Art Studio, BFA

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Department of Art and Art History, College of Fine and Performing Arts

121 credits

Introduction

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is the professional undergraduate art degree.

It is a selective expanded program focused on a year-long development of a professional body of work, culminating in a Western Gallery exhibition and catalog.

Why Consider an Art Studio Major and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Major?

To continue beyond the Art Studio, BA degree and learn to create, interpret, analyze, and make informed judgments about art, studio concepts and practices at an advanced level.

Contact Information

Department Chair
Cara Jaye
Fine Arts 106A
360-650-7771
cjaye@wwu.edu

Art Major Information
Fine Arts 116
360-650-3660
ArtInfo@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Application deadline will be announced and posted online during spring quarter. Most classes in the Studio area are restricted to majors only. To access classes in this area, an online application to the Department of Art and Art History is required at cfpa.wwu.edu/art/admissions. The application will include a portfolio of recent work and an unofficial transcript of any college-level courses already taken.

Following acceptance to the BFA program, a committee of at least two Art faculty members will be formed to work with the student throughout the year. An additional faculty member from outside the Department may be invited by the student to serve on their committee. Studio faculty must approve the third committee member. All students must begin their BFA studies in the fall quarter.

Grade Requirements

Admission to the BFA is based primarily on the strength of the portfolio. A 3.0 minimum GPA within the Art major and overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required.

Requirements

❑ Completion of all requirements for the Art Studio, BA program of study
❑ 5 credits from:
ART 496A - BFA Seminar A Credits: 2
ART 496B - BFA Seminar B Credits: 1
❑ 9 credits of ART 492 - BFA Project / Exhibition Credits: 3
❑ 5 credits from:
ART 494 - Advanced Studio Seminar Credits: 5
ART 495 - Professional Practices for Studio Artist Credits: 5
❑ 10 credits of studio practice in areas of focus
❑ 10 credits of 300- or 400-level art history (A/HI 300, A/HI 302, A/HI 305 and A/HI 306 are not accepted toward the major.)
❑ 10 credits of electives specific to course study
❑ Fall, Winter, and Spring faculty committee reviews
❑ Spring faculty committee review and final exhibition

Additional Requirements:

During the BFA program students spend three quarters creating a self-determined body of artwork. Attention is given to the medium(s), method(s), and the content of the creative activity. Evaluation by the student’s full committee occurs during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. At the culmination of the project each student is required to exhibit their completed work in a one or two-person exhibition. In addition, the student is required to submit a research-driven artist’s statement that supports the individuals own intellectual and creative achievement. The student’s final review with full committee will be scheduled during the period of the student’s exhibition. This is an opportunity for the student to discuss and defend their work.

Failure to meet these requirements on schedule will be considered as unsatisfactory progress and may result in the student completing the Bachelor of Arts degree only.

Departmental Honors

In addition to the general requirements for all honors students, an art major who wishes to graduate with honors must complete an honors senior project in art.

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements 2022-23
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement