Printmaking

Career potential

The University of North Texas' College of Visual Arts and Design is one of the nation's most comprehensive visual arts schools, and it is considered one of the best in the Southwest. The college is divided into three departments: studio art, design and art education/art history. There are eight studio art areas within the Department of Studio Art: ceramics, drawing and painting, fiber arts, metalsmithing and jewelry, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and watercolor. Separate brochures are available for information about each program.

Printmakers are often self-employed, exhibiting and selling their works in galleries, museums and exhibition venues. Some work commercially in printing shops, production studios and in the printing industry. Many choose to teach at a college or university. Increasingly, businesses are seeking employees who are educated in the visual arts for positions in their training and design departments. Studying printmaking will prepare you to become a practicing artist and for the pursuit of an advanced degree — a Master of Fine Arts degree in your discipline — should you consider teaching at the university level for a career.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies, and interview preparation.

Majoring in printmaking

As a printmaking major, you will take courses in art appreciation, art history, design and drawing, as well as printmaking course work. You will have access to large, well-equipped studios and instruction in a wide range of media and techniques. Course work is designed to emphasize sound art fundamentals, creativity and self-expression, and will provide you with life-enriching skills and experiences.

A portfolio is not required for admission to this program. However, if you are a transfer student, you may need to submit one for placement beyond the beginning level.

To insure the highest quality of work, you will be required to submit portfolios of artwork at specific intervals in your studies. As you complete your second upper-level printmaking course, the faculty members in your area will review a portfolio of your work to determine whether you should continue in the program. Again, during your last senior studio art class, you will submit a portfolio for an exit review.

UNT's printmaker is an accomplished artist, maintaining a private studio practice and exhibiting his work regionally, nationally and internationally. This insures UNT's program widespread exposure and establishes a healthy dialogue with other printmaking programs nationwide. Additionally, the University Fine Arts Press can give you unique opportunities to work with visiting artists and master printers.

UNT's 90,000-square-foot Art Building includes classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, studios, a workshop, the UNT Art Gallery and a visual resources library. Four other campus buildings house additional classrooms and laboratories, as well as the Texas Fashion Collection, the Cora Stafford Gallery and the University Fine Arts Press.

Getting hands-on experience

Most of your course work will involve the design and production of two-dimensional artwork, and there are many opportunities for exhibiting your work on campus and at local galleries. In addition, UNT is within easy commuting distance of Dallas and Fort Worth, where major art museums and galleries provide valuable resources and experiences for you.

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may apply for work in a job related to your major through UNT's office of Cooperative Education and Internships. You may earn academic credit and money and gain valuable work experience.

Preparing for UNT: High school students

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science — economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

Preparing for UNT: Transfer students

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Transfer students may be required to submit a portfolio for placement in courses beyond the beginning level.

Charting your path through academic advising

New students are required to attend an orientation for the College of Visual Arts and Design, which is held at about the same time as university orientation for new students, or during registration at the start of each semester. Check the orientation website, www.unt.edu/orientation, for a schedule of freshman and transfer student orientations.

Faculty members serve as primary advisors to students. The College of Visual Arts and Design Student Services Office is in the Art Building, Room 111.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.