The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in art — studio art emphasis develops students’ perceptual skills, technical making skills, creativity, and ability to think critically and independently. Students are encouraged to explore ideas between fine and applied arts methodologies and gain experiences in developing and applying skills and creativity outside the classroom. Instruction in use of art materials and specific art processes enables students to create original work reflecting their evolving vision. The degree program also facilitates broad cultural awareness of the visual arts in society through art history and criticism, the expectation of travel, and applied, real-world experiences required within the curriculum. Graduating majors are able to clearly express ideas through artworks via historical and contemporary aesthetic and technical models, along with developing a substantial vision for their own careers and/or creative possibilities in the 21st century art world.

The ceramics media concentration builds a breadth of knowledge of clay forming techniques (hand building, casting and throwing), with opportunity for concentrated exploration. This concentration also fosters a working knowledge of the use of ceramics materials and methods (such as the use of slips and glazes, as well as firing processes including stoneware, wood-firing, soda-glazing and raku) in support of critical creativity and experimentation with the medium to investigate individual interests.

Program Requirements

A minimum total of 120 credit hours is required for the BFA in studio art and includes 86 credit hours of art and art history courses. Students must also meet the university’s scholastic, residence and general education requirements for graduation.

A grade of C (2.000 grade points) or better is required in all major courses. A minimum GPA of 2.000 is required within the major.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the WSU General Education Program, students in the BFA in studio art must take the following courses. (One ARTH 125_ course may count as a general education course.)

Note: 45+ upper-division credit hours are required for graduation. Model programs of study are available in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries office and ADCI website³.

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Required major courses may also count towards General Education requirements. Students will need to select additional electives to reach 120 credit hours required for graduation with assistance from an advisor.

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Must be completed prior to enrolling in ARTF 202.

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Applied Learning

Students in the BFA in studio art program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing ARTS 599 Senior Exhibition.