BFA in Art

The BFA in Art degree offers students an intensive studio-focused program of study with an emphasis in a selected area of concentration while integrating art history, criticism, and studio art electives from across the School of Art. The Art and Design curriculum is completed concurrently with the liberal arts education of the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum.

All BFA degrees include Studio Art Core, comprised of a year-long survey of art history, introductory-level studio foundations, secondary-level ideation and methodologies course, and upper-level coursework including an interdisciplinary thematic studio and professional practice course. Students pursuing the BFA degree enter the School of Art as Intended Art majors and will apply to an area of concentration via the School's area portfolio review in the second year of study. In most studio programs, students are required to present an exhibition or final portfolio that serves as a capstone experience before graduation, demonstrating their achievement in developing a mature and cohesive body of work.

Areas of concentration for the BFA in Art degree include the following:

BFA in Art Education

The BFA in Art Education program prepares art teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels to promote the central role of the visual arts in the lives of their students. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a professional knowledge of fundamental art concepts, materials, and teaching techniques. 

Students are required to take 45 hours in art courses beyond the 18 required in Area VI of the core curriculum, including painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, a studio sequence, 12 hours of studio electives at the 3000/4000 level, six hours in Art Education, and nine hours in Art History at the 3000/4000 level. In addition, they must take 18 hours in professional Education including nine hours of student teaching.

Completion of the Major and Certification Requirements

66 hours of coursework in the major. A minimum grade of C required for all courses with the exception of a grade of B or higher in SPED 4030/6030 or SPED/6020. A passing score on the GACE Content Assessment Exam is required for Georgia Teacher Certification (Level 4).

AB in Art History

Undergraduates majoring in Art History gain a broad knowledge of visual art forms across a wide range of media, cultures, and time periods. An interdisciplinary field by nature, art history deepens our understanding of and connection to human imagination and aspiration. Its methods explore questions of aesthetics, literature, philosophy, religion, economics, and socio-political structures, expressed in the art of cultures both near and distant. Students build perceptual, intellectual, and practical skills to look closely, read critically, research deeply, and write comprehensively in an increasingly visual and creative world. University of Georgia art history graduates have gone on to further graduate study in Art History, History, Law, and Information Sciences and to careers in museums, galleries, auction houses, writing and publishing, teaching, public relations, the fashion industry, and community engagement. 
 

AB in Interdisciplinary Art & Design

The Interdisciplinary Art and Design program at the Lamar Dodd School of Art is an AB degree option that allows students to discover a variety of media and techniques associated with studio art and design disciplines while maintaining the flexibility to build a more interdisciplinary program of study through elective coursework outside of Art. The Interdisciplinary Art and Design degree is intended for students who wants to study art and design while having the ability to build a degree program with increased choice in academic and elective courses over a wider range of disciplines and offerings than is afforded by the more focused BFA programs in the School of Art.

The Interdisciplinary Art and Design program is only offered at the undergraduate level. Students pursuing the degree understand the non-verbal language of art and design in terms of artistic principles and application, can organize visual elements both rationally and intuitively according to understood artistic principles and are familiar with the major achievements in the history of art and visual culture. Students interested in pursuing an AB degree in Interdisciplinary Art and Design must first submit work through the portfolio review process. Learn more about the portfolio review process by which undergraduate students apply to their area of emphasis here. 

The program requires 27 hours in coursework in art and design beyond the studio art core coursework (Area VI of the core curriculum). Additionally, the AB degree in Interdisciplinary Art & Design requires the choice of one of two focus tracks:

• an experiential learning component such as study abroad or field study,, OR
• completion of an additional minor or certificate program (or double major) in a field outside of the School of Art. 

Minor in Art History

A minor in Art History requires 18 credit hours. Students must complete ARHI 2300 and ARHI 2400 before beginning a minor in Art History and enrolling in a 3000-level art history course. ARHI 2300, which satisfies Area IV of the Core Curriculum, does not count toward the 18 hours required for the minor. After the student has completed 6 hours (two courses) of 3000-level art history and has at least a 3.0 combined GPA in those four courses, she or he may officially declare the minor.

For the minor, students must complete 15 hours (five courses) of upper-level art history. Nine hours (three courses) at the 3000 level are required and must be in three of the four different areas. After these courses are completed, the student will be given permission to register for a 4000-level course. Six hours (two courses) at the 4000 level are necessary to complete the minor. Even as a declared minor, students need permission from the area to register for a 4000-level course.

Minor in Studio Art

The minor in Studio Art provides students with the opportunity to integrate creative and artistic practice with other academic or research pursuits. Students selecting the minor in Studio Art are not necessarily pursuing careers as practicing professional artists or designers; rather they are seeking a unique program of study where the visual arts and creativity provide desirable skills. The Studio Art Minor presently consists of 18 credit hours with a minimum of 3 hours of Art History and 15 hours of studio coursework, including 9 hours of upper-division studio courses. A maximum of 6 hours of transfer credit hours allowed (with School of Art approval).

Minor in Design + Media

Started in fall 2018, the new minor in Design + Media consists of 15 hours of coursework focused on time-based media, photography and graphic design; and does not require any preliminary studio core studio coursework. Students will select 3 courses (9 hours) from four optional studios in photography, typography, video or time-based media; one seminar course related to contemporary and/or modern art history, design, culture and criticism; and one additional elective course at the 3000-level or above in any area of studio art or design area, or art history.