BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

The Art Department 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 includes a 21-credit-hour increase that 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 Art Department 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 Art Department 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.