Studio Art: General Studio Art, BFASA
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, General Studio Art Concentration
The BA and BFA degrees in general Studio Art at Illinois begin with basic technical and technological tools, methods, materials, and concepts in a variety of studio courses. Students are guided in the understanding of visual organization and communication in two, three, and four dimensions, utilizing both new and traditional technologies and strategies. Initial courses introduce basic material and conceptual approaches to making art, using media from traditional disciplines including drawing and painting, printmaking, clay, plaster, wood and metal, to code, digital imaging, interactive media, and time-based applications. Studio Art students may choose from among this variety, according to their interests and practices.
At the Intermediate and Advanced levels, curriculum offerings are designed to reflect an increasingly dynamic culture, and to provide students with experiences and skills that will enhance their adaptability, with a changing menu of courses on a variety of topics, taught by our diverse faculty with expertise in a wide variety of conceptual, material and technical strategies for making art.
Students are provided with individual studio spaces, where they develop a self-directed studio practice, housed in a communal studio building. The studio situation provides the basis for a strong, vibrant community of student-artists working together as they establish their interests and participate in exhibitions, performances, and critiques.
Courses are taught by our diverse faculty within the Studio programs of the School of Art and Design, with expertise in a wide variety of conceptual, material and technical strategies for making art.
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, General Studio Art Concentration
Students in the School of Art and Design must complete the Campus General Education requirements. Some Art and Design courses will also apply toward the General Education requirements.
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
Students majoring in this degree program must complete the First Year Curriculum requirements before beginning other major requirements.
First Year Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| ARTF 101 | Contemporary Issues in Art | 2 |
| ARTE 101 | Art, Design, and Society | 2 |
| ARTH 110 | Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| Select one Drawing course: | 3 | |
| Observational Drawing | ||
| Expressive Drawing | ||
| Visualization Drawing | ||
| Select one course in 2D Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking (required for Studio Art: Printmaking) | ||
| Fashion Illustration (required for Studio Art: Fashion) | ||
| Beginning Painting (required for Studio Art: Painting) | ||
| Basic Photography (required for Studio Art: Photography) | ||
| Select one course in 3D Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Industrial Design | ||
| Ceramics Sculpture I | ||
| Jewelry/Metals I | ||
| Beginning Sculpture (required for Studio Art: Sculpture) | ||
| Select one course in 4D Category: | 3 | |
| Image Practice | ||
| Time Arts I | ||
| Interaction I | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art History Requirements | 9 | |
200 level and above ARTH courses | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone Requirements | ||
| ARTS 392 | Current Art Issues Seminar | 3 |
| ARTS 451 | Advanced Studio II | 4 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credits for BFA Studio Arts | ||
| First-Year Curriculum Requirements | 20 | |
| Art History Requirements | 9 | |
| BFA Capstone requirements | 7 | |
| Concentration Requirements 1 | 43-46 | |
| General Education Requirements, three hours of art history also count as gen ed credit | 40 | |
| Electives to bring the total hours earned to 122, including a minimum of 40 credits at the 300- or 400-level. | 0-3 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
- 1
See Concentrations tab for requirements for individual concentrations.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following list: | 12 | |
| Some courses are required for the General Studio Art concentration, noted below. If any required course was selected in the first year curriculum, pick from remaining offerings in this section. | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | ||
| Ceramics Sculpture I (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | ||
| Image Practice (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | ||
| Time Arts I (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | ||
| Life Drawing | ||
| Beginning Painting (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | ||
| Making and Meaning | ||
| Intermediate Painting | ||
| Beginning Sculpture (exclude if taken in first year curriculum) | ||
| Intermediate Sculpture | ||
| Special Topics in Studio Art (may be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours total if topics vary) | ||
| Select up to eleven 300- or 400-level courses from the following list: | 31-34 | |
| Some courses are required for the General Studio Art concentration, noted below. | ||
| Ceramics Sculpture II | ||
| Intermediate Studio I | ||
| Intermediate Studio II | ||
| Internship in Studio Arts (may be completed twice to a maximum of 4 hours total, with advisor consent) | ||
| Special Topics in Printmaking 1 | ||
| Time Arts II 1 | ||
| Interaction II 1 | ||
| Special Topics in New Media | ||
| Advanced Studio I | ||
| Advanced Drawing 1 | ||
| Advanced Painting 1 | ||
| Advanced Sculpture 1 | ||
| Art in Context 1 | ||
| Special Topics in Studio Art (may be repeated to a maximum of 9 hours, if topics vary) | ||
| Total Hours | 43-46 | |
- 1
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours.
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, General Studio Art Concentration
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| FAA 101 | 1 | ARTE 101 | 2 |
| ARTF 101 | 2 | ARTD or ARTS ### (3D Category) | 3 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 | ARTS ### (4D Category) | 3 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 | Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTD or ARTS ### (2D Category) | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 | ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTS course from 'select 4' concentration list | 3 | ARTS course from 'select 4' concentration list | 3 |
| ARTS course from 'select 4' concentration list | 3 | ARTS course from 'select 4' concentration list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 | ARTS 392 | 3 |
| ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 | ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 |
| ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 | ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 |
| ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 | ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 | ARTS 451 | 4 |
| ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 | ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 |
| ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 | ARTS 300 or 400-level course from concentration list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 122 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art Major in Studio Art, General Studio Art Concentration