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 101. Students must also find a faculty sponsor in each of the two areas.
Freshman Year | Sophomore Year | Junior Year | Senior Year
| Freshman Year: 25 credits | |
| Fall: | 12 credits |
| VIS 1030/Art+Design Freshman Seminar | 0 credits |
| VDE 1150/Design I | 4 credits |
| VDR 1010/Drawing I | 4 credits |
| VSC 1010/Sculpture I | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 13 credits |
| VPR 1600/Extended Media | 4 credits |
| Studio art elective | 4 credits |
| ARH 1020/History of Art Survey II | 5 credits |
| Sophomore Year: 24 credits | |
| Fall: | 12 credits |
| Studio art elective | 4 credits |
| Studio art course (1000 level)* | 4 credits |
| ARH —/Art history elective | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 12 credits |
| Studio art course (2000 level)* | 4 credits |
| Studio art course (1000 level)** | 4 credits |
| ARH —/Art history elective (contemporary) | 4 credits |
| *Primary area | **Secondary area | |
| Junior Year: 28 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| Studio art course (3000 level)* | 4 credits |
| Studio art course (2000 level)** | 4 credits |
| Studio art elective | 4 credits |
| ARH —/Art history elective (contemporary) | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 12 credits |
| Studio art course (3000 or 4000 level)* | 4 credits |
| Studio art course (3000 or 4000 level)* | 4 credits |
| Studio art course (3000 level)** | 4 credits |
| *Primary area | **Secondary area | |
| Senior Year: 24 credits | |
| Fall: | 12 credits |
| Studio art course† (3000 or 4000 level)* | 4 credits |
| Studio art course† (3000 or 4000 level)** | 4 credits |
| VIS 4990/Senior Project | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 12 credits |
| Studio art course† (3000 or 4000 level)* | 4 credits |
| Studio art elective | 4 credits |
| VIS 4990/Senior Project | 4 credits |
| *Primary area | **Secondary area | |
† A senior seminar in either the primary or secondary area is required in the senior year (fall or spring, depending on when offered):
If taking VSC 4800, students must take an additional 2-credit studio art course in the same semester. There is no senior seminar in printmaking. | |
Updated July 29, 2008