B.A. in Visual Arts

The B.A. in Visual Arts comprises three distinct areas of emphasis:

Fine Arts

Graphic Design

Art History/Arts Management

The B.A. Visual Arts, Fine Arts and Graphic Design emphases are 48 unit programs. They share the same four core courses (16 units):

• 0107 - 105 The Imaginary Museum
• 0107 - 102 Art History II: Art and Society
• 0107 - 120 Studio Systems
• 0107 - 210 Drawing 1

Fine Arts Emphasis requires five fine arts studio courses in addition to the core.

Graphic Design Emphasis requires five studio courses (20 units) in addition to the core requirements.

• 0107 - 150 Introduction to Graphic Design
• 0107 - 252 Publication Design
• 0107 - 262 Identity Design
• 0107 - 365 Design for the Web
• 0107 - 385 Graphic Design Outreach

Students are encouraged to take elective courses in related disciplines in both emphases.

Graphic Design Electives - Choose a minimum of two (8 units)

• 0107 - 350 Advanced Typographic Systems
• 0107 - 355 Design Internship
• 0107 - 410 Motion Graphics
• 0107 - 460 Design Portfolio

Required Arts Elective* - Choose a minimum of 1 (4 units)

*At least 1 course from Fine Arts or Arts Management emphasis is required to fulfill the Required Arts Elective. It is recommended that Graphic Design majors take Photography or Printmaking, but students are free to take any other Fine Arts or Arts Management class to fulfill this requirement.

Art History/Arts Management Emphasis is a 44 unit program comprised of the following courses:

• 0107 - 105 The Imaginary Museum
• 0107 - 102 Art History II: Art and Society
• Two additional art history courses
• 0107 - 200 Museum Studies 1
• 0107 - 221 Connoisseurship
• 0107 - 150 Introduction to Graphic Design
• 0107 - 420 Art and Business

Three internships, one in a fine arts museum, one in a commercial gallery, and one in an arts non-profit setting are offered.

Learning Outcomes for the B.A. in Visual Arts

• Students will gain a solid historical foundation from the inception of pre-historical art, to the most recent historical contextualizations of contemporary art, with a wide knowledge of the cultural diversity of art movemetns and their associated critical theories, both locally and globally.
• Students will gain a solid foundation in the technical skills and conceptual skills involved in the production of visual artwork while being nurtured in a creative environment that encourages experimentation. Instruction in a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, as well as time-based art will teach students how to use these skills to find their own individual artistic voices.
• Students will be experienced in evaluating the success and professional quality of their own artwork and the artwork of their peers, through the regular classroom process of rigorous, yet supportive, group and individual critiques.
• Students will graduate with a deep appreciation and knowledge of how to use their skills as visual artists to help to create social change and to help transform the world. Visual Art students will graduate with solid connection to, and working relationships with, local, national and international community-based organizations, educational institutions, art galleries and art museums; paving their paths for continued and future associations with the world beyond USF as graduate students, artists and as citizens.