BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

The School of Art & Design recently completed a revision to its Bachelor of Fine Arts curriculum in order to offer a professional program that comprehensively meets the needs of our students and prepares them to thrive in a competitive art world.  The program revision provides a well-crafted balance between the conceptual and technical aspects of art making.  This includes a revised foundations program with a foundations review, an expanded sequence in each area of concentration, an expanded education in art history, the introduction of a capstone experience prior to a student's graduation, and the introduction of 3 new prefixes for School of Art & Design courses to make the change possible: ARTE (designating Art Education courses), ARTH (designating Art History courses), and ARTS (designating Art Studio courses).

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is designed to encourage students to develop a personal focus and direction as well as learn to function professionally as artists.

A suggested 4-year plan of study is available here for download.

Students entering the School of Art & Design in Winter 2011 will begin their studies under this revised BFA program, students under the 54-60 credit-hour BFA should visit the legacy programs page.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Foundation Courses (21 hours)

  • ARTS 121 (3 hrs.) 2-D Design
  • ARTS 122 (3 hrs.) 3-D Design
  • ARTS 123 (3 hrs.) Drawing I
  • ARTS 126 (3 hrs.) Drawing II
  • ARTS 127 (3 hrs.) Digital Media
  • ARTH 165 (3 hrs.) Postmodern and Contemporary Art
  • ARTS 290 (3 hrs.) Studio Concepts (includes Foundations Review)

Art History Courses (15 hours)

  • ARTH 162 (3 hrs.) Survey of Western Art I
  • ARTH 263 (3 hrs.) Survey of Western Art II
  • ARTH 264 (3 hrs.) Survey of Western Art III
  • ARTH 161 (3 hrs.) Non-Western Survey
  • 1 Upper level Art History (3 hrs.)*

  • * Students in Graphic Design must take ARTH 474 Graphic Design History

Studio Courses (45 hours)

  • Students must take 45 hours of studio arts courses; this includes the area concentration, studio art electives, and required studio courses for all BFA majors as listed below:

Required Studio Courses (6 hours)

  • ARTS 205 (3 hrs.) Beginning Life Drawing
  • ARTS 490W (3 hrs.) Capstone Course*

  • * Course must be taken concurrently with the final course in chosen Area of Concentration. Capstone is a Writing Intensive class and meets the requirements of the General Education Program.

Area of Concentration Courses (15-21 hours)

Select a sequence of 5-7 courses (as defined below) in one of the following areas:

  • Ceramics (18 hours)
    • ARTS 225 (3 hrs.)Beginning Ceramics
    • ARTS 235 (3 hrs.) Beginning Sculpture
    • ARTS 325 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Ceramics I*
    • ARTS 326 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Ceramics II
    • ARTS 425 (3 hrs.) Advanced Ceramics I
    • ARTS 426 (3 hrs.) Advanced Ceramics II**
  • Drawing (21 hours)
    • ARTS 305 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Life Drawing
    • ARTS 306 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Drawing
    • ARTS 307 (3 hrs.) Drawing: Contemporary Methods and Materials*
    • ARTS 300 (3 hrs.) Color Theory
    • Students must select three of the following courses (9 Credit Hours)
    •     ARTS 405 (3 hrs.) Advanced Life Drawing* (can be taken twice)
    •     ARTS 407 (3 hrs.) Advanced Life Drawing II**
    •     ARTS 406 (3 hrs.) Advanced Drawing (can be taken twice)
    •     ARTS 408 (3 hrs.) Advanced Drawing II**
  • Fibers (18 hours)
    • ARTS 240 (3 hrs.) Introduction to Fibers
    • ARTS 340 (3 hrs.) Weaving*
    • ARTS 341 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Surface Design: Screen Printing
    • ARTS 440 (3 hrs.) Three Dimensional Fibers
    • Students must select one of the following courses (3 Credit Hours)
    •     ARTS 441 (3 hrs.) Digital Print for Fibers
    •     ARTS 442 (3 hrs.) Embellished Surface
    • ARTS 443 (3 hrs.) Advanced Fibers**
  • Furniture Design (15 hours)
    • ARTS 245 (3 hrs.) Introduction to Furniture
    • ARTS 345 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Furniture*
    • ARTS 445 (3 hrs.) Advanced Furniture I
    • ARTS 446 (3 hrs.) Advanced Furniture II
    • ARTS 447 (3 hrs.) Portfolio**
  • Graphic Design (21 hours)
    • ARTS 250 (3 hrs.) Introduction to Graphic Design I
    • ARTS 350 (3 hrs.) Introduction to Graphic Design II*
    • ARTS 351 (3 hrs.) Image Making I
    • ARTS 352 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Graphic Design I
    • ARTS 353 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Graphic Design II***
    • ARTS 451 (3 hrs.) Image Making II
    • ARTS 450 (3 hrs.) Advanced Graphic Design**
  • Metalsmithing (15 hours)
    • ARTS 230 (3 hrs.) Metalsmithing I
    • ARTS 330 (3 hrs.) Metalsmithing II*
    • ARTS 331 (3 hrs.) Metalsmithing III
    • ARTS 430 (3 hrs.) Metalsmithing IV
    • ARTS 431 (3 hrs.) Metalsmithing V**
  • Painting (18 hours)
    • ARTS 200 (3 hrs.) Painting I
    • ARTS 300 (3 hrs.) Color Theory
    • ARTS 301 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Painting (Surface, Process and Concept)*
    • ARTS 302 (3 hrs.) Figurative Painting*
    • ARTS 401 (3 hrs.) Advanced Painting I
    • ARTS 403 (3 hrs.) Advanced Painting II**
  • Photography (18 hours)
    • ARTS 221 (3 hrs.) Beginning Photography
    • ARTS 321 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Photography I*
    • ARTS 322 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Photography II*
    • ARTS 323 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Photography III*
    • ARTS 421 (3 hrs.) Photography Portfolio I
    • ARTS 422 (3 hrs.) Photography Portfolio II**
  • Printmaking (15 hours)
    • Students must select three of the following courses (3 Credit Hours)
    •     ARTS 210 (3 hrs.) Screen Printing I
    •     ARTS 311 (3 hrs.) Intaglio/Relief Printing
    •     ARTS 312 (3 hrs.) Lithographic Printing
    •     ARTS 310 (3 hrs.) Screen Printing II*
    • ARTS 410 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Printmaking*
    • ARTS 411 (3 hrs.) Advanced Printmaking**
  • Sculpture (15 hours)
    • ARTS 235 (3 hrs.) Beginning Sculpture
    • ARTS 335 (3 hrs.) Intermediate Sculpture*
    • ARTS 435 (3 hrs.) Advanced Sculpture I
    • ARTS 436 (3 hrs.) Advanced Sculpture II
    • ARTS 437 (3 hrs.) Advanced Sculpture III**
  • Watercolor (18 hours)
    • ARTS 215 (3 hrs.) Watercolor I
    • ARTS 216 (3 hrs.) Water Media-Mixed Media
    • ARTS 300 (3 hrs.) Color Theory
    • ARTS 315 (3 hrs.) Watercolor II*
    • ARTS 316 (3 hrs.) Watercolor III
    • ARTS 416 (3 hrs.) Watercolor IV**
  • * Student must complete ARTS 290 Studio Concepts and Foundations Review prior to this course.
    ** Course must be taken concurrently with ARTS 490 Capstone.
    *** Students must pass mid-program portfolio review prior to this course.

ARTS STUDIO ELECTIVES (18-24 HRS)

  • Select from studio arts courses in consultation with an adviser.