The BA in Studio Art offers students a broad education in the visual arts that concentrates on a primary area of interest in studio art as well as intermediate-level study in two secondary studio areas. 

The BA is a general degree in visual art.   The Department also offers the BFA in Studio Art, a specialized degree primarily in one visual art discipline such as ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture.   Students can enter the BA program without applying to the Department, but they must apply to the Department for admission to the BFA program.

Transfer course work to be credited toward the degree must be evaluated by the Chair of the Department.

BA Program Requirements

Please consult Catalog Course Descriptions for information about courses and their prerequisites.

In addition to all University requirements, including the University foreign language graduation requirement (link to foreign language section at end of this document), candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree must meet the following requirements.

Core Program Prerequisites (19 credits)

ARTC 1201   Design, 3 credits
ARTC 1203   Three-Dimensional Design, 3 credits
ARTC 1300   Drawing 1, 3 credits
ARTC 2330   Drawing 2: Figure Drawing, 4 credits
ARH 2000      Art Appreciation, 3 credits (or equivalent; pass/fail option not permitted)
ARTC 2205   Color Fundamentals, 3 credits

Courses in the Primary Area (minimum of 12 credits, no more than 16 credits)

Introductory course in the primary area (4 credits):  for example, Painting I, Sculpture I, Printmaking I, Ceramics: Beginning Wheel, Ceramics:  Beginning Handbuilding, Photography I.

Additional courses in the primary area ( 8 credits/two courses):  for example,

    Painting II and Advanced Painting
    Sculpture II and Advanced Sculpture
    Printmaking II and Advanced Printmaking or Topics: Printmaking
    Ceramics: Intermediate Wheel and Advanced Ceramics or Topics: Ceramics
    Intermediate Handbuilding and Advanced Ceramics or Topics: Ceramics
    Photography II and Advanced  Photography or Topics: Photography

Courses in the two secondary areas of interest: beginning and intermediate courses in two additional areas (8 credits/two courses in each area). 

Secondary Areas#1:  8 credits/two courses

Example: Photography I and Photography II
An introductory course in secondary area #1
An intermediate course in secondary area #1

Secondary Area #2:  8 credits/two courses

Example: Sculpture I and Sculpture II
An introductory course in secondary area #2
An intermediate course in secondary area #2

For advice on the secondary areas, consult your department advisor or make an appointment to talk with the Department Chair (Professor DiCosola, 561-297-3870) or one of the College advisors (on the Boca Raton campus, make an appointment with Ms. Lent by calling 561-297-3800; for an appointment on the Davie or Fort Lauderdale campuses with Dr. Provost or Ms. Owen, call 954-236-1101). 

Courses in art history  (12 credits/three upper-division courses)

Recommended:

ARH 4450      Modern Art, 4 credits
ARH 4470      Contemporary Art, 4 credits
ARH 4610      American Painting and Sculpture, 4 credits
ARH 4100      Pre-classical & Classical Art History, 4 credits

BA Senior Seminar:  4 credits/required

(Plan carefully.  Senior seminar is only offered fall and spring terms.  The Department strongly recommends that you take senior seminar during your last term at FAU.)

Elective course in art: studio art, art history, aesthetics and art theory (one course/3-4 credits)

You may take any course offered by the Department of Visual Arts and Art History, and you are strongly encouraged to take the aesthetics course offered by the Department of Philosophy:

PHI 4800 Aesthetics and Art Theory 4 credits (Spring term only)

Note:  The BA program requires that all students take 45 credits in visual art in addition to the credits earned in courses that are part of the Core Program Prerequisites.  Transfer students from institutions with three-credit art courses are likely to need more credits in visual art than the minimum described above.  Transfer students should also note that at least 50 per cent of all upper-division courses for the BA must be taken in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History at FAU.   Please consult the Department Chair (Professor DiCosola, 561-297-3870) or one of the College advisors (on the Boca Raton campus, make an appointment with Ms. Lent by calling 561-297-3800; for an appointment on the Davie or Fort Lauderdale campuses with Dr. Provost or Ms. Owen, call 954-236-1101) to see if you need additional courses to meet the requirements of the BA degree.

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Foreign Language Requirement

The language requirement for the BA degree has two components: 

(1) State law requires that all FAU graduates meet the Foreign Language Entry Requirement. This can be met with two years of the same language at secondary (high school) level or two semesters of the same language (or demonstration of equivalent proficiency) at the college level.  The state of Florida mandates the acceptance of American Sign Language for this requirement.

(2) In order to receive a BA degree, you must meet  the University Foreign Language Graduation Requirement.  The Foreign Language Graduation Requirement is a proficiency requirement.  It can be met by successfully completing the second semester (e.g., FRE 1121) of any foreign language at the college level or by demonstrating equivalent proficiency.  (Note:  proficiency in American Sign Language will not meet this requirement.)   If you took a language in high school and have sufficient proficiency in it to take the second semester of it at the college level (for example, FRE 1121), the successful completion of that single course will meet the requirement.  If you believe that your proficiency is equivalent to that attained by the end of the second semester course in a language (e.g., FRE 1121), you may take a proficiency exam.  If you wish to be assessed for your proficiency in French, German, or Spanish, you can contact University Testing and Evaluation (561-297-3160 on the Boca campus) for information about how to register for a CLEP exam.  For information about proficiency assessment for all other languages, contact the Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature (561-297-3860, Boca Raton campus).  Only the CLEP exam will generate college credit.