Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (BFA in Art)
The Department of Art offers undergraduate instruction leading to a baccalaureate degree in fine art (BFA in Art) with tracks in applied design, fine art, and art education. The BFA in Art is available to students who are admitted to the program through a review process that includes portfolio and transcript review, a letter of purpose, and a short interview. For the current academic year requirements for the review process and the application form, click here.
The BFA in Art has three tracks: fine art (studio art), applied design, and art education. The fine art track offers specialization or emphasis areas in drawing, painting, graphic design, illustration, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The applied design track offers emphasis areas in furniture design, metals and ceramics. The art education track prepares students for licensure to teach art at the kindergarten through secondary school level as well as allowing these students to develop a BFA studio or applied design emphasis.
BFA Candidacy Expectations
Candidates for this degree must possess remarkable talent and passion, artistic curiosity, and a strong commitment to this highly intensive pre-professional degree program. Studio experiences are of the utmost importance in the development of the student for a professional career in art or design or for those seeking a graduate degree and should be treated as such. Students are expected to achieve a high level of technical skill in their medium and its expressive possibilities. Dedication to achieving high standards must begin in the first year of study as an art major and continue until the completion of the BFA in Art Senior Show and presentation.
Once admitted to the BFA program students are expected to work closely with their faculty towards completion of the degree.
No grade less than C will be accepted in any art course required within any art major or minor.
The undraped human figure is a significant subject within the studio art and art history curriculum.
Senior Show for BFA in Art/Fine Art, Applied Design, and Art Education Tracks
BFA students in the last two semesters of their senior year are required to register for ARST 4394 and ARST 4395, BFA Projects 1 and 2, which are taken in consecutive semesters. In the final semester BFA students in the fine art and applied design tracks also register for ARST 4397, Capstone in the Visual Arts. For students in the art education track, their student teaching functions as the capstone experience. As part of course requirements, students will prepare an exhibition of their work. The senior show will be scheduled by the gallery curator, and must be approved by the student’s major advisor, academic advisor, the gallery curator, and the department chairperson. Each student must also give an oral presentation in the form of a PowerPoint presentation before the faculty, students, and invited guests. The oral presentation will be scheduled and approved by the ARST 4397 faculty of record, major advisor, and, if appropriate, also by the gallery curator. The Department of Art, with student approval, occasionally selects outstanding student work to add to its teaching collection.
Studio Art Work
Students retain copyright to all two-dimensional, three-dimensional, time-based, and electronic art work created in the Department of Art; they grant a nonexclusive license to exhibit, display, reproduce, perform, or adapt these works at the discretion of the faculty. Works left in an departmental facility at the end of any semester or summer session may be removed or discarded at the discretion of the faculty.
Senior Portfolio for BFA Majors
As part of a BFA student’s capstone requirements, studio majors will prepare a portfolio of 20 images documenting their senior show and other work, along with a written artist’s statement (three to six pages double-spaced). Portfolio images are presented in a CD format. This portfolio must be approved by the ARST 4397 faculty of record, the major advisor and department chair. The portfolio will be due one week before the last class day, and will become the property of the Department of Art.
Advisors
The department has advisors for both undergraduate and graduate students. Incoming freshmen and transfer students should contact the department chair, Professor Win Bruhl, wgbruhl@ualr.edu, for initial advising. Continuing undergraduates should contact Professors Marjorie Williams-Smith (mwsmith@ualr.edu), Jane Brown (jhbrown@ualr.edu), or Floyd Martin (fwmartin@ualr.edu) for assistance with their academic programs.
Students interested in public school teaching should contact Professor Heidi Mullins at (hcmullins@ualr.edu).
Undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 100 academic credits should contact Professor Aj Smith (ajsmith1@ualr.edu).
Prospective or current students may also call the art department at (501) 569-3182 to contact an advisor.
Transfer Students
Students transferring to UALR who intend to major in art should contact the department chairman, Win Bruhl, (wgbruhl@ualr.edu) before enrolling to arrange for advising. Students may be required to take additional hours in areas where deficiencies are noted.
Transfer students must complete at least nine hours of their studio concentration at UALR. For example, a student who has 15 hours accepted in transfer credit for painting must complete an additional nine hours of painting at UALR if painting is the studio concentration.
BFA in Art Questions?
If you have any questions about the BFA in Art Program or its application process, please contact us at:bfaquestions@ualr.edu
Please allow at least 72 hours for a response.