Art (BFA)
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Outcomes & Careers
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95%
Successful Outcomes Rate
Students graduating with degrees from the Department of Art and Design report being employed or furthering their education six months after graduation.
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$94k
Art Director
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a art director is $94,220.
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$65k
Fine Artist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a craft and fine artist is $65,020.
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$52k
Graphic Designer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a graphic designer is $52,110.
What You'll Study
As an art BFA major, you’ll develop your artistic skills with intensive work in visual art and design. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. No minor is required.
“Critical Courses” are italicized and bolded . Data shows that students who have completed this course in the first two years and have earned the noted grade are most likely to complete this program of study.
Art – 81 Hour Major – No Minor Required
A 3.0 grade point average in the major must be maintained. Grade of ‘C’ or better required in all BFA-Art major courses.
Foundation Courses:
- AR001 Foundation Review (0)*
- AR100 Drawing I (3)
- AR104 2D Design (3)
- AR106 3D Design (3)
- AR201 Color Composition (3)
- AR202 Drawing II (3)
Core Requirements:
- AR323 Introduction to Photography & New Media (3)
- AR325 Painting I (3)
- AR330 Paper, Book, & Fibers (3)
- AR332 Sculpture I (3)
- AR342 Ceramics I (3)
- AR490 BFA Studio Capstone (3) in area of specialization
Choose 3 hours:
- AR314 Drawing III (3)
- AR319 Introduction to Graphic Design (3)
Choose 3 hours: **
- AR302 Printmaking (3)
- AR303 Screenprinting (3)
- AR501 Intaglio (3)
- AR502 Lithography (3)
Art History Requirements:
- AH110 Art History Survey I (3)
- AH210 Art History Survey II (3)
- Choose 6 additional hours of Art History courses (300-500 level)
Required Specialization (15-24 hours):
- Studio majors select 15-24 departmentally approved credit hours in one of the following specialized areas: Ceramics; Graphic and Interactive Design; Painting; Photography and New Media; Printmaking; or Sculpture.
Additional Art Electives (9-18 hours):
- Consult with advisor to fulfill the additional art elective requirement for each advising track. Specific courses may be suggested, depending on the student’s area of interest.
Every year, artwork must be entered in the Juried Student Assessment Exhibition.
*Taken after completing all foundation courses, minimum-passing score of 2.5 is required for Foundation Review (two attempts only), also applies to transfer students.
**Course taken by Printmaking specialty students will also count in the specialty area. See page 2 for Printmaking coursework.
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
Freshman Year
Fall Semester (16 Hours)
- UI100 (1)
- EN100 (3)
- AH110 (3)
- AR100 (3)
- AR104 (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AH210 (3)
- AR106 (3)
- AR201 (3)
- AR202 (3)
- General Education (3)
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- AR001 (0)
- AR302/303/501/502 (3)
- AR314 or AR319 (3)
- AR323 (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AR330 (3)
- AR332 (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the major. Pass Foundation review by end of 1st semester, second year.
(Summer courses are encouraged to avoid 18 hour semesters)
Junior Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- AR325 (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AH3XX-5XX (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AR342 (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the major.
Senior Year
Fall Semester (14 Hours)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- General Education (3)
- Elective (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- AR490 (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AR Specialty (3)
- AH3XX-5XX (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the major.
A “Milestone” signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion of a degree.
"Critical Courses" are italicized and bolded. These courses are indicators of potential for success in the degree program.
After completing the Art course requirements, students will choose one specialty area. The BFA Art specialty areas include Photography & New Media, Graphic & Interactive Design, Sculpture, Painting, Printmaking, and Ceramics. The requirements for each art specialization are listed in the tables below.
Photography & New Media (18 hours)
- AR448 Photography & New Media Seminar (3)
- AR490 BFA Capstone (3)
Choose one 12-hour block:
Block 1:
- AR328 Photography Fundamentals (3)
- AR384 Lighting Theory (3)
- AR428 Alternative Process Image Making (3)
- AR484 Visual Literacy: Culture of Images (3)
Block 2:
- AR324 Time Based Media (3)
- AR418 Transformational Image Making (3)
- AR423 Visual Narratives (3)
- AR447 Topics in New Media (3)
Graphic & Interactive Design (24 hours)
- AR180 Introduction to Design Software (3)
- AR322 Typography (3)
- AR380 UI/UX Design (3)
- AR327 Web Design 3 units (3)
- AR490 BFA Capstone 3 units (3)
Choose one 9-hour block:
Block 1:
- AR416 Visual Branding (3)
- AR409 Illustration (3)
- AR407 Design for Social Good (3)
Block 2:
- AR337 Interactive Design (3)
- AR480 3D Production for Interactive Media (3)
- AR485 Topics for Interactive Design (3)
Sculpture (15 hours)
- AR425 Sculpture II (3)
- AR431 Sculpture III (3)
- AR432 Sculpture IV (3)
- AR433 Sculpture V (3)
- AR490-01 BFA Capstone (3)
Painting (15 hours)
- AR424 Painting II (3)
- AR426 Painting III (3)
- AR427 Painting IV (3)
- AR449 Painting V (3)
- AR490-05 BFA Capstone (3)
Printmaking (18 hours)
- AR302 Relief & Mixed Media Printmaking (3)
- AR303 Screenprinting (3)
- AR401 Intermediate Printmaking (3)
- AR402 Advanced Printmaking (3)
- AR490-06 BFA Capstone (3)
- AR501 Intaglio (OR) AR502 Lithography (3)
Ceramics (15 hours)
- AR441 Ceramics II (3)
- AR442 Ceramics III (3)
- AR443 Ceramics IV (3)
- AR541 Ceramics V (3)
- AR490-03 BFA Capstone (3)
Studio Art Specializations
Specializations include:
- Photography and New Media
- Graphic and Interactive Design
- Printmaking
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Ceramics
LIFE IN THE ARTS
THE WILL TO DO
Learn While Doing
We know that it takes countless hours of practice and feedback to be a great artist. In the Department of Art and Design we have the experiences, faculty, and spaces that will transform you from a talented student into a professional. Learn more.
Student Work
Become a Redhawk.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
Department Accreditations
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701