Fine Art Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Major in Fine Art, Pre-Professional (BFA)
Required courses: 66 credit hours
All BFA majors are required to take coursework in the following order:
Note: No minor is required for the completion of the professional degree program (BFA) in art.
Tier 1: 9 credit hours required
ARTS 1240 Design I (3) OR
FDMA 1210 Digital Video Production I (4) and
ARTS 1610 Drawing 1 (3)
FDMA 2533 Imaging History and Production (4)
Tier 2: 12 credit hours required
ARTS 2610 Drawing 2 (3)
ARTS 1630 Painting 1 (3)
ARTS 1840 Sculpture 1 (3)
ARTS 1710 Introduction to Printmaking (3)
Tier 3: 15 credit hours required
ARTH 2110 History of Art 1 (3)
ARTH 2120 History of Art 2 (3)
Choose nine credit hours of electives
Tier 4: 12 credit hours required
ARTH 3400 Modern Art (3)
ARTH 3800 Indigenous Art of the Americas (3)
ARTH 4500 Seminar in Art History (3)
ARTS 4910 Senior Colloquium (2)
ARTS 4950 B.F.A. Exhibit (1)
Electives: 18 additional credit hours required
Studio Elective Courses for BFA and BA in Fine Arts:
ARTS 1320 Ceramics 1 (3)
ARTS 1810 Jewelry and Small Metal Construction 1 (3)
ARTS 2850 Art Foundry 1 (3)
ARTS 3020 Life Drawing 1 (3)
ARTS 3210 Painting 2 (3)
ARTS 3220 Painting 3 (3)
ARTS 3310 Ceramics 2 (3)
ARTS 3350 Selected Topics in Art Studio (1-4)
ARTS 3410 Sculpture 2 (3)
ARTS 3610 Jewelry and Metalsmithing 2 (3)
ARTS 3710 Printmaking 2 (3)
ARTS 3720 Printmaking 3 (3)
ARTS 3850 Art Foundry 2 (3)
ARTS 4020 Life Drawing 2 (3)
ARTS 4220 Painting 4 (3)
ARTS 4310 Ceramics 3 (3)
ARTS 4320 Ceramics 2 (3)
ARTS 4350 Selected Topics in Art Studio (1-4)
ARTS 4410 Sculpture 3 (3)
ARTS 4420 Sculpture 4 (3)
ARTS 4610 Jewelry and Metalsmithing 3 (3)
ARTS 4620 Jewelry and Metalsmithing 4 (3)
ARTS 4720 Printmaking 4 (3)
ARTS 4850 Art Foundry 3 (3)
ARTS 4860 Art Foundry 4 (3)
ARTS 4930 Directed Study in Art Studio (1-4)
ARTS 4960 Exhibit Design (3)
ARTS 4980 Professional Internship (1-4)
A maximum of three courses may be chosen from the Media Arts list totaling 9 credits:
FDMA 2200 Color Theory (4)
MART 3090 Conceptual Imaging and Methods (4)
MART 4140 Portfolio (4)
MART 4330 Advanced Digital Imaging (4)
MART 4430 Digital Photography (4)
MART 4405 Advanced Digital Photo (4)
MART 4950 Exhibition Design (4)
MART 4960 Advanced Exhibition Design (4)
Major Total: 66 credit hours
Core Requirements: 21 credit hours
Flex Requirements: 10 credit hours
Extended Requirements: 8 credit hours
Proficiency Requirements: 11-17 credit hours
General Electives to 120 (if needed): 1-4 credit hours
Total for degree: 120 credit hours*
*A minor is not required. The number of proficiency credit requirements will vary based on student placement scores. New Mexico Highlands University requires a minimum of 45 upper-division units for the degree.
Interdisciplinary Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Required courses: 33 credit hours; elective courses: 33
Tier 1: 9 credit hours required
ARTS 1240 Design 1 (3) or
FDMA 1210 Digital Video Production I (4) and
ARTS 1610 Drawing 1 (3)
FDMA 2533 Imaging History and Production (4)
Tier 2: 21 credit hours required
ARTS 2610 Drawing 2 (3)
ARTH 2110 History of Art 1 (3)
ARTH 2120 History of Art 2 (3)
FDMA 2200 Color Theory (4)
Choose nine credit hours of elective courses in media arts or fine arts
Tier 3: 18 credit hours required
ARTH 3400 Modern Art (3)
ARTH 3800 Indigenous Art of the Americas (3)
Choose 12 credit hours of elective courses in media arts and fine arts
Tier 4: 18 credit hours required
MART 4650 Advanced Media Projects (4) or
ARTS 4910 Senior Colloquium (2) and
ARTS 4950 BFA Exhibit 1 (1)
ARTH 4500 Seminar in History (3)
Choose 12 credit hours of elective in Media Arts or Fine Arts
Major total: 66 credit hours
Core Requirements: 21 credit hours
Flex Requirements: 10 credit hours
Extended Requirements: 8 credit hours
Proficiency Requirements: 11-17 credit hours
General Electives to 120 (if needed): 1-4 credit hours
Total for degree: 120 credit hours*
*A minor is not required. The number of proficiency credit requirements will vary based on student placement scores. New Mexico Highlands University requires a minimum of 45 upper-division units for the degree.
