Fine Arts

The fine arts emphasize self-discovery and realization of individual creative potential as invaluable assets in both career and personal development. You will learn to create images and objects that contribute to the preservation and advancement of culture through rigorous studio practice, studies in the history of art and professional seminars.

Program Overview

In the fine arts program, you’ll find countless opportunities to create your own work in the studio and turn your aesthetic vision into reality. Your studio experience will be supplemented by courses in art history, providing you with a broad understanding of the various ways to utilize your artistic expression.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) is an intensive professional program of study specifically designed to prepare you to enter the field of fine arts and/or to continue your studies in graduate school. The B.F.A. allows you to collaborate with faculty on independent special interest problems. Approximately 60 percent of the degree requirements are in the creation and study of fine arts.

As a fine arts major, you will receive quality instruction and support, allowing you to perfect your creative skills and abilities. While pursuing your degree and completing your course work, you’ll begin to assemble a visual portfolio that can be presented to potential employers or to graduate programs for advanced study in fine arts. Major effort is directed toward creating a graduation portfolio that demonstrates your exceptional work, helping you find a job or gain acceptance to graduate school. As a senior, you will present your final portfolio to faculty and peers as a part of your capstone experience.

Our faculty of professional artists will assist you in painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and illustration while allowing you to make your own creative decisions. Our low student-to-faculty ratio affords guidance and personal attention you won’t find at many larger schools, and our flexible scheduling and course work enable you to concentrate in a particular area of fine arts study.

Entrance portfolios are not required for acceptance into the program, but students transferring art/design credits from other academic institutions are required to submit a portfolio consisting of two or three examples of work from each course for which they seek credit.

The fine arts program resides within the Department of Visual Arts and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

For more information, visit the Department of Visual Arts website.