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Jan 07, 2026
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Painting, BFA
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 Return to: Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts (KGMCA)
Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts > School of Art > Painting, BFA
Painting is a practice with 40,000 years of history crossing every continent and culture, and an evolving, expansive, and dynamic field of activity. To engage meaningfully in the practice of painting, the Painting program at UH familiarizes students with paintings’ rich, diverse historical lineages; seeds classroom instruction with the proficient use of tools and materials; encourages innovation and experimentation; and emphasizes the conceptual, analytical, and critical skills necessary to make work that is strong, relevant and personal.
Coursework moves from structured to interpretive assignments, and finally to student defined projects and intensive studio practice. In this way, the Painting program provides the foundation for students to develop independently as practicing professional artists.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting degree must fulfill the 42-hour university core curriculum, complete 3 hours of electives and complete 81 credit hours in studio art and art history courses as follows:
- Twelve credit hours of 1000-level or 2000-level fundamentals studio courses.
- Twenty-seven credit hours Painting major courses, typically called the Painting block courses.
- Thirty credit hours in approved related arts courses for the major in Painting.
- Twelve credit hours in art history including ARTS 1303 and ARTS 1304 and ARTH 4383 and three credit hours of art history at the 2000-level or above. ARTS 1303 and 1304 will double count with six hours of university core curriculum.
- A minimum of 57 credit hours must be earned in 3000- or 4000-level studio courses.
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Fundamentals Courses
Eighteen credit hours total, including twelve credit hours of fundamental studio courses (four 1000-level or 2000-level studio courses) and Art History I and II (ARTS 1303 and ARTS 1304 ) constitute the lower level, foundational courses for B.F.A. majors. Related Arts Courses
A basic prerequisite for any related arts studio course is completion of 12 credit hours of fundamental studio courses. A minimum of 30 credit hours in related arts courses is required for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting. The term “related arts” is meant to include all intermediate-level courses offered by the school. Students must have completed the fundamental course in a discipline before they take an intermediate level course in that discipline or have specific consent of the instructor. Related arts courses can include any art history course at the 2000 or higher level, any course approved by a major program’s faculty that is offered by another department, and any 3000-4000-level art or design studio course. Exception: Students wishing to begin work in B.F.A. major courses who have not previously taken the fundamental course in the major, should take the corresponding 1000-level or 2000-level course, which can be petitioned for related arts credit. B.F.A. Major Courses
Prerequisites for a major vary among the B.F.A. majors. All majors require participation in the competitive portfolio review and formal individual approval by the major faculty known as Block Review. On completion of junior courses in the major, a review of the student’s progress by the major faculty is mandatory. No student is allowed to continue in the major until formal approval has been granted by the major faculty. Students must have an approved degree plan on file in the KGMCA Office of Student Success before they begin their senior major program. Any substitutes for junior or senior major courses must be approved by the faculty of the major area. At a minimum, transfer students to the Painting, major must take one three-credit pre-major studio course and the final 36 credit hours in the major. Students may not apply any major courses completed more than seven years prior to the graduation semester in fulfillment of degree requirements. Texas Core Curriculum
Communication Core (010-6 hours) Mathematics Core (020-3 hours) Recommended: MATH 1314 - College Algebra or MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics Life and Physical Sciences Core (030-6 hours) Language, Philosophy and Culture Core (040-3 hours) Note: ARTS 1303 is also a major requirement. Creative Arts Core (050-3 hours) Note: ARTS 1304 is also a major requirement American History Core (060-6 hours) Government/Political Science Core (070-6 hours) Social and Behavioral Science Core (080-3 hours) Mathematics/Reasoning Core (090-3 hours) Recommended: MATH 1351 - Introduction to Geometric Reasoning Writing in the Disciplines Core (090-3 hours) Painting BFA Major Requirements
Fundamental Arts (12 hours)
Painting Related Arts (30 hours)
Painting Block (27 hours)
Free Electives (0-3 hours)
- If needed, due to double counting ARTS 1303 and 1304 for core and major requirements, complete free electives to reach a minimum 120 total credits hours.
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Return to: Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts (KGMCA)
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