Fine Arts

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Department of Fine Arts
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Visual Arts Building 117 ~ 260-481-6705 ~ www.ipfw.edu/vpa/finearts

The mission of the Department of Fine Arts is to educate its students and the community in fine art. Degrees offered by the Fine Arts Department are a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in art education, and a fine arts minor. A minor in art history is described elsewhere in this part of the Bulletin.

Transfer Credit

All studio art and art history courses transferred  from another institution or campus must be evaluated by an appropriate faculty member in the fine arts program before they may be applied to the B.A. 

Residence Requirements

At least 33 credit hours including art methods courses must be completed on the IPFW campus.

Special Academic Regulations

Enrollment Policy To ensure that degree-seeking students are guaranteed priority registration in their classes, the following policies will be observed:

• Students who are not progressing toward completion of degree requirements, including students who have graduated but wish to continue a program of study, will be reclassified as nondegree–seeking. These students’ registrations will not be processed until the final week before the beginning of each semester. This policy will allow these students an opportunity to avail themselves of classroom opportunities when space is available.

• All 400-level studio courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 18 credits. This long-standing policy is based upon the rationale that six semesters of study at that level in one discipline is sufficient for undergraduate training.

• Independent-study courses are available for students with at least junior standing to pursue studio interests not served in other course offerings. Independent-study courses may be arranged with the appropriate faculty member on the basis of a viable course of study, a reasonable load for the instructor, and space availability. Priority will be given to degree-seeking students and to classes with regularly scheduled meetings.

• Prerequisites for 200-level studio courses may be waived by the appropriate instructor during the week before classes begin, contingent upon space availability. Completion of all prerequisites is required to continue with classes beyond 6 credits in that discipline.
   
• The Department of Fine Arts does not allow students to audit any of our classes for the following reasons:
  
  Space: Studio classes are small in size and space is at a premium.
  Equipment: Our studios have  limited equipment for the students enrolled. Class sizes are usually small, 12-15 students total.
  Safety: due to some potentially dangerous processes, safety is a major issue for instructors in our classes.
   

Credit Transfer If you transfer art credits from another college or university, you may be admitted to the B.F.A. or foundation program upon a successful portfolio presentation. To earn the B.F.A. at IPFW, you must fulfill all remaining requirements and complete a minimum of 24 credits of upper-division studio work at IPFW.

Time Limit If you do not complete degree requirements within seven years of matriculation, you may be required to meet the degree requirements specified in the current Bulletin.

Student Handbook A departmental student handbook, consisting of policies and regulations of the Department of Fine Arts, has been prepared as a guide for students. This handbook, available in the department office, provides detailed information about responsibilities and a sample curriculum for each degree. All fine arts majors are expected to be familiar with the contents of this handbook.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Recommendations

Students should schedule classes within the B.F.A. program under the guidance of a visual arts advisor.

Residence Requirements

For a bachelor’s degree, registration in and completion of at least 33 credits of resident course credit at the 200 level or above, including at least 15 credits at the 300 level or above, in courses applicable to the major.

Transferred Credit

All studio art and art history courses transferred from another institution or campus must be evaluated by an appropriate faculty member in the Fine Arts Program before they may be applied to a major in fine arts. See Transfer Credit Review.

Transfer Credit Review

Courses in studio art that have been transferred to IPFW from another institution or campus are not counted as part of the fine arts major unless they have been reviewed by the fine arts faculty. For a review of transferred studio credit, the student should provide the reviewer with a portfolio consisting of representative work in each area (e.g., painting, sculpture, etc.) for which transfer credit is desired. The portfolio should include both studies and finished work and be as complete as possible.

Minor in Fine Arts

Resident Requirements

Completion of at least 6 resident credits at the 200 level or above is required for the minor.

Special Academic Regulations

Enrollment Policy To ensure that degree-seeking students are guaranteed priority registration in their classes, the following policies will be observed:

1. Students who are not progressing toward completion of degree requirements, including students who have graduated but wish to continue a program of study, will be reclassified as nondegree–seeking. These students’ registrations will not be processed until the final week before the beginning of each semester. This policy will allow these students an opportunity to avail themselves of classroom opportunities when space is available.

2. All 400-level studio courses may be repeated up to a maximum of 18 credits. This long-standing policy is based upon the rationale that six semesters of study at that level in one discipline is sufficient for undergraduate training.

3. Independent-study courses are available for students with at least junior standing to pursue studio interests not served in other course offerings. Independent-study courses may be arranged with the appropriate faculty member on the basis of a viable course of study, a reasonable load for the instructor, and space availability. Priority will be given to degree-seeking students and to classes with regularly scheduled meetings.

4. Prerequisites for 200-level studio courses may be waived by the appropriate instructor during the week before classes begin, contingent upon space availability. Completion of all prerequisites is required to continue with classes beyond 6 credits in that discipline.

Credit Transfer If you transfer art credits from another college or university, you may be admitted to the B.F.A. or foundation program upon a successful portfolio presentation. To earn the B.F.A. at IPFW, you must fulfill all remaining requirements and complete a minimum of 24 credits of upper-division studio work at IPFW.

Time Limit If you do not complete degree requirements within seven years of matriculation, you may be required to meet the degree requirements specified in the current Bulletin.

Student Handbook A departmental student handbook, consisting of policies and regulations of the Department of Fine Arts, has been prepared as a guide for students. This handbook, available in the department office, provides detailed information about responsibilities and a sample curriculum for each degree. All fine arts majors are expected to be familiar with the contents of this handbook.

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