Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art at the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) at the University of the Incarnate Word is designed for students seeking to become practicing artists or intending to pursue a professional career in the arts industry.
Why a B.F.A. in Art?
Through a variety of studio art courses, students in the B.F.A. in Art program demonstrate an advanced understanding of visual art through creative practice. Students who wish to pursue a B.F.A. in Art have the creative potential and flexibility to seek a wide range of exciting art career paths, as well as prepare students for entry into the MFA program. Students graduate with a professional-level mastery of their discipline, be it drawing, photography, painting, printmaking or design or sculpture, as well as an understanding of the business of art.
B.F.A. in Art Curriculum
The B.F.A. in Art is a 124-hour degree program that provides in-depth instruction of Art through Art History courses and Studio Art courses such as drawing, design, painting, ceramics, printmaking, photography and sculpture. The hands-on learning experiences throughout the B.F.A. in Art curriculum are designed to give students the opportunity to produce creative work pieces that demonstrate individual self-expression and critical thinking. Courses in art history and criticism provide a cultural context and deeper understanding of art’s significance in the world.
Though the B.A. also offers similar courses, the B.F.A. stresses professional-level mastery in a single fine art discipline. Students in the B.F.A. in Art program choose 21 additional credit hours of a concentration in a single discipline in one of the following areas: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics or sculpture.
The B.F.A. in Art program also includes a Senior Studio and Senior Capstone requirement. A capstone course is taken in the final semester of a program and culminates the knowledge gained throughout the program through a project.
Portfolio Development
As part of the Senior Studio class, art majors will work individually with their instructor to develop a portfolio in a single discipline, be it drawing, painting, photography or sculpture. In addition to one-on-one development, class time is devoted to critique of works in progress. At the end of the course, students will have curated a professional-level portfolio that they can then use as they enter the workforce or move forward to their next endeavor.
The Kelso Art Center provides the resources and facilities needed for students to receive a superlative arts education. It has separate spaces and designated studios for drawing, painting, printmaking, photography and art history as well as three galleries, including a student gallery.
Careers in Art
UIW graduates holding a B.F.A. in Art have gone on to hold positions in a variety of careers, such as artists, studio designers, illustrators, art educators and entrepreneurs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most independent artists are self-employed. However, artists are continually projected to be needed to meet a demand in technical areas such as animation and visual effects, and they are key to such industries as advertising and marketing, manufacturing through package design, media and publishing, and other areas. The median annual wage for arts and design occupations was reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as $48,130 in May 2019, higher than the medium annual wage.