Jun 09, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Studio Art - Major (BFA)


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The BFA in Studio Art prepares students in the common body of knowledge and skills required for entry as a career artist/designer. BFA students develop technical competence, informed aesthetic judgment, and an understanding of the context in which contemporary work is created. They also receive sound instruction in other academic disciplines in order to have a full opportunity for success in the profession. The BFA in Studio Art puts the focus on developing thesis work that reflects interdisciplinary research and inquiry, as well as indicating a high degree of proficiency in one medium.

Students choose an area of emphasis in the discipline of painting, printmaking, photography, jewelry/metalsmithing, sculpture, or ceramics. Intermediate level studio courses focus on introduction of art techniques and exposure to historical and contemporary work specific to the medium.  In advanced studios, the emphasis shifts to refining technique and articulating concepts, as well as preparing a career portfolio and a BFA thesis exhibition.

The BFA, which is often preferred for admission to graduate schools, equips students to compete in an art market in which technology and globalization provide increasing opportunities for cultural production and exchange. Diverse job opportunities include working as teaching artists, free-lance designers, studio artists, art administrators, architects, filmmakers, movie set sculptors, industry designers, art conservators, exhibition designers, curators, etc. Our students are particularly likely to combine art with other disciplines, giving them the tools to enter cross-disciplinary careers.

To be a fine artist requires vision, discipline, and daily practice. It also requires a supportive environment where creativity is encouraged and nurtured. Guided by professors who are artist/mentors, Nazareth BFA students develop a strong portfolio and an understanding of basic professional art practices, including the ability to organize projects and to communicate concepts and designs.

The BFA in Studio Art degree requires 58 credits in art, including foundation courses in drawing, design, digital imaging, and advanced coursework as well as 12 credits in art history. Before declaring a studio emphasis students must select five 200 level studios in order to explore a variety of media across 2D and 3D areas. A studio emphasis consists of 5 courses in a single medium and becomes the focus of the students BFA Senior Thesis.

Students must have an AP score of 5 to place out of any Art Foundation courses (Art 101, 102, 106, 107). The use of any art AP credit toward completion of the art major is discouraged. An AP score of 4 or 5 may be used as studio art elective credits.

Nazareth University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

  1. Competency in studio practice: Attain competency in composing the elements of art with the principles of design in two and three dimensions.
  2. Development of conceptual process in formulation of art works: Articulate idea development, develop visual communication strategies, and demonstrate technical facility in a range of media to convey concepts through their personal aesthetic.
  3. Exhibit and analyze art with regard to cultural context: Understand and apply knowledge of significant historical, global, and contemporary achievements and issues in art.
  4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Student Learning Outcomes
  5. Students in the Art and Design Department will show respect for all forms of diversity, practice, inclusivity, and engage in a continual process of education and critical self-reflection & dialogue.  Students will be able to: 
  • Acknowledge that individuals of diverse racial & ethnic, gender & sexuality, religious, class & cultural backgrounds create art.
  • Recognize that artmaking is an expressive practice comprising not only individual perspectives, narratives and experiences but also cultural, social, economic and political issues.
  • Synthesize knowledge from multiple disciplines including diverse traditional and contemporary art movements with their own artistic and/or scholarly vision to create unique and meaningful works of art, design or scholarship.
  • Analyze, reflect upon, discuss and/or write about their own and others’ works of art and design using culturally sensitive and inclusive language.
  • Understand the ways in which traditional art associations (including collections, apprentice workshops, museums, galleries and academies) embody institutionally biased practices.
  • Assess the symbiotic dialogue between artists and their culture, recognizing that they both reflect and influence each other.

Notes:

  • Students who transfer into the BFA program must complete eight studio courses at Nazareth University to graduate with a BFA degree.
  • Students wishing to pursue a BFA will be reviewed at the beginning of the Spring semester, Junior year. Students must have a 3.0 average in major (studio and art history classes) and submit a portfolio.

Core Curriculum Requirements


All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

Art Core


 The Art Core is designed to provide fundamental knowledge in preparation for more advanced coursework in Art. The Art core includes 12 credits in Art History and 16 credits in required studio coursework:

2D Studios


Required 2D Studio Electives: students choose two courses (6 credits) from the following:

3D Studios


Required 3D Studio Electives: students choose two courses (6 credits) from the following:

Studio Emphasis


A Studio Emphasis consists of five total courses in one of the following studio disciplines: Drawing & Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Jewelry/Metalsmithing and Ceramics. Once a student has selected their emphasis and determined with their academic advisor which two studio courses from the above Required Electives in 2D, 3D, and 2D or 3D are part of their emphasis, they will choose an additional 3 courses/9 credits from the following media/emphasis specific selection of offerings:

Free Art Electives: Studios


Students take three courses (9 credits) from any upper division ART or AVCD studio.

Art Elective: Studios or “supportive art courses”


Required Art Electives: students choose one course (3 credits) from the following:

Senior Experience


The senior experience consists of the following three courses (six credits):

Sample Program


FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
ENGW 101 Exposition    (LA) 3 ENGW 102 Argument and Research  (LA) 3
ACS 101 Academic and College Success   1 PEQ (3) (LA) 3
PEQ (1) - FYS (LA) 3 PEQ (4) (LA) 3
PEQ (2) (LA) 3 ART 102 3D Design   3
ART 101 2D Design      3 ART 107 Drawing II   3
ART 106 Drawing I   3 Health & Wellness 0
Total Semester Credits 16 Total Semester Credits 15
 
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
PEQ (5) (LA) 3 PEQ (7) (LA) 3
Science PEQ with Lab (6) (LA) 4 AHI.Q 272 Survey II: Late Renaissance thru 19th Century Art History  (LA) (VPA PEQ) (8) 3
ART 215 Professional Skills and Engagement   0 AHI 343G Art of Indigenous Peoples  (LA) 3
AVCD 154 Digital Imaging Foundation for Design /AVCD 154L Digital Imaging Foundation for Design Graphics Lab   4 2D Studio 2 3
2D Studio 1 3 Studio in Concentration 1 3
3D Studio 1 3    
Total Semester Credits 17 Total Semester Credits 15
 
JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
Integrative Studies 1 (LA) 3 Integrative Studies 2 (LA) 3
3D Studio 2 3 2D/3D Studio 3 3
Studio in Concentration 2 3 Studio in Concentration 3 3
DEIB designated course/Liberal Arts Elective 1 (LA/DEIB) 3 AHI 382 Contemporary Art  (LA) 3
AHI.Q 273 Introduction to 20th Century Art   (LA) 3 Supported Liberal Art Studio Elective 1 (LA) 3
Total Semester Credits 15 Total Semester Credits 15
 
SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
Integrative Studies 3 (LA) 3 Studio in Concentration 5 3
Studio in Concentration 4 3 Studio Elective 3 3
Studio Elective 1 3 Supported Art Elective 1 3
Studio Elective 2 3 ART 495 BFA Capstone Seminar/Senior Thesis   3
Liberal Arts Elective 2 (LA) 3 ART 365 Issues in Art  (LA) 3
Experiential Learning Pathway 0 ART 499 Art Comprehensive   0
    CME 050 Core Milestone Experience   0
Total Semester Credits 15 Total Semester Credits 15

NOTES:

  • Bold  courses are only offered in Fall or Spring.
  • Liberal Arts courses are noted with LA (30 credits required).

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