Roski School of Art and Design

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The BFA is a four-year studio intensive program in preparation for a career in the fine arts, design 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 BFA 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 BFA requires a total of 128 units, including 96 units of fine art requirements.

In addition to the fine arts required courses, BFA 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 advisers. Electives are typically clustered in a particular field, but may be spread across different areas.

Required Courses		Units
FACS 150	Visual Culture and Literacy I	4
FACS 250	Visual Culture and Literacy II	4
FACS 350	Art Theory and Criticism	4
FACS 450x	Senior Seminar	4
FADN 102	Design Fundamentals	4
FADW 101	Introduction to Drawing: Studio Projects, Methods, Materials	4
FASC 106	Sculpture I	4

One course from the following:
AHIS 363	Race, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Art	4
AHIS 370	Modern Art III: 1940 to the Present	4
PAS 371	Art in the Public Realm: Contemporary Issues	4

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 The USC Core and the General Education Program for more information.

Bachelor of Arts, Art

The Bachelor of Arts program offers a more flexible and broad academic education than the bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree while still providing a meaningful experience in the studio area and preparation for many design- and art-related careers. The degree provides the student with the opportunity to double major or to combine an art major with a minor in various fields. Some possibilities for minors include communication, multimedia, education, business, film, animation and many other options.

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 advisers. Electives are typically clustered in a particular field, but may be spread across different areas.

Required Courses		Units
FACS 150	Visual Culture and Literacy I	4
FACS 250	Visual Culture and Literacy II	4
FACS 350	Art Theory and Criticism	4
FADN 102	Design Fundamentals	4
FADW 101	Introduction to Drawing: Studio Projects, Methods, Materials	4
FASC 106	Sculpture I	4

One course from the following:
AHIS 363	Race, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Art	4
AHIS 370	Modern Art III: 1940 to the Present	4
PAS 371	Art in the Public Realm: Contemporary Issues	4

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, 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 The USC Core and the General Education Program for more information.