Art Studio, BFA

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

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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.

Student Resources

Department website: Art and Art History

Contact information: Fine Arts 116, 360-650-3660, ArtInfo@wwu.edu

Department advising: Visit the Art Studio webpage for more information.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample Careers: Art Educator, Exhibiting Artist, Exhibit Designer, Gallery Director, Photographer, Curator

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Application deadline is January 31st and the results will be announced prior to the end of winter quarter. An online application is required to access classes in this area. 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 (121 credits)

❑ ART 109 - Visual Dialogue Credits: 3
❑ ART 110 - View and Gesture Credits: 5
❑ ART 120 - Surface and Color Credits: 5
❑ ART 230 - Form and Space Credits: 5
❑ ART 280 - Time and Motion Credits: 5
❑ 9 credits from the following:
One course from:
A/HI 211 - History of Western Art I: Prehistory to the Middle Ages Credits: 3
A/HI 212 - History of Western Art II: Renaissance to Modernity Credits: 3
One course from:
A/HI 240 - Visual Culture in Western Europe in the 19th Century Credits: 3
A/HI 241 - Visual Culture in Western Europe and America in the 20th Century Credits: 3
One course from:
A/HI 245 - African American Art Credits: 3
A/HI 250 - Arts of Africa pre-1900 Credits: 3
A/HI 251 - Arts of Africa after 1900 Credits: 3
One course from:
A/HI 270 - Visual Culture in South and Southeast Asia Credits: 3
A/HI 271 - Visual Culture in East Asia Credits: 3
or EAST 271 - Visual Culture in East Asia Credits: 3
A/HI 272 - Contemporary Art in Asia Credits: 3
❑ 35 credits of 300- or 400-level Art Studio courses in area of selected concentration

❑ 5 credits of 300- or 400-level Art Studio or Design electives
❑ ART 492 - BFA Project / Exhibition Credits: 3 (must complete 9 credits toward the major)
❑ 5 credits from:
ART 494 - Advanced Studio Seminar Credits: 5
or ART 495 - Professional Practices for Studio Artist Credits: 5
❑ 20 credits of 300- or 400- level Art History courses (A/HI 300, A/HI 302, A/HI 305 and A/HI 306 are not accepted toward the major)
❑ ART 498 - BFA Studio Seminar Credits: 5 (must complete 15 credits toward the major)
❑ 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 the Western Gallery. 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 2025-26
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement