Academic Catalog

Art (B.F.A.)

The James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History is dedicated to the understanding, production and presentation of works of art in all media. It seeks to explore and develop visual literacy as well as technical, critical and conceptual skills. The curriculum combines history, theory, practice and technology with interdisciplinary learning that aims to nurture a balance between technical proficiency, experimentation with new ideas and studying the visual arts as a means of understanding the intellectual and cultural history of humanity.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for this program are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must complete a minimum of 120 credits including satisfaction of the University General Education requirements. Departmental requirements as cited under the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Art must be met, as well as the concentration requirements below. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the University and the College governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees.

Major Requirements

Students pursuing a B.F.A. in Art must complete courses listed in sections A, B, and C and all courses listed under a selected concentration. The minimum grade for each course required in the major must be no less than a C- in order for the course credit to count toward completion of the degree. 

Section A
ACO 1200Surface Studio3
ACO 1230Space Studio3
ACO 1270Time Studio3
ADR 1050Drawing I3
Section B
Select two of the following:6
Survey of Art History: Ancient through Medieval
Survey of Art History: Renaissance through Modern
Encounters with the Arts of Global Africa
Section C
Five, 2000-level Fine Arts Electives: 15
Course must be taken from different subject areas in Fine Art including : ACR, ADA, ADR, AFI, AME, APA, APH, APR, ASL
One, 3000-level Fine Arts Elective: 3
Course may be taken from offerings in: ACR, ADA, ADR, AFI, AME, APA, APH, APR, ASL
One, 2000-Level or above Fine Art or Design Elective: 3
Course may be taken from offerings in: ACR, ADA, ADR, AFA, AFI, AGD, AIA, AID, AME, APA, APH, APR, ASL
Two Art History electives (AH 3000 level or above)6
ACS 5550Special Topics3
Select one from the following:3
Special Topics
Studio Art Internship
ACS 3997Professional Practices in the Visual Arts I (Junior Seminar in the Visual Arts)3
ACS 5997Professional Practices in the Visual Arts II3
Total Credits57

Concentration Requirements

Students must complete eighteen credits at the advanced level (from courses numbered 3000 and above) within a selected concentration. The minimum grade for each course required in the concentration, which must be taken in the Department of Art and Art History, must be no less than a C- in order for the course credit to count toward completion of the degree. Curriculum outlines with suggested scheduling patterns for the below concentrations are available from the Department of Art and Art History. All work within the following Concentration Requirements (18 credit hours) must be completed in addition to the courses from the Major Requirements (57 credit hours). Required courses in each concentration for the B.F.A. with a major in Art are given below; exceptions may be made only with the consent of advisor.

Ceramics

ACR 3550Intermediate Ceramics3
ACR 4000Ceramic Multiples I3
ACR 4550Advanced Ceramics I3
ACR 5000Ceramic Multiples II (must be taken once)3
ACR 5550Advanced Ceramics II3
One of the following courses must be taken once more. Select one:3
Ceramic Multiples II
Advanced Ceramics II
Total Credits18

Digital Arts

ADA 3210Time-Based Media I: Video Art3
ADA 3220Introduction to Interactivity in Graphic Arts3
ADA 4220Time-Based Media II: Experimental Animation3
ADA 4230Time-Based Media III: Experimental 3D Animation3
Choose 6 credits from the following courses:6
Advanced Interactivity: Experimental Video Games
Advanced Time-Based Media
ADA 5000 Elective
Total Credits18

Drawing

ADR 3070Intermediate Life Drawing3
ADR 3000-level or above: Nine credits (topics include: Life Drawing, Alternative Materials and Methods, Landscape, and Anatomy)9
ADR 5060Advanced Concepts in Drawing and Painting3
ADR 5100Contexts of Studio Practice3
Total Credits18

Fibers

AFI 3640Fibers: Digital Textile Design3
AFI 3650Fibers: Weaving3
AFI 3660Fibers: Print and Dye3
AFI 4650Fibers: Studio I3
AFI 5650Fibers: Studio II3
AFI 5870Directed Projects: Fibers3
Total Credits18

Metalsmithing 

AME 3600Intermediate Jewelry I3
AME 3601Intermediate Jewelry II3
AME 4600Metalsmithing I3
AME 4601Metalsmithing II3
AME 5600Advanced Jewelry and Metalsmithing (taken twice)6
Total Credits18

Painting

APA 3000-level or above: Twelve credits (topics include: Oil Painting, Watercolor Painting, Alternative Painting Media, Mural Painting, Figure Painting, and Landscape Painting)12
APA 5060Advanced Concepts in Drawing and Painting3
APA 5100Contexts of Studio Practice3
Total Credits18

Photography

APH 3410Darkroom Photography3
APH 3420Digital Photography3
APH 4410Advanced Camera3
APH 4420Advanced Printing3
APH 5470Photography Portfolio and Contemporary Practices3
APH (5000-level Photography Elective)3
Total Credits18

Printmaking (An admissions moratorium is in effect for this concentration.)

APR 3480Intaglio I3
APR 3490Lithography I3
Three credits from the following courses:3
Photo-Processes for Printmaking I
Screen Printing I
Relief and Experimental Printmaking I
Three credits from the following courses:3
Photo-Processes for Printmaking II
Screen Printing II
Relief and Experimental Printmaking II
APR 5480Intaglio II3
APR 5490Lithography II3
Total Credits18

Sculpture

3-9 credits from the following courses:
Intermediate Sculpture
Figurative Sculpture I
Sculpture Foundry I
Wood Shop Practice I
Moldmaking I
9-15 credits from the following courses:
Advanced Sculpture
Figurative Sculpture II
Sculpture: Advanced Technology
Sculpture Foundry II
Special Topics in Sculpture
Directed Projects
Wood Shop Practice II
Moldmaking II
Total Credits18

Art Honors Curriculum (B.F.A. and B.A. Programs)

(15 Credits required)

The Department of Art and Art History Honors program offers capable students the opportunity to pursue independent study and to work closely with department full-time faculty members. Completion of the honors major results in an honors degree designation on the diploma.

Departmental Honors Requirements

In order to enter the Departmental Honors program a student must have achieved academic excellence with a college or university with a g.p.a. of 3.3. A student must meet all regular major requirements including the following:

Honors Option Required Courses
Two Honors Option studio art courses at the 2000-level or 3000-level (internships cannot satisfy this requirement) 6
One Honors Option course of an advanced art studio elective at 4000-level or above 3
One Honors Seminar (HON 4200 through HON 4280)3
One Honors Project (ACS 5996 – Honors Project)3
Total Credits15

The student must maintain a minimum g.p.a. of 3.3 overall and in the major.

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