Department of Art
Welcome to the Department of Art at the University of the Incarnate Word. This exciting program in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) offers future artists and creative professionals a multidimensional art education through discerning observation and studio practice.
UIW’s Department of Art is a creative home for students ready to explore ideas, experiment across media, and build a strong artistic voice. Through hands-on studio work and critical study, students develop technical skills while shaping work that reflects who they are and what they care about.
Art at UIW is immersive and experiential. Students work across disciplines — including painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography and digital processes — while gaining practical, real-world experience. As they advance in the program, students also learn how to plan, install and present artwork in a professional gallery setting, understanding the full lifecycle of an exhibition.
Rooted in UIW’s mission and guided by a global perspective, the Department of Art views creativity as a tool for connection, reflection and social impact. Students are encouraged to think critically, honor diverse voices and engage with art as a meaningful way to better the world around them.
Students learn from accomplished faculty who are also practicing artists. Through close mentorship, students grow creatively and professionally within a NASAD-accredited art program that meets national standards for excellence in art and design education. In their senior year, students develop a professional, curated portfolio of work that is exhibited in the Semmes Gallery, fulfilling a key graduation requirement and preparing them for careers in the arts and related fields.
Emerging Visions: A Juried Exhibition of High School Artists
The University of the Incarnate Word Department of Art proudly presents Emerging Visions, a juried exhibition designed to recruit and support emerging artists from Bexar County high schools who are considering post-secondary study in the visual arts. Open exclusively to current high school juniors and seniors, this annual exhibition provides students with the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional gallery setting while learning more about academic pathways in art at UIW.
Key Dates and Details
- Application Period: Sept. 1, 2026 - Jan. 15, 2027
- Notification of Finalists: Feb. 22-26, 2027
- Exhibition on Display: Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 16, 2027
- Opening Reception: Saturday, April 3, 2027, 5 - 7 p.m.
- Location: Kelso Art Center/ Semmes and Condos Student Galleries
As part of UIW's commitment to recruiting talented students, the Best in Show recipient will be awarded a scholarship applicable toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art or Photography at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Emerging Visions serves as a point of connection between prospective students and the UIW Department of Art, offering participants insight into the university's academic programs, facilities and creative community.
Scholarships
The Department of Art offers scholarships to current and prospective UIW students majoring in art or photography. The application window opens annually in March and applied to the next academic school year.
For more information, contact Professor Adam Mulder, Art Department Chair, at (210) 805-3690 or amulder@uiwtx.edu, or Claudia Cruz Hidrogo, Secretary/Art Gallery Director, at (210) 829-3852 or cruzhidr@uiwtx.edu.
The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Department of Art has earned accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Established in 1944, NASAD is a coalition of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities, comprising approximately 360 accredited institutional members. It sets national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as other credentials in art, design, and related disciplines. Additionally, NASAD supports institutions and individuals involved in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related pursuits.
Accreditation serves as a mark of approval, indicating that an institution upholds, endorses, and meets an established set of external standards for its programs.
Purpose
- Nationally Accredited
- Committed to upholding a high-quality program
- Recognized alongside other prestigious universities
Students graduating from the UIW Department of Art will be able to...
- Create Meaningful Visual Work: Develop original artwork that demonstrates strong visual literacy, aesthetic awareness, and creative problem-solving.
- Demonstrate Studio Mastery: Apply technical skills and material knowledge within their chosen area(s) of studio practice, including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics and interdisciplinary media.
- Develop Conceptually Driven Work: Translate ideas, research, and personal perspective into cohesive artistic work that effectively connects concept, process and medium.
- Engage Art in Historical and Contemporary Contexts: Interpret and apply knowledge of historical, contemporary and global artistic practices to inform their own creative work.
- Think Critically and Responsibly: Examine the cultural, social and ethical dimensions of artmaking, recognizing the power of visual art to shape dialogue and inspire change.
- Present Professional Work: Produce a cohesive portfolio or exhibition-ready body of work and demonstrate professional practices including presentation, critique and written articulation of artistic intent.
- Prepare for Creative Careers Advanced Study: Build the skills, confidence and professional foundation needed for careers in the arts, graduate study and lifelong creative practice.
- Contribute to the Human Experience Through Art: Create work that reflects imagination, inquiry and an understanding of art's capacity to enrich communities and deepen human connection.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts in Art
This program combines courses in drawing, design, painting and art history to provide students with a well-rounded course load that will prepare them for numerous possibilities upon graduation.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
In UIW’s B.F.A in Art program, students take challenging courses in ceramics, printmaking, photography and sculpture in addition to traditional courses such as art history, preparing students to pursue a professional career in the art industry.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography
Students in this exciting program quickly advance in their skills, learning various methods of photography through courses such as Introduction to Photographic Lighting and Documentary Photography as they prepare to enter a competitive career field.
Art Minors
Undergraduate students of any UIW program can broaden their academic experience by pursuing a minor in Art 2D, Art 3D, Art History, Art Therapy or Photography.