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Studio Art BFA

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art is a professional program that emphasizes in-depth exploration, an interdisciplinary approach, conceptual inquiry, articulation skills, and personal direction. You'll choose a concentration: ceramics, digital media, graphic design, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture, and will take supporting courses in art history and a comprehensive foundations program consisting of courses in drawing, 2-D and 3-D design, and digital media.

Studio Art BA

In the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Studio Art program you will choose a concentration in ceramics, digital media, graphic design, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture. These concentrations are supported by courses in art history and a comprehensive foundations program consisting of courses in drawing, 2-D and 3-D design, and digital media. The Studio Art curriculum encourages and fosters creative exploration and an interdisciplinary approach. This degree is an excellent option for students who plan to minor in a related discipline, such as art history, or double-major in another department.

Foundation Courses in Art

A strong foundation is essential to understanding the basic concepts you will use in your study of art. Therefore, you will begin your course of study by completing seven foundations courses in drawing, two-dimensional design, three-dimensional design and digital media during your first four semesters. While completing the foundations program, you will select your concentration and review a plan of study with your art faculty advisor.​

Are you an art transfer student? We have a portfolio review process that will assist you in transferring your credits.

Upon completion of the Studio Art BA program or the Studio Art BFA program, students will be able to: 

• demonstrate visual literacy, including competency with the nonverbal languages of art and design
• generate visual, verbal and written responses to visual phenomena and organize their perceptions and conceptualizations both rationally and intuitively
• identify and solve problems within a variety of physical, technological, social and cultural contexts
• demonstrate competency in a number of art or design techniques
• discuss major achievements in the history of art/design, including the works and intentions of leading artists/designers in the past and present
• understand and evaluate contemporary thinking about art or design
• make valid assessments of the quality and effectiveness of design projects and works of art, especially their own

In what ways is writing important to your profession?

Students will learn to write clearly and analytically about works of art, whether they are made by the students themselves or by other artists.

If you are pursuing the studio art major (BA or BFA), you must be able to write clear and interesting artist statements, job applications, and grant and commission proposals.

If you are pursuing the art education major, you must be able to write lesson plans and other kinds of documents specific to the education field.

Which courses are designated as satisfying the Writing in the Discipline (WID) requirement by your department? Why these courses?

Six courses satisfy the WID requirement for undergraduate Art Department programs:

• ART 331: Green and Roman Art
• ART 332: Studies in Renaissance Art
• ART 333: Studies in Baroque Art
• ART 334: Studies in American Art & Architecture
• ART 336: Studies in Nineteenth-Century European Art
• ART 337: Studies in Modern and Contemporary Art

If you are an art studio major, you will experience area-specific writing in upper-level studio classes. If you are an art education major, you will write in numerous upper-level courses, as well.

What forms or genres of writing will you learn and practice in your WID courses? Why these genres?

In advanced and upper level courses, art students write research papers and responses to art historical scholarship, learning to integrate the ideas of other writers into their work and to deepen their understanding of artworks and art movements. Writing can be reflective, personal, informal, or academic.

What kinds of teaching practices will you encounter in your WID courses?

You will encounter many different kinds of teaching practices, including scaffolded writing projects, peer review, in-class writing, writing-to-learn exercises and discussions of and lectures on writing and writing assignments.

When you have satisfied your WID requirement, you should be able to:

Write interpretive descriptions and comparisons of artworks, thesis papers based on artworks, research papers, artist statements, cover letters, and project proposals.

If you are already part of a different degree program, you may opt expand your undergraduate studies and career path by completing the Minor in Studio Art. You will develop visual literacy, critical thinking, and creative problem solving skills through five Foundations courses and two courses in one of our eight concentration areas.

Declaring a minor allows you to explore other areas of interest and make interdisciplinary connections. Minor areas at ��������Ƶ complement and reinforce all major areas of study. By declaring a minor, you can set yourself apart as a candidate for job, internship and volunteer opportunities.