The UAB Department of Art + Art History fosters critical and creative thinking, communication, problem solving and community engagement through our curriculum and programs.
As an art and art history student at UAB, you will acquire the skills and techniques needed to express yourself, practice the art of critique, and learn from cultural producers new and old.
What Makes UAB Special?
The UAB Department of Art and Art History is committed to training artists and art historians to innovate and thrive in the classroom and within their communities. Students in our department immerse themselves in art within the context of a top-tier research institution, where they can explore the full breadth of their academic interests under the guidance of our internationally successful faculty.
Our studio facilities, state-of-the-art digital labs, small class sizes, and community engagements provide students with rich and diverse experience in the visual arts. Our students also have professional opportunities that are unmatched in the state of Alabama, including design projects for real clients and exhibitions in the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA).
Our students consistently transition to graduate school and arts professions after graduation. No matter what you dream for your future, the UAB Department of Art and Art History can help you shape that vision.
- Scholarships
- Mentorship
- Student Exhibitions
- Studio Facilities
- Career Opportunities
- Immersive Education
- Respectful Environment
- Community Engagement
Our degree programs include a B.F.A. in Studio Arts, a B.A. in Art History and Art Studio, the Major in Art with a Graphic and Digital Design concentration, an M.A. in Art History, and an M.A. in Cultural Heritage Studies, an innovative multidisciplinary program and the first of its kind in the state of Alabama. We are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Community
Our commitment to our mission and our community is demonstrated by the synergy created through our community partnerships across Birmingham, a city rich with history, culture, and opportunity where you have access to an array of resources, opportunities, and partnerships unmatched anywhere else in the state of Alabama.
The UAB Department of Art and Art History works closely with community partners and friends to connect you to engage in learning activities, internships, and professional development opportunities. Through these opportunities, you will grow personally and creatively, develop dynamic portfolios, and build deep relationships with industry professionals and creative practitioners who guide and mentor you as you move into the next chapter of your career.
Local Art and Cultural Organizations
- Alabama Power
- American Advertising Federation
- American Institute of Graphic Arts
- Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs
- Bib & Tucker Sew Op
- Bibb County Tourism Board
- Big Communications
- Birmingham Artwalk
- Birmingham City Schools
- Birmingham Museum of Art
- Birmingham Public Library
- Cahaba River Society
- Cayenne Creative
- Design Week Birmingham
- The Fuel and Lumber Company
- Growing Kings
- Gallery VOX
- Impact America
- Kuumba Community Arts
- Lakeshore Foundation
- Magic City Mural Collective
- The March Quilts
- Moss Rock Art Festival
- Paperworkers Local
- Red Mountain Makers
- Rev Birmingham
- Sloss Furnaces Metal Arts
- Southern Environmental Center
- Southern Research
- Space One Eleven
- Studio By the Tracks
- VINEGAR
- Vulcan Park
- WBHM 90.3FM
- Woodlawn Foundation
Schedule a Tour
We would be happy to speak with you about how you can make your mark here at UAB. To schedule a personal tour or portfolio review, please contact the Department of Art and Art History at