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Art BFA


Emphases: Ceramics, Illustration, Painting/Drawing, Photography & Digital Imaging, Printmaking, Sculpture Intermedia

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Arts Pass

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Bennion
Center

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Capstones
Program

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Learning Abroad

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Office of
Undergraduate Research

Courses

Getting Started

  • Complete 8 half-semester studio courses
  • Take ART 2400 & ARTH 2500
  • Complete math & writing requirements
  • Declare an emphasis near end of your first-year foundation experience

Making Progress

  • In your 2nd year, start major coursework specific to your emphasis (refer to catalog for more info and meet with an advisor to build your course plan)
  • Generate a degree audit to track progress as you complete GE/degree requirements
  • Meet with your advisor regularly to discuss your course plan, stay on track with major requirements, and explore extracurricular opportunities

Finishing Up

  • Complete capstone courses or senior seminars in your final year of study if required by emphasis
  • Use degree audit to track progress toward graduation

Community

Getting Started

  • Join ArtsForce or our student groups - Art Teaching Club, CLAY, Illustration Club, Painting & Drawing Club, Sculpture Club, Under Pressure-Printmaking, Perspective Realia-Murals
  • Make a professional social media account & follow respected artists/creators
  • Attend CFA's welcome event ArtsBash

Making Progress

Finishing Up

Knowledge & Skills

Getting Started

  • Explore Art BFA emphases in the First Year Foundation (declare an emphasis with advisor after completing at least 6 of the 8 courses)
  • Learn about OUR resources, like UROP & FAF grants

Making Progress

  • Consider volunteer opportunities through the Bennion Center or local art venues to develop skills & experience
  • Create opportunities to engage in research with a faculty member through UROP
  • Apply for a FAF grant to seek financial support for student-driven extracurricular experiences
  • Meet with CFA's Internship Coordinator to explore available or desired opportunities

Finishing Up

  • Work with a Career Coach in the CPDC to create or refine professional documents like resumes/cover letters
  • Complete traditional and/or digital portfolios

Transformation

Getting Started

  • Engage with departmental student groups/clubs
  • Interview arts faculty & professionals about different approaches & career paths
  • Take courses that meet requirements & fuel your passions/interests

Making Progress

  • Complete mandatory advising & continue to meet with advisor as needed to discuss your degree plan
  • Explore international study programs in Learning Abroad
  • Apply for scholarships through the department, college, and university
  • Consider applying to live in the Fine Arts House in Officer's Circle
  • Look into internships or service learning to enhance your education & create networking opportunities

Finishing Up

  • Consider involvement in a Student Advisory Committee (SAC)
  • Complete any required senior seminars or capstone experiences
  • Participate in graduation events & activities

Impact

Getting Started

  • Use your ArtsPass to access events
  • Explore the college's Create Success Initiative for helpful information about things to do early and often to support your academic success

Making Progress

  • Go on an alternative break trip or explore other community service projects through the Bennion Center
  • Focus on making and creating art to present in a variety of formats
  • Engage and interact in cultural events and activities offered by the U and in the larger cultural community (see events calendar)
  • Work individually or in larger collaborative groups to present research or art

Finishing Up

  • Create a business venture to feature your art
  • Consider taking on projects/work through consignments or other venues
  • Present art or research - talk to your professors about local/national conferences

Careers

Getting Started

Making Progress

Finishing Up

  • Meet with a Career Coach in the CPDC to practice interviewing and salary negotiation, refine your resume, or discuss career plans
  • Apply to grad school, if desired

Start Your Career Journey


Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)

Visit cpdc

 

About the Major

If you are passionate about art making, research, critical discourse, and teaching, consider pursuing an Art BFA degree in the Department of Art & Art History at the U. The Art BFA program challenges, immerses, and ultimately prepares you for a rewarding career in the arts. You begin with First-Year Foundation courses that cover topics such as action, construct, evidence, illusion, mapping, matrix, seeing, and touch, as well as introductions to art history and visual language. These foundation courses allow you to explore our major emphasis areas before you select one as your focus - Ceramics, Illustration, Painting & Drawing, Photography/Digital Imaging, Printmaking, or Sculpture Intermedia. After declaring an emphasis, you will take a range of specialized courses in that area and have the opportunity to work closely with faculty who offer mentorship in innovation, critical thinking, and exploration with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration. As an Art BFA student, you can also engage in undergraduate research, internships, and learning abroad experiences, and get involved in our College of Fine Arts student clubs and programs such as ArtsForce and ArtsPass. This major allows you to understand contemporary art theories, engage with new forms, and explore art as an active part of culture today. An Art BFA degree from the University of Utah prepares you for advanced training at the graduate level and to pursue an exciting career in creative expression.

Learning Outcomes

  • Gain functional competence with principles and elements of design and demonstrate the techniques and technologies needed to realize artistic goals
  • Be able to formulate and express ideas through creative problem solving in the production of contemporary visual art and design research into creative processes, by gaining knowledge to identify, critically analyze, and assess information from a variety of sources and perspectives
  • Demonstrate a general understanding of major historical and contemporary concepts, theories, and approaches to research in the study of visual art and design
  • Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts, visual expression, and professional standards related to visual arts locally, nationally and globally
  • Present work that demonstrates the technical facility and conceptual understanding needed for entry into professional art practice or to undertake graduate study in an academic or professional program
  • Possess the research and communication skills necessary to understand and participate in the field of visual arts and design

Plan & Prepare

At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.

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Last Updated: 7/19/24