Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

100 Level Foundation Courses Credits: 12

• FINA P121 - Drawing Fundamentals I Cr. 3.

• (P121 is a prerequisite to P122)

• FINA P122 - Drawing Fundamentals II Cr. 3.
• FINA P151 - Design Fundamentals I Cr. 3.
• FINA P152 - Design Fundamentals II Cr. 3.

100 Level Foundation Portfolio Review Checkpoint

Students will submit a portfolio of 100 level Foundation studio work to be reviewed by department faculty at the end of all completed 100 level Foundation courses.

Art History Course Requirements Credits: 15

• 3 additional FINA 300 or 400 level Art History classes. Classes must have FINA prefix.

• FINA H111 - History Of Art I: Prehistoric To Medieval Cr. 3.
• FINA H112 - History Of Art II: Renaissance To Contemporary Cr. 3.

• (H111 and H112 must be taken in the first four semesters of study)

200-Level Course Requirements Credits: 21

• FINA P223 - Figure Drawing I Cr. 3.
• FINA P225 - Painting Fundamentals I Cr. 3.
• FINA P231 - Sculpture Fundamentals Cr. 3.
• FINA P233 - Metalsmithing Fundamentals Cr. 3.
• FINA P235 - Ceramics Fundamentals Cr. 3.
• FINA P241 - Printmaking Fundamentals Cr. 3.

B.F.A. Portfolio Review

Each student must submit a portfolio of 200 level work to attain formal acceptance into the B.F.A. program. Each petitioning student must apply to present their work through the Department of Fine Arts office in the semester in which they complete all seven  200 level Fundamentals classes. Each student applying for acceptance into the B.F.A. program will declare their area of studio concentration, i.e., painting, sculpture, with the understanding that areas of art can be interdisciplinary and flexible. The portfolio should consist of 15-20 works, with at least two works from each 200 level Fundamentals course. Consideration of work will be given in accordance to each student’s intended concentration area, i.e., printmaking majors should be able to show strong drawing skills. It is highly recommended that students seek faculty advice, especially from faculty whose area students are intending to apply, on which works to submit for review. Faculty evaluations will be based on a student’s strong knowledge and skills in:

• Showing competence in representational drawing of volume, pictorial space, and the depiction of the human figure. An understanding of linear perspective should be evident.
• The ability to compose aesthetic element of line, tone/value, shape, texture, color, and 3D form in space.
• Demonstrating technical and aesthetic excellence (for the 60 credit level) in your chosen major; i.e. drawing, ceramics, metalsmithing, painting, printmaking, or sculpture.
• (for 2D majors) drawing, painting, printmaking as well as the demonstration of competence and serious investigation in 3D media.
• (for 3D majors) ceramics, metalsmithing, and sculpture with competence and serious investigation in 2D media.

B.F.A. Portfolio Review Outcome

A student applying for acceptance in the B.F.A. program may be accepted, deferred, or denied. A student’s acceptance into the B.f.a. will allow them to advance into 300 level studio classes as a declared B.F.A. major. A deferred student will be asked to re-submit their portfolio for B.F.A. consideration after re-taking requested classes. A student denied entry into the B.F.a. program may wish to continue in the B.A. program or apply once again for entry into the B.F.A. program with permission from the department.

300/400-Level Concentration Courses Credits: 21

• Complete seven classes in declared Concentration Area.  Some of these classes might be closely related such as painting and printmaking or sculpture and ceramics.  Two 300 level classes must be taken before any 400 level classes in a given area. 400 level classes can be repeated to meet Concentration area requirements.

200/300/400 Electives Courses Credits: 15

300-400 Studio Electives                                                        

• Complete five courses in elective classes.  Classes can be either FINA or VCD.  Usually these are classes outside the Concentration Area.

Senior Project Requirements Credits: 6

Senior Project                                                                                         

The Senior Project is a two-semester course during the senior year. Students must be signed into these classes by the Chair of the Department of Fine Arts.  During this year, students’ work will be critiqued by at least three faculty.  Each student will be asked to partake in discussions of other student’s work during the critiques.  Students will also be asked to be part of seminars, attend visiting artists’ lectures and demonstrations, visit exhibitions, and present and express ideas about their art work to other seniors. Students must also work closely with a full- time department faculty member as an advisor in their Concentration area. Evaluations of senior work will be based on the following criteria:

B.F.A. Senior Project Documents

Students are required to complete two written documents each semester of the Senior Project year.

• The Senior Projection document should be ready for department faculty by the beginning of their first semester of Senior Project. It should address the ideas they plan on dealing with and developing for the senior year. The quantity of work can be negotiated with the faculty.
• The Self Critique document will be required at the end of each semester as a critical self evaluation of a student’s senior project experience. The critique should include ideas about the project and how it helped clarify their artistic direction.
  

B.F.A. Exhibition

At the end of the second Senior Project semester, the student must exhibit for graduation. The Department of Fine Arts Senior Exhibition will be at the end of the spring semester of each school year. Students can expect to work with the College of Visual and Performing Arts public relations specialist and gallery coordinator on publication materials and arrangements for their senior exhibition.