Sculpture

Career potential

Are you interested in a major that you can really get your hands on? Do you enjoy molding clay or constructing items out of wood or metal? The University of North Texas’ Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in sculpture may be just the degree for you.

Sculptors are often self-employed artists, showing and selling their works in museums and galleries and doing commissions for public and private entities. Studying sculpture will prepare you for such a career as well as prepare you for an advanced degree, should you consider teaching at the college or university level.

Among our alumni is sculptor Jesús Moroles, one of the most recognized sculptors living and working in Texas and who is also a U.S. Medal of Honor recipient.

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

Sculpture

While studying sculpture, you will take courses in art appreciation, art history, design and drawing, as well as courses in sculpture. You will have access to large, well equipped studios and receive instruction in a wide range of materials and techniques. Sculpture students spend a lot of time in studio art classes creating original works, studying all aspects of three-dimensional art and examining different media in which to work.

A portfolio is not required for admission to the program, but transfer students may need to submit one for placement in advanced courses. You will have premajor status on arrival to UNT. Information about progressing into major status is available at art.unt.edu or in the UNT Undergraduate Catalog at catalog.unt.edu.

At the end of your sophomore year, the sculpture faculty members will review a portfolio of your work to determine if you can continue in the program. Before graduation, usually during the last senior sculpture course, you must present your work to the faculty for a senior exit review.

Our 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. Many of our sculpture faculty members are nationally and internationally acclaimed professional artists and scholars who are impacting communities worldwide. They will guide and encourage you to explore new directions in art, so you can become a well-rounded art professional.

The 90,000-square-foot Art Building includes classrooms, a computer lab, faculty offices, studios, a workshop, the UNT Art Gallery and a visual resources library. The school also has a foundry, as well as indoor and outdoor studio space for stone sculpting, woodcarving, welding and casting. Scoular Hall and Oak Street Hall house additional classrooms and laboratories, as well as the Texas Fashion Collection and the Cora Stafford Art Gallery.

If you live on campus, you can become part of our Residents Engaged in Academic Living Community for art 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 at www.unt.edu/housing.

To provide additional insights and knowledge, we bring numerous renowned artists, designers and scholars to campus.

Getting hands-on experience

As a sculpture student, you will get a great deal of hands-on experience in your classes. There are also opportunities for showing your work on campus or at local galleries. In addition, we are within commuting distance of Dallas and Fort Worth, where major art museums and galleries provide valuable resources and experiences.

Another valuable 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 a summer and may become permanent full-time positions upon graduation. Co-op employers pay extremely well, and the jobs usually last several semesters, often until graduation.

Preparing for UNT

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

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 will need to attend an orientation to the College of Visual Arts and Design, held in conjunction with university orientation for new students or during registration at the start of each semester. You can view the dates for freshman and transfer orientation at nsp.unt.edu. 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.

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.eduusing the “my academics” link on the student center page.

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