New Media Art

Career potential

Are you both an artist and a technology buff? The University of North Texas’ new media art program teaches artists to manipulate technology in the same way a sculptor molds clay or a painter transforms a canvas. These results are often highly personal and novel, experimenting with uses of technologies and their forms. New media art combines new technology, such as the internet or computer and communications technology, with more traditional art forms such as photography, fibers or sculpture.

Pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a concentration in new media art will prepare you for:

• a career as a practicing artist
• a Master of Fine Arts degree program (Should you consider teaching at the college or university level, an M.F.A. degree is generally required.)

New media artists are often self-employed, exhibiting and selling their work in galleries, museums and other exhibition venues.

UNT's Career Center can help prepare you to pursue a 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 new media art

All new media art classes emphasize artistic voice over technical skill. While pursuing your degree in new media art, you will take courses in:

• experimental animation
• experimental 3D art
• interactive art and kinetic art
• time-based media
• video art

You will also take a variety of other studio art and art history courses that we offer. This helps you develop a deeper understanding of other art forms and the historical context for your work as an artist.

Upon enrolling at UNT, you will have pre-major status. For information about the courses needed to progress into major status, visit art.unt.edu or review the UNT Undergraduate Catalog at catalog.unt.edu. A portfolio is not required for admission to UNT or the College of Visual Arts and Design. However, you will need to participate in an entry review prior to completing the Introduction to New Media Art course.

At the end of your sophomore year, our faculty members will review your portfolio to determine whether you can continue in the program. You must also submit your work for a senior exit review. Further information regarding the reviews is available from the new media art faculty.

Our faculty members are accomplished practicing artists who maintain private studios and exhibit their work regionally, nationally and internationally. Faculty members also consult with new media art venues and programs nationwide, ensuring that our program is upto- date on current concerns in the field.

In addition our program is actively involved with the university’s Initiative for Advanced Research in Technology and the Arts (iARTA) research cluster. This partnership provides unique opportunities to collaborate with students and faculty members in the College of Engineering, College of Music or Department of Radio, Film and Television, among others.

We are one of the nation’s most comprehensive visual arts schools at a public university and considered one of the best in the Southwest. Our 90,000-squarefoot Art Building includes classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, studios, a workshop, the UNT Art Gallery and a visual resources library. Five 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. New media art students have access to state-of-the- art computers, software, and image and sound recording equipment.

We award a number of scholarships to our continuing students based on their performance in their major. Other academic scholarships are available through our Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office.

If you live on campus, you can become part of our Residents Engaged in Academic Living (REAL) Community for art and design students. This living-learning community brings students with the same interests together with a faculty member and enhances your academic and social experiences. More information about the REAL Community is online at www.unt.edu/housing.

Getting hands-on experience

As a student in a studio art program, you will get a great deal of hands-on experience in your classes. Much of the course work involves the production of new media related artwork. There are opportunities for exhibiting your work on campus and at local galleries. In addition, UNT is within easy commuting distance of major art museums and galleries in Dallas and Fort Worth that can provide valuable resources and experiences for you.

Another key resource is our nationally accredited Internships and Cooperative Education office. More than 4,000 employers work with the office to provide excellent learning opportunities. Internships can last for one full semester or summer and may become permanent fulltime positions upon graduation. Co-op employers pay extremely well, and the jobs usually last several semesters, often until graduation.

Preparing for UNT: High school students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Recommended Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, submit your application for admission by March 1 (apply online at www.applytexas.org) and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Preparing for UNT: Transfer students

As a benefit for transfer students, we participate 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 our Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Our Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you to a peer mentor and other valuable campus resources. Each year, we welcome more transfer students than any other institution in the state. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at transfercenter.unt.edu.

Charting your path with academic advising

You must attend an orientation to 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. View the dates for freshman and transfer student orientations at nsp.unt.edu.

Our College of Visual Arts and Design Student Services Office provides advising for students and is located in the Art Building, Room 111.

You can also utilize our new online degree audit system. This interactive tool can help you stay on track for graduation and prepare for advising appointments. You can monitor your progress 24/7, even viewing the impact of various majors. The system is easily accessible through my.unt.edu using the “my academics” link on the

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