on the MA in art history, contact Paul Lavy, PhD, email: paullavy@hawaii.edu.
MFA Degree
The MFA is the terminal degree in studio art. The normal period of study is three years in residence. Areas of specialization include ceramics, electronic arts, glass, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture & expanded practices. Although most MFA applicants apply to one of the above media specializations for admission, students may take electives in more than one medium and are encouraged to investigate new genres.
Applicants for the MFA must present evidence of a BFA or a BA with a strong studio art and art history background. The Department of Art and Art History acknowledges that some MFA applicants may not fit traditional criteria and will thus consider exceptional bachelor’s degree recipients that exhibit relevant backgrounds, strong commitment, and distinct potential in the visual arts. An applicant with a transcript of 25% or more nontraditionally graded undergraduate or graduate credit hours must submit GRE scores and course performance report forms.
Supporting material of 20 samples of original work should be submitted on a cd (still images in jpeg format, no more than 1.5 mb each and video samples in .mov format) that illustrates abilities in an area of specialization, as well as potential for development within the scope of the department’s facilities and personnel. This visual material and three letters of recommendation should be sent to the Department of Art and Art History. The application form for graduate admission should be sent under separate cover to Graduate Division.
Deficient or incompatible undergraduate preparation may result in admission on a conditional basis and will require, at the discretion of the graduate faculty, additional course work.
After acceptance into the graduate program, admission to candidacy for the MFA degree will be based upon results of the graduate evaluation and a positive review of course work. Those failing must successfully pass on their second attempt or they will be dismissed from the program.
Failure to meet the requirements for continued registration or to show progress in course work will lead to probation and/or dismissal from the graduate program.
Requirements
Students must complete 60 credit hours, including:
- 24 credit hours with 6 credits each in ART 611 (4 semesters), 620, 621. Conditional or unclassified graduate students may enroll only in ART 611 for a maximum of 6 credits. Consent of instructor is required.
- 15 credits of electives
- 6 credits of two art history courses (numbered 300 or above)
- 3 credits of ART 690
- 12 credits of ART 700 thesis, including an exhibition and written documentation
Art courses numbered 300 and above and not required at the undergraduate level in the area of specialization are acceptable for graduate credit. Elective courses also may be selected from any other UH Manoa department, provided such study is deemed useful and pertinent to the student’s degree plan. MFA students wishing to take ART 699 must petition through Graduate Division to apply it toward the degree. All elective courses require appropriate preparation and the consent of the instructor and graduate student’s advisor. For more information on the MFA program, contact gradart@hawaii.edu