Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Fine Arts-Studio Arts)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Fine Arts-Art History)

Bachelor of Fine Arts

This is a four-year professional program in preparation for a career in the fine arts and/or pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts degree. A common core curriculum in the first two years provides a general studies base and introductory studio experiences in two- and three-dimensional arts. The Bachelor of Fine Arts program provides flexibility to account for individual student preference and maturation in the chosen area of specialization. There will be a review process after the third semester of the lower division core sequence. Students will then be encouraged either to continue with a Bachelor of Fine Arts program or pursue the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts). A grade of C or higher is required in departmental courses for all undergraduate majors in the School of Fine Arts.

Curriculum Requirements

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) requires a total of 128 units, distributed as follows.

First Year, Fall		Units
COMP 101	Introduction to Expository Writing	4
FA 101a	Drawing I	3
FA 102	Two-Dimensional Design	3
FA 112	Ceramics	3
FA 120	Western Art to 1500	4
		____
		17

First Year, Spring		Units
COMP 102	Topics in Expository Writing	4
FA 101b	Drawing I	3
FA 106a	Sculpture I	3
FA 105	Painting I	3
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
		____
		16

Second Year, Fall		Units
FA 106b	Sculpture I	3
FA 201a	Drawing II	3
FA 205a	Painting II	3
FA 209a	Photography	3
General education		4
		____
		16

Second Year, Spring		Units
FA 204	Introduction to Art Theory and Criticism	3
FA 205b	Painting II	3
FA 206	Sculpture II	3
FA 209b	Photography	3
General education		4
		____
		16

Third Year, Fall	Units
Art History 300/400 level	4
Foundations of Non-Western Cultures	4
Studio 300/400 level	4
Studio 300/400 level	4
	___
	16

Third Year, Spring		Units
FA 275	Contemporary Art Survey	3
General education		4
Studio 300/400 level		4
Studio 300/400 level		4
		____
		15

Fourth Year, Fall		Units
FA 404	Senior Seminar	3
Studio 300/400 level		4
Studio 300/400 level		4
General education		4
		____
		15

Fourth Year, Spring	Units
Studio 300/400 level	4
Studio 300/400 level	4
Studio 300/400 level	4
General education	4
	____
	16

General Education Requirements

Skill Level, Composition

Expository Writing 101 and 102 and meet the composition skill level requirement.

Areas of Study

Requirements from the general education areas of study are: the Natural World, one course; American Public Life, one course; Western Culture I or II, FA 120; Non-Western Cultures, one course; Literature, one course; the Arts, FA 121; Empirical Approaches, one course; Ethical Approaches, one course.

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts-Studio Arts)

The Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts-Studio Arts) is offered in collaboration with the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The program of study provides the student with a combination of studio experience, art history and academic subjects fulfilling the general education requirements of USC.

The program offers a more liberal, academic education than the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, while still providing a meaningful experience in the studio area. There will be a review process after the third semester of the lower division core sequence. Exceptionally talented students may then be encouraged by the faculty to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. A grade of C or higher is required in departmental courses for all undergraduate majors in the School of Fine Arts.

Curriculum Requirements

The degree requires a total of 128 semester units distributed as follows.

First Year, Fall		Units
COMP 101	Introduction to Expository Writing	4
FA 101a	Drawing I	3
FA 102	Two-Dimensional Design	3
FA 112	Ceramics	3
FA 120	Western Art to 1500	4
		____
		17

First Year, Spring		Units
COMP 102	Topics in Expository Writing	4
FA 101b	Drawing I	3
FA 106a	Sculpture I	3
FA 105	Painting I	3
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
		____
		17

Second Year, Fall		Units
FA 106b	Sculpture I	3
FA 201a	Drawing II	3
FA 209a	Photography	3
Foreign Language I		4
General education		4
		____
		17

Second Year, Spring		Units
FA 204	Introduction to Art Theory and Criticism	3
Foreign Language II		4
General education		8
		____
		15

Third Year, Fall		Units
FA 205a	Painting II	3
FA 206	Sculpture II	3
FA 209b	Photography	3
Foreign Language III		4
General education		4
		____
		17

Third Year, Spring		Units
FA 275x	Contemporary Art Survey	3
FA 300/400 level Studio		4
General education		8
		____
		15

Fourth Year, Fall	Units
FA 300/400 level Art History	4
FA 300/400 level Studio	4
General education	8
	____
	16

Fourth Year, Spring	Units
FA 300/400 level Studio	4
FA 400 level Studio	2
General education	8
	____
	14

General Education Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts with a major in fine arts must complete the general education requirements of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement found on page 414. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Minor in Fine Arts

The School of Fine Arts offers a minor in fine arts as a supplement to major fields of specialization in other departments and schools for students whose academic programs do not permit the opportunity to pursue one of the school's regular degree options. A fine arts minor will emphasize painting or drawing, media-based imaging or sculpture.

