The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art is a 125 credit hour limited access program that provides an intensive background in theoretical knowledge and professional skills. BFA students will develop a personal vision, a high level of competence in technique, and harness the ability to make sound artistic decisions. The BFA in Studio Art is a proficiency-based program, characterized by continuous assessment. Graduating BFA seniors exhibit their work at the Texas A&M University-Commerce University Gallery in their last semester.
To receive a degree in BFA Studio Art, students must successfully complete a minimum of one hundred-twenty five (125) credit hours. Students must also remain in the program for a minimum of three long semesters. Students must apply for admission into the “Practicum” course, culminating in an advancement review and graduation exhibition. The Practicum course is offered each spring with reviews scheduled each fall.
Students admitted to the BFA program are exempt from any foreign language requirement. Students in the BFA major are not required to select a minor. The BFA Advisor can provide additional guidance with regard to entrance and degree requirements.
Students are required to have a C or above in all foundation requirements to maintain good standing in the program. Students will present a portfolio for review at the end of their sophomore year or when they have met at least 80% of the art foundation requirements. Faculty will assess the portfolio and make recommendations to the student.
Students are required to have a C or above in all foundation courses to maintain good standing in the Department of Art. The work and progress of students pursuing baccalaureate degrees will be evaluated both within the classes they take and by the departmental standards established for each major programmatic area (BA in Art, BFA in Studio Art, BFA in Visual Communication).
The Department of Art reserves the right to discontinue enrollment of art majors at any time if satisfactory academic progress is not being made. Students who have accumulated three unsatisfactory grades (U, D or F) in studio art or visual communication courses at A&M-Commerce or elsewhere may not be permitted to continue, be readmitted, or graduate with a degree in art. Courses with grades of D or F may be repeated for a grade of C or higher only once.
| Core Curriculum Courses | ||
| See the Core Curriculum Requirements | 42 | |
| Foundations Art courses required | ||
| ART 110 | 3 | |
| ART 111 | 3 | |
| ART 112 | 3 | |
| or ART 213 | ||
| ART 140 | 3 | |
| ART 141 | 1 | |
| GLB/History of Art I * | ||
| GLB/History of Art II * | ||
| PHO 111 | 3 | |
| Sophomore Studio Courses | ||
| 6 semester hours from: | 6 | |
ART 211 | ||
ART 227 | ||
ART 240 | ||
ART 250 | ||
| Required Support Courses | ||
| ART 380 | Experimental Concepts | 3 |
| ART 403 | Practicum in Art | 3 |
| ART 404 | GLB/History of Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ART 333 | GLB/History of Photography | 3 |
| and 3 semester hours from any upper division Art History course | 3 | |
| Emphasis Area courses | ||
| Photography Emphasis | ||
| PHO 112 | 3 | |
| PHO 209 | Introduction to Video | 3 |
| PHO 210 | Introduction to Studio Lighting | 3 |
| PHO 350 | Advanced Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHO 359 | 4 | |
| PHO 495 | Photography Internship | 3 |
| 27 sh from: | 27 | |
PHO 301 | ||
PHO 339 | ||
| Commercial Photography | ||
PHO 349 | ||
PHO 351 | ||
PHO 352 | ||
PHO 357 | ||
PHO 358 | ||
| B&W Darkroom Techniques | ||
| Alternative Print Making | ||
| Advanced Video | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Business Practices in Photography | ||
| Photography Seminar | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Total Hours | 125 | |
| * | Also counts as Core Curriculum Requirements -Visual and Performing Arts requirement. |
