Interdisciplinary Art & Design Studies
We live in a world of images and the impact of the visual on art and society grows greater every day. Websites, magazines, films, television and public art surround us. What impulses drive us to make and desire these images? How do we understand them? What do they do? How do they make meaning in a diverse world?
The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies is a genuinely interdisciplinary study of art and design with coursework in such diverse fields as Anthropology, Film, Communications, Art History, and Sociology. The beauty of the IADS degree is its flexibility. You chart your course within the degree to explore aspects of art and design that interest you.
The program is divided among three tracks. Two of these are geared to specific areas of interest: Design Management prepares students to work with design firms as project managers while Arts Management provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to work within arts organizations including galleries and museums. The Open Track provides maximum flexibility for students seeking to chart their own course for careers in design, studio art, art law, art history, or other fields.
What Can I Do with the Degree?
IADS is particularly useful for students wanting to enter an art- or design-related career. Some of these careers include art law, non-profit arts organization director, digital image management, gallery owner, instructional designer, visual merchandising, and auction houses operations and sales. Combining the IADS degree with a strategically chosen minor and an internship will go far toward preparing for one of these careers.
Our alumni have found exciting ways to put their IADS degrees to work. Several work in galleries and design firms, some have gone on to graduate school and one IADS alumna designs t-shirts worn by rock stars!
More Information
For more information on each track, follow the links on the left side of the screen.
Follow IADS on Facebook for internship and job opportunities!
Contact Dr. Kelly Donahue-Wallace, IADS Program Coordinator, or the Department of Art Education and Art History at aeah@unt.edu for questions about:
Contact Cynthia Mohr, Design Department Chair, or the Department of Design at design@unt.edu for questions about:
Student accomplishments
Sarah Travis, Dr. Amelia Kraehe
Art education doctoral student Sarah Travis and art education professor Dr. Amelia Kraehe published a co-authored paper in 2016 in The Urban Review titled Equity, the Arts, and Urban Education.
Alumni accomplishments
Linda East - Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Linda East is the new Lectures and Concerts Assistant at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. She will be helping to plan and implement lectures that accompany exhibits, films, and other special events through the Learning and Interpretation Department.
