Undergraduate Research
Experiential Learning That Sets You Apart
The UNC Asheville Art and Art History department offers a holistic, interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates visual analysis and practical skills. Leveraging Asheville’s vibrant creative community, students gain professional experience through internships at local institutions. This focused study culminates in capstone-level research, a senior exhibition/portfolio, or an in-depth thesis, ensuring every graduate is prepared with a mature body of work for advanced studies or a career in the arts.
of UNC Asheville students participate in undergraduate research
students and alumni have been awarded prestigious Fulbright Scholarships
National Conference on Undergraduate Research Member
As a student at UNCA I conducted research that brought me to Germany the summer before my senior year. I proposed a project in which I retraced my lineage, and worked to understand the creative legacy of my family. This undergraduate research project was wildly meaningful at the time, and ended up being a catalyst for my own creative career. After graduation, I was invited to an artist residency in Dachau, Germany for three months, where I created ceramic artwork among local makers. The residency would not have happened without my undergraduate research project, and as time unfolds - this rings true for many other things.
The BFA program prompted me to develop a robust creative practice, which I draw upon working with artists nationally. The opportunity to do funded research (rare at the undergraduate level) also mimicked the grant-writing + proposal process essential to cultivating resources in the arts.
Jump Start Your Career with Undergraduate Research
Jump Start Your Career with Undergraduate Research
The Undergraduate Research Program at UNC Asheville empowers students to design and conduct original research in partnership with faculty mentors. Open to all undergraduates, the program supports scholarly and creative projects across all disciplines, with opportunities to earn academic credit, present at conferences, and publish in the university’s research journal. Students develop independent inquiry skills while working closely with faculty to pursue questions that matter to them. The program offers funding, symposia, and national recognition, including a University Research Scholar designation for those who both present and publish.
Ready for what's next?
Discover your true potential in UNC Asheville’s art programs, where you can choose from six dynamic concentrations designed to ignite your creative spark and deepen your understanding of history, critique, and craft. Whether you’re pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Art or Art History, you’ll benefit from small class sizes, hands-on learning, and a holistic curriculum that prepares you for careers in the art world, graduate study, or education. Our immersive and flexible programs are built to support your goals and empower you to thrive as a thoughtful, skilled, and creative professional.