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:
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements 1, 2 | 31 | |
College/School Requirements | 10 | |
Program/Major Requirements 1, 2 | 27-30 | |
Supporting Courses | 20 | |
Track Requirements | 30-33 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 121 |
1 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework. |
2 | To complete the degree in the minimum number of hours listed for all tracks, some hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the unit and/or program. Using other courses to satisfy General Education requirements will require additional hours to complete the degree requirements. |
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
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
The following courses are required by the program and satisfy the respective General Education Requirement(s): | ||
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
or ARTH 270 | Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | |
or ARTH 290 | Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 |
*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
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
Electives in Natural Sciences or Social Sciences 1 | 9 | |
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 2 | ||
Minimum Total Hours | 10 |
Program/Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Department of Fine Arts | ||
ART 105 | Foundation 2-D Design | 3 |
ART 106 | Foundation 3-D Design | 3 |
ART 107 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Foundation Design Methods 3 | ||
Foundation Art Concepts and Methods 4 | ||
Foundation Figure Drawing 5 | ||
Select two of the following: 6 | 6 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Art History electives at the 300 level or above 7 | 3-6 | |
Studio Art electives at the 300 level 8 | 6 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 27-30 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Supporting Courses | ||
Electives in Humanities disciplines, other than Art or Art History, at the 300 level or above | 15 | |
WR Elective in Humanities discipline, other than Art or Art History, at the 400 level or above | 3 | |
Minimum Electives 9 | 0-2 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 20 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Studio Art Track (See Track Requirements tab) | 30-33 |
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.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
Track in Interior Design requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
Professional Development in Interior Design - CUE | ||
Track in Graphic Design requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
Portfolio Development in Graphic Design - CUE | ||
Track in Studio Art requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
Professional Development in Studio Arts - CUE |
1 | In addition to courses counting towards General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above. |
2 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements. |
3 | Students planning to study Graphic Design must take ART 205 (spring semester). Students planning to study Interior Design may choose either ART 205 (fall semester) or ART 206 (spring semester). |
4 | Students planning to study Interior Design may choose either ART 205 (fall semester) or ART 206 (spring semester). |
5 | Students planning to study Studio Art may choose either ART 206 (spring semester) or ART 207 (fall semester). |
6 | Fulfills General Education AH requirement. |
7 | BFA Graphic Design students must take ARTH 301 and a 300-level elective. BFA Interior Design students must take ARTH 347. BFA Studio Art students must take 6 elective hours at the 300-level. |
8 | BFA Interior Design students must take ART 361 and ART 362; BFA Graphic Design students must take ART 371 and a 300-level elective. BFA Studio Art students must take 6 elective hours at the 300-level. |
9 | BFA Graphic Design and BFA Interior Design students may have elective hours. Students who fulfill general education requirements with courses in the major or supporting courses may have electives. To complete the degree in the minimum number of hours listed, some hours from the General Education Requirements may need to be satisfied by courses defined by the unit and/or program. Using other courses to satisfy General Education requirements may require additional hours to complete the degree requirements or decrease the listed electives. |
Track Requirements
Track in Interior Design
Academic Plan Code(s): ART_BFAIAR
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ART 559 | Computer Applications for Interiors I | 3 |
ART 561 | Interior Design Studio I | 3 |
ART 562 | Interior Design Sudio II | 3 |
ART 563 | Interior Design Studio III | 3 |
ART 564 | Interior Design Studio IV | 3 |
ART 565 | Directed Projects in Interior Design | 3 |
ART 566 | Interiors Construction | 3 |
ART 567 | Interior Finishes | 3 |
ART 568 | Building Systems | 3 |
ART 569 | Computer Applications for Interiors II | 3 |
ART 596 | Professional Development in Interior Design - CUE | 3 |
Minimum Total Hours | 33 |
Track in Graphic Design
Academic Plan Code(s): ART_BFACOA
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ART 570 | Design for Public Issues | 3 |
ART 571 | Typography I | 3 |
ART 572 | Typography II | 3 |
ART 573 | Identity Systems | 3 |
ART 574 | The Book Form | 3 |
ART 576 | Web Site Design | 3 |
ART 598 | Portfolio Development in Graphic Design - CUE | 3 |
Electives in Graphic Design | ||
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
Design for Visualizing Data and Information | ||
Adventures in Design Methods and Processes | ||
Environmental Graphic Design and Wayfinding | ||
Art, Design and Meaning | ||
Lettering and Font Design | ||
Packaging Design | ||
Design for Interaction | ||
Directed Study in Graphic Design | ||
Advanced Book Forms | ||
Electives in Studio Art or Art History | 3 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 30 |
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).
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Track Requirements/Core | ||
ART 597 | Professional Development in Studio Arts - CUE | 3 |
Select a minimum of five courses (15 hours) from the following 2D or 3D studio areas: | 15 | |
Concepts in Painting | ||
Advanced Concepts in Painting | ||
Special Topics in Painting | ||
Directed Study in Painting | ||
Advanced Figure Drawing | ||
Themes and Concepts in Drawing | ||
Directed Study in Drawing | ||
Studio Practice in Printmaking | ||
Digital Printmaking | ||
Directed Study in Printmaking | ||
Lighting | ||
Digital Photography | ||
Experimental Photography I | ||
Directed Study in Photography | ||
Experimental Photography II | ||
Advanced Glassmaking Techniques | ||
Directed Study in Glass | ||
Practice of Sculpture | ||
Sculpture Strategies | ||
Directed Study in Sculpture | ||
Advanced Ceramics: Wheelthrowing | ||
Advanced Ceramics: Sculptural Forms | ||
Clay Glazes and Firing | ||
Directed Study in Ceramics | ||
Advanced Fiber/Surface Design | ||
Advanced Fiber/ Mixed Media Art | ||
Papermaking | ||
Directed Study in Fiber and Mixed Media Art | ||
Electives | ||
15 hours of Studio Art (ART) or Art History (ARTH) at the 300-level or above | 15 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 33 |
Flight Plan
Track in Graphic Design
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
ART 107 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
ART 205 | Foundation Design Methods | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Hours | 15 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
ART 371 | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
ART 571 | Typography I | 3 |
ARTH 301 | History and Issues of Graphic Design | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences - SBD1 | 3 | |
ART 572 | Typography II | 3 |
ART 576 | Web Site Design | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
ART 574 | The Book Form | 3 |
Graphic Design Elective (500 level from list) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science elective | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 570 | Design for Public Issues | 3 |
Art elective (300 level) | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 | 3 | |
Humanities WR elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
ART 573 | Identity Systems | 3 |
Graphic Design Elective (500 level from list) | ||
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art or Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 12 | |
Spring | ||
ART 598 | Portfolio Development in Graphic Design - CUE | 3 |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities WR Elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 119 |
Track in Interior Design
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
ART 107 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 | 3 | |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Hours | 15 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
ART 205 | Foundation Design Methods | 3 |
ART 361 | Introduction to Interior Design | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 | 3 | |
ART 362 | Color Theory and Human Factors in Interior Design | 3 |
ART 561 | Interior Design Studio I | 3 |
ART 567 | Interior Finishes | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 18 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
ART 559 | Computer Applications for Interiors I | 3 |
ART 562 | Interior Design Sudio II | 3 |
ART 566 or ART 568 |
Interiors Construction or Building Systems |
3 |
Social Science or Natural Science elective | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 563 | Interior Design Studio III | 3 |
ART 569 | Computer Applications for Interiors II | 3 |
ARTH 347 | Historic Interiors for Interior Design | 3 |
Humanities and WR elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
ART 564 | Interior Design Studio IV | 3 |
ART 566 or ART 568 |
Interiors Construction or Building Systems |
3 |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ART 565 | Directed Projects in Interior Design | 3 |
ART 596 | Professional Development in Interior Design - CUE | 3 |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities WR Elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 122 |
Track in Studio Art
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
ART 107 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Science-S | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab | 1 | |
Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning-QR | 3 | |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
May select the following OR choose ART 207 in the Fall, Year 2. (Note: If you select ART 207 in the Fall, Year 2, you may replace this course with an ART Studio 300 level elective with department consent.) | 3 | |
Foundation Art Concepts and Methods | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Hours | 15 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences-S | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Social and Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective US Diversity-SBHD1 | 3 | |
ART 207 | Foundation Figure Drawing (If you took ART 206 in Year 1, Spring, replace this course with an Art Studio 300 level Elective). | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Art Studio Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication-OC | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts and Humanities-AH | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Social and Behavioral Sciences Global Diversity-SBD2 | 3 | |
Art Studio elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art Studio elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Art or Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities WR elective | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art Studio elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Art or Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
Social Science or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art Studio elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Art or Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art or Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
General elective | 3 | |
Hours | 18 | |
Spring | ||
Humanities elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities WR elective | 3 | |
Art Studio elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Art or Art History elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
ART 597 | Professional Development in Studio Arts - CUE | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 122 |
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:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- 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.