Art Studio, B.F.A.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:

  1. Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
  2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a USC campus.

Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Requirements Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core 32-46
2. College Requirements 15-18
3. Program Requirements 0-10
4. Major Requirements 63

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (32-46 hours)

CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher​

ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-8 hours) 

SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)

  • Two 4-credit hours CC-SCI laboratory science courses

GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language  (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

​It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS – ​Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours) 

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours) 

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)

INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)

1

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)

Foreign Language (0-3 hours) 

  • only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

History (3 hours) 

The College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement. 

  • If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course.
  • If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course. 

Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list of U.S. and non-U.S. history courses.

Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (12 hours)

3. Program Requirements (0-10 hours)

Cognate or Minor (0-18 hours)

This major does not require a cognate or minor.

An optional minor may be added to a student’s program of study. A minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University. A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z. An optional additional major may also be added to a student’s program of study. Additional majors must include all major courses as well as any prescribed courses noted (*) in the bulletin.  Prescribed courses noted in the bulletin may be shared with Carolina Core, College requirements, and Program requirements in the primary program.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z.

Electives (0-10 hours)

120 (or 128) degree applicable credits are required to complete any degree at USC. After the cognate, minor or second major is complete, any additional credits needed to reach 120 (or 128) total credits can be fulfilled by electives. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. Major Requirements (63 hours)

A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

Studio Foundations (12 hours)

Course Title Credits
ARTS 102Design Technology and Concepts4
ARTS 103Fundamentals of Art4
ARTS 1043-Dimensional Design I4
Total Credit Hours12

Concentrations (51 hours)

Select one concentration from the following:

Ceramics Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
Studio Introduction
Select 3 from the following:12
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Printmaking
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Photography
Concentration Requirements
ARTS 320Intermediate Ceramics I4
ARTS 321Intermediate Ceramics II4
ARTS 420Advanced Ceramics6
ARTS 490BFA Capstone Professional Practices5
Concentration Electives
Select 5 ARTS or SVAD classes at the 200-level or above. 2 of the 5 classes should be from the following:20
Intermediate Sculpture I
Intermediate Sculpture II
Workshop: Ceramics
Advanced Ceramics
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Total Credit Hours51

Graphic Design and Illustration Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
ARTS 245Typographic Design I4
ARTS 246Typographic Design II4
ARTS 265Illustration I4
ARTS 266Illustration II4
ARTS 345Visual and Verbal Interaction4
ARTS 346Process and Systems4
ARTS 347Interaction Design4
ARTS 465Advanced Illustration for Design I4
ARTS 448Portfolio Studio4
SVAD 499School of Visual Art and Design Internship3
Concentration Electives
Select 3 ARTS, MART or SVAD courses at the 200 level or above. At least one must be from the following list:12
Color for Art and Design
Intermediate Printmaking II: Screen
Time and Sequence
Structures
Advanced Illustration II
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Design Studio
Total Credit Hours51

Note: While students may take SVAD 499 for up to 9 credit hours, only 3 hours are required for the concentration.

Drawing Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
Studio Introduction
Select 3 classes from the following:12
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Printmaking
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Photography
Concentration Requirements
ARTS 330Intermediate Drawing I4
ARTS 331Intermediate Drawing II4
ARTS 430Advanced Drawing6
ARTS 490BFA Capstone Professional Practices5
Concentration Electives
Select 5 ARTS or SVAD classes at 200 level and above. 2 of the 5 should be from the following list:20
Color for Art and Design
Figure Structure
Illustration I
Advanced Illustration II
Advanced Drawing
Visual Meaning
Introduction to Watercolor
Advanced Life Drawing
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Total Credit Hours51

Painting Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
Studio Introduction
Select 3 from the following:12
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Printmaking
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Photography
Concentration Requirements
ARTS 310Intermediate Painting I4
ARTS 311Intermediate Painting II4
ARTS 410Advanced Painting I6
ARTS 490BFA Capstone Professional Practices5
Concentration Electives20
Select 5 ARTS or SVAD classes at the 200 level and above. 2 of the 5 classes should be from the following:
Color for Art and Design
Figure Structure
Advanced Painting I
Visual Meaning
Introduction to Watercolor
Workshop: Painting
Advanced Life Drawing
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Total Credit Hours51

Photography Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
Studio Introduction
Select 3 of the following:12
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Printmaking
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Photography
Concentration Requirements
ARTS 360Advanced Black & White Photography4
ARTS 361Digital Photography4
ARTS 460Photography Portfolio6
ARTS 490BFA Capstone Professional Practices5
Concentration Electives20
Select 5 ARTS or SVAD classes at the 200 level and above. 2 of the 5 must be from the following list:
Photography Portfolio
Workshop: Photography
Photography Exhibition
Intermediate Printmaking II: Screen
Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio
Advanced Printmaking: Lithography
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Total Credit Hours51

Printmaking Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
Studio Introduction
Select 3 from the following:12
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Printmaking
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Photography
Concentration Requirements
ARTS 315Intermediate Printmaking I: Relief4
ARTS 316Intermediate Printmaking II: Screen4
ARTS 415Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio6
ARTS 490BFA Capstone Professional Practices5
Concentration Electives
Select 5 ARTS or SVAD classes at the 200 level and above. 2 of the 5 should be from the following list:20
Color for Art and Design
Advanced Printmaking: Intaglio
Workshop: Printmaking
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Total Credit Hours51

3D/Sculpture Concentration (51 hours)

Course Title Credits
Studio Introduction
Select 3 from the following:12
Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Printmaking
Introduction to Ceramics
Introduction to Sculpture
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Photography
Concentration Requirements
ARTS 325Intermediate Sculpture I4
ARTS 326Intermediate Sculpture II4
ARTS 425Advanced Sculpture6
ARTS 490BFA Capstone Professional Practices5
Concentration Electives
Select 5 ARTS or SVAD classes at the 200 level and above. 2 of the 5 must come from the following list:20
Introduction to Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing
Intermediate Jewelry and Metalsmithing: Fabrication
Intermediate Jewelry and Metalsmithing: Forming
Introduction to Fiber Arts
Advanced Sculpture
School of Visual Art and Design Internship
Total Credit Hours51

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Art Studio, B.F.A. Ceramics Concentration

Art Studio, B.F.A. Drawing Concentration

Art Studio, B.F.A. Graphic Design and Illustration Concentration

Art Studio, B.F.A. Painting Concentration

Art Studio, B.F.A. Photography Concentration

Art Studio, B.F.A. Printmaking Concentration

Art Studio, B.F.A. Sculpture Concentration