Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Studio
Spring 2025 BFA fillable application
The B.F.A. degree is a 127-129-unit program requiring 90 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 second 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:
- Students must complete all lower-division requirements in art; take lower-division courses before upper-division courses in the area of emphasis; take at least one advanced course in the area they are applying for; 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.
- To be considered for the B.F.A. admission review, applicants must submit 10 - 20 digital images, 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 the Spring semester for possible admission the following Fall semester, and in the Fall semester for possible admission for the following Spring semester.
Type of Course | Units |
---|---|
General education | 48–51 |
Major core requirements | 79-81 |
Total units needed for graduation | 127–132 |
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.
- 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.
- To complete the program, candidates will meet all course work for the degree and participate in the B.F.A. art exhibition in the University Art Gallery.
- In order to receive the B.F.A. degree, students must complete 24 upper-division units in art in residence (which may be included within the University's unit residency requirement).
Major Core Requirements
Course | Description | Units |
---|---|---|
ArtS 101 ArtS 102 | 2D Fundamentals 3D Fundamentals | 3 3 |
ArtH 160A, and ArtH 160B OR | Humanities Learning Community
| 3 3 |
any two from: ArtH 210, ArtH 211, ArtH 270A, ArtH 270B | Introduction to Art History Introduction to Art History Survey of Islamic Art Survey of Asian Art | 3 3 3 3 |
Course | Description2 | Units |
---|---|---|
ArtS 202 | Beginning Drawing | 3 |
ArtS 204 | Beginning Life Drawing | 3 |
ArtS 105 | Media Arts Fundamentals | 3 |
Total lower-division core units = 18-20
Course | Description | Units |
---|---|---|
ArtH 464 | Modern Art from 1850-1945 | 3–4 |
ArtH 465 | Modern Art from 1945-1979 | 3–4 |
ArtH 466 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
ArtH 490 | Museum & Gallery Theory | 3 |
ArtH 494 | Curatorial Practice | 3 |
Senior
Complete two upper division courses in any medium besides your area of emphasis for a total of 6 units
Areas of Emphasis
In addition to the major core requirements, each B.F.A. student must complete one of the following 41-unit concentrations and the three courses listed below, for a total of 48 units
ArtS 465 | B.F.A Seminar | 3 |
ArtS 466 | B.F.A. Professional Artists' Practices | 3 |
ArtS 491 | Visiting Artists Lecture Series | 1 |
- Complete at least three courses from three different studio emphases at the lower division (excluding drawing) to a total of 9 units.
- Complete 20 units of upper division in area of emphasis.
- Complete an additional 6 units of auxiliary studio courses.