Fine Arts Minor, Painting/Drawing

Required courses		Units
FA 101a	Drawing I	3
FA 102	Two-Dimensional Design	3
FA 105	Painting I	3
FA 120	Western Art to 1500, or
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
FA 201a	Drawing II, or
FA 205a	Painting II	3

After completing the above classes the student must then complete three upper division fine arts courses (12 units) in an area of emphasis chosen from the following: FA 301, 305, 401, and 405.

The total units required for the minor is 28.

Fine Arts Minor, Sculpture

Required courses		Units
FA 101a	Drawing I	3
FA 106a	Sculpture I	3
FA 112	Ceramics	3
FA 120	Western Art to 1500, or
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
FA 206	Sculpture II	3

After completing the above classes the student must then complete three upper division fine arts courses (12 units) in an area of emphasis chosen from the following: FA 306, 312, 406 and 412.

The total units required for the minor is 28.

Fine Arts Minor, Media-based Imaging

Required courses		Units
FA 101a	Drawing I	3
FA 102	Two-Dimensional Design	3
FA 120	Western Art to 1500, or
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
FA 209ab	Photography	3-3

After completing the above classes the student must then complete three upper division fine arts courses (12 units) in an area of emphasis chosen from the following: FA 302, 309, 310, 311, 402, 409, 410 and 411.

The total units required for the minor is 28.

Candidates for the minor in the School of Fine Arts will be counseled by the student affairs specialist in the School of Fine Arts and by the faculty.

Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts-Art History)

This four-year program is offered in collaboration with the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. In art history, undergraduates are provided with a sound, broad foundation in art from a variety of offerings. On this basis, exploration of the art of many eras and cultures proceeds in a program designed to develop an awareness of the integral role played by art as an expression of man and society throughout history. A grade of C or higher is required in departmental courses for all undergraduate majors in the School of Fine Arts.

Curriculum Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts-Art History requires 128 units, distributed as follows.

General Education Requirements

A total of 64 units of general education courses are required. Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts in art history must complete the general education requirements of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. All courses in the general education areas of study are to be chosen from the list of courses approved by the General Education Committee.

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Major Requirements

The major requires 48 units as follows.

Required courses, lower division		Units
FA 120	Western Art to 1500	4
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
FA 125	Introduction to Asian Art: Antiquity to 1300, or
FA 126	Introduction to Asian Art: 1300 to the Present	4
		____
		12

Upper Division Requirements (36 units)

Five courses at the 300 level to include one course from each area: 319-330, 340-356, 360-378, 384-389; plus one other 300-level course for a total of 20 units.

Four courses at the 400 level to include FA 494 Undergraduate Proseminar in Art History (4) for a total of 16 units. The following courses may be enrolled in with written permission of the dean of the School of Fine Arts: FA 495ab Undergraduate Honors Thesis (2-2) (by invitation); and FA 499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8).

Electives

The remaining 16 units of the required 128 unit total may be taken as electives.

Minor in Fine Arts-Art History

The School of Fine Arts offers a minor in fine arts-art history as a supplement to major fields of specialization in other departments and schools. A minor in fine arts-art history may emphasize a specific area of interest that will augment the student's major program of study. The minor requires a total of 24 units.

Lower Division Curriculum (8 units)

The minor requires two of the following four courses:		Units
FA 120	Western Art to 1500	4
FA 121	Western Art after 1500	4
FA 125	Introduction to Asian Art: Antiquity to 1300, or
FA 126	Introduction to Asian Art: 1300 to the Present	4

Upper Division Curriculum (12 units)

The minor requires any three courses in the 300 art history series: 319-389.

Additional 400-Level Course

The minor requires one additional 400-level course in a specific area of interest: FA 420-499.

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