Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (Studio Art)
Website: https://twu.edu/visual-arts/undergraduate-programs/studio-art/
Our undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art is a flexible program that will allow you to explore all areas of art offered by the division. Course offerings include introductory, intermediate, and advanced classes in practical art making, art theory, and art history. This interdisciplinary degree allows students to draw from multiple disciplines while also focusing on a set of courses in one of three areas (3D Studies, Painting and Drawing, Photography) within Studio Art. Students learn traditional techniques while also exploring new technologies and approaches to art-making. This degree prepares students for careers in the arts and any other field where self-motivation, collaboration, verbal and visual articulation, and creativity are advantageous.
Marketable Skills
Marketable skills prepare students for success in a variety of professional settings. Developed through academic coursework, co-curricular engagement, and extracurricular involvement, these skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and digital literacy. Whether directly related to a student’s major or serving as complementary strengths, marketable skills enhance career readiness and reflect TWU’s commitment to producing graduates who are prepared to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce.
- Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Fine Arts: Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 78 SCH
Program Code: ART.BFA.STUDIOART; CIP Code: 50.0701.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I (10) | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II (10) | 3 |
| Mathematics (20) | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences (30) | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40) | 3 | |
| Creative Arts (50) | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60) | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60) | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government (70) | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government (70) | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (80) | 3 | |
| CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90) | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91) | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Course Required for Major
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students who have not taken a Global Perspectives course, will either need to take one in this section, or will need to add 3 SCH to the overall degree and take one in another department. | ||
| Art History Foundation (12 SCH) | ||
| ART 2423 | World Art History I | 3 |
| ART 2433 | World Art History II | 3 |
| ART 3053 | Global Perspectives in Art | 3 |
| or ART 3343 | Women in the Visual Arts | |
| ART 3173 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| Studio Art Foundation (12 SCH) | ||
| ART 1203 | 2D Foundations | 3 |
| ART 1213 | 3D Foundations | 3 |
| ART 1303 | Drawing Foundations | 3 |
| ART 2223 | Digital Art Foundations | 3 |
| ART Introductory Electives - Choose 9 SCH | 9 | |
| Introduction to Painting | ||
| Introduction to Photography | ||
| Introduction to Sculpture | ||
| Introduction to Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to Type and Image | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking | ||
| Total SCHs | 33 | |
Intermediate and Advanced Studies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Area | 12 | |
| Must choose one Focus area (12 SCH), where substitutions may be allowed with the consultation of faculty mentors of a given focus area. | ||
3D Studies | ||
| Sculpture: Process and Possibilities | ||
| Functional Ceramics | ||
| Sculptural Ceramics | ||
| Sculpture and the Environment | ||
Painting & Drawing Focus | ||
| Figure Drawing | ||
| Intermediate Painting | ||
| Mural Painting | ||
| Advanced Painting | ||
Photography Focus | ||
| Black and White Photography | ||
| Alternative Photographic Processes | ||
| Color Photography | ||
| Photographic Possibilities | ||
| Electives | 24 | |
| 9 SCH must be from ART 2000, 3000, or 4000 level. | ||
| The remaining 15 SCH must be from ART 3000/4000 levels. | ||
| Total SCHs | 36 | |
Capstone
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 3393 | Professional Practices for Visual Arts | 3 |
ART 3393 will focus on graphic design professional practice in spring semesters, and studio art professional practice in fall semesters. Students should work with advisors to take the most relevant version of the course. | ||
| ENG 3433 | Professional Writing | 3 |
For ENG 3433, the degree track requires a special section of the course designed for Art students. | ||
| ART 4993 | BFA Exhibition | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 9 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ART 1203 | 2D Foundations | ARTS 1311 | 3 |
| ART 1303 | Drawing Foundations | ARTS 1316 | 3 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | First-Year Seminar: Learning Frameworks | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| Wellness CAO Core | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 1213 | 3D Foundations | ARTS 1312 | 3 |
| ART 2223 | Digital Art Foundations | ARTS 2348 | 3 |
| ART Introductory Elective | 3 | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ART 2423 | World Art History I | ART 1303 | 3 |
| ART Introductory Elective | 3 | ||
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| Life and Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 2433 | World Art History II | ART 1304 | 3 |
| ART Introductory Elective | 3 | ||
| Component Area Option (Multicultural Women’s Studies) | 3 | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ART Focus area course | 3 | ||
| ART 3173 | Contemporary Art | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| ART 3053 or 3343 | Global Perspectives in Art or Women in the Visual Arts | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 3393 | Professional Practices for Visual Arts | 3 | |
| ART Focus area course | 3 | ||
| Electives | 6 | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ART Focus area course | 3 | ||
| ENG 3433 | Professional Writing | 3 | |
| Life and Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Electives | 6 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 4993 | BFA Exhibition | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| ART Focus area course | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
