Overview

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with Entrepreneurial Studies, offered by the Department of Art, is recognized as one of the nation's top programs in the discipline, offering students access to world-class facilities and teaching.

Tyler Painting majors are pushed to grow as artists and critical thinkers by a diverse faculty—all of whom are practicing artists themselves—with a broad range of expertise and a commitment to being engaged, passionate mentors. Students learn technique, theory and perhaps the most powerful tool of all: how to teach themselves to be self-critical.

Tyler BFA students take full advantage of the school's location in Philadelphia, a vibrant art center, to explore museums and galleries, find internships, earn placements in competitive graduate programs and launch creative practices. When they graduate, they join an alumni community that includes some of the most influential artists, thought leaders and teachers of their time.

Designed to complement the studio experience with tools to support a studio practice or pursue graduate studies, the Entrepreneurship coursework enhances students' career options. Graduates of this degree program will possess requisite business skills to support themselves as visual artists or entrepreneurs in art and related fields.

Each student moves from a common foundation curriculum that introduces materials and processes and prepares them for success in a range of fields of study. Those who select Art as their major will work side-by-side with majors in Visual Studies, Art Education and Art Therapy. The dynamic exchange of ideas that result from these interdisciplinary conversations spur intellectual risk and drive research-based creative concepts.

Upon graduation, students have the practical skill sets and honed aesthetic for successful careers in studio art, art education and design, as well as attend top-tier graduate programs.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: TA-PNTE-BFA

Admissions

Admission to Tyler's Studio Art (Bachelor of Fine Arts) programs is based on a review of academic credentials and portfolio review. For detailed information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's Studio Art admissions page.

Study Abroad

Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.

Accreditation

Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational and other art/design-related endeavors.

Contact Information

Gerard Brown, Program Head
Tyler School of Art Building, Room 210U
215-777-9713
gbrown@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting.

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 Painting with Entrepreneurial Studies 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. All Painting with Entrepreneurial Studies majors must complete the General Education requirements.

Major Requirements for BFA in Painting with Entrepreneurial Studies

Sophomore Requirements

Painting
ART 2501Painting3
or ART 2503 Painting
Drawing
Select one of the following:3
Intermediate Drawing
Intermediate Drawing
Intermediate Figure Drawing
Digital Drawing
Digital Drawing
Notes:
  • ART 2505 is suggested, but not required, for those interested in becoming a Painting major.
  • ART 2806 is strongly recommended for students interested in Painting or Sculpture as a major.
  • Students may only take 3 Painting/Drawing courses in the sophomore year; other 2500-level ART courses may be used as electives for the junior/senior year.

Junior and Senior Requirements

Four (4) Advanced Level Painting courses (see Painting list below)12
Two (2) Advanced Level Drawing courses (see Drawing list below)6
Two (2) Advanced Level Painting or Drawing courses (see Painting/Drawing list below)6
ART 3896Art/Work (Capstone) 13
1

ART 3896 counts as one of the two required writing intensive courses. The other writing intensive course must be an Art History course.

Advanced Level Painting Courses
ART 2505Painting Materials and Techniques3
ART 3503Landscape 13
or ART 4503 Landscape
ART 3505Color3
or ART 3506 Color
or ART 4505 Color
ART 3504Figure Painting3
or ART 4504 Figure Painting
ART 3507Painting on Paper3
or ART 3508 Painting on Paper
ART 3501Advanced Painting3
or ART 3502 Advanced Painting
or ART 3519 Advanced Painting: Rome
or ART 4501 Advanced Painting
or ART 4502 Advanced Painting
ART 4506Senior Painting Studio 23
ART 4507Senior Painting Studio 23
1

ART 3503 and ART 4503 may be taken for Painting and/or Drawing Credit.

2

Students wishing to enroll in ART 4506 or ART 4507 must be jury-selected by the faculty and special approval is needed to register.

Advanced Level Drawing Courses
ART 3503Landscape 13
or ART 4503 Landscape
ART 3511Digital Drawing3
ART 3512Rome Sketchbook3
ART 3514Advanced Drawing3
or ART 3515 Advanced Drawing: Rome
or ART 3516 Advanced Drawing
or ART 4514 Advanced Drawing
ART 3517Figure Drawing3
or ART 3518 Figure Drawing
or ART 4517 Figure Drawing
or ART 4518 Figure Drawing
ART 3011Interactive Projects3
1

ART 3503 and ART 4503 may be taken for Painting and/or Drawing Credit.

Additional Advanced Level Painting/Drawing Courses
ART 2505Painting Materials and Techniques3
ART 3501Advanced Painting3
or ART 3502 Advanced Painting
or ART 3519 Advanced Painting: Rome
or ART 4501 Advanced Painting
or ART 4502 Advanced Painting
ART 3504Figure Painting3
or ART 3517 Figure Drawing
or ART 3518 Figure Drawing
or ART 4504 Figure Painting
ART 3512Rome Sketchbook3
ART 3514Advanced Drawing3
or ART 3515 Advanced Drawing: Rome
or ART 3516 Advanced Drawing
or ART 4514 Advanced Drawing
ART 3521Fresco Painting3
ART 4506Senior Painting Studio 13
ART 4507Senior Painting Studio 13
1

Students wishing to enroll in ART 4506 or ART 4507 must be jury-selected by the faculty and special approval is needed to register.

Notes:
  • Do not duplicate any courses previously taken for Drawing or Painting credit.

  • Painting or Drawing courses taken in excess of the required eight courses will count as studio electives. This is a common practice encouraged by the Painting Faculty.

Entrepreneurship Requirements

Select three of the following:9
Planning to Start Your Own Business
Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking
Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas
Launch a New Venture in 100 Days
Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact
Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures
Special Topics - Strategic Management
Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures
New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder
Select one of the following: 13
Field Internship
Professional Practices in Art
Art Careers Promotion
The Business of Design (WI)
Field Internship
Art Career Workshop
Creative Cottage Industrialist
Rome Internship
Total Credit Hours12
1

These courses cannot fulfill both a requirement for the major and for this category.

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 in Painting with Entrepreneurial Studies

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
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
Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300
or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300
3
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
 Credit Hours17
Spring
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
Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1
or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century
3
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
ART 2501
Painting
or Painting
3
Select one of the following: 3
Intermediate Drawing 2  
Intermediate Drawing  
Intermediate Figure Drawing  
Digital Drawing 2  
Digital Drawing  
ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective 3 3
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
 Credit Hours16
Spring
ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective 3 3
ART or GAD 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective 3 3
Select one of the following: 3
Planning to Start Your Own Business  
Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking  
Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas  
Launch a New Venture in 100 Days  
Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact  
Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures  
Special Topics - Strategic Management  
Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures  
New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder  
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
Advanced Level Painting Course 3
Advanced Level Painting Course 3
Select one of the following (not previously chosen): 3
Planning to Start Your Own Business  
Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking  
Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas  
Launch a New Venture in 100 Days  
Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact  
Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures  
Special Topics - Strategic Management  
Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures  
New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder  
Art History Elective 4 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
Advanced Level Painting Course 3
Advanced Level Drawing Course 3
ART or GAD 2000+ Studio Elective 3
Art History Elective WI 5 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
Advanced Level Painting Course 3
Advanced Level Drawing Course 3
ART 3896 Art/Work [WI] 6 3
Select one of the following (not previously chosen): 3
Planning to Start Your Own Business  
Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking  
Lean Startup: Fast and Inexpensive Ways to Test and Launch Your Ideas  
Launch a New Venture in 100 Days  
Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact  
Pitching and Funding Entrepreneurial Ventures  
Special Topics - Strategic Management  
Social Impact Internship - Work with Benefit/B-corps, Non-profits, or Multi-bottom-line Ventures  
New Venture Internship: Learning to be a High-Value Employee, Manager, or Founder  
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Advanced Level Painting or Drawing Course 3
Advanced Level Painting or Drawing Course 3
Open Elective 4 3
Select one of the following: 7 3
Field Internship  
Professional Practices in Art [WI]  
Art Careers Promotion  
The Business of Design [WI]  
Field Internship  
Art Career Workshop [WI]  
Creative Cottage Industrialist  
Rome Internship  
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours126
1

These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.

2

ART 2502 can be taken in either fall or spring. ART 2508 is offered in fall only.

3

Only three 2xxx level courses can be taken in any one subject area in order to count for sophomore studio credit.

4

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. 

5

Students taking a WI course from the list of Tyler entrepreneurship courses may take a non-WI Art History elective.

6

ART 3896 Art/Work can be taken either fall or spring semester.

7

These courses cannot fulfill both a requirement for the major and a requirement for this category.

Please Note: An approved study abroad program waives the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement; however, these credits must be made up with academic coursework taken outside of Tyler departments to be in compliance with BFA accreditation. BFA majors interested in studying abroad should consult with an academic advisor to determine if a semester (generally spring semester of second year) or a summer program would be the best option to remain on track for graduation.