Studio Art, BFA

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in Studio Art is the professional degree in the arts and is designed for individuals who want to be professional visual artists or designers, enter a specific art field or to continue their education at the graduate level. It provides extensive training in a variety of studio areas and allows for specialization within the field. After completing a series of foundation courses, students are able to focus their coursework in one of seven media areas: ceramics, digital media (graphic design/digital arts/animation), drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.

Admission into the Major

Students may choose the BFA as a major during the regular UA admissions process. However, full admission to the BFA program is only granted after applying to be admitted to the program through the BFA review process. Students expecting to complete the requirements for the BFA in studio art in four years should begin program coursework as first-semester freshmen and apply to the BFA review no sooner than the completion of 18 semester hours of studio art courses, preferably during the second term of the sophomore year. If the student does not gain admission into the program after the first attempt, a second BFA review can be conducted before the completion of 30 studio hours. If the student is not accepted into the BFA program after the second BFA review, he or she is not eligible to apply for or to pursue the BFA degree, and it is recommended that they change to the BA in Studio Art. The student is responsible for keeping track of hours completed and applying at the appropriate time. Additional details of the BFA review process are available on the departmental website. 

Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by completing the Change of Major/Minor Application online under the Student tab of myBama.

Special Opportunities

The Department of Art and Art History operates the Sella-Granata Art Gallery that primarily features changing exhibitions of student work. Crimson Clay is a departmental student organization providing opportunities to present ceramics projects in the community and across the state. Declared majors in art and art history are able to compete for numerous merit-based departmental scholarships, which are awarded annually to returning students. Members of the faculty actively assist students with internship and project placement in design agencies, exhibition venues, public community projects, area museums, and the Alabama Art History Association. The department also maintains cooperative agreements with local art galleries and spaces which allow student exhibition possibilities.