Students should plan a tentative outline of their academic program with their advisors in their major department as soon as they matriculate or declare a major. They should continue to revise and update their plan each year as they progress through their education.

The following are minimum requirements for any major. Further and detailed requirements can be found in the departmental statements in this bulletin. The specific departmental requirements that must be fulfilled by each student are those published in the bulletin current at the time the major is declared, or those in the bulletin current at the time of graduation, whichever the student chooses.

Admission to the B.F.A. Program

Admission to the B.F.A. program is based upon a portfolio and transcript review at the end of the sophomore year.  Prerequisites for admission include:

1.  Completion of the following courses:

• A101 and A102 art history (6 cr.)
• Fundamental studio (9 cr.)
• Two, 200 level studio classes
• English W131 (3 cr.)
• One of the following math courses:  M100, M118, M119, M125 or M215

2.  Portfolio review by departmental committee

Requirements Va (57 cr.)

• Fundamental Studio (9 cr.)
• Studio courses above 100 level (48 cr.) must include a minimum of three and a maximum of six of the introductory (200) level courses
• FINA-S497 Independent Study in Studio Art, Capstone, for the Spring semester during the final year. (1 cr.)

Requirements Vb (14 cr.)

• FINA-A101 and FINA-A102 art history (6 cr.)
• Two 300 level art history (6 cr.)
• FINA-A435 Art Theory, Capstone, for juniors and seniors, taken in the Fall semester (2 cr.)

During the final year, each student must assume full responsibility for mounting a personal exhibit that will include terminal and representative work in the major field and, if applicable, in the minor field as well. To meet this requirement, the student must:

• File in the departmental office an "Intent to Graduate" one calendar year prior to the intended completion date. You must meet with your principal teacher to determine if you are prepared to enroll in FINA-S 497.
• Submit a portfolio of the most recent and best work in the major discipline to the departmental office before the completion of the fall semester, prior to enrolling in FINA-S 497. The studio program in the final year shall be coordinated with the evaluation of the portfolio.
• Prepare the exhibit under the principal teacher's guidance. This will include drafting a descriptive statement about the work in the exhibit: goals, intent, approach, techniques, etc.
• Be prepared to exhibit in accordance with the departmental schedule at any time during the final semester. FINA-A 435 and FINA-S 497 fulfill the capstone requirement.
• Graduating Senior Exhibit
• Students must also complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences
• The final grade for FINA-S497 will be based on the Senior Exhibit, and will be determined by a faculty committee.
• At least 71 credit hours must be taken in the major (Fine Arts and Art History), and the cumulative grade point average of courses used to satisfy the major (Group Va) must be at least 2.0.
• Any course in which the student receives a grade below C- (1.7) may not be used to fulfill requirements for the major. However, any non-repeated course that the student passes will count toward the 120 credit hour total.
• At least 10 credit hours within the major discipline must be completed while in residence at IU Northwest.
• Individual departments may require a minor of 15 to 20 credit hours in another subject. Any course taken to satisfy the requirements of a minor must be completed with a grade of C- or higher; and the cumulative grade point average of all courses taken in the minor must be at least 2.0 (C). At least 6 credit hours of courses in the minor must be taken in residence at IU Northwest. (See the individual departmental listing.)
• Online Fine Arts studio classes cannot be used to fulfill Fine Arts degree requirements at IU Northwest.
• Students must take 3 credit hours of capstone course work. These courses may also be counted toward fulfilling other arts and sciences degree requirements (e.g., intensive writing, major, 300-400 level). Consult departmental advisors for details.

For procedure regarding change of major, see the Student Ombudsperson in the College office.