Program Description

The B.F.A. is for the student who seeks a professional degree that can lead to continued study on the graduate level or for the student who plans to make a career in Fine Arts. Acceptance into the B.F.A. program requires a formal application and portfolio review of artwork consistent with the intended concentration. Studio Areas/concentrations include Ceramics, Digital Art and Interactive Media, Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, and Printmaking.

Mission/Vision Statement

The mission of the Fine Arts program at Indiana University Southeast is to continuously design, build, and implement high quality programs of study in the visual arts and art history that supports, integrates, and contributes to the missions of the School of Arts and Letters and the University. The program affirms and nurtures the intellectual and creative spirits of each individual while providing knowledge and structure to promote the appreciation and understanding of art and art history and of their contributions to the cultures and histories of humanity. Each student is encouraged to develop their own unique vision and critical thinking methods, and to come to a greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse responses and contributions of others. Students will explore how and why they work creatively, as well as develop appreciation for art in both a contemporary and historical context.

Fine Arts Studio Learning Goals

• Students will be able to conceptualize their ideas visually
• Students will be able to express their interests and goals as artists
• Students will be able to analyze and evaluate their own art
• Students will be able to describe, analyze, interpret and judge the work of other artists
• Students will have knowledge of the vocabulary and concepts used in the study and creation of art
• Students will acquire knowledge and the ability to participate in discourse pertaining to history, art, and culture
• Students will gain a greater understanding of critical thinking methods used in art history, contemporary art, and studio practices
• Students will research and write extensively about their own work and the work of others

Fine Arts Program Studio Policies and Degree Requirements

 Students are responsible for degree requirements and the Fine Arts program polices which include:

• Foundations Portfolio Review: All Fine Arts students must have a foundations portfolio review. Passing the review is required prior to entering the BA and/or BFA programs and is independent of all studio grades.  The portfolio review will also be used to identify weaknesses in a student's progress.  During the portfolio review, artwork is formally evaluated.
• Professional Disposition: The IU Southeast Fine Arts Program has determined that a student's demonstration of professional disposition and his/her adherence to specified minimum standards of conduct are essential to the successful participation in and completion of the program.  The IU Southeast Fine Arts Disposition Code is a program-level set of minimum standards that complements but does not supersede the broader IU Code of Students Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.  The specific standards of the code and its implementation will be made available to students in course syllabi.
• Senior Year Requirements: During the spring semester of senior year students participate in an exhibition of their work.
• Art Transfer Credit Review: Transfer students with art credit from other institutions must have a transfer portfolio review in order to determine which courses from other institutions will be accepted as satisfying the Indiana University Southeast Fine Arts studio requirements. For guidelines for submitting a transfer portfolio, please contact the School of Arts and Letters Academic Advising office.
• Academic Standing in Fine Arts Studio Courses: Students must receive a grade of C or higher in all studio and art history courses. A student can repeat a course no more than two times. If the required course is not passed with a grade of C or higher a student will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Fine Arts Scholarships and Awards

• Outstanding Student Award
• Martha K. Stem Scholarship
• Kate Torp Scholarship
• Rebecca Jennings Award
• Adam Woeppel Scholarship

Common Requirements/Core Program:  All B.F.A. students are required to take a core set of classes in the program.

General Education Component

 Note: This is not a re-statement of the University's General Education Requirement but a list of specific General Education courses, which are also requirements or pre-requisites for course work in the school/major.

200-level Studio Courses

All B.F.A students in Fine Arts must take the required 200-level course in each of the six studio concentration areas.

Bachelor of Fine Art with Studio Concentrations (B.F.A.)

To be eligible to apply to the B.F.A., students must also have completed a minimum of two of the required 200-level studio courses with concurrent enrollment in the third. Once accepted into the B.F.A program, all students must take an additional 21 credits of 300 and 400-level required courses in their studio concentration area.

Permission required for all studio courses beyond the foundation level.  The School of Arts and Letters advisor must approve any exceptions.

Upper-Level Requirements for Completion of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) with a studio major - In addition to the required fundamental studios, all 200-level studios, required 300 and 400-level courses in their studio major.

B.F.A. Capstone

All B.F.A. studio majors must take FINA-U 400 (B.F.A. Seminar) in the fall semester before their graduation.  In addition, in spring semester before graduation all B.F.A. studio majors are required to take FINA-G 400 (B.F.A. Final Review), which includes a written thesis, a defense of that thesis in an oral presentation, and a formal exhibition of their work.  B.F.A. seniors will also prepare a digital portfolio of their work that will be kept on file in the Fine Arts program.

Special Requirements for Concentrations:

Ceramics Concentration

Digital Art & Interactive Media Concentration

Drawing Concentration

Graphic Design Concentration

Permission for S305 is required from the Design Center Coordinator and can be used to substitute for credit hours in S452.

Painting Concentration

Printmaking Concentration