bachelor of fine arts (bfa)
The Bachelor of Fine Arts program is for those students who are looking for pre-professional training in the field of visual art. Students must have a 3.00 or higher grade point average in art courses and at least a 2.00 GPA overall before making application to the BFA program. In addition, you must complete the following foundation core classes: Drawing I, 2-D Design, and 3-D Design.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts program is designed to offer students a more specialized program of study. Because there is a greater emphasis on art courses than in the BA program, the student graduates with a more intensive studio background. The BFA program allows students to work closely with instructors resulting in greater attention and advancement in the student's work. Depending on availability and seniority, there is some studio space available to upper level BFA students.
BFA students are required to participate in an individual critique of their work every semester. Each student puts up recent work for critique by faculty and other students. In addition, the BFA students are required to go on the annual trip to an urban art center. BFA trips in recent years have visited Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, and Kansas City. There is also an annual exhibition of work by students in the BFA program, usually held late in the Spring semester.
Applying to the BFA program
The application process to the BFA program consists of a written application and a portfolio review. Reviews are held on Dead Day of the Spring and Fall semesters. You may apply if you have completed all of the BFA foundation courses and maintained the required grade point averages. Acceptance into the B.F.A. program is contingent upon favorable evaluation by the Art faculty of your portfolio. Once you get into the program, you will be assigned a major advisor for the purpose of completing a degree plan that must meet department approval.
Signs are posted every semester on the bulletin boards in the art department notifying everyone of the application date for the BFA program. Applications are available in the office with a cover sheet that tells you when and where you take your portfolio to be viewed by the faculty.
Portfolio requirements for B.F.A. degree program applications:
- Fifteen to twenty pieces of work are suggested.
- Actual works are expected. However, photographs and/or slides are accepted if the originals are not available or if photographs/slides were the product of a course.
- The portfolio should include a selection of works from a variety of your art courses, with emphasis on work in the proposed area of concentration.
Recommendations for presenting your portfolio in an effective manner for the BFA portfolio review:
- Make sure the pieces you present are in good condition. Yellow or torn drawings, dirty sculptures, show that you just don't care.
- Small pieces, such as photos, design projects, and small prints and drawings will look better if they are mounted or matted. While there is no requirement that you mat the things in your portfolio, it is well worth the time and effort for these smaller pieces.
- When you display your work, plan out how you want it to appear to the viewer. If your portfolio is presented as a cohesive unit, it is pleasing to the eye as opposed to being uncomfortably awkward and haphazard.
- Have a list itemizing the pieces of your portfolio that includes the title, date (or semester), and class in which it was done.
- This is optional, but it is convenient for the viewer. You can make labels for each piece so it can be identified on sight and corresponds to the list.
- Be sure to clearly label the portfolio as yours. If the faculty can't identify whose it is, they won't know whom to accept into the program.
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit will be allowed from other accredited and recognized art departments so long as the credit earned is compatible with program and course requirements within this department, and reflects a grade of "C" or better. The department will not accept more than 50% of the required BFA professional degree credits from other institutions.
Requirements for the BFA Degree with Emphasis in Studio Art
For an emphasis in any of the following studio areas: Ceramics, Drawing, Design, Graphic Design, Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture: a minimum of 84 semester hours, including:
- ARTS 1013
- ARTS1313
- ARTS 1323
- ARTS 2003
- ARTS 2013
- ARTS 3333
- ARTS 3023 or ARTS 4343
- and ARTS 4921
- PHIL 4403
- A minimum of 18 semester hours in the selected studio major
- a minimum of 29 semester hours in art electives, to include at least one course in each of the above mentioned media areas
- and at least 15 semester hours in Art History, including ARHS 2913, ARHS 2923 and ARHS 4943 or or ARHS 4933.
Off-Campus Study Requirement
Each student is required to complete an approved off-campus study experience each semester in the program. This may involve a field trip to an urban center which could include visits to major art collections.
Requirements for the B.F.A. Degree with Emphasis in Art Education
(Certification requires completion of student teaching semester, 12 hours). A minimum of 66 hours to include:
- ARTS 1013
- ARTS 1313
- ARTS 1323
- ARTS 2003
- ARTS 2013
- ARTS 3333
- ARTS 3023 or ARTS 4343
- ARTS 4921
- PHIL 4403
- a minimum of 12 hours in a selected studio major
- and 6 hours in a selected studio minor
- at least 12 hours in Art History including ARHS 2913, ARHS 2923, and (ARHS 4943 or ARHS 4933)
- at least 8 hours studio art electives exclusive of the studio major and minor to be selected from ARTS 3103 or ARTS 3123, ARTS 3203, ARTS 3363, ARTS 3463, ARTS 3503 or ARTS 3523, ARTS 3803.
In addition, the Art Education major is required to take 24 hours of professional education courses including:
- HLSC 1002
- PEAC 1621
- CIED 1002
- CIED 1011
- CIED 3023
- CIED 3033
- ARED 3613
- ARED 3643
- ARED 3653
- ETEC 2001
Writing Requirement
The Fulbright College research/analytical writing requirement for art majors, B.A. and B.F.A. degrees, will be fulfilled in Art History courses 4833, 4843, 4853, 4863, 4873, 4933, 4943, 4963, and 4973. May also be an honors thesis in art history (only).