All regular programs—Art Education, Graphic Design, Painting, and Sculpture—lead to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. For this degree the candidate must meet the following requirements:

1. Satisfactory completion of all courses in the chosen program of study as determined by the School of Visual Arts
2. Completion of a program of study equaling 132 semester credits, registering for eight semesters as a full-time student or the equivalent
3. Demonstration of proficiency satisfactory to the faculty in all technical or professional courses

Requirements for Entering Major Areas

To enter into a major, students must have completed foundation requirements.

To be permitted to move from the junior to the senior year, a student must receive a grade of C or higher in his or her major subject.

A student who has received a D and is therefore disqualified from entering any major area may submit a portfolio of work to a committee composed of the faculty member who gave the grade of D and the faculty teaching in the major area, with a petition that the admission requirements for entrance to the major area be waived. The requirement for admission may be waived at the Director’s discretion in consultation with the faculty committee.

Five-Year BFA/MA Program

Undergraduate students who wish to major in graphic design, painting, or sculpture, but would also like to obtain state licensure to teach art in the public schools, can combine an undergraduate studio art major (BFA) with a Master of Arts (MA) in Studio Teaching degree. This master’s program includes all licensure requirements.

Combining the BFA and MA degree programs can be accomplished in five years by taking liberal arts electives during summer sessions. This program meets the standards set forth in the Massachusetts state regulations for both initial and ensuing professional licensure.

Minor in Visual Arts

The minor in visual arts is designed for students who want an introduction to the concepts and functions of the visual arts offered in a professional training program.

The program consists of a 20-credit sequence of courses. The required course is CFA AR 193 Visual Arts: Drawing I, for 4 credits. Space permitting and with portfolio approval, either CFA AR 131 or 132 (Drawing for Majors) can count in place of AR 193. The remaining 16 credits are to be selected from visual arts elective courses. Studio courses within the School of Visual Arts not listed below may be included in a minor sequence but approval for registration into any of these courses is dependent upon submission of a portfolio and/or faculty approval. With approval, visual arts minor students may take up to four studio credits at a comparable art institution.

Outline of Study

Required Courses (8 credits):

Choose 16 more credits from the following:

Course offerings may vary from semester to semester.

Students must earn a grade of C or better in courses applied toward the minor.

Liberal Arts Requirements

The School of Visual Arts BFA degrees in Painting, Graphic Design, and Sculpture require a minimum of 28 credits of liberal arts elective courses. The BFA in Art Education requires 24 liberal arts credits to complete the course of study for graduation. All majors require WR 100 and varying credits of Art History and Contemporary Issues.  The following distribution guidelines will be in effect for Liberal Arts electives starting with the Class of 2012.

The Liberal Arts electives must include a variety of courses that fulfill one of the following three tracks:

1. A Liberal Arts distribution as follows:
   1. Sciences/Social Sciences/History, 8 credits
   2. Language/Literature/Philosophy, 8 credits

   or

2. A Minor through an approved CAS designated program of study.
   or
3. An individually designed plan of study (i.e.: Arts Administration or Russian Literature) outlined in a detailed written proposal, and pre-approved by the student’s faculty advisor at the end of the first year of study.

Art Education Program of Study

The BFA requires 132 semester credits.

5-Year Art Education Program of Study

The courses in boldface are those that count toward the Master’s in Studio Teaching. They are a total of 20 credits. They may be taken as soon as the Foundation requirements (including Intro to Art Education in the Sophomore year) have been completed. The other non-boldface courses should be taken as electives in compliance with licensing requirements in this and most other states. They can be taken anytime in the 4-year schedule and do NOT count toward the MA in Studio Teaching degree. They DO count as major electives.

The 5th year of the program is done as a graduate student and follows the completion of the BFA in Graphic Design, Painting, or Sculpture.

The Master of Arts program in Art Education is designed for teachers who already have state licensure or for individuals who are interested in the field of art education for reasons other than teaching licensure. Students design an individual course of study by selecting a combination of art education, liberal arts, and studio art classes.

The Master of Arts programs in Art Education and Studio Teaching allow students to concentrate on developing methods that teach children and adolescents to think visually and to create art that has personal meaning. Graduate students become a cohesive community of art educators and studio practitioners.

The School of Visual Arts is pleased to also offer an online master of arts in art education for experienced teachers who are unable to relocate. Please refer to our website for additional information.

Art Education Curriculum

• Art Education
• Clinical Practicum or studio elective
• Studio or liberal arts electives
• Related studies

Community Outreach

Art education graduate students visit local galleries and museums to gain practical experience working with students in school and community settings. While studying behavioral characteristics of the art learner and drawing development across the life span, students in methods courses develop studio lessons that include critical and reflective components. Children from local school systems are invited to attend special programs held at the School of Visual Arts. The “Drawing in the Galleries” program is both an enrichment experience for K–8 students and an early internship teaching experience for art education graduate students. Pre-practicum experiences also include the teaching of students identified as gifted in the visual arts at Morse Elementary School in neighboring Cambridge.

“Portfolio Preparation for High School Juniors” offers local high school students a Saturday course taught by art education majors under the direction of our faculty to prepare work for college portfolios. Boston Prep, located in Hyde Park, offers an exciting elective photography course for high school students supported through partnerships with the Photographic Resource Center, the New England Institute of Art, and the Boston University Art Education program.