Visual Arts (B.F.A.)

The BFA in Visual Arts is a degree designed to prepare students for a professional art career. The BFA program equips students with proficiency in their area of focus, preparing them for graduate school admission, or for positions within a variety of creative industries that demand advanced artistic skill.

The areas of focus in the BFA in Visual Arts are: Ceramics & Sculpture; Digital Arts; Drawing & Painting; Graphic Design; Photography; and Printmaking and Paper Arts. (Please note: the area of focus does not appear in the degree title; all graduates of the program receive a BFA in Visual Arts.)

The BFA will begin at UNG in fall 2019. Students cannot declare the BFA as a major; admission is by application only, in the semester following Portfolio Review.

Applications to the BFA will be reviewed in fall and spring every year.

BFA Admissions Criteria

Timeline

Portfolio Review will take place during the last semester a student is enrolled in their (Area F) Foundations courses.  This is also when students shall declare their intention to apply to the BFA program in one of the six areas of focus offered.  Each student will be advised by a designated senior faculty member within that focus area including review of the BFA Plan of Study and Degree Map to assure students have a clear understanding of the program expectations and timeline toward graduation.

Admission reviews for the BFA program will take place during the semester after Portfolio Review while the candidate is enrolled in the entry-level studio course in their intended area of focus.

Note: If you hope to pursue the BFA, you are strongly encouraged to complete your Area F coursework and go through Portfolio Review by your third semester, and then apply to the BFA program the next semester. Do not plan to complete your Core Curriculum before applying to the program.

Criteria for Admission to the BFA Program

1. Completion of the AREA F foundation course sequence and enrollment in one additional course in studio focus content area
2. Minimum of 2.75 GPA or higher overall
3. 3.0 average GPA in AREA F courses
4. Minimum overall score of 3 on the Portfolio Review evaluation rubric
5. Submission of BFA Application and ePortfolio in Digication

Contents of the Admission Portfolio

1. Students must have completed the following coursework with a minimum 3.0 in each course to be considered for candidacy:
   1. ART 1010  
   2. ART 1020  
   3. ART 1030  
   4. ART 2510  
   5. ART 2520  
   6. ART 2xxx elective
   7. ART 2xxx/3xxx course in the studio content area of focus
2. Students must complete a BFA application form and organize an ePortfolio that evidences the following contents:
   1. 1-2 artworks from each AREA F course (ART 1010, ART 1020, ART 1030, ART 2XXX Elective)
   2. A minimum of three (or more) demonstrating skill in the intended studio focus area from the additional studio content course at the Introductory level (2XXX or 3XXX)
   3. A written essay of up to 1000 words that indicate their artistic and creative intentions as a student pursuing the BFA degree. The essay should include:
      1. An introductory paragraph outlining basic information including the student’s name, number of earned credit hours, and intended area of focus.
      2. The essay should outline why the specific area of studio focus has been chosen, describing the influences established in foundation courses, instructors, personal interests, other artists, and outside influences.
      3. The essay should include a statement of how the area of studio focus enables the student to communicate their ideas effectively. How does working within this studio focus enable the student artist to establish a studio practice and impact their community creatively and artistically?
      4. The essay should also expand on one of the pieces submitted from the BFA content studio focus course and discuss (using proper terminology) the piece and its strength regarding formal elements and composition.

Evaluation of BFA Admission Criteria

Student portfolios will be reviewed by an assessment committee that includes a major professor in the content area, during a review process that will take place towards the end of the term in the admission semester. An assessment rubric for the evaluation of the BFA portfolio is available in Digication and an average of scores will be taken on the feedback of the committee. Students will be notified of their acceptance into the program within two weeks of the BFA Review date. Students not accepted into the portfolio program will be given feedback in the evaluation rubric and will be invited to resubmit their applications the following semester.

Advising of BFA Students

Immediately upon acceptance into the University of North Georgia’s Department of Visual Arts students will be advised on all degree options within the department, to include the BFA in Visual Arts. Upon completion of the Foundations courses and Portfolio Review students who intend to pursue the BFA will be identified and assigned to a major advisor. This advisor will support and monitor their progress through the entry-level studio course in preparation for the BFA application. All accepted BFA students are required to meet with their advisor every semester for registration, guidance, progress reports. Additionally, the advisor will play a large role in helping the BFA students prepare for their Senior Capstone Exhibition.