The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree in Studio Art is designed for the student who intends to follow a career in the visual arts, including but not limited to: graphic design, animation, photography, ceramics, painting, multimedia art, sculpture, printmaking, higher education, and arts administration. BFA graduates are expected to exhibit a high level of technical knowledge and conceptual development and therefore must apply and be admitted to the BFA program, in accordance with Art Department standards. All Studio BFA students prepare a senior exhibition of their artwork as the capstone experience of their degrees.
BFA students in Art Education must meet all competencies and requirements to teach art P-12 in the state of Kansas. The degree requirements are listed separate from the BFA in Studio Art.
All BFA degrees require 3 hours of internship. The internship requirement for BFA with Teaching Licensure is met through student teaching. All BFA students must enter the Mulvane Art Museum's Juried Student Exhibition at least twice during their academic careers.
Admission to the BFA
In order to maintain the BFA program's high standards and encourage successful completion of the BFA degree, students applying for admission to the BFA must meet specific requirements including completion or concurrent enrollment in required art foundation courses, a GPA of 3.0 or higher in Art courses, and the submission of a portfolio.
Each year, a committee of art faculty will meet to review the qualifications and portfolios for BFA applicants. All materials must be submitted by the advertised deadline.
Portfolios will be evaluated for evidence of technical proficiency, effective design, and conceptual expression. Students will be notified of acceptance or non-acceptance prior to the subsequent semester’s enrollment period. Candidates may reapply for BFA admission one time. While candidates are encouraged to apply late in their sophomore/early junior year, all must receive advisor approval in order to apply to the BFA program.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of art making and application of technical skills in more than one medium.
- Students will effectively communicate through visual, written and verbal means using the principles of design, discipline-specific vocabulary to convey conceptual content.
- Students will demonstrate a broad knowledge of diverse cultural and historical perspectives in the arts though visual art making and discussion.
- Students will apply theory, art history, and contemporary practices towards the development of creative work.
- Students will be prepared for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary knowledge and critical thinking.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the requirements stated below, students must complete an additional 31-32 hours of General Education, all requirements for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and any additional hours needed to reach the minimum 120 credit hours required for graduation. Some of the courses below may also fulfill general education or other degree requirements. Please see your advisor for more information.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MA 112 | Contemporary College Mathematics 2 | 3 |
| AR 101 | Survey of Art History, Prehistoric to Medieval | 3 |
| AR 102 | Survey of Art History, Renaissance to Contemporary | 3 |
| AR 120 | 2D Design | 3 |
| AR 121 | 3D Design | 3 |
| AR 140 | Drawing I | 3 |
| AR 219 | Introduction to Printmaking | 3 |
| or AR 240 | Painting I |
| AR 220 | Photography I | 3 |
| or AR 223 | Graphic Design I |
| AR 260 | Ceramics I | 3 |
| or AR 262 | Sculpture I |
| | 3 |
| AR 300 | Art Theory Past and Present | 3 |
| or AR 307 | Twentieth Century Art |
| AR 317 | Art Theory in Practice | 3 |
| AR 400 | Senior Exhibition | 1 |
| AR 401 | Internship | 3 |
| AR 403 | Workshop in Art Media | 3 |
| AR 404 | Professional Practices | 3 |
| 1 | 39 |
| Total Hours | 85 |
