Art Studio, B.F.A.
The B.F.A. is a pre-professional degree that allows students to focus on one of seven concentration areas: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture (3D studies). This degree path is ideal for students who wish to pursue careers in the arts or further postbaccalaureate study of the arts, such as an MFA.
Students pursuing the fine arts degree study the development of art within their own and other cultures, from prehistory to the present. Additionally, students hone their critical analysis skills in order to examine aspects of the design and art-making process and evaluate theories, philosophies and research in the practice of the studio arts. Students on this track complete a solo exhibition of their creative research to be examined by the student’s major faculty.
Learning Outcomes
- All BFA Studio Art undergraduate students will define and explain development of art, within their own and other cultures, from pre-history to the present.
- All BFA Studio Art undergraduate students will critically analyze aspects of the design and art making process and evaluate theories, philosophies, and research in the practice of the studio arts.
- All BFA Studio Art undergraduate students will, through their artwork, demonstrate their competency of aesthetic literacy.
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 UofSC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- 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.
- Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a UofSC 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 | 32-44 |
| 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 (32-44 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
- any CC-CMW courses
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (8 hours)
- any CC-ARP courses
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)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
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)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course
- 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)
- Social Science (3 hours)
- The College of Arts and Science requires one 3- hour Social Science Course
- Fine Arts/Humanities (9 Hours)
- A Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences requires three 3-hour Fine Arts/Humanities Courses
- Select one course in Modern Art History from the following list: (must be passed with a grade of C or higher)
- Two additional courses selected from Art History, including one at the 500-level selected from Art History (must be passed with a grade of C or higher)
- A Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences requires three 3-hour Fine Arts/Humanities Courses
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 UofSC. 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.
Foundations Requirements (15 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 102 | Design Technology and Concepts | 3 |
| ARTS 103 | Fundamentals of Art | 3 |
| ARTS 104 | 3-Dimensional Design I | 3 |
| ARTS 107 | Color and Composition | 3 |
| ARTS 111 | Basic Drawing I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Concentrations (48 hours)
Select one concentration from the following:
Ceramics Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 220 | Beginning Ceramics | 4 |
| ARTS 225 | Introduction to Three-Dimensional Studies | 4 |
| ARTS 325 | Intermediate Three-Dimensional Studies I | 4 |
| ARTS 320 | Intermediate Ceramics I | 4 |
| ARTS 321 | Intermediate Ceramics II | 4 |
| ARTS 420 | Advanced Ceramics I | 4 |
| ARTS 421 | Advanced Ceramics II (6 hours required) | 6 |
| ARTS 520 | Ceramics I | 6 |
| Select ARTS electives - 200-level or above | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Graphic Design and Illustration Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 145 | Design Technology & Concepts / Portfolio Review | 1 |
| ARTS 245 | Typographic Design I | 4 |
| ARTS 246 | Typographic Design II | 4 |
| ARTS 265 | Illustration I | 4 |
| ARTS 266 | Illustration II | 4 |
| ARTS 345 | Visual and Verbal Interaction | 4 |
| ARTS 346 | Process and Systems | 4 |
| ARTS 347 | Interaction Design | 4 |
| ARTS 465 | Advanced Illustration I | 4 |
| ARTS 448 | Portfolio Studio | 4 |
| ARTS 545 | Internship in Graphic Design | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Time and Sequence | ||
ARTS-200- level or above | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Structures | ||
ARTS 200-level or above | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Note: While students may take ARTS 545 for up to 9 credit hours, only 3 hours are required for the concentration.
Drawing Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 230 | Introduction to Drawing | 4 |
| ARTS 232 | Figure Structure I | 4 |
| ARTS 233 | Figure Structure II | 4 |
| or ARTS 265 | Illustration I | |
| ARTS 330 | Intermediate Drawing I | 4 |
| ARTS 331 | Intermediate Drawing II | 4 |
| ARTS 430 | Advanced Drawing I | 4 |
| ARTS 431 | Advanced Drawing II (6 hours required) | 6 |
| ARTS 530 | Drawing Capstone I (6 hours required) | 6 |
| Select ARTS electives - 200-level or above | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Painting Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 210 | Introduction to Painting | 4 |
| ARTS 211 | Beginning Painting II | 4 |
| ARTS 232 | Figure Structure I | 4 |
| ARTS 310 | Intermediate Painting I | 4 |
| ARTS 311 | Intermediate Painting II | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Advanced Painting I | ||
| Visual Meaning | ||
| Workshop: Painting | ||
| ARTS 411 | Advanced Painting II (6 hours required) | 6 |
| ARTS 510 | Painting I | 6 |
| Select ARTS electives - 200-level or above | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Photography Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 215 | Introduction to Printmaking | 4 |
| ARTS 261 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| ARTS 360 | Advanced Black & White Photography | 4 |
| ARTS 361 | Digital Photography | 4 |
| ARTS 560 | Photography Thesis: Portfolio | 6 |
| ARTS 561 | Photography Thesis: Exhibition | 6 |
| ARTS 564 | Workshop: Photography | 4 |
| Select ARTS or MART electives- 200-level or above | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Note: ARTS (4 credit)/ MART (3 credit) electives for Photography Concentration must total at least 16 hours.
Printmaking Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 215 | Introduction to Printmaking | 4 |
| ARTS 230 | Introduction to Drawing | 4 |
| ARTS 261 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| ARTS 315 | Intermediate Printmaking I: Relief | 4 |
| ARTS 316 | Intermediate Printmaking II: Screen | 4 |
| ARTS 415 | Advanced Printmaking I: Intaglio | 4 |
| ARTS 416 | Advanced Printmaking II: Lithography (6 hours required) | 6 |
| ARTS 516 | Capstone Printmaking I: Professional Practices (6 hours required) | 6 |
| Select ARTS electives - 200-level or above | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Sculpture Concentration (48 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTS 220 | Beginning Ceramics | 4 |
| ARTS 225 | Introduction to Three-Dimensional Studies | 4 |
| ARTS 320 | Intermediate Ceramics I | 4 |
| ARTS 325 | Intermediate Three-Dimensional Studies I | 4 |
| ARTS 326 | Intermediate Three-Dimensional Studies II | 4 |
| ARTS 425 | Advanced Three-Dimensional Studies I | 4 |
| ARTS 426 | Advanced Three-Dimensional Studies II (6 hours required) | 6 |
| ARTS 525 | Three-Dimensional Studies I (6 hours required) | 6 |
| Select ARTS electives - 200-level or above | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
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