Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art: Studio Concentrations

The B.F.A. degree is a 132-unit program requiring 70 units of course work in art. The B.F.A. degree differs from the B.A. degree in its requirements and rigor. The B.F.A. is often considered to be the degree of choice for students wishing to pursue graduate or professional studies. It enhances the artist's opportunities to perform at a higher level and fulfills the need for additional artistic growth in an intensive studio situation. The B.F.A. affords time for concentrated work within a specific art emphasis (painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture).

Admission Requirements

Students may only apply during or after the spring semester of the sophomore year. Thereafter students may reapply as many times as desired. Applicants must meet University requirements for admission and must first be admitted to the bachelor of arts program. In addition, they must meet the following requirements to qualify for application to the program:

  1. Students must complete all lower-division requirements in art; take lower-division courses before upper-division courses in area of emphasis; take Fundamentals 101/102, or equivalents, before any upper-division art course and before most lower-division art courses; maintain a 3.00 GPA in art, exclusive of GE courses; and complete all lower-division GE requirements by the end of the junior year.
  2. To be considered for the B.F.A. admission review, applicants must submit 10-20 slides in a slide sleeve, two letters of recommendation (or two department faculty signatures, if currently enrolled student) and a short statement including their reasons for applying. These will be reviewed and the candidates may be interviewed by the studio faculty to help determine if their work demonstrates the creative level expected of B.F.A. candidates. Applications will be reviewed in Spring semester for possible admission the following Fall semester, and in Fall semester for possible admission for the following Spring semester.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art: Studio Concentrations
Type of Course Units
General education 51
Major core requirements 70
Electives in art
11
Total units needed for graduation 120


The B.F.A. is comprised of a group of core courses representing minimum requirements for all areas of emphasis, plus course requirements in studio arts, art history, a B.F.A. seminar and a B.F.A. Professional Practices course. Students accepted into the program decide on an area of emphasis from the following choices: painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.

  1. Throughout the B.F.A. program, candidates must maintain a 3.00 GPA in art and a high level of performance, and will be subject to review at all times. Advisors will direct students in their specific course of study based on regular portfolio and/or slide reviews.
  2. To complete the program, candidates will meet all course work for the degree and participate in the B.F.A. art exhibition, which will be reviewed by the art faculty to determine the candidate's professional competence in a chosen area of emphasis.
  3. In order to receive the B.F.A. degree, students must complete 24 upper-division units in art in residence. (May be included within the University's unit residency requirement).

Major Core Requirements

Freshman and Sophomore Years

Complete the following four courses
Course Description Units
ArtS 101 Art Fundamentals (2 D)
3
ArtS 102 Art Fundamentals (3 D)
3
ArtH 210 Introduction to Art History (Pre-classical to Renaissance)
3
ArtH 211 Introduction to Art History (Renaissance to Modern)
3
Choose a combination of the following to total of 4 units:
Course Description Units
ArtS 202 Beginning Drawing
2-4
ArtS 204 Beginning Life Drawing
2-4
Total lower-division core units = 16

Junior and Senior Years

Complete the following five courses:
Course Description Units
ArtH 464 Modern Art from 1850-1945
3
ArtH 465 Modern Art from 1945-1979
3
ArtH 466 Contemporary Art
3
ArtS 465 B.F.A. Seminar
3
ArtS 466 B.F.A. Professional Artists’ Practices
3
Choose any combination of the following to total 5 units:
Course Description Units
ArtS 302 Intermediate Drawing
2-4
ArtS 304 Intermediate Life Drawing
2-4
ArtS 402 Advanced Drawing
2-4
ArtS 404 Advanced Life Drawing
2-4
Total upper-division core units = 20

Areas of Emphasis

In addition to the major core requirements, each B.F.A. student must complete one of the following 34-unit concentrations:

Painting

Complete the following course
Course Description Units
ArtS 220 Beginning Painting
3
Complete 20 units in the following courses, including at least 8 units at the 400 level:
Course Description Units
ArtS 320 Intermediate Painting
2-4
ArtS 420 Advanced Painting
2-4
Total units in the painting emphasis = 34

Photography

Complete the following course
Course Description Units
ArtS 208 Basic Black & White Photography
2-3
Complete at least 21 units from the following courses, including at least 8 units at the 400 level:
Course Description Units

ArtS 308

Photographic Darkroom Processes
2-4

ArtS 457

Advanced Photography
1-4
Total units in the photography emphasis = 34

Printmaking

Complete the following course
Course Description Units
ArtS 245 Beginning Printmaking
2-3
 
Complete 20 units in the following courses, including a maximum of 12 units in any one printmaking area:
Course Description Units
ArtS 340 Intermediate Etching & Woodcut
2-4
ArtS 342 Intermediate Lithography
2-4
ArtS 440 Advanced Etching and Woodcut
2-4
ArtS 442 Advanced Lithography
2-4
Total units in the printmaking emphasis = 34

Sculpture

Complete the following course
Course Description Units
ArtS 236 Beginning Sculpture
2-3
ArtS 229 Beginning Ceramics (Recommended)
2-4
Complete 21 units in the following courses, including at least 8 units at the 400 level:
Course Description Units
ArtS 336 Intermediate Sculpture
2-4
ArtS 436 Advanced Sculpture
2-4
Units from the following may be applied to the 21-unit Sculpture Emphasis:
Course Description Units
ArtS 329 Intermediate Ceramics
2-4
ArtS 335 Intermediate Bronze Foundry
2-4
ArtS 429 Advanced Ceramics
2-4
ArtS 430 Large Scale Clay and Installation, Ceramics Sculpture
2-4
ArtS 435 Advanced Bronze Foundry
2-4

Total units in the sculpture emphasis = 34
Total units in the major = 70