Univ of Southern California
University of Southern California
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Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The B.F.A. is a four-year studio intensive program in preparation for a career in the fine arts, and/or related fields or pursuit of a master of fine arts degree. With few required courses or electives and a wide variety of media from which to choose, the B.F.A. provides ample opportunity to explore and develop a strong personal vision in art.

Introductory courses focus on technique and conceptual context while building a solid grounding in art history and critical theory. Advanced students work on self-generated independent projects under the guidance and mentoring of individual faculty members. Emphasis in the last year is on the production of a professional quality portfolio of work.

Curriculum Requirements

The B.F.A. requires a total of 128 units, including 96 units of fine art requirements.

In addition to the fine arts required courses, B.F.A. students are encouraged to explore in greater depth an area of art in which they have an interest. Students should select electives based on their personal and professional goals and in consultation with academic advisors. Electives are typically clustered in a particular field but may be spread across different areas.

Required CoursesUnits
FACS 150Visual Culture and Literacy I4
FACS 250Visual Culture and Literacy II4
FACS 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FACS 450xSenior Seminar4
FADN 102Design Fundamentals4
FADW 101Introduction to Drawing: Studio Projects, Methods, Materials4
FASC 106Sculpture I4

One course from the following:
AHIS 363Race, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Art4
AHIS 370Modern Art III: 1940 to the Present4
PAS 371Art in the Public Realm: Contemporary Issues4

Fine Arts electives:
Select 24 additional units from any 100-299 studio courses, no “x” classes

Select 40 additional units from any 300-499 studio courses

Total Units: 96

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.

Bachelor of Arts, Art

The bachelor of arts is a liberal arts degree that provides the student with a combination of studio art and the choice of a minor field of study such as communication, multimedia, education, business, film or computer animation. The B.A. program offers a more flexible and broad academic education than the bachelor of fine arts degree while still providing a meaningful experience in the studio area that can be an asset in preparing for many art-related careers.

Curriculum Requirements

The bachelor of arts (B.A.) requires a total of 128 units including 64 units of fine arts requirements.

In addition to the fine arts required courses. B.A. students should select electives based on their personal and professional goals and in consultation with academic advisors. Electives are typically clustered in a particular field but may be spread across different areas.

Required CoursesUnits
FACS 150Visual Culture and Literacy I4
FACS 250Visual Culture and Literacy II4
FACS 350Art Theory and Criticism4
FADN 102Design Fundamentals4
FADW 101Introduction to Drawing: Studio Projects, Methods, Materials4
FASC 106Sculpture I4

One course from the following:
AHIS 363Race, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Art4
AHIS 370Modern Art III: 1940 to the Present4
PAS 371Art in the Public Realm: Contemporary Issues4

Fine Arts electives:
Select 12 additional units from any 100-299 studio courses, no “x” classes

Select 24 additional units from the following:
300-499 studio. At least four units must be from one of the following classes: FACE 412, FADN 402, FADW 401, FAIN 410, FAIN 420, FAPH 409, FAPR 411, FAPT 405, FASC 406

Total Units: 64

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing, foreign language and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.