Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
(132 UNITS)
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is a professional program providing directed studies in eight studio concentrations within the visual arts. The program is designed for students seeking in-depth preparation for specialized goals selected from one of the following areas: ceramics, crafts (including jewelry and metalsmithing), creative photography and experimental media, drawing and painting, entertainment art/animation, graphic and interactive design, illustration and sculpture. The program develops the understanding and advanced specialized skills applicable to professional practice and to meet entrance requirements to graduate school.
Admission Requirements
Upon admission to the university as an art major, students are placed in the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) category, whether entering as a freshman or transferring from another college. Upon proof of completion of the 12 lower-division prerequisite courses listed below, with a combined GPA of 3.0 or better, students may contact a full-time faculty member about the portfolio review process and/or to initiate a Change of Objective to change from the B.A. to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art. Transfer students who have completed all prerequisite equivalents (earning a minimum of 3.0 GPA) may contact a full-time faculty member about the portfolio review process and/or to initiate a Change of Objective from B.A. to B.F.A. in the first semester of residency.
Program Requirements
The program requires a minimum of 81 units in art: The 12 units of studio art “Admission Requirements” plus 12 units of Art History and 57 units of art. The major is divided into 21 units of lower-division preparation and 48 upper-division units. In addition to the minimum 69-unit requirement for the B.F.A. degree, students must meet the other university requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
To earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, students must achieve a “C” (2.0) or better in all art courses required for the degree.
Entertainment Art/Animation Concentration
Acceptance to the B.F.A. in Entertainment Art/Animation is by portfolio review only and is for currently accepted and enrolled art majors who demonstrate excellence in technical and creative abilities, originality and academics. The portfolio review process takes place in the fall and spring semesters, once a student has completed ART 103, ART 104, ART 107A and ART 107B with a 3.0 GPA or better, completed ART 117 and passed a minimum of 30 degree units, but no more than 96 units.
Students have up to two attempts to qualify for the B.F.A., provided they meet the criteria and have not exceeded 96 units toward the degree. Students should meet with an adviser in the area concentration to verify that they meet the criteria and unit counts.
To apply for a portfolio review, students can pick up an application at the Department of Art office during the first three weeks of the fall and spring semesters. The portfolio applications are due either mid-September or mid-March, and must be complete for full consideration. Students will be informed by email concerning the portfolio application, including formats and guidelines, several weeks before its due date. Faculty members will review portfolios, which include the application, artist statement and examples of artwork to determine admittance into the B.F.A. degree in Entertainment Art/Animation.
B.F.A. transfer applicants who meet the minimum major-specific requirements will be invited to submit a portfolio application upon admittance to the university. Submitting a portfolio when applying to CSUF will count as the first attempt.
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