The Bachelor of Arts program in the visual arts explores techniques and materials, places, events and images that are the basis of creative work. The program offers a curriculum that seeks to develop professional skills as well as an understanding of the cultural and social implications of art. The visual arts program offers studio and critical study courses. Studio courses focus on the mastery of skills within specialized media, such as ceramics and sculpture, drawing, graphic design*, film and video, painting, photography, and printmaking.
Critical studies courses focus on art in relation to social, environmental, psychological and philosophical systems. The focus provides a basis for understanding the position of the artist in the modern world.

Major Requirements: B.A. Program

Visual arts majors in the B.A. program are required to complete a total of 60 credits as follows:

The remaining 60 credits are determined by the student's college.

Within these requirements students develop a cohesive program with their advisers and plan a balance of studio, critical studies, art history, and related courses.

Transfer students must complete at least 24 credits in studio art (081) and 6 credits in critical studies (080) in residence in order to receive a B.A. in Visual Arts.

Dual majors and special interdisciplinary degree programs that include the visual arts should be arranged through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the fellows of individual colleges, along with the visual arts faculty. Bachelor of Arts students who desire to major in art must submit a portfolio (usually in March) and transcripts for review by the Visual Arts Evaluation Committee for acceptance into the program.

All B.A. visual arts majors must declare and complete a 12-credit concentration in one of the following subject areas: video, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture and ceramics.

(*) Acceptance into the B.A. art major does not guarantee admittance into the graphic design concentration. The graphic design concentration is limited to twenty students who are selected by competitive portfolio review from students already enrolled in the visual arts B.A. and B.F.A. programs.