Art BFA
Total Units Required: 120
The Bachelor of Fine Arts offers two options and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The option in art studio. This is a professional degree designed to give students more intensive studies within eight studio concentrations including ceramics, drawing, digital media, glass design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The BFA program develops the understanding and advanced specialized skills for professional practice and to meet entrance requirements to graduate schools.
The option in interior architecture. The interior architecture program provides a professional degree in a four-year curriculum. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in the interior design/interior architecture profession. The interior architecture curriculum emphasizes both the theoretical and the practical, from concept to articulation.
The goal is to provide students with a design education that is well-rounded and applicable to the next generation of interior architecture professionals. Courses encompass design theory, design history, human behavior, critical thinking, problem-solving, building technologies, codes and life safety, communication skills, and professional values.
While structured as a four-year program, transfer students will need to plan to be enrolled for six semesters to successfully complete the program.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 72 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
Culminating Exhibition/Project
A culminating exhibition is required of all students seeking the BFA degree. You will arrange this with the approval of your mentor, and the BFA coordinator, prior to your final semester in the BFA degree program.
Major Option Course Requirements
Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
Courses common to the option in art studio and the option in interior architecture are: ARTS 122, ARTS 123, and ARTS 125; and one course selected from ARTH 110, ARTH 140, or ARTH 150.
The Option in Art Studio: 72 units
Prerequisites for Admission to the BFA Option in Art Studio
Students who declare an art major in the Department of Art and Art History are placed in the BA program. After completion of the lower-division requirements below, students may apply for admission into the BFA, and in most instances, they will be able to apply their lower division Art (ARTS) and Art History (ARTH) coursework towards the BFA requirements. Advisors will clarify receiving units toward the BFA. It is advisable to have taken upper division art studio courses in the area of your emphasis before applying to the BFA art studio option. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the major is needed to apply to the program. Admission to the program is determined by a portfolio review. Students in the BFA art studio option must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the major in order to remain in the program.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division | ||
| ARTS 122 | 2D Design | 3 |
| ARTS 123 | 3D Design | 3 |
| ARTS 125 | Basic Drawing | 3 |
| ARTS 126 | Basic Life Drawing | 3 |
| ARTS 195 | Introduction to Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art History Survey: Prehistory to Medieval | ||
| Asian Art Survey | ||
| Survey of Arts of the Americas, Oceania, and Africa | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art History Survey: Renaissance to 1800 | ||
| Art History Survey: 1800 to the Present | ||
| Select three of the following: 1 | 9 | |
| Introduction to Painting | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking | ||
| Introduction to Photography 1 | ||
| Introduction to Traditional (Film-Based) Photography 1 | ||
| Introduction to Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to Sculpture | ||
| Introduction to Glass Art | ||
| Upper Division | ||
| Art Studio Courses | ||
| Select 24 units from one of the following studio course groups: 2 | 24 | |
Ceramics Group: | ||
| Intermediate Ceramics | ||
| Intermediate Ceramics: Surface | ||
| Intermediate Ceramics: Mold Making | ||
| Advanced Ceramics | ||
Digital Media Group: 3 | ||
| 2D Animation | ||
| Digital Illustration | ||
| Advanced Digital Media | ||
| New Media | ||
Drawing Group: | ||
| Intermediate Ideation Drawing | ||
| Intermediate Life Drawing | ||
| Advanced Ideation Drawing | ||
| Advanced Life Drawing | ||
Glass Design Group: 4 | ||
| Intermediate Glass Art | ||
| Advanced Glass Art | ||
Painting Group: | ||
| Intermediate Painting | ||
| Intermediate Portfolio Painting | ||
| Advanced Painting | ||
| Advanced Life Painting | ||
Photography Group: | ||
| Topics in Photography | ||
| Alternative Photography | ||
| Advanced Fine Art Photography | ||
| Advanced Alternative Photography | ||
| Photojournalism 5 | ||
| Intermediate Commercial Photography and Digital Imaging 5 | ||
| Applied Commercial Photography and Digital Imaging 5 | ||
Printmaking Group: | ||
| Intermediate Printmaking: Intaglio | ||
| Intermediate Printmaking: Silkscreen | ||
| Intermediate Printmaking: Lithography | ||
| Intermediate Printmaking: Relief | ||
| Advanced Printmaking | ||
Sculpture Group: 5 | ||
| Intermediate Sculpture: Materials & Methods | ||
| Intermediate Sculpture: Fire Arts and Foundry | ||
| Intermediate Sculpture: The Body and Performance | ||
| Advanced Sculpture | ||
Or the following group of courses may be selected: | ||
| Public Art 6 | ||
| Internship Program in Art 6 | ||
| Special Problems 6 | ||
| Special Problems 6 | ||
| Art Studio Electives | ||
| Digital Media students may, with advisor approval, substitute up to six units of coursework from subjects outside ARTS, e.g. Computer Animation and Game Development (CAGD), Computer Science (CSCI), Media Arts, Design, and Technology (MADT), and Music (MUSC). | ||
| Select six units from the following: | 6 | |
Any upper-division studio ARTS courses outside the student's emphasis selected from the group above. | ||
| Art History | ||
| ARTH 441W | Contemporary Art (W) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art History Issues (W) | ||
| Greek Art and Architecture (W) | ||
| Roman Art and Architecture (W) | ||
| Medieval Art and Architecture (W) | ||
| 20th Century Art (W) | ||
| American Art (W) | ||
| Ancient Mexican Art (W) | ||
| Maya Art (W) | ||
| Colonial and Modern Mexican Art (W) | ||
| Ancient Andean Art (W) | ||
| American Indian Art (W) | ||
| African Art (W) | ||
| Modern History of Interiors, Furnishings, and Architecture | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Professional Preparation | ||
| ARTS 495W | Professional Practices Seminar (W) | 3 |
| ARTS 595W | BFA Senior Studio (W) | 3 |
| Total Units | 72 | |
- 1
Students interested in the photography emphasis are required to take ARTS 240 and ARTS 241 as two of the three courses.
