Program Overview

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree for Art Major

The School of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers several major options in the visual arts. Among them is the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with majors offered by Art Education, Digital Arts, Graphic Design, and Studio divisions.

Admission Requirements

In order to be admitted to one of these BFA degree majors, students must pass a portfolio review within their first two years of study.

Program Requirements

All students earning the BFA are required to complete:

• Three foundation courses
• Four art history courses
• A set of core divisional courses
• A set of advanced studio courses
• Three to four capstone courses

College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements

Each student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language area by one of the following options:

• Graduating from a high school where all instruction was conducted in a language other than English
• Demonstrating proficiency in the language on the 1020 course level
• Having completed two years of one language in high school (student must have completed the second full year, for example, Spanish II, and received credit for these courses)
• Completing one of the following course sequences:
  • German, Russian, and East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese)
    • GERM 1010, 1020
    • CHIN 1010, 1020
    • JAPN 1010, 1020
    • RUSN 1010, 1020
    • ARAB 1010, 1020
  • Romance and Classical Studies (French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish)
    • FREN 1010, 1020
    • GRK 1010, 1020
    • ITAL 1010, 1020
    • LAT 1010, 1020
    • SPAN 1010, 1020
  • American Sign Language
    • EDIS 3240, 3250

Lab Science Requirement

One course is required. If approved for BGP, this course may also count in the appropriate BGP domain.

Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component

The Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component is grounded in the conviction that acquiring proficiency in multiple modes of thought and communication, referred to as habits of mind, is the defining characteristic of a liberal arts education. This four-course component will enhance students' ability to see things from multiple perspectives, solve problems both analytically and creatively, and communicate effectively both within and across cultural boundaries.

Component Requirements

• Each course must have a different prefix
• At least two courses must be at the 3000- or 4000-level
• Courses applied to the Arts and Sciences Multidisciplinary Component may not be used to fulfill other Arts and Sciences degree requirements, nor may they be used to fulfill major, minor, BGP, or other program requirements

Eligible Courses

A list of eligible courses is printed in the College of Arts & Sciences Handbook and tracked by the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS).