Art - Fine Art (BFA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2022–Spring 2023 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Art and Design
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab.

Program Information

The Department of Art and Design, endowed as the Hite Institute of Art and Design, offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. Primarily intended for professionally oriented art and design students, and for those planning to pursue graduate work in the studio arts or to assume leadership positions in the fields of graphic or interior design, the BFA degree provides the opportunity for students to go into more depth in their chosen area. There are three tracks in the BFA Program:

• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Studio Art

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department. 

Degree Summary

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Primarily intended for professionally oriented art and design students, and for those planning to pursue graduate work in the studio arts or to assume leadership positions in the fields of graphic or interior design, the BFA degree provides the opportunity for students to go into more depth in their chosen area. 

Admission is selective, and enrollments may be limited. Enrolled University of Louisville students approved as majors in the BA program, Art track, in the Department of Art and Design may apply for admission to the BFA program upon completion of the Foundations courses and the introductory course to the track area they are interested in applying for. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in department (studio art and art history) courses and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Once admitted, students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.5 or above and a 3.0 or above in department courses to remain enrolled in the BFA program.

Students who do not meet the GPA requirements will be placed on departmental probation and given one semester in which to raise their GPA. If unable to meet the GPA requirements within that time frame, students will be returned to the BA program, Art track. If removed, students may reapply to the BFA program once the GPA requirements have been met.

Upon admission to the BFA Program, students and faculty will complete and sign a BFA Student/Mentor Contract outlining the progress expected toward completion of the degree. If at any point during the student’s study the mentor deems the student’s progress and/or ability to meet his/her obligations as a student in the BFA program unsatisfactory that mentor has the right to resign his/her post as mentor. In this instance, a student must seek another mentor or transfer back into the BA program, Art track. If a student requests a different mentor and no faculty agrees to work with them the student will be returned to the BA program, Art track.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For the BFA candidate in Studio Art, this includes a committee review of the candidate’s work one semester prior to graduation and participation in the BFA exhibition held during the semester of graduation. For the BFA candidate in Graphic Design or Interior Design, this includes participation in the professional portfolio review at the end of their professional practice course.

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

60 hours minimum Art/Art History total for Interior Design and Graphic Design tracks; 63 hours minimum total for Studio Art track. At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

A grade of C-minus or better is required in all 300 and 500-level courses in the major.

Track Requirements

Track in Interior Design

Academic Plan Code(s): ART_BFAIAR

Track in Graphic Design 

Academic Plan Code(s): ART_BFACOA

Track in Studio Art

Academic Plan Code(s): ART_BFASTA

Students will select a minimum of five 500-level courses from all 2D or 3D studio areas (excluding Graphic Design and Interior Design).

Flight Plan

Track in Graphic Design

Track in Interior Design

Track in Studio Art

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan.  What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

To create either report:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area. 
4. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.

Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan.  The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center.  Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.