B.F.A. in Visual Arts: Interdisciplinary
Academic Requirements

Working in close consultation with a faculty advisor, students in this B.F.A. major design a course of study that bridges two or more traditional areas. The course of study should:

• direct the student along a path of exploration, experimentation, synthesis, and juxtaposition
• prepare the student to execute a comprehensive thesis study in the senior project, for which faculty sponsorship must be obtained

In addition to fulfilling general degree requirements, undergraduate students majoring in interdisciplinary visual arts must complete 25 percent of their requirements for the major in a primary area (including a progression from introductory to advanced courses) and 10 percent in a secondary area.

Of the combined 35 percent in the two areas, 24 credits must be in upper-level (3000 or 4000 level) courses. It is recommended that 16 of those 24 credits be taken in the primary area and the remaining 8 in the secondary area. The credit total for the major is 100. Students must also find a faculty sponsor in each of the two areas.

Foundation Courses: 16 credits
VIS 1030/Art+Design Freshman Seminar: 0 credits
Studio Courses:
VDE 1150/Design I: 4 credits
VDR 1010/Drawing I: 4 credits
VPR 1600/Extended Media: 4 credits
VSC 1010/Sculpture I: 4 credits

Art History Courses: 12 credits
ARH 1020/History of Art Survey II: 5 credits
ARH —/Two art history electives: 7 credits
At least one semester of contemporary art history is required.

Studio Art Courses: 40 credits
Primary area:
V —/Studio art course (1000 level): 4 credits
V —/Studio art course (2000 level): 4 credits
V —/Studio art course (3000 level): 4 credits
V —/Three studio art courses (3000 or 4000 level): 12 credits
Secondary area:
V —/Studio art course (1000 level): 4 credits
V —/Studio art course (2000 level): 4 credits
V —/Studio art course (3000 level): 4 credits
V —/Studio art course (3000 or 4000 level): 4 credits

Studio Electives: 20 credits
VDR —/Drawing elective: 4 credits
V —/Four visual arts electives: 16 credits

Synthesis Courses: 12 credits
V —/Senior seminar course: 4 credits†
VIS 4990/Senior Project: 8 credits

† Senior Seminars
A senior seminar in either the primary or secondary area is required in the senior year (fall or spring, depending on when offered):

1. Graphic Design: VDE 4090 (4 credits; Spring)
2. Drawing: VDR 4400 (4 credits; Spring)
3. Painting: VPA 4400 (4 credits; Spring)
4. Photography: VPH 4400 (4 credits; Fall)
5. Sculpture: VSC 4800 (2 credits; Fall)

If taking VSC 4800, students must take an additional 2-credit studio art course in the same semester. Students who have chosen printmaking as their primary area should take VPR 4750 and 4800/Advanced Printmaking Studio III and IV, which serve as senior seminar equivalents.

Updated July 11, 2011

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