Majors in Fine Arts (BFA)

• Articulate their expanded knowledge of diverse histories and contemporary practices in studio art, design, and art education.  

• Demonstrate—in written, visual, and oral forms—an understanding of a work of art or design, in terms of its social, political, cultural, aesthetic and historical context.  

• Develop and articulate self-reflective practices as artists, designers, teachers, and citizens.  

• Create collaboration and engagement with local and global art, design, and learning communities.  

• Build professional networks to support lifelong learning and sustainable practices.

In addition to these shared learning outcomes, students who complete a BFA program will be able to demonstrate media-specific learning outcomes, as follows:

Ceramics BFA

• Understanding of basic design principles, particularly as related to ceramics. Advanced work in three-dimensional design.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes sufficient to produce work from concept to finished object. This includes knowledge of raw materials and technical procedures such as clays, glazes, and firing, and of user practices with these materials and processes consistent with health, safety, and broader environment stewardship.
• Understanding of the applications of various ceramics techniques.
• Understanding of the place of ceramics within the history of art, design, and culture.
• Functional knowledge of basic business practices.
• Preparation of clay bodies and glazes, kiln stacking procedures, and firing processes.

Metal BFA

• Understanding of basic design principles, emphasizing both two- and three-dimensional design.
• An understanding of the possibilities and limitations of materials used in the fabrication process
• Knowledge and skills in the use of tools, techniques, and processes, including their roles in the production of work from concept to finished object. This includes knowledge of the aesthetic use of raw materials, as well as technical bench-working procedures for the direct fabrication of pieces.
• Competence in designing and executing jewelry and metalwork using a variety of metals and other materials.
• Understanding of the place of jewelry and fine metalworking in the history of art, design, and culture.
• Functional knowledge of basic business practices.
• Basic understanding of end-user psychology, human form and function, user interface.
• Experience in casting, chasing, raising, enameling, and other metalworking processes.

Painting BFA

• Understanding of basic principles of design and color, concepts, media and formats, and the ability to apply them to a specific aesthetic intent.
• Knowledge of the traditions, conventions, and evolutions of the discipline as related to issues of representation, illusion, and meaning.
• Ability to synthesize the use of drawing, two-dimensional design, and color.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes sufficient to work from concept to finished product, including knowledge of paints and surfaces.
• Exploration of the expressive possibilities of various media, and the diverse conceptual modes available to the painter.
• Confidence to develop a consistent, personal direction and style.

Photography BFA

• Demonstration of hands-on skills in the expanded medium of photography.
• Understanding of visual forms and their aesthetic functions, and basic design principles with attention to such areas as formal qualities, color, and lighting.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, technologies, and processes sufficient to work from concept to finished product.
• An introduction to the industrial and commercial applications of photographic techniques.
• Functional knowledge of photographic history and theory, the relationship of photography to the visual disciplines, and its influence on culture.
• Work in experimental and manipulative techniques, candid and constructed imagery, documentary photography, archival processing, and interpretive studies.

Printmaking BFA

• Understanding basic design principles, concepts, media, and formats.
• Advanced abilities in drawing as related to various printmaking techniques.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes sufficient to work from concept to finished product. This includes knowledge of basic materials and technical procedures such as intaglio, lithography, relief, silkscreen, and digital processes.
• Mastery of at least one printmaking technique, including the ability to both experiment with technical innovation and explore and develop personal concepts and imagery.
• Functional knowledge of the history of printmaking.
• Preparation of prints using all printmaking techniques with opportunities to work at an advanced level with one or more of these techniques.

Sculpture BFA

• Understanding of basic design principles with an emphasis on three-dimensional design, and the ability to apply these principles to a specific aesthetic intent.
• Advanced abilities in drawing sufficient to support work in sculpture.
• Understanding of the possibilities and limitations of various materials.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes to work from concept to finished product.
• Mastery in one or more sculptural media.
• Functional knowledge of the history and theory of sculpture.
• The preparation of sculpture using the broadest possible range of techniques and concepts.