Bachelor of Fine Arts

Program Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art is designed for students discovering, exploring and developing their own creative talents while preparing them for graduate school or arts-related careers. The degree is a well-rounded general fine arts degree with approximately 60% of the total program in studio courses, art history and supportive courses in art and design. Students must choose to focus in one of several media concentrations and may investigate in a broad interdisciplinary manner. The focus is on the progressive nature of the learning experience combined with a rigorous review and culminates in a professionally mounted final exhibition.

The BFA program is dedicated to preparing students for futures as professional artists and providing them with the resources necessary for success in the fields of art and design. The curriculum is designed to develop individual artistic vision, technical skills, visual literacy, aesthetic inquiry, and proficiency in verbal and written communication. Our faculty continually fosters a challenging environment where research, creativity, critical thinking, and experimentation are promoted. Students are required to select one of the areas of focus below. Please note that the Digital Arts and Design area is being phased out.. By providing a strong curriculum and personal contact with faculty and visiting artists, our BFA program produces a positive environment of diverse artistic philosophies that contribute to our students' knowledge, studio practice, and individual artistic vision.

Areas of Focus for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art include:

3-D, Expanded Media, & Sculpture
3-D, Expanded Media, and Sculpture fosters a broad historical and contemporary understanding of three-dimensional art production. The faculty embrace an interdisciplinary approach to object-based creation and cultivate an environment for students to explore installation, new media, and performance.

Animation
The Animation focus is designed to provide students with the necessary skills needed to migrate into the professional market after graduation. While studying animation at CSU, students are presented with a framework of industry standard animation practices and given the opportunity to explore the traditional, experimental and interactive aspects of digital animation.

Ceramics 
The Ceramics program provides students with a foundation in the technical and aesthetic aspects of the ceramic medium. Students develop skills in the construction of ceramics works and an understanding of firing techniques and relevant chemistry.

Graphic Design 
Graphic Design is a creative and inspiring process that combines art and technology to develop visual solutions to communication problems. Building upon traditional art foundations, we focus on design fundamentals such as typography, information hierarchy, concept development and visual exploration. Through their studio work, Graphic Design focused students will address a variety of graphic design issues, develop abilities in collaboration, and build an understanding of research-based design all while being prepared to enter into an evolving creative industry. 

Painting & Drawing 
In the Painting and Drawing program, students develop their skills in liquid and dry media. Teaching the traditional techniques, the faculty enhances their students understanding of art history and visual production while preparing them to explore other media through independent research. The Narrative Illustration curriculum supports and supplements the drawing and painting program.

Photography
Photography foster a historical and pragmatic understanding of lens-based art making.  Photography develops skills in multiple photographic formats using analog and digital processes to investigate contemporary approaches to art making.

Printmaking 
In the Printmaking program, students learn to apply print processes to both historical paradigms and contemporary problems. Students establish skills with traditional print techniques such as monotype, intaglio, lithography, and relief printing. Book arts and paper making courses supplement the printmaking curriculum.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program prepares students to work as professional studio artists, and to pursue a wide variety of careers and leadership opportunities in the arts including employment in museums and galleries, arts related for-profit and non-profit organizations, and various design professions. The program also prepares students for application to graduate programs in the arts.

Admission Requirements

Qualified students may enter the BFA program by declaring the major.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate competence in the application of Art Media and Technology in their portfolio. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the use of written communication in an Artist’s Statement. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the application of Art Theory and Art Movements in their portfolio. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the development of a Focused Portfolio in preparation for Exhibition. 
Students will demonstrate competence in the ability to Critique, Present & Defend their portfolio.

Additional Program Requirements

Students must maintain a C or better in all major courses

Students must successfully complete two milestone courses (ARTS2000 Foundation Review and ARTS3000 Pre-exhibit Review). Failure to complete each of these within two attempts will result in the student being advised to choose another major.

Student must select and complete an Area of Focus in either: Ceramics, Digital Arts and Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture.

Students must complete a professional capstone Thesis Exhibition (ARTS4796).

ARTS 2000 review requirement will be waived for incoming students when they transfer in a minimum of 24 credit hours of ARTS/ARTH classes and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their art courses.

