BFA in Studio Art

BFA in Studio Art

Academic Programs

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art

The BFA in Studio Art is a professional, studio intensive degree program for students who wish to become illustrators, designers or fine artists. The standards are high, the work is demanding, and the rewards are great. The BFA in Art degree is for students who want to develop their work to a professional level in select area(s) of study. For graphic design and illustration the B. F. A. is intended to provide the experience and knowledge necessary to construct a professional portfolio for employment. For the fine art student the BFA is intended to provide the knowledge and experience necessary to develop a body of work for acceptance into graduate school or for working as a professional artist.

Areas of Study

* Allows a Concentration to be listed in the student's BFA in Studio Art degree should they fulfill Concentration's requirements

‡ Please note, Biomedical Art & Visualization (B.F.A.) program is within the department of Radio, Television & Film and is its own major, separate from the BFA in Studio Art

§ Please note, Photography area is within the department of Radio, Television & Film and has a dedicated minor. Photography courses count towards studio credit hours required for the BFA in Studio Art.

Requirements

The BFA in Art degree requires 120-semester hours. * The credits are distributed among art major (78), general education (42 s. h.) and electives (11 s.h.). There are restricted electives (in art), art electives, distributive studio and support courses and art history requirements. The BFA program requires 42 s. h. in general education.

To enter the BFA in Art degree track, students must submit work to the BFA Application Review after successfully completing the Core Portfolio Review and three studio courses (students are expected to enroll in five courses during the 3rd and 4th semesters). Students need a 3.0 GPA in art major classes to apply for the BFA.

The BFA in Studio Art is considered to be an initial professional degree in studio art. Primarily emphasizing the development of skills, concepts and sensitivities essential to the professional artist or designer, students are taught to be productive artists. As such they will demonstrate both technical competency and a broad knowledge of art in at least two studios.

Studio experiences are of prime importance. Emphasis is placed on creating and producing art works; the development of an extensive portfolio is a basic expectation. To this end students are required to work not only in assigned studios but to spend extra time in preparation and production of art beyond assignments. Students are encouraged to produce work in an individual way meeting, as much as possible, their personal goals and objectives as well as the department's program mission. Students are expected to become familiar with major techniques and expressive directions of their selected medium(s).

Students are responsible for maintaining and developing a portfolio representative of the level of achievement throughout their study at Rowan. In the end it is the quality of the portfolio (or body of work) that will determine success. Formal evaluations are used throughout the BFA program to insure quality in student performance. It is the student's responsibility to synthesize course work into a cohesive and personal portfolio.

Note: The number of semester hours required for graduation may vary depending on the year of matriculation at Rowan University.

Studio skills will include:

  • Understanding the principles and language of art and design
  • Developing aesthetic solutions to design problems
  • Synthesizing drawing, design and image making to a professional level
  • Demonstrating proficiency in the use of materials, equipment, techniques and processes working from the original conception to the finished product
  • Exploration of the expressive possibilities of a variety of media and the many modes of the artist including non-traditional and experimental images
  • Developing a consistent and broad personal expression

Students are expected to be knowledgeable of contemporary art and the influences of its historical and stylistic origins from many cultures. They should be able to analyze art and understand the visual vocabulary extending such knowledge to other areas of art and related fields. They are expected to exhibit their work at every possible occasion. The Senior Thesis Exhibition will provide the BFA candidate an opportunity to summarize their experiences as student artists and to take the next step up toward a professional career.