B.F.A. – Studio Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art provides a major for those students, who plan to pursue studio art at the graduate level or as a professional in the field. Students are encouraged to advance within their selected area by taking courses that expand contemporary and historical awareness of the discipline, as well as hone their aesthetic, conceptual and technical skills.
AREAS OF EMPHASIS
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
125 units are required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art, 42 units of which must be upper division coursework. Students must choose an area of emphasis and complete 24 units of upper division coursework in this area.
Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs. In addition, all students must complete General Education requirements.
See the admissions section for information on how to apply to these programs.
Contact an academic advisor or set up an advising appointment to learn more about the programs and admissions.
| Program Requirement | Description | Required Number of Units |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses - Art History | ARH 201 Survey of Art History I ARH 202 Survey of Art History II ART 119 Contemporary Art & Theory | 9 Units |
| Foundation Courses - First Year Experience | ART 100A Mapping ART 100B Space ART 100E Surface Three courses required from the following: ART 100C Gaze ART 100D Experience ART 100F Amalgam ART 100G Propaganda ART 100J The Body (Prereq: ART 100A) | 12 units |
| 2D Studies | ART 205 Figure Drawing I ART 246, 244 Photography ART 250, 251, 253, 255, or 256 Beginning Printmaking ART 265 Design I ART 266 Illustration I ART 280 Painting I ART 285 Watercolor Painting I | 9-12 units |
| 3DXM Studies | ART 273 Beginning Ceramics ART 276 Material Studies ART 287 Beginning Sculpture | 6-9 Units |
| Emphasis Areas | Upper Division - Choose an emphasis from 2D, 3DXM, Photography, or Illustration + Design. At least 6 units must be 400 level. | 24 Units |
| Art History | Upper Division - One 400 level course required for writing emphasis credit. | 9 Units |
| Art Electives | Upper division units from any Studio, Art History, or Art Education course. | 9 units |
| BFA Exhibition | NA |
PAINTING & DRAWING
The Painting & Drawing program offers courses that encourage you to explore the field of painting and drawing and to develop your work within a wide range of technical, aesthetic and conceptual approaches. From beginning courses to the most advanced, you will work under the guidance of a diverse faculty of active and exhibiting artist-teachers.
Critiques and seminars, led by your faculty and a series of visiting artists, will provide you with the forum and structure to discuss your work in relation to contemporary art issues. Your faculty will encourage you to take responsibility for the definition and direction of your work while you develop a unique stylistic and conceptual approach.
PRINTMAKING
Established in the early 1960’s, the Printmaking program is not only committed to preparing you to make art of the highest quality, but also to sustain a successful and productive career as an artist/printmaker. With this in mind, the program concentrates on personal style, artistic ability, contemporary and historical awareness, technical ability, and communicative capabilities.
The facilities support work in Intaglio, Lithography, Relief, and a variety of alternative methods including Photographic and Digital processes, Bookmaking, Solar plates, Polyesterplates and Monoprinting.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
125 units are required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, 2D Studies, 42 units of which must be upper division coursework. Students must complete 24 units of upper division coursework in 2D Studies.
Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs.
Contact an academic advisor or set up an advising appointment to learn more about School of Art programs and admissions.
The mission of the 3D & Extended Media Division is to foster in students an authentic spirit of inquiry and to cultivate an understanding of the concepts and strategies of contemporary art making, from interdisciplinary activity to the integrated use of technology.
Undergraduates gain expertise in traditional 3D processes, interdisciplinary practices, and new media technologies to achieve command over a range of technical processes to effectively express their ideas.
All studio work is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of traditional 3D media–sculpture and ceramics, as well as extended media–installation, video, and performance. Our interdisciplinary faculty facilitates conceptual development relevant to the interests of each student. The goal is to provide you with the creative analytical and critical ability to effectively express ideas in order to actively participate in the broader cultural and global discourse, to succeed in graduate art programs and as arts professionals.
The 3D & Extended Media Division is well equipped to accommodate both traditional processes in sculpture and ceramics and new media practices, including eco-art, performance, installation, video, site-specific and public art. View the 3D and Extended Media Facilities page for more information.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
125 units are required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, 3D & Extended Media, 42 units of which must be upper division coursework. Students must complete 24 units of upper division coursework in 3D & Extended Media.
Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs.
Contact an academic advisor or set up an advising appointment to learn more about School of Art programs and admissions.
Separate tracks in illustration and design are offered to undergraduates. Your portfolio will be reviewed during the Spring Portfolio Review for acceptance into one of the following tracks:
THE ILLUSTRATION TRACK
The Illustration Track is known for its excellence in figurative studies as well as its focus on the development of your visual voice. You will get a rigorous education in constructive anatomy and learn to describe the human form realistically and expressively and find personal methodologies in traditional and digital media. You will graduate with a professional portfolio and knowledge of the history of Illustration as well as, the guidelines for ethical professional business practices in the field.
THE DESIGN TRACK
The Design Track provides a foundation in design principles and methodologies, creative problem solving and digital processes. As you advance in the program you will gain knowledge and skills in professional practice including identity systems, web design, typography, motion graphics, history, contemporary criticism, and theory. You will graduate with a professional portfolio and a broad understanding of the business of design as well as its potential as a medium of critical inquiry and community involvement.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
125 units are required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Illustration and Design, 42 units of which must be upper division coursework. Students must complete 24 units of upper division coursework in Illustration & Design.
Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs.
Contact an academic advisor or set up an advising appointment to learn more about School of Art programs and admissions.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
125 units are required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Photography, 42 units of which must be upper division coursework. Students must complete 24 units of upper division coursework in Photography.
Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs.
Contact an academic advisor or set up an advising appointment to learn more about School of Art programs and admissions.
The School of Art has an Accelerated Master’s Degrees in Art & Visual Culture Education.The Accelerated Master’s Degree allows current University of Arizona undergraduate students to use 12 units of graduate coursework towards both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, giving students the possibility to receive both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in 5 year. Check out the degree and application information to learn more.