The BFA in Graphic Design is a specialized degree primarily in one studio art discipline.  Students must apply for admission to the BFA.  The Department also offers the BA in Studio Arts, a more general degree that offers a broad education in the visual arts.

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

Program Requirements

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

Core Program Prerequisites (24 credits/seven courses)

            ARH 2000       Art Appreciation or equivalent (pass/fail not permitted), 3 credits
            ARTC 1201     Design, 3 credits
            ARTC 1300     Drawing I, 3 credits
            ARTC 2205     Color Fundamentals, 3 credits                    
            ARTC 2330     Drawing II: Figure Drawing, 4 credits    preq: ARTC 1300
            GRAC 2190    Graphic Design I, 4 credits  prereq: ARTC 1201, 1300, 2205
            GRAC 2191   Graphic Design II, 4 credits  prereq:  ARTC 1201, 1300, 2205, 2330, 2190                                          

Required Courses in Graphic Design (16 credits/four courses)

            These courses must be taken in sequence.  Plan carefully.

            GRAC 3104   Computers in Design, 4 credits       preq:       GRAC 2190, 2191
            GRAC 3112    Typographic Design, 4 credits      prereq:   GRAC 2190, 2191, 3104
            GRAC 4118    Design Methodology, 4 credits    prereq:  GRAC 2190, 2191, 3104, 3112
            GRAC 4115    Senior Design Studio, 4 credits     prereq:   GRAC 2190, 2191, 3104, 3112, 4118

 Be sure that you have completed the prerequisites for each of the courses that you are planning to take.  Check the prerequisites in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History section of the FAU catalog.  If you have questions, 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). 

Out-of-Concentration Studio Art Electives (12 credits/three courses from three different disciplines)

            Recommended:
            ARTC 2400     Printmaking I, 4 credits
            ARTC 3162    Alternative Media, 4 credits
            ARTC 3383     Narrative Drawing, 4 credits
            ARTC 4173     Handmade Books: Structure & Binding, 4 credits
            ARTC 4311     Advanced Drawing, 4 credits
            PGYC 4440     Photography for Designers, 4 credits

Be sure that you have completed the prerequisites for each of the elective courses that you are planning to take.  Check the prerequisites in the Department of Visual Arts and Art History section of the FAU catalog.  If you have questions, 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). 

Art History (minimum of 12 credits/three courses at the 4000 level) 

            Prerequisite: Art Appreciation or equivalent.
            Required:

                        ARH 4724  History of Graphic Design, 4 credits

            Recommended:

                        ARH 4450  Modern Art, 4 credits         

Senior Seminar (4 credits/one course)

            ARTC 4955 BFA Senior Seminar, 4 credits (Plan carefully: Senior Seminar is offered only in Fall and Spring terms.  The Department strongly recommends that students take this course in the last semester of degree course work.)

Graphic Design Electives (Highly recommended for professional opportunity)

            GRAC 3102   Principles of Visual Communication *, 4 credits
            GRAC 4116   Advanced Advertising Design *, 4 credits
            GRAC 4154   Advanced Digital Imaging for Graphic Design *, 4 credits
            GRAC 4521   Graphic Design for the Web , 4 credits Permission of Instructor
            GRAC 4932   Topics: Graphic Design, 4 credits Permission of Instructor
                                              * Pre-requisites: GRAC 2190, 2191, 3104, 3112

Transfer students should note that at least 50 per cent of all upper-division courses for the BFA 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 BFA degree.

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Foreign Language Requirement

The language requirement for the BFA 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) BFA students who enter FAU with fewer than 30 credits 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:  American Sign Language proficiency does not satisy 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.

BFA students who are admitted to FAU with 30 or more credits onlly need to meet the Foreign Language Entry Requirement (#1, above).