Tyler's BFA curriculum is designed to give sound preparation to the future artist through coursework that provides a variety of approaches, practices, skills and goals. The BFA Foundation Program and introductory courses in each studio area develop a thorough understanding of fundamental processes and information. Advanced courses in the major stress the development of an individual idiom and preparation for the professional world. At Tyler, art students find an atmosphere of aesthetic freedom that encourages personal experimentation and the exploration of visual concepts.
Freshman Year
The Foundation Program is highly structured and intensive; it forms the base that establishes the fundamental studio practice and principles for all visual art expression. In addition to presenting traditional vocabulary, theory, media, and technique, the Foundation Program develops creative thinking and problem solving, visual thinking, and perceptual and imaginative abilities. Faculty members from across the art and design areas teach the Foundation courses, assuring a broad range of experience and diverse viewpoints.
Sophomore Year
Sophomore studio electives serve as prerequisites to enter the major, of which one or two specific courses are required in each major. During the sophomore year, students are offered the opportunity to explore a wide range of studio areas. This experience gives the necessary background with which to make an informed selection of a major and adds to the overall breadth of the educational experience. Requirements are six 2000-level studio courses (18 s.h.), not to exceed three courses from any one major area and additional credits in Art History electives and/or General Education.
Junior and Senior Years
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is completed after a final two-year focus in a major studio area. Because expressive work is often achieved by synthesis of disparate media, studio work outside the major is encouraged. Requirements are the specified major courses (21-24 s.h. depending on the major) and one major capstone course (3 s.h.), with a minimum grade of C- required in each course; a minimum of three studio electives which may be taken outside the major (9-12 s.h. depending on the major); and additional credits in Art History, General Education and elective courses.
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in one of the studio arts majors (i.e., Ceramics, Fibers and Materials Studies, Glass, Graphic and Interactive Design, Illustration and Emerging Media, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture) may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
General Education, courses waiving General Education requirements, and major courses all must be completed with a minimum grade of C- to fulfill requirements. Please confer with the advising staff and review your DARS for further information.
BFA Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Studio courses | 74 | |
Foundation Program (20 credits) | ||
2000 level Sophomore studios including major prerequisites (18 credits) | ||
Major studio requirements (21-24 credits, varies depending on major) | ||
Capstone (WI) course in Major (3 credits) | ||
Studio electives (9-12 credits, varies depending on major) | ||
| Art History | 13-14 | |
| 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 | |
2000+ ARTH elective | ||
2000+ ARTH writing intensive | ||
| General Education 1 | 32 | |
Summer or semester study abroad program will satisfy the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement. | ||
| Non-studio elective | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3-4 | |
- 1
Students waived from General Education requirements must make up the credits with academic coursework taken outside of Tyler departments to be in compliance with BFA accreditation.
Sophomore Prerequisites for BFA Departments
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramics | ||
| Beginning Ceramics | ||
| Intermediate Ceramics | ||
| Glass | ||
| Introduction to Glass | ||
| Intermediate Glass | ||
| Fibers and Material Studies | ||
| Introduction to Fibers and Material Studies | ||
| Dyeing for Color I | ||
| Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM | ||
| Jewelry | ||
| CAD-CAM I: Introduction to 3D Modeling | ||
| Graphic and Interactive Design | ||
| Graphic Design | ||
| Computers for Design | ||
| Illustration and Emerging Media | ||
| Introduction to Design and Illustration | ||
| Introduction to Digital Tools | ||
| Introduction to Typography | ||
| Photography | ||
| Photo I: Digital | ||
or ART 2603 | Photo I: Digital | |
| Digital Imaging | ||
| Printmaking | ||
| Survey of Lithography and Serigraphy | ||
or ART 2702 | Survey of Etching and Relief | |
Select one of the following printmaking studios: | ||
| Serigraphy | ||
| Etching | ||
or ART 2706 | Intaglio Printmaking | |
| Lithography | ||
| Painting | ||
| Painting | ||
or ART 2503 | Painting | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Intermediate Drawing | ||
or ART 2504 | Intermediate Drawing | |
| Intermediate Figure Drawing | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Sculpture | ||
or ART 2807 | Sculpture: Rome | |
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 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 |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing 1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | 3D Foundation Principles/W | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| FDPR 1512 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| FDPR 1522 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1532 | 3D Foundation Principles/C | 3 |
| FDPR 1502 | Investigations of Art and Design | 1 |
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1 or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
ART 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites) 2 | ||
GAD 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites) 2 | ||
DES 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites) 2 | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
ART 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites) 2 | ||
GAD 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites) 2 | ||
DES 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites) 2 | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Art History Elective 3 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Art History Writing-Intensive Elective [WI] 4 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Non-Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Writing Intensive course in major (Capstone) [WI] 5 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Open Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 126 | |
- 1
These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a grade of C- or better.
- 2
See academic advisor for details.
- 3
Students completing a 3 credit Art History 2000+ elective must select a 4 credit open elective to reach the minimum 126 credits to earn the BFA degree.
- 4
Students may elect to take a second writing intensive course within their majors (if available), but must still fulfill a total of 13-14 credits in Art History - see academic advisor for details.
- 5
In some majors, the Capstone is taken in the junior year.