BFA in Art
Degree Program Description
The BFA in Art is a professional degree grounded in studio-driven inquiry, sustained creative practice, and critical engagement with visual and material culture. Through an intensive sequence of studio coursework, students develop advanced technical, conceptual, and material fluency while building an independent creative practice.
The BFA emphasizes depth, continuity, and self-directed research, supporting students in the development of a cohesive body of work. Coursework integrates making, research, critique, and reflection, preparing students to situate their work within contemporary artistic, cultural, and professional contexts.
The BFA program culminates in a year-long capstone sequence, during which students are provided studio space and mentorship to develop a sustained body of work. This sequence concludes with a professionally mounted BFA Exhibition, accompanied by written and verbal articulation of the student’s practice.
Graduates of the BFA in Art are prepared for professional artistic practice, exhibition, and publication, as well as for advanced study in graduate programs. BFA in Art Students may work across a wide range of media, including animation, book arts, ceramics, comics and cartooning, drawing, illustration, papermaking, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, video art, and weaving.
Major Program Requirements
Students earning a BFA in Art complete foundation coursework, studio core requirements, advanced studio electives, a capstone sequence, and critical and historical Art History coursework.
The BFA combines 65-74 credit hours of studio art, (35+ credit hours of studio coursework must be completed at MU), and 12 credit hours of Art History.
Students may not count Art or Art History courses with a grade of D toward the degree.
Students are assigned an academic advisor and are encouraged to seek faculty guidance, upon completion of the portfolio review, to pursue focused study leading to the development of a considered body-of-work prior to entering the senior capstone sequence.
All students pursuing a BA or BFA begin by completing the three foundation SVS courses: ART_VS 1020, ART_VS 1030, and ART_VS 1040. Upon completion, they must enroll in and complete ART_VS 2040.
For information about the School of Visual Studies Laptop Requirement see Let Your Major Be Your Guide to see School of Visual Studies Laptop Requirements.
For additional details, please refer to the School of Visual Studies website.
| Major Requirements | ||
| SVS Foundation | ||
| ART_VS 1020 | Introduction to Visual Studies | 3 |
| Art & Design Foundation | ||
| ART_VS 1030 | 2-D Materials and Methods | 3 |
| ART_VS 1040 | 3-D Materials and Methods | 3 |
| Art Studio Core | ||
| ART_VS 2040 | ||
| ART_VS 1200 | Drawing Materials and Methods | 3 |
| ART_VS 2100 | Hand-Built Ceramics | 3 |
| or ART_VS 2800 | Beginning Sculpture | |
| ART_VS 2500 | Beginning Painting | 3 |
| or ART_VS 2600 | Digital Photography | |
| ART_VS 2310 | Book Arts | 3 |
| or ART_VS 2700 | Etching and Relief Printmaking | |
| or ART_VS 2730 | Screen Printing | |
| Art Studio Electives | ||
| ART_VS 2000+ | 9 | |
| ART_VS 3000+ | 21 | |
| Art Capstone Sequence | ||
| ART_VS 4510 | Career Development in the Visual Arts | 3 |
| ART_VS 4000-Level Studio | 6 | |
| ART_VS 4090 | BFA Portfolio | 3 |
| ART_VS 4944 | Capstone: BFA Exhibition | 1 |
| Historical & Critical Studies | ||
| ARH_VS 1130 | Introduction to the History of Art | 3 |
| ARH_VS 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| ARH_VS 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| ARH_VS 3000+ Writing Intensive Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 76 | |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available. (Students focusing on graphic design will take GD_VS 4976. Fall of their fourth year instead of an Art Studio Elective which they will move to the Spring of their fourth year and take instead of ART_VS 4975)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART_VS 1020 | 3 | ART_VS 1030 | 3 |
| ART_VS 1050 | 3 | ART_VS 1070 | 3 |
| ART_VS 1040 | 3 | Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| ARH_VS 1130 (Humanities from Arts and Science) | 3 | Missouri State Law Requirement, Social Science from Arts and Science | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Humanities (non- Art History) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART_VS 2210 | 3 | ART_VS 2500 | 3 |
| ART_VS 2800 | 3 | ART_VS 2310 or 2320 | 3 |
| ART_VS 2700 or 2730 | 3 | ART_VS 2600 | 3 |
| ARH_VS 3820W (Humanities, First Writing Intensive) | 3 | Art History 2000+ level (Humanities) | 3 |
| Behavioral Science from Arts and Science | 3 | Biological or Physical Science lab | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART_VS 2100 | 3 | Art Studio Elective 3000+ level | 3 |
| Art Studio Elective 2000+ level | 3 | Art Studio Elective 3000+ level | 3 |
| Art Studio Elective 2000+ level | 3 | Art Studio Elective 3000+ level | 3 |
| Art History 3000+ level, Writing Intensive | 3 | Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Internship | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Art Studio Elective 4000 level | 3 | ART_VS 4977 | 1 |
| ART_VS 4040 | 3 | Art Studio Elective 4000 level | 3 |
| ART_VS 4510 | 3 | ART_VS 4040 | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 | Behavioral or Social Science | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
- Change your Major. If you are considering changing your undergraduate major or are choosing between several majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573) 884-9700 or through the Discovery Center service in your MU Connect success network.
- Decided on a Major. If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring that major.
- Identify your Interests and Strengths. If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values, and talents, visit the staff at the MU Career Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- Explore MU Majors. If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit Majors at Mizzou or the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.