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Welcome to USMART

Faculty are highly recognized within their fields and they bring their professional commitment to their teaching. Along with a strong student body and a committed and attentive staff a close sense of community flourishes. The USMART Program offers the intimacy of an art school within the abundant and varied environment of a University. Located on the University's Gorham Campus, students are able enjoy the secure environment of a small liberal arts campus within a small New England town, yet have easy access to the many cultural offerings of Greater Portland. USMART is a nationally accredited program that offers a low student teacher ratio where students are able to gain the benefits of mentorship with the camaraderie and peer learning of the classroom. The Department prides itself on giving students a rigorous studio experience an historical understanding of the complexity of art practices, and the critical skills needed to produce informed visual artists, art educators, and art historians. Our goal is to graduate artists and art professionals who possess a thorough grounding in their field (both practical and theoretical), who honor the creative process, and who can write about, criticize, and bring context to works of art. The Department is not tied to a specific style or approach to art making, but instead emphasizes students' ability to think creatively, to include their own point of view, and to defend their choices with an informed voice. USMART has a studio intensive Art Education Degree for first degree and prior degree students leading to full state and national certification.

In collaboration with the Department of Technology, USMART has a first rate digital imaging facility and offers courses in computer imaging and web design for artists. USMART has the first in the nation degree combining Studio art and Entrepreneurial Studies. This degree combines courses in studio art with courses in business practices, financial management, marketing, and in entrepreneurship, along with an internship and mentorship experience with professionals in their fields. USMART has a broad range of degrees. It offers a BFA in Studio Art; a BFA in Art Education; a BA in Studio Art; a BA in Art History, and a BA in Art and Entrepreneurial Studies. Within these the student may customize their experience to meet their own needs. The Art Program offers many possibilities: double majors between art other academic departments; multiple studio concentrations within its professional degree; a combined degree in Studio and Art History; and Self-Designed majors. USMART has a Visiting Artist in Residence Program in which nationally recognized Artists are invited to Campus for an extended residency to teach and create a work on campus. USMART has a professional internship program that links students to professionals and organizations in the arts both in Maine and nationally. The university offers an extensive national and international student exchange program as well as specialized Art courses taught oversees. Within the programs offerings are a BFA thesis exhibition requirement, a professional practices seminar required in studio and art history and an internship requirement for all BFA and BA/Art History. Acknowledging our many non-traditional students all courses are rotated through both evening and daytime slots, and there are extensive weekend and off campus offerings as well. With exhibition spaces on both campuses the USMART programs play a major role in the regions cultural life. The USM Art Galleries exhibit many nationally and internationally acclaimed artists additionally we have a distinguished and long running Lecture Series in the Visual Arts.