- 2
Most studio courses at the 300 level may be taken two times for credit, and 400-level courses four times for credit. A minimum of 12 units must be taken at the 400 level. Painting and drawing courses may be combined for a single emphasis for the BFA degree.
- 3
The emphasis in digital media is for the fine art student who chooses to integrate digital media with any combination of traditional media, and/or new media. It is an interdisciplinary degree for thinkers and makers exploring new technologies or hybrid forms. The emphasis allows students to customize their course choices to best meet their creative needs. This customization must be made in consultation with the BFA faculty mentor.
- 4
Students with a glass emphasis, where the course selections allow for only 18 units, may fulfill their additional nine units by taking ARTS 399, ARTS 489, ARTS 499, or by splitting their emphasis between two disciplines (such as glass and sculpture).
- 5
A maximum of six units may be selected from JOUR 353, MADT 396, and MADT 496.
- 6
Students may fulfill the required 24 units in this emphasis with Internship credits (ARTS 480, ARTS 489) or Special Problems (ARTS 399, ARTS 499), to be arranged with the area faculty.
The Option in Interior Architecture: 72 units
Grading Requirement
- All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
- A grade of C- or higher is needed to pass all interior architecture requirements.
- A total grade point average of at least 2.5 for all coursework is required.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division | ||
| ARTH 130 | Art History Survey: 1800 to the Present | 3 |
| ARTI 115 | Introduction to Interior Design | 3 |
| ARTI 231 | Graphics I: Design Communication | 3 |
| ARTI 232 | Graphics II: Digital Visual Communication | 3 |
| ARTI 261 | Design Studio I | 3 |
| ARTS 122 | 2D Design | 3 |
| ARTS 123 | 3D Design | 3 |
| ARTS 125 | Basic Drawing | 3 |
| ARTS 250 | Introduction to Digital Media | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Art History Survey: Prehistory to Medieval | ||
| Asian Art Survey | ||
| Survey of Arts of the Americas, Oceania, and Africa | ||
| Select three units from the following: | 3 | |
Courses outside of the Art and Art History Department, for example in Business Administration (BADM), Construction Management (CMGT), Media Arts, Design, and Technology (MADT), or Theatre Arts (THEA) to fulfill some requirements in this area, with advisor approval. | ||
| Upper Division | ||
| Students may only take one studio course per semester. | ||
| ARTH 481 | Modern History of Interiors, Furnishings, and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTI 333 | Graphics III: BIM (Building Information Modeling) | 3 |
| ARTI 362 | Design Studio II | 3 |
| ARTI 363 | Design Studio III | 3 |
| ARTI 372 | Interior Materials and Finishes | 3 |
| ARTI 373 | Interior Lighting and Color | 3 |
| ARTI 434 | Graphics IV: Construction Documentation | 3 |
| ARTI 464 | Design Studio IV | 3 |
| ARTI 465 | Design Studio V | 3 |
| ARTI 474 | Building Systems and Environmental Technologies | 3 |
| ARTI 485W | Portfolio (W) | 3 |
| ARTI 489 | Professional Practice and Internship Program | 3 |
| ARTI 566 | Design Studio VI: Senior Design Studio | 3 |
| Total Units | 72 | |
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
- Any Writing Course (W) in the department, which includes the following prefixes: ARTE, ARTH, ARTI, and ARTS.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.