GAID Bachelor of Fine Arts Overview
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 concentration 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.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art 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.
B.F.A. 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 | |
Successful completion (minimum C-) of FDPR 1511 and ARTH 1156 satisfies the GenEd Arts (GA) requirement. | ||
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 B.F.A. 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 | ||
| Introduction to 3D Modeling | ||
| Graphic and Interactive Design | ||
| Graphic Design | ||
| Computers for Design | ||
| 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
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | 3D Foundation Principles/W | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or 0951 | 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 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century1 | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
ART 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites)2 | ||
GAD 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites)2 | ||
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
ART 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites)2 | ||
GAD 2xxx (Studio Electives/Prerequisites)2 | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Art History Elective3 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Art History Writing-Intensive Elective [WI]4 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Non-Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio Major Courses | 6 | |
| Writing Intensive course in major (Capstone) [WI]5 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Open Elective3 | 3 | |
| Term 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. |