Program of Study

Area A Essential Skills Required Hours: 9
ENGL 1101 (with a grade of "C" or better)
ENGL 1102 (with a grade of "C" or better)
Select one of the following courses:

Area B Institutional Options Required Hours: 4-5
COMM 1110
Select two of the following courses:

OR
Select one of the following courses:

Foreign Language 1001, 1002, 2001, or 2002
Any Area C-E course with a study abroad component.

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area C Humanities/Fine Arts/Ethics Required Hours: 6
Select one of the following humanities courses:

Select one of the following fine arts courses:

*ITDS 1145, though listed under both humanities and fine arts, may be taken only once.

Area D Science/Math/Technology Required Hours: 10-11
D1: Select two science courses from the list below, one of which must include a lab.

D2: Select one of the following courses or a science course from above:

Note: Students must complete Area B and Area D with a combined total of 15 credit hours within the following ranges: Area B, 4-5 hours; Area D1, 7-8 hours; Area D2, 3-4 hours. Any additional hours may be applied to Area F or beyond, depending on the program of study. Students should consult their advisors.

Area E Social Sciences Required Hours: 12
Select one course from the following two courses:
HIST 2111
HIST 2112
Take the following course:
POLS 1101
Select one behavioral science course from the following courses:

Select one world cultures course from the following courses:

Wellness Requirement Required Hours: 3
PHED 1205
Select any one PEDS course.

Area F Courses Related to Major Required Hours: 18
A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.

 

Area G Program Requirements Required Hours: 24
A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.

3D Exploratory Studio - Select one:

2D Exploratory Studio - Select one:

Digital Exploratory Studio - Select one:

Integrative Exploratory Studio - Select one:

 

Area H Program Electives Required Hours: 36

A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.

H1 Area of Emphasis - complete four courses in one area:

Area of Emphasis - Ceramics
ARTS 2248 Ceramics 1
ARTS 3348 Ceramics 2 Wheel-Throwing and
ARTS 3349 Ceramics 2 Slip Casting
ARTS 5248 Ceramics: Advanced Methods (may be repeated)

Area of Emphasis - Drawing
ARTS 2010 Figure Drawing or ARTS 2011 Drawing: Perspective and Synthesis
ARTS 3307 Alternative Drawing Practice
ARTS 4297 Narrative Illustration
ARTS 4236 Advanced Drawing (may be repeated)
ARTS 4357 Advanced Methods: Narrative Illustration (may be repeated)

Area of Emphasis- Animation
ARTS 3315 Fundamentals of Animation
ARTS 4315 Advanced Character Animation
ARTS 4316 Advanced Modeling and Surface Development
ARTS 5315 Animation Studio
ARTS 5316 Interactive Design Studio

Area of Emphasis - Graphic Design
ARTS 3021 Graphic Design I
ARTS 4021 Graphic Design II
ARTS 4521 Graphic Design III
ARTS 4721 Graphic Design: Advanced Methods (may be repeated)

Area of Emphasis - Painting
ARTS 3256 Painting 1
ARTS 4256 Painting 2
ARTS 5256 Painting: Advanced Methods (must be repeated)

Area of Emphasis - Photography
ARTS 3265 Photography 1
ARTS 3266 Digital Photography
ARTS 4265 Photography 2
ARTS 5265 Photography: Advanced Methods (may be repeated)

Area of Emphasis - Printmaking
ARTS 3309 Printmaking: Photo & Digital
ARTS 3278 Printmaking: Traditional Media
ARTS 4278 Printmaking: Contemporary Approaches & Hybrid Prints
ARTS 4307 Printmaking Internship (may be repeated)
RTS 5278 Advanced Printmaking (may be repeated)

Area of Emphasis - Sculpture
ARTS 3288 Techniques of Sculpture
ARTS 3310 Expanded Media
ARTS 3311 Materials Studies
ARTS 4306 Site Specific Sculpture and Installation
ARTS 4288 Explorations in Metal Fabrication
ARTS 5288 Sculpture: Advanced Methods (may be repeated)

H2 Program Electives:

Select 3 hours of ARTH courses 2000 level or higher (Students who did not take ARTH 2125 or 2126 in Area C must take one of those courses here.)
Select 21 hours of ARTS courses 2000 level or higher

Students will complete the required 39 hours of Upper Division coursework by including at least 12 hours of coursework at the 3000 level or above in Area H2.

Total Hours Required: 123