Program Description

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 studio students must have a foundations portfolio review.  Passing the review is required prior to application to the BFA program.  The portfolio review will also be used to identify weaknesses in a student's progress.  During the portfolio review, students are formally evaluated on their artwork.  Passage of the review is independent of all studio grades and is required application into the BFA program.
• 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:  Students must be enrolled in their major studio area the fall and spring semesters prior to graduation.  Students also must be enrolled in U400 in the fall and G400 in the spring of the academic year of their BFA senior exhibition.
• 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 continued in the program.

Fine Arts Scholarships and Awards

Outstanding Student Award - is non-monetary and is presented annually to one or more students during the honors convocation.

Martha K. Stem Scholarship - is awarded each year to a prospective studio art major in the incoming freshman class and is renewable for up to four years.  High School and internal applicants are eligible for this scholarship.  (Application procedures differ.)

Kate Torp Scholarship - is given to one fine arts major annually from a group nominated by the Fine Arts Program faculty.  Nominated students submit a portfolio for review.

Rebecca Jennings Award - is given to one fine arts major annually from a group nominated by the Fine Arts Program faculty.  Nominated students submit a portfolio for review.  The annually variable amount of this award is divided between a BFA and a BA student.

Adam Woeppel Scholarship - is given to one fine arts major annually from a group nominated by the Fine Arts Program faculty.

Acceptance into the B.F.A.

Acceptance into the B.F.A. studio major requires a formal application and portfolio review of artwork consistent with the intended major.  The major areas include painting, printmaking, ceramics, drawing, and graphic design.  Since students focus on a particular field, this degree allows for a more in-depth experience in the studio major than does the B.A.  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.

Common Requirements/Core Program:  All fine arts students are required to take a core set of classes

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.

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.

Special Requirements for Major:

Ceramics Major Requirements

Drawing Major Requirements

Painting Major Requirements 

Printmaking Major Requirements

Graphic Design Major

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

Special Topics

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 department.