Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program is designed to provide students with an intensely comprehensive course of study consisting of a minimum of 72 credits in visual arts courses. The B.F.A. degree can lead directly to graduate study (M.F.A.) or to professional careers in the Graphic Design field. To be eligible for the B.F.A. degree, students must first be accepted into the B.A. program in Art.
The B.F.A. degree is organized into the following three options:
- Graphic Design
- Studio Art
- Studio Art and Graphic Design (Dual Option)
Graphic Design
Following acceptance into the Art Department, students are encouraged to select the B.F.A. option in Graphic Design. Students will consult with their advisor when submitting their Declaration of Major form.
Studio Art or Graphic Design and Studio Art (Dual Option)
The Studio Art option and the Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option are highly selective programs. Accepted students will have the opportunity to have an individual studio space and work one on one with an Art professor mentor. All accepted candidates will mount a B.F.A. Solo Thesis Exhibition as a graduation requirement. Students may apply to the Studio Art option or the Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option after completion of a minimum of 6 courses (24 credits) that must include the Foundation Core. Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option applicants must take ART 250 Graphic Design I and ART 258 Typography I as part of the 24-credit minimum. Students are expected to have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in those 6 courses. Acceptance to the program is based on an assessment of a portfolio1 of artwork from these courses. The portfolio, a written statement of personal educational goals, and an official transcript must be submitted to the B.F.A. Studio Options Committee. Portfolio reviews for acceptance are conducted each spring prior to the course selection and registration period.
Transfer students are also eligible to apply for the B.F.A. Studio Art option or the B.F.A. Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option provided they meet the admissions standards for the B.A. degree in Art as well as those for the B.F.A. Studio Art degree or the Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option degree. This must include a review by the Art faculty of a completed transfer course evaluation of all previously taken art courses.
Once accepted, all B.F.A. candidates must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the major (Art courses). The B.F.A. Studio Options Committee will also conduct mid-level reviews of accepted students during the fall semester. The purpose of the review is to assess the candidate's progress toward the completion of the degree as well as the development of their artwork. Individuals whose GPA falls below the minimum standard or whose artwork is not at the appropriate level for the B.F.A. Studio Art option or the Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option will no longer be eligible for the options and will be returned to the B.A. in Studio Art or B.F.A. in Graphic Design. Students who have not maintained B.F.A. standards in the Studio Art option or the Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option will be allowed to reapply provided the deficiencies have been corrected. B.F.A. candidates in the Studio Art option or the Studio Art and Graphic Design dual option will also meet with the B.F.A. Studio Options Committee after their completion of their B.F.A. Senior Exhibition. The committee will conduct an oral review in which the candidate will outline the rationale followed for their exhibition.
1 Portfolio Criteria for B.F.A. in Studio Art or Studio Art and Graphic Design Dual Options
- Portfolios must consist of no fewer than 20 pieces of college-level artwork.
- All work must be properly labeled with the following information:
- Name
- Medium
- Size (slide and digital portfolios only)
- Course title and date of execution
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Each student must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English as specified by the Language Requirement for Students with Majors in the School of Arts and Humanities.
INTEGRATIVE STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
74 credits – Graphic Design
72 credits – Studio Art
74 credits – Studio Art and Graphic Design (dual option)
Foundation Core
12 credits
ART 101 Foundations of Design or IAART 100
ART 111 Introduction to Art History or IAART 110
ART 125 Drawing I or IAART 120
ELECTIVES
Select courses to reach a total of 120 credits for the degree.