Overview

Dan Hernandez, Head, Studio Art
Deborah Orloff, Coordinator for undergraduate Advisors
Barbara Miner, Barry Whittaker, Dan Hernandez, undergraduate Advisors.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree provides an intensive educational experience for the student who is preparing for professional commitment to the field of studio art. In distinction from the B.A. degree, the BFA curriculum provides the student with a more in-depth experience in the major area of studio concentration and studio electives.

BFA students may choose from the following 4 areas of studio concentration:

• 2D Studies (drawing, printmaking, painting, mixed media),
• 3D Studies (sculpture, ceramics, installation, mixed media),
• Photography and Digital Media (photography, digital arts, time- based media, mixed media),
• Graphic and Interactive Design (graphic design, interactive design, coding, games, video/ time-based media, etc.).

Note: studio courses for the latter two concentrations use the NM prefix.

Admissions

BFA: Students may opt into the BFA degree at any time by simply declaring the major and selecting a concentration.

BFA with Departmental Honors (BFA Honors): Students interested in pursuing the BFA Honors degree must apply and be accepted into the program.

Students interested in admission to the BFA Honors program must apply to the Chair of the BFA Honors Committee. The student should obtain the appropriate application materials from the Chair of the

Committee or from the departmental office. Before applying, the student must consult with their Faculty Advisor(s) about the application process, and subsequently the application form must be signed by the required number of faculty mentors (3). The student must submit a completed application form to the office at least 5 calendar days before the review.

Before applying to the BFA Honors program, a student must have completed or be in the process of completing 30 semester hours of undergraduate study, which must include:

¹

ARTH 2050 or ARTH 2060 and not ARTH 1500.

At the time of application, the student must have maintained at least a 3.25 GPA in all studio art and art history courses. The department allows adjusted GPAs to be used in reaching the 3.25 benchmark in accordance with the UToledo policy of recalculated GPAs (https://www.utoledo.edu/offices/registrar/student_records/gpa_recalculation.html) as well as previously adjusted incoming transfer GPAs for coursework used in the major and related fields. If required courses are still in process at the time of application, acceptance is provisional until all courses are completed and the GPA standard is maintained. Applications are reviewed every Fall and Spring semester. If the application is denied, the student may reapply the following semester.

Students pursuing the BFA or BFA Honors degree may not elect the PS/NC option in studio art or art history courses or in related courses. Art majors pursuing the BFA Honors degree must meet every semester with their Advisors who are assigned by the BFA Honors committee.

B.F.A. IN STUDIO ART DEGREE - With Departmental Honors

BFA students are encouraged to earn Departmental Honors. The following criteria must be met to earn the BFA Honors degree:

1. BFA Honors students must meet all requirements of the BFA program.
2. Residency: Minimum 4 semesters within the BFA Honors degree enrolled in studio art courses.
3. BFA Honors Reviews: Pass a minimum of 4 BFA Honors reviews:

• The initial application review
• Two semester progress reviews
• Final B.F.A Exhibition review

4. GPA: BFA Honors candidates must maintain a 3.25 minimum GPA average in all studio art and art history courses during residency as well as upon completion of the degree. The department allows adjusted GPAs to be used in reaching the 3.25 benchmark in accordance with the UToledo policy of recalculated GPAs.

5. Pass ART 4400 BFA Thesis (student must register for the Honors section)

Disqualification from the BFA Honors program:

One or more of the following criteria will disqualify candidates from the BFA Honors program:

1. Failure to maintain residency,
2. Failure to attend and pass BFA Honors progress reviews,
3. Failure to maintain a 3.25 GPA in all studio art and art history courses
4. Failure to pass ART 4400

If disqualified, the student may not reapply to the BFA Honors program, but may still complete the BFA degree (without honors).

1. The student will not be awarded the honors designation upon completion of their BFA degree.
2. Once disqualified, the student is no longer required to continue participating in BFA reviews.
3. The student may not reapply to the BFA Honors track.

REQUIREMENTS

Students pursuing the B.F.A. degree may not elect the PS/NC option in studio art or art history courses or in related courses. Art majors pursuing the B.F.A. degree must meet every semester with their Advisors who are assigned by the B.F.A. committee.

The curriculum leading to the B.F.A. in studio art requires a minimum of 63 hours of courses in the major (66 hours maximum) plus 18 hours of related coursework for a total of at least 81 credits, which must include the following:

2D Studies Concentration

¹

The Advanced Art Studies courses provide a consistent framework of categories within each concentration (2D, 3D, Photography and Digital Media and GID). Specific course topics and content are offered on a rotational basis and appear in the catalog using a prefix and descriptive course title. For example, in a given semester ART 3100 (TOPIC) would appear as ART 3100: Printmaking: Topics. Students may repeat TOPICS courses up to 18 credits so long as the TOPIC differs. Students may use ART 4910, 4940 or ART 4990 as part of the Advanced Art Studies in 2D with departmental approval. 

²

The following may be used as either a concentration course or outside concentration course so long as a single course is only used once in either category: ART 4300, 4360, 4370, or 4380.  Students may use a 2000-level studies course, ART4910, or ART 4940 as an Advanced Art Studies Outside the Concentration with departmental approval. 

³

This course is typically taken during the final year. It is taught as a Fall-only option, so student should plan their degree completion accordingly. 

⁴

A capstone course taken in the final year. Course is taught Spring only, so students should plan accordingly with their degree completion planning. ART 4400 is only required for students pursuing departmental honors. Non-Honors students may elect any studio course instead.

