University of Hawaii at Manoa

What you'll study

The programme combines foundation-level studio courses with progressive, discipline-specific studios and art-historical study. Early semesters focus on core visual skills—drawing, 2D and 3D foundations, colour, and design—while later work lets you concentrate in areas such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, metals/jewellery, and new media. Coursework typically includes life drawing, advanced studio seminars, digital imaging, photographic processes, three-dimensional construction, and material-specific workshops.

Alongside studio practice you study art history and theory that situate your work within historical, cultural and contemporary frameworks, including courses that address Pacific and Indigenous art traditions and contemporary art in Asia–Pacific contexts. The curriculum usually requires a professional practice component covering portfolio development, exhibition preparation and arts management, and culminates in a senior project or capstone exhibition in which you present a coherent body of work.

• Foundation studios: drawing, 2D/3D design, colour theory
• Discipline studios: painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, metals/jewellery, digital/new media
• Art history and theory, including Pacific/Indigenous art studies
• Professional practice: portfolio, exhibition practicum, arts administration basics
• Senior capstone: thesis project and public exhibition

Structure

The degree combines studio course sequences, lecture/seminar courses and general education requirements. Studio courses are workshop-based with regular critique and faculty mentorship. Students build a portfolio as they progress and are typically expected to meet department standards to advance to upper-division studio classes. Facilities commonly available include shared studios, darkrooms/digital labs, ceramics and sculpture workshops, print studios and mount/display spaces for student exhibitions.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised secondary-school qualification or equivalent. Admissions typically consider academic transcripts alongside a creative portfolio that demonstrates drawing and visual problem-solving abilities; the department may require a portfolio review or interview. Because studio places are limited, selection is competitive and applicants benefit from evidence of sustained creative work and relevant coursework.

Transfer applicants will need college transcripts and a portfolio of recent work; advanced standing may be granted for previous studio coursework. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through accepted tests or qualifications and provide official academic records and a portfolio. Specific application processes and portfolio guidelines are provided by the Department of Art and Art History.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a wide range of creative and arts-related careers. Many become practising visual artists exhibiting in galleries, public spaces and community venues. Other common paths include roles as curators, museum or gallery assistants, arts educators, arts administrators, community arts coordinators, arts programmers and arts nonprofit staff. Skills gained in the programme are also transferable to related fields such as graphic design, illustration, photography, set and installation design, conservation (often requiring further training), and graduate study in fine art or visual studies.

The programme’s location supports opportunities for internships and collaborations with local museums, galleries and cultural organisations across Honolulu and the Pacific region, which can lead to professional networks and early-career placements.

Why study at University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a distinctive context for studio art study because of its location in the Hawaiian Islands and strong engagement with Pacific and Indigenous arts. The Department of Art and Art History combines practising faculty artists and scholars whose work often reflects regional, cross-cultural and environmental concerns, providing perspectives you may not find elsewhere.

Students benefit from well-equipped studios and access to campus exhibition spaces, community partnerships, and connections with major local cultural institutions. The campus’s Asia–Pacific orientation and study-abroad opportunities enable comparative approaches to material and visual culture, while Honolulu’s vibrant arts scene offers regular exhibition, residency and internship possibilities that support professional development.

Overall, the programme is suited to students seeking rigorous studio training grounded in contemporary discourse and place-based inquiry, preparing graduates for varied careers in the visual arts and further study.