Major in Fine Art, Liberal Arts (BA)
Required courses: 18 credit hours; elective courses: 18 credit hours
Tier 1: 6 credit hours required
ARTS 1240 Design 1 (3) or
FDMA 1210 Digital Video Production I (4) and
ARTS 1610 Drawing 1 (3)
Tier 2: 9 credit hours
ARTS 2610 Drawing 2 (3)
Choose six credit hours of studio electives
Tier 3: 12 credit hours
ARTH 2110 History of Art 1 (3)
ARTH 2120 History of Art 2 (3)
Choose six credit hours of studio electives
Tier 4: 9 credit hours
ARTH 3400 Modern ART (3)
Choose six credit hours of studio electives
Electives courses for B.A. in Fine Arts:
ARTS 1320 Ceramics 1 (3)
ARTS 1810 Jewelry and Small Metal Construction 1 (3)
ARTS 2850 Art Foundry 1 (3)
ARTS 3020 Life Drawing 1 (3)
ARTS 3210 Painting 2 (3)
ARTS 3220 Painting 3 (3)
ARTS 3310 Ceramics 2 (3)
ARTS 3350 Selected Topics in Art Studio (1-4)
ARTS 3410 Sculpture 2 (3)
ARTS 3610 Jewelry and Metalsmithing 2 (3)
ARTS 3710 Printmaking 2 (3)
ARTS 3720 Printmaking 3 (3)
ARTS 3850 Art Foundry 2 (3)
ARTS 4020 Life Drawing 2 (3)
ARTS 4220 Painting 4 (3)
ARTS 4310 Ceramics 3 (3)
ARTS 4320 Ceramics 4 (3)
ARTS 4350 Selected Topics in Art Studio (1-4)
ARTS 4410 Sculpture 3 (3)
ARTS 4420 Sculpture 4 (3)
ARTS 4610 Jewelry and Metalsmithing 3 (3)
ARTS 4620 Jewelry and Metalsmithing 4 (3)
ARTS 4720 Printmaking 4 (3)
ARTS 4850 Art Foundry 3 (3)
ARTS 4860 Art Foundry 4 (3)
ARTS 4930 Directed Study in Art Studio (1-4)
ARTS 4960 Exhibit Design (3)
ARTS 4980 Prof Internship (1-4)
Major Total: 36 credit hours
Minor: 20 credit hours minimum
Core Requirements: 21 credit hours
Flex Requirements: 10 credit hours
Extended Requirements: 8 credit hours
Proficiency Requirements: 11-17 credit hours
General Electives to 120 (if needed): 8-14 credit hours
Total for degree: 120 credit hours*
*A minor is required. The number of proficiency credit requirements will vary based on student placement scores. New Mexico Highlands University requires a minimum of 45 upper-division units for the degree.
Minor in Art (Art Studio Emphasis)
Required courses: 15 credit hours
ARTS 1240 Design 1 (3) or
FDMA 1210 Digital Video Production I (4) and
ARTS 1610 Drawing 1 (3)
ARTS 2610 Drawing 2 (3)
ARTH 2110 History of Art 1 (3)
ARTH 2120 History of Art 2 (3)
Electives: 9 credit hours
Studio electives: nine credit hours (six credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level)
Minor Total: 24 credit hours
Minor in Art History
Required courses: 21 credit hours
ARTS 1110 Art Appreciation (3)
ARTS 1240 Design 1 (3) or
FDMA 1210 Digital Video Production I (4) and
ARTH 2110 History of Art 1 (3)
ARTH 2120 History of Art 2 (3)
ARTH 3800 Indigenous Art of the Americas (3)
ARTH 3400 Modern Art (3)
ARTH 4500 Seminar in Art History (3) (Repeatable)
Minor Total: 21 credit hours
Graduate Programs
Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Fine Arts (30 credit hours)
This curriculum provides the rigorous studio practice and conceptual/art historical framework necessary to develop a portfolio for application to graduate programs in fine arts or to prepare the candidate for a self-directed career in fine art. It is a critique-driven program that requires the student enroll in portfolio development, and exhibition courses, as well as directed study courses.
The program is designed for students with degrees in fields other than art, who have decided to pursue art as a career choice and will allow them to develop art related portfolios. The Program will help students of New Mexico, the region and the nation advance to Master of Fine Arts programs and develop a clear direction in their work to be competitive as a self-directed, independent fine artist.
Admissions into the post baccalaureate program is contingent upon undergraduate transcripts, CV, and a portfolio of 20 images which demonstrates competency in studio art. Additionally, the applicant must submit a letter of purpose and two letters of recommendation from sources outside of Highlands University. Admission into graduate school is also required.
Students who do not have 15 credit hours of art history classes may be admitted to the program on a provisional basis. These course requirements must be met in order to advance in the program.
Required Courses (18 credits):
ARTS 5910 Portfolio Development and Professional Practices (2)
ARTS 5900 Independent Study (6)
ARTH 5500 Seminar in Art History* (6)
*Repeated with different content
ARTH 5800 Indigenous Art of the Americas (3)
ARTS 5950 Exhibit (1)
Art Electives (12 credits):
ARTS 5710 Painting 5 (3)
ARTS 5720 Painting 6 (3)
ARTS 5310 Ceramics 5 (3)
ARTS 5340 Practicum (1-4)
ARTS 5350 Selected Topics (1-4)
ARTS 5410 Sculpture 5 (3)
ARTS 5420 Sculpture 6 (3)
ARTS 5500 Seminar in Art (1-4)
ARTS 5610 Jewelry and Metalsmithing (3)
ARTS 5710 Printmaking 5 (3)
ARTS 5720 Printmaking 6 (3)
ARTS 5850 Art Foundry 5 (3)
ARTS 5900 Independent Study (1-4)
ARTS 5960 Exhibit Design (3)
Program Total: 30 credit hours minimum