Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Art is awarded by the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and is available only at Temple University, Japan Campus. The BA in Art is the only degree-conferring U.S.-style art program in Tokyo, offering a curriculum that situates visual practice in a liberal arts context with art historical reference, critical perspectives and theoretical insight. With an emphasis on traditional fine art media, photography and digital technology, the coursework prepares students for a variety of practices in visual art. Tokyo's unique urban environment and its numerous art galleries and museums offer context, inspiration and stimuli for student learning.
The Art major focuses on visual art practice within a liberal arts context. Courses include design, drawing, painting, three-dimensional design, printmaking, digital photography, digital imaging, Internet imaging, moving images, motion graphics, media arts and art history. The faculty teaches studio art from the viewpoint of its connection to such disciplines as psychology, literature, philosophy, mathematics, biology and physics.
Campus Location: Japan
Program Code: TA-ART-BA
An Art minor and an Art History minor are also offered at both Main Campus and Japan Campus.
Contact Information
Kevin Jones, MFA, Chair for the Division of Media and Fine Arts
kevinhjones@tuj.temple.edu
Takayuki Kubota, MFA, Faculty Advisor for the Art Major
kubotaka@tuj.temple.edu
Taro Nettleton, PhD, Faculty Advisor for the Art Major
taro.nettleton@tuj.temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts degree may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 123 semester hours of credit with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
There may be minimum grade requirements of C- or better in required courses - students should refer to the DARS and their advisor.
Students who are seeking admission into the BA in Art degree program must review the requirements and procedures outlined on the TUJ web site: www.tuj.ac.jp/admissions/index.html.
University Requirements
All Temple students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
- Study abroad for a summer or semester will satisfy the Global/World Society requirement.
- The GenEd Arts requirement is waived if all of the following courses are completed with a C- or better: ARTU 1201, ARTU 1401, ARTU 1402 and ARTU 1501. If the student changes majors before completing all four courses, they must complete a GenEd Arts course to satisfy the requirement for General Education.
Major Requirements for BA in Art
- Students must complete successfully the second semester of a foreign language.
- Students must complete at least 15 semester hours in upper-level Liberal Arts courses.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| ARTU 1201 | 3-D Design | 3 |
| ARTU 1401 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ARTU 1402 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ARTU 1501 | 2D Design | 3 |
| Sophomore Studio Electives | ||
| Select four from the following: | 12 | |
| Painting | ||
| Intermediate 3-D | ||
| Relief Printmaking | ||
| Computer Imaging | ||
| Art Photography: Digital | ||
| Junior Studio Electives | ||
| Choose three ARTU 2000+ Elective | 9 | |
| Choose one ARTU 3000+ Elective | 3 | |
| Senior Studio Electives | ||
| Choose one ARTU 3000+ Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one ARTU 4000+ Elective | 3 | |
| Capstone | ||
| ARTU 4796 | Art Seminar | 3 |
| Art History Requirements | ||
| ARTH 1103 | Introduction to Methods and Theories | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | ||
or ARTH 1955 | Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | |
| Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | ||
or ARTH 1956 | Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | |
| Arts of Asia | ||
Art History 2000-4999 Elective | ||
| One Art History 2000-4999 Elective | 4 | |
| One Writing Intensive (WI) Art History course 1 | 4 | |
| Academic Requirements | ||
| Five upper-level CLA courses 2,3 | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 74-75 | |
- 1
This course does not apply towards the upper-level CLA requirements.
- 2
One Upper-level CLA course must be taken in Social Science unless completing Art History minor.
- 3
Upper-level Art History courses can be counted here except as noted above.
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Art in Art
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| ARTU 1401 | Drawing I 1 | 3 |
| ARTU 1501 | 2D Design 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 1103 | Introduction to Methods and Theories | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| ARTU 1402 | Drawing II 1 | 3 |
| ARTU 1201 | 3-D Design 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | ||
| Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | ||
| Arts of Asia | ||
Art History 2000+ Course | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1001 - first level | 4 | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Painting | ||
| Intermediate 3-D | ||
| Relief Printmaking | ||
| Computer Imaging | ||
| Art Photography: Digital | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1002 - second level | 4 | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Painting | ||
| Intermediate 3-D | ||
| Relief Printmaking | ||
| Computer Imaging | ||
| Art Photography: Digital | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| ARTU 2000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ARTU 2000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Art History course 2 | 4 | |
| Upper-Level CLA course - Social Science 3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| ARTU 2000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ARTU 3000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Art History course WI 4 | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARTU 3000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ARTU 4796 | Art Seminar [WI] | 3 |
| Upper-Level CLA course | 3 | |
| Upper-Level CLA course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTU 4000+ Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level CLA course | 3 | |
| Upper-Level CLA course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |