Visual Arts, BFA

Program Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is the recognized professional undergraduate degree in the visual arts. The program offers students a balanced curriculum of academic coursework, studio art and art history courses in preparation for careers in studio related areas of the visual arts. The department offers coursework in a number of studio disciplines, including ceramics, digital arts media, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.

First-year art students participate in a foundations program comprised of four studio classes and two art history survey courses. The studio foundation classes expose first-year art students to 2-D, 3-D, and 4-D studio practices; utilize traditional and new media; and place special emphasis on design concepts and creative problem solving. Near the end of the freshmen year, students exhibit their work in a mandatory Foundations Review.

In the sophomore year, students take introductory studio courses in six disciplines, which provides an overview of the studio arts and exposes students to a broad range of studio experiences. Upon completion of this core of courses, students identify one studio discipline as their emphasis area in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Students advance their art history understanding through two theory and history of art courses.

In the junior year, students fulfill requirements in their emphasis area in preparation for the Senior Studio experience. Requirements include intermediate and advanced courses in their chosen studio discipline, and a course in contemporary art history. Students additionally take coursework across other studios as complementary elective work.

The Senior Studio experience is comprised of four courses and provides students an opportunity to focus on and refine their personal art concepts and skills, produce a cohesive body of artworks for their BFA exhibition in two senior studio courses, develop their portfolio for graduate study or a career in studio-related art professions in a senior seminar, and learn industry standards for installation of their artwork in the Senior BFA Exhibition through a gallery internship.

Program Requirements