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.

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
   3. Additional Liberal Arts electives, 12 credits (except 8 credits for Art Education) Students who test out of WR100 by taking the Boston University Writing Assessment (BUWA) must take an additional four credits of liberal arts electives from category C.

   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.

Graphic Design Program of Study

The BFA requires 132 semester credits. Requirements for students entering the graphic design major will change for the class of 2014 and beyond. Please consult the School of Visual Arts for details.

The Master of Fine Arts program in Graphic Design is a conceptually based, two-year, 60-credit course of study. The program consists of regular critiques by a faculty of practicing professionals as well as training in advanced design technology. Research and discussion involve both modernist and postmodernist design theory and their application to contemporary graphic design. Students are encouraged to explore new ideas, maintain and promote the highest design standards, and keep fully abreast of contemporary developments in the field of graphic design.

Critiques, research, and discussion form the basis of the Graphic Design curriculum. Lectures by nationally and internationally distinguished designers and direct contact with the industry further enhance the curriculum. The final year of study is devoted primarily to the Master’s thesis—presented in an exhibition—for which a student is expected to make an original contribution to the field of graphic design.

Although Graphic Design students have full access to the computer lab in the College of Fine Arts, each student is required to own a personal laptop computer for work outside of the School.

Travel Opportunities

Graduate graphic design students may choose to study in London during the summer. Students participating in the London Summer Term program take courses in graphic design and advertising and visit numerous London design studios.

Graphic Design Curriculum

• Graduate Graphic Design
• Directed Study: Graphic Design Thesis preparation and development
• History of Graphic Design
• Free electives
• Graphic design electives