Bachelor of Fine Arts

Program Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art is designed for students discovering, exploring and developing their own creative talents while preparing them for graduate school or arts-related careers. The degree is a well-rounded general fine arts degree with approximately 60% of the total program in studio courses, art history and supportive courses in art and design. Students must choose to focus in one of several media concentrations and may investigate in a broad interdisciplinary manner. The focus is on the progressive nature of the learning experience combined with a rigorous review and culminates in a professionally mounted final exhibition.

The BFA program is dedicated to preparing students for futures as professional artists and providing them with the resources necessary for success in the fields of art and design. The curriculum is designed to develop individual artistic vision, technical skills, visual literacy, aesthetic inquiry, and proficiency in verbal and written communication. Our faculty continually fosters a challenging environment where research, creativity, critical thinking, and experimentation are promoted. Students are required to select one of the areas of focus below. Please note that the Digital Arts and Design area is being phased out.. By providing a strong curriculum and personal contact with faculty and visiting artists, our BFA program produces a positive environment of diverse artistic philosophies that contribute to our students' knowledge, studio practice, and individual artistic vision.

Areas of Focus for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art include:

3-D, Expanded Media, & Sculpture
3-D, Expanded Media, and Sculpture fosters a broad historical and contemporary understanding of three-dimensional art production. The faculty embrace an interdisciplinary approach to object-based creation and cultivate an environment for students to explore installation, new media, and performance.

Ceramics 
The Ceramics program provides students with a foundation in the technical and aesthetic aspects of the ceramic medium. Students develop skills in the construction of ceramics works and an understanding of firing techniques and relevant chemistry.

Digital Arts & Design 
The Department of Art offers a sequence of courses in digital arts and design that provide students with instruction in visual communication, print media, creative imaging, video, and web applications. Students learn about the relationship between technology, contemporary art, and digital culture while becoming skilled in a variety of computer software programs. Note: this area of focus is being phased out and is no longer offered to incoming students

Graphic Design 
Graphic Design is a creative and inspiring process that combines art and technology to develop visual solutions to communication problems. Building upon traditional art foundations, we focus on design fundamentals such as typography, information hierarchy, concept development and visual exploration. Through their studio work, Graphic Design focused students will address a variety of graphic design issues, develop abilities in collaboration, and build an understanding of research-based design all while being prepared to enter into an evolving creative industry. 

Painting & Drawing 
In the Painting and Drawing program, students develop their skills in liquid and dry media. Teaching the traditional techniques, the faculty enhances their students understanding of art history and visual production while preparing them to explore other media through independent research. The Narrative Illustration curriculum supports and supplements the drawing and painting program.

Photography
Photography foster a historical and pragmatic understanding of lens-based art making.  Photography develops skills in multiple photographic formats using analog and digital processes to investigate contemporary approaches to art making.

Printmaking 
In the Printmaking program, students learn to apply print processes to both historical paradigms and contemporary problems. Students establish skills with traditional print techniques such as monotype, intaglio, lithography, and relief printing. Book arts and paper making courses supplement the printmaking curriculum.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program prepares students to work as professional studio artists, and to pursue a wide variety of careers and leadership opportunities in the arts including employment in museums and galleries, arts related for-profit and non-profit organizations, and various design professions. The program also prepares students for application to graduate programs in the arts.

Admission Requirements

Qualified students may enter the BFA program by declaring the major.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate competence in the application of Art Media and Technology in their portfolio. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the use of written communication in an Artist’s Statement. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the application of Art Theory and Art Movements in their portfolio. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the development of a Focused Portfolio in preparation for Exhibition. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the ability to Critique, Present & Defend their portfolio.

Additional Program Requirements

Students must maintain a C or better in all major courses

Students must successfully complete two milestone courses (ARTS2000 Foundation Review and ARTS3000 Pre-exhibit Review). Failure to complete each of these within two attempts will result in the student being advised to choose another major.

Student must select and complete an Area of Focus in either: Ceramics, Digital Arts and Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture.

Students must complete a professional capstone Thesis Exhibition (ARTS4796).

ARTS 2000 review requirement will be waived for incoming students when they transfer in a minimum of 24 credit hours of ARTS/ARTH classes and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their art courses.

Program of Study

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
Select one of the following courses:

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4-5
COMM 1110
Select two of the following courses:

OR
Select one of the following courses:

Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, or 2002
Any Area C-E course with a study abroad component.

Note: the extra hour may be used as an elective.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

Select one of the following fine arts courses:*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 10-11
Select two science courses from the list below, one of which must include a lab.

Select one of the following courses or a science course from above:

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112
Take the following course:
POLS 1101
Select one behavioral science course from the following courses:

Select one world cultures course from the following courses:

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3
PHED 1205
Select any one PEDS course.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18
A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 30
A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.

Area H Program Electives Required Hours: 30

A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.

H1 Area of Focus Elective- take two courses in one area:

Ceramics Area of Focus
ARTS 3348 Ceramics 2 Wheel-Throwing and
ARTS 3349 Ceramics 2 Slip Casting

Graphic Design Area of Focus
ARTS 3021 Graphic Design I and
ARTS 4021 Graphic Design II

Painting Area of Focus
ARTS 4256 Painting 2 and
ARTS 5256 Painting: Advanced Methods

Photography Area of Focus
ARTS 3266 Digital Photography or
ARTS 4265 Photo 2 or
ARTS 5265 Photography: Advanced Methods

Printmaking Area of Focus
ARTS 3278 Relief & Intaglio or ARTS 4278 Screen-Printing & Lithography
ARTS 5278 Printmaking: Advanced Methods

Sculpture Area of Focus
ARTS 4288 Sculpture 2 and
ARTS 5288 Sculpture: Advance Methods

H2 Advanced Study Elective - take one of the following courses:

H3 General Program Electives:
Select 6-9 hours of ARTH and 12-15 hours of ARTS courses 3000 level or higher. Courses not used in areas H1, H2, or Area G can be applied in this area.

Total Hours Required: 123