Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Fine Arts

4-Year Degree Plan (Sample)

About the Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree offers students a wide range of options, permitting them to combine their study in the visual arts with a well-rounded general education. Graduates of this degree program develop skills in three or more studio areas of their choice as well as a broad familiarity with the basic principles of several academic disciplines in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Campuswide General Education

For a more detailed description of the IU South Bend campuswide general-education requirements, including lists of approved courses.

All courses certified as meeting the campuswide general-education requirements are designated in the Schedule of Classes.

General Education Curriculum (39 cr.)

Fundamental Literacies (19 cr.)

• Writing | ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (with a grade of C or higher)
• Critical Thinking | Select from approved course list
• Oral Communication | SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking (with a grade of C or higher)
• Visual Literacy | FINA-A 109 Ways of Seeing: Visual Literacy
• Quantitative Reasoning | Select one of the following:

• MATH-M 111 Mathematics in the World
• Other approved mathematics course

• Information Literacy | COAS-Q 110 Introduction to Information Literacy (1 cr.)
• Computer Literacy| FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I

• ---

Common Core Courses (12 cr.)

Complete one course from each of the following four areas, as designated in the Schedule of Classes. At least one of the areas must be completed at the 300-level.

• The Natural World | Select from approved course list
• Human Behavior and Social Institutions | Select from approved course list
• Literary and Intellectual Traditions | Select from approved course list
• Art, Aesthetics, and Creativity | Select from approved course list

• ---

Contemporary Social Values (8 cr.)

Students must complete one course from each of the following three areas, as designated in the Schedule of Classes.

• Non-Western Cultures | Select from approved course list
• Diversity in United States Society | Select from approved course list
• Health and Wellness (2 cr.) | Select from approved course list

Additional Requirements (17 cr.)

• World Languages (6 cr.) | Select two courses in one world language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish)
• Natural Science (5 cr.)| Select from life sciences, chemistry, physics (must include a laboratory)
• Social Science (3 cr.) | Select from anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, or sociology
• Arts Outside of Major (3 cr.) | Select one course from communication studies, graphics, music, new media, or theatre

Electives (16 cr.)

• Three courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Fine Arts Core Requirements (48 cr.)

Foundation Level

It is recommended that students complete the following classes during the first two years of study:

• FINA-A 101 Ancient and Medieval Art
• FINA-A 102 Renaissance Through Modern Art
• FINA-F 100 Fundamental Studio–Drawing
• FINA-F 101 Fundamental Studio–3D
• FINA-F 102 Fundamental Studio–2D

Upper-level Requirements (33 cr.)

Art History (9 cr.) | Three courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Studio (24 cr.) |

Select eight courses (at least 24 credit hours) above the 100-level. Three courses must be at the 300- or 400-level. These courses must be distributed among at least three different studio areas; 300-level courses may be taken twice for credit and some 400-level studio courses may be taken three times for credit. No more than 45 studio credit hours above the 100-level are counted toward graduation.