Bachelor of Fine Arts - Studio Arts

Program Description

Students choose from one of the following emphases:

• Ceramics
• Drawing
• Painting
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture

Ceramics: Art majors with an emphasis in ceramics gain hands-on experiences through the study of clay and making it functional. Faculty focus on hand-building techniques, processes of making a glaze with earth materials, the history of ceramics, wheel throwing, kiln theory, and assisting students in defining a broader approach.

Drawing: Art majors with an emphasis in drawing focus on observational skills. Students are trained to find their own voice and visual language and focus on shifts from observational skills to the conceptual aspect of making art. Faculty ensure students have skills in manipulating various drawing media with graphite, charcoal, ink, watercolor, and mixed media (dry and wet products); acquiring a sense of proportion, rhythm, balance, and weight to learn the methods of analyzing shapes and proportions of perspective drawing; and creating the three-dimensional illusions on a two-dimensional surface.

Painting: Art majors with an emphasis in painting learn techniques in acrylic and oil paint, mixed media, and develop skills in color manipulation and harmonization. Classes are divided between painting in the studio, formal analysis of artwork, and discussion of painting concepts. Faculty guide students to develop as visual artists and prepare them for a successful. 

Photography: Photography majors study and apply visual elements of art and develop an artistic direction through photography. Faculty focus on teaching students proper techniques and methods of creating and printing photographs digitally, non-traditionally, and through a darkroom. Students spend many hours working in the studio gaining hands-on experiences and preparing projects for presentation.

Printmaking: Art majors with an emphasis in printmaking gain skills and techniques in many areas of printmaking such as mono-printing, intaglio, relief, and digital processes. Faculty ensure students have experience with all methods of printmaking and the ability to print editions in each medium. 

Sculpture: Art majors with an emphasis in sculpture learn about traditional and non-traditional approaches to the sculptural process. Faculty challenge students to think about space and objects in different ways. Students learn professional vocabulary to methodically discuss their art in terms of principles and elements of design and for the purpose of writing an artist statement. Students learn technical skills that include welding, basic woodwork, and medal and mold-making. Students use traditional and new processes.