⁵

Students may select an Art History elective taken from the 2000-4000 level. ARTH 1500 is not for major credit and is not an option for use in the related fields. 

3D Studies Concentration

¹

The Advanced Art Studies courses provide a consistent framework of categories within each concentration (2D, 3D, Photography and Digital Media and GID). Specific course topics and content are offered on a rotational basis and appear in the catalog using a prefix and descriptive course title. For example, in a given semester ART 3100 (TOPIC) would appear as ART 3100: Printmaking: Topics. Students may repeat TOPICS courses up to 18 credits so long as the TOPIC differs. Students may use ART 4910, 4940 or ART 4990 as part of the Advanced Art Studies in 2D with departmental approval

²

Students should select 6 credits of 3000-4000 Art Studies from the course list. The following may be used as either a concentration course or outside concentration course so long as a single course is only used once in either category: ART 4300, 4360, 4370, or 4380.  Students may use a 2000-level studies course, ART4910, or ART 4940 as an Advanced Art Studies Outside the Concentration with departmental approval. 

³

This course is typically taken during the final year. It is taught as a Fall-only option, so student should plan their degree completion accordingly. 

⁴

A capstone course taken in the final year. Course is taught Spring only, so students should plan accordingly with their degree completion planning. ART 4400 is only required for students pursuing departmental honors. Non-Honors students may elect any studio course instead.

⁵

Arth 1500 is not permitted for use in the Related Fields.

 Photography and Digital Media Concentration

¹

The Advanced Art Studies courses provide a consistent framework of categories within each concentration (2D, 3D, Photography and Digital Media and GID). Specific course topics and content are offered on a rotational basis and appear in the catalog using a prefix and descriptive course title. For example, in a given semester ART 3100 (TOPIC) would appear as ART 3100: Printmaking: Topics. Students may repeat TOPICS courses up to 18 credits so long as the TOPIC differs. 

²

The following may be used as either a concentration course or outside concentration course so long as a single course is only used once in either category: ART 4300, 4360, 4370, or 4380.  Students may use a 2000-level studies course, ART4910, or ART 4940 as an Advanced Art Studies Outside the Concentration with departmental approval. 

³

This course is taught as a Fall-only option, so student should plan their degree completion accordingly. 

⁴

A capstone course taken in the final year. Course is taught Spring only, so students should plan accordingly with their degree completion planning. ART 4400 is only required for students pursuing departmental honors. Non-Honors students may elect any studio course instead.

⁵

Students may select an Art History elective taken from the 2000-4000 level. ARTH 1500 is not for major credit and is not an option for use in the related fields. 

Graphic and Interactive design (GID) Concentration

¹

The Advanced Art Studies courses provide a consistent framework of categories within each concentration (2D, 3D, Photography and Digital Media and GID). Specific course topics and content are offered on a rotational basis and appear in the catalog using a prefix and descriptive course title. For example, in a given semester ART 3100 (TOPIC) would appear as ART 3100: Printmaking: Topics. Students may repeat TOPICS courses up to 18 credits so long as the TOPIC differs. 

²

The following may be used as either a concentration course or technical elective course so long as a single course is only used once in either category: ART 4300, 4360, 4370, or 4380.  Students may use a 2000-level studies course, ART4910, or ART 4940 with departmental approval. 

³

This course is taught as a Fall-only option, so student should plan their degree completion accordingly. 

⁴

A capstone course taken in the final year. Course is taught Spring only, so students should plan accordingly with their degree completion planning. ART 4400 is only required for students pursuing departmental honors. Non-Honors students may elect any studio course instead.

 

 

¹

Students will work with their advisor to choose 6 hours of technical courses from departments across the College of Communication and the Arts as well as CMPT courses.

²

The AAS courses provide a consistent framework of categories within each area of concentration:

• 2D Studies,
• 3D Studies,
• Photography and Digital Media, 
• Graphic and Interactive Design.

Within each of these areas, specific course topics and content are offered on a rotational basis and appear in the catalog using a prefix and descriptive course subtitle.  For example, in a given semester ART 3100 (TOPIC) would appear as ART 3100: Printmaking: Topics. Students can retake a given course category to fulfill their AAS credit requirements as long as it is offered with a different topic title.

³

Students are permitted to take 2000 level courses in circumstances where they need to fulfill core prerequisites in order to take selected AAS level courses. See the catalog listing of offerings and prerequisites.

⁴

Usually taken in the student's junior or senior year.

⁵

An exhibition-based capstone course usually taken during the student's final year.

⁶

May be selected from courses offered in art history or from the degree audit.

PLan of Study

Below are sample plans of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.

• 2D Studies Concentration
• 3D Studies Concentration
• Photography and Digital Media Concentration
• Graphic and Interactive Design Concentration

2D Studies Concentration

3D Studies Concentration

Photography and Digital Media Concentration

Graphic and Interactive Design Concentration

Learning OUtcomes

• PLO 1: Aesthetic abilities: Students will create artworks with an aesthetic order that expresses their unique vision.
• PLO 2: Technique and the comprehension of a medium s potential: Students will use the appropriate tools and art/design materials to develop creative projects within and beyond their area of concentration.
• PLO 3: Presentation/career preparedness: Students will plan, develop and create artistic projects in an exhibition, portfolio, and/or publication format.
• PLO 4: Writing and communication skills: Students will discuss, interpret and summarize complex ideas effectively through written, oral, and visual rhetoric.
• PLO 5: Research skills: Students will use multiple global resources to gather information about areas of interest specific to their discipline.