The BFA in Art is a studio-intensive program emphasizing mentorship and collaboration between a cohort of students and faculty.  The Art curriculum is built around five student-centered goals:

• Challenging and expanding each student’s understanding of the creative process.
• Providing students with media-specific technical training.
• Exposing students to a broad range of contemporary and historical art practices as well as a strong background in critical theory.
• Developing an informed professional presence in the world beyond the campus.
• Synthesizing the above - creative process, technique, critical inquiry, and professional goals - into a unique studio practice.

​Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the BFA in Art, graduates will be able to:

• Identify, contextualize and synthesize the various conceptual aspects of works of art and apply them to their own original works of art.
• Identify and choose from a broad range of artistic media and apply appropriate levels of craftsmanship to practice visual thinking and the making of meaningful artworks.
• Analyze and contextualize in artistic, verbal, and written forms, a variety of cultural artifacts, including works of art, and interpret their potential and historic impacts on society.
• Create a usable Portfolio type presentation of their capstone work in formats suitable for marketing their skills to their chosen professional goals.

Admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in studio art is competitive. Students may apply to the BFA program after completing between 24 -48 credits in Art and Art History with a GPA of 3.25 or better.  Transfer students should apply upon admission to the University or in their first quarter at SOU. The BFA Thesis forms a central part of the BFA experience, and candidates must show the ability to investigate and articulate their ideas through independent writing and research and a BFA thesis exhibition and/or public presentation.

Since admission to the BFA program and advancement beyond the Mid Program Review is not automatic, we strongly encourage students to complete the university coursework necessary to graduate with either a BA or BS. This will allow students the option of graduating with a BA, BS or BFA, depending on their progress, evaluations, and individual circumstances.