Feb 22, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026 
    
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Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

Arts, BFA

In the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Columbia College you will find the tools, space, and inspiration needed to create a strong body of artwork. The BFA is a highly selective degree program intended for students who plan either to pursue a professional career in art or prepare for graduate school. Students have the opportunity to specialize in certain mediums such as Painting & Drawing, Ceramics, Photography, or Graphic Design. Interested students must apply by the fourth week of their junior year once 60 credit hours or more have been completed.

The culmination of the BFA program is a solo exhibition in one of our professional galleries. Upon being accepted into the BFA program, you will start creating, refining, and cultivating your body of work until your final exhibition.

 

Program CIP: 50.0701 - Art/Art Studies, General.

Program SOC: 27-1013 - Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

General Education Requirements (39-42 sem. hrs)

For a complete list of general education courses click here . For additional information on general education requirements click here .

Ethics Course Requirement (3 sem. hrs)

Declaration of Intention

Interested students will submit a declaration of intention to the art faculty during their first semester of junior year (requirement also applies to transfer students). Then the faculty review the candidate’s portfolio and artist statement in order to decide whether they are accepted into the BFA program.

Grade-Point Average

BFA students are required to maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in art courses, both studio and lecture.

Review of Student’s Work

Regular portfolio reviews with full faculty take place throughout the candidate’s junior and senior year. These are scheduled in advance with the BFA program coordinator.

Graduating Exhibition

In the final review, BFA student’s will present their graduating exhibition design (how the work will be presented in the assigned gallery space), a representative and significant quantity of work, and an artist statement. If granted faculty approval, the student will host their graduating exhibition and give an artist talk in the space.

Completion of at least 67-70 semester hours in Art

Students must complete 43 hours of core art courses, 24-27 hours in their emphasis area, and a minimum of 15 hours must be upper level.

Core Requirements:

All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.  Courses in the major cannot be taken as Pass/Fail (with the exception of ARTS 399  and ARTS 499 : Art/Design Internship).  67-70 semester hours in the following art courses:

Art Studio Major & Studio Electives

Student must complete 27 elective hours, a minimum of 15 hours must be upper level.  These can be in the student’s emphasis area.

Emphasis

Students must complete 24-27 hours in their selected emphasis area, a minimum of 15 hours must be upper level courses taken with Columbia College. Students will select one of the approved emphasis areas and complete the specific courses listed under that emphasis. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Courses in the emphasis cannot be taken Pass/Fail, with the exception of ARTS 499  : Art/Design Internship.

Ceramics Emphasis (24 sem. hrs)

Graphic Design Emphasis (27 sem. hrs)

Painting and Drawing Emphasis (27 sem. hrs)

Photography Emphasis (24 sem. hrs)

Jewelry Emphasis (21 sem.hrs)

Other Electives (8-11 sem. hrs)

Students may need to take an additional 8-11 elective hours in order to meet the total 120 credit hour requirement. These do not have to be designated art courses, but we recommend selecting electives that will, in some way, enhance the BFA body of artwork.

Total: 120 (sem. hrs)

The total reflects the minimum number of hours to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Some courses listed above may fulfill more than one requirement block. Please speak to your academic advisor to plan your specific degree path.