Pictured | Lily Greathouse | B.F.A., Drawing and Painting | Mill Creek, Indiana (hometown)
Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Drawing and Painting
Drawing and painting continue to be relevant and fundamental forms of visual and artistic expression in the 21st-century. The Drawing and Painting program provides a thorough grounding in the development of technical skills and visual description while preparing students for graduate study and enriching careers as visual artists. The primary component of the program is studio activity, with students exploring various forms of drawing and painting to develop an individual vision. The program is particularly strong in its emphasis on the figure while exploring different mediums including oils, charcoal, pastel, graphite and pen and ink. Students in the Drawing and Painting program have the unique opportunity to work in individual BFA studios.
Academic Advising
The Ernestine M Raclin School of the Arts policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors each semester prior to registration. Advising holds are placed on all Fine Arts students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major in Fine Arts are advised by Fine Art faculty. Additionally, you may have a secondary adviser if you have also declared a minor, although a minor is not required for a degree in the Fine Arts department. You can verify your assigned advisor in the student center in One.IU.
Degree Requirements (125 cr.)
Design Map >>
Students receiving the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must complete 125 total credit hours including:
- IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.) to include
- FINA-A 109 Ways of Seeing: Visual Literacy (Visual Literacy)
- FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I (Computer Literacy)
- AHST-A 307 Introduction to Non-Western Art (Non-Western Culture)
- Major Requirements (77 cr.)
- Additional Requirements (15 cr.)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300– or 400–level.
- Courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.
- A minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required.
- All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise stated.
Major Requirements (77 cr.)
Foundation Level (12 cr.)
- FINA-F 100 Fundamental Studio-Drawing
- FINA-F 101 Fundamental Studio-3D
- FINA-F 102 Fundamental Studio-2D
- FINA-P 273 Computer Art and Design I
Art History/Foundation Level (6 cr.)
- AHST-A 101 Ancient and Medieval Art
- AHST-A 102 Renaissance Through Modern Art
Survey Level (9 cr.)
- Three 200–level courses, outside area of concentration
Upper-Level Concentration (38 cr.)
- FINA-S 200 Drawing 1
- FINA-S 230 Painting 1
- FINA-S 301 Drawing 2
- FINA-S 331 Painting 2
- FINA-S 401 Drawing 3
- FINA-S 402 Pastel Drawing; OR
FINA-U 401 Special Topics in Studio Art
VT: Editorial Illustration - FINA-S 403 Anatomy for the Artist
- FINA-S 431 Painting 3 (1 cr.)
(may be taken 3 times for credit) - Select two additional upper-level art courses
- The following two courses are to be taken in the last three semesters (8 cr.)
- FINA-S 405 Bachelor of Fine Arts Drawing (3-5 cr.)
- FINA-S 432 Bachelor of Fine Arts Painting (3-5 cr.)
Art History/Upper Level (9 cr.)
- AHST-A 307 Introduction to Non-Western Art
- Two courses at the 300– or 400–level
Senior Level (3 cr.)
It is recommended that students complete the following during the final year of study.
- FINA-A 409 Capstone Course
- FINA-S 499 Bachelor of Fine Arts Final Review (0 cr.)
Additional Requirements (15 cr.)
- World Languages (6 cr.) | Select two courses in one world language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish)
- Upper-Level Electives (9 cr.)
- Select three credits at the 100– or 200–level (3 cr.)
- Select six credits at the 300– or 400–level (6 cr.)
Fine Arts Upper-Divisional Review
Completion of the upper divisional review marks a student’s passage from pre-BFA/BA into the BFA/BA program. This review is an opportunity for every art student with 50 to 60 credits toward their degree to present their work to the faculty. This dedicated time is an opportunity to discuss the student’s unique interests and goals. Upon satisfaction of the Upper Divisional requirement, students have distinguished themselves as upper-level BFA/BA candidates, and have made considerable progress towards graduation.