Dec 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Art Major, B.F.A.


Department of Art  

College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

  Available Program Format(s): In-Person  

About the Program


The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art prepares students to be critical, creative thinkers and makers. Students often become practicing artists who exhibit their work in professional settings and might continue their research in graduate studies. The Department of Art and MSU Denver are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (N.A.S.A.D.).

Student Outcomes


  • Make artworks that show evidence of intellectual inquiry and curiosity; 
  • Convey ideas that are consistently reinforced through the execution of cohesive work(s) that are the result of the process of making; 
  • Use effective and eloquent oral, written, and visual communication of enduring ideas.

General Degree Requirements


To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements. 

Program Requirements


  • A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation. 
  • A grade of C- or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.  
  • Art majors who elect to take a minor may not minor in Studio Art.
  • Art History, Theory and Criticism is a distinct academic discipline from Art, Art Education, or Communication Design, although all reside within the Department of Art and share common foundational requirements. 
  • All students entering the department wishing to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art will be admitted under the B.A. in Art. Entrance into the B.F.A. program is contingent on passing a formal portfolio review upon completing 21 credits in ART, CDES, or ARTH, inclusive of the 18 hours of foundations courses required for all students in the department. Students must earn a minimum of a 2.75 G.P.A. in this coursework in the major at the time of portfolio review and have completed the Written Communication, Oral Communication, and Quantitative Literacy General Studies requirements. 
  • Students who are not admitted to the B.F.A. degree may reapply up to three times. 
  • At least 33 upper-division credits hours in the major are required.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits


Students should consult the General Studies Requirements  for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.  

  • Written Communication (6 credits) 
  • Oral Communication (3 credits) 
  • Quantitative Literacy (3 credits) 
  • Arts and Humanities (6 credits) 
  • Historical (3 credits) 
  • Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits) 
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits) 
  • Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**) 

 

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences. 

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits


  • Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement  for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.  
  • Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.

Post-foundation Courses Required for all B.F.A. in Art Majors: 12 credits


Studio Emphasis: 15 credits


Complete 9 credits in one of the studio areas listed below

Complete an additional 6 credits in a complementary studio area. If the emphasis is in a two-dimensional area, the complementary area would be one of the three-dimensional areas; if the emphasis is in a three-dimensional area, the complementary area would be one of the two-dimensional areas. Students may select Digital and Emerging Art Practices for either a 2D or 3D area, but not both.

Students must take at least two intermediate studio courses: one in the emphasis and one in the complementary studio area.

Please note that all intermediate level studio specific area courses require you to have completed the following as prerequisites:

  • ART 1101: Studio Foundations: 2D
  • ART 1501: Studio Foundations 3D
  • ART 1531: Studio Foundations 4D
  • A beginning level course in that specific studio area
  • ARTH 1800: Art of the Modern and Contemporary World
  • ARTH 1600 or 1700 (please note that both must be taken prior to enrolling in ART 4101: Advanced Interdisciplinary Studio)

Two-dimensional Studio Areas

  • Drawing
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Digital and Emerging Arts Practices

Three-dimensional Studio Areas

  • Ceramics
  • Jewelry
  • Sculpture
  • Digital and Emerging Arts Practices

Studio Emphases: Two-Dimensional


Digital and Emerging Art Practices


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3632 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3632.

Drawing Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis:

Painting Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis:

Photography Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3672 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3672.

Printmaking Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3682 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3682.

Studio Emphases: Three-Dimensional


Ceramics Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis:

Digital and Emerging Art Practices


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3632 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3632.

Jewelry Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3652 and ART 3654 are repeatable and can be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3652 and 3654.

Sculpture Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3692 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3692.

Integrated Media Courses: 12 credits


The Art Department offers a pool of interdisciplinary, thematic-based courses under the designation “integrated media.” These courses explore new approaches and technologies, and cross the boundaries between media. The B.F.A. in Art requires 12 credits of integrated media courses, and all students are encouraged to take advantage of these innovative offerings.

The following courses are designated as integrated media:

Departmental Electives: 18 credits


18 additional hours in ART, ARTH, ARTE or CDES classes need to be completed as a component of this degree. At least 9 of these should have an ART prefix. 6 of the 18 must be upper division.

Summary of Requirements


General Studies Requirements 33 credits
ESSJ Requirement 0-3 credits
Art Foundation Requirements 18 credits
Post Foundation Requirements 12 credits
Studio Emphasis 15 credits
Integrated Media Courses 12 credits
ART Major Electives 18 credits
Senior Experience 3 credits
Unrestricted Electives 6-15 credits
Total for the Art Major, B.F.A. 120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.