Studio Art B.F.A.

Form your own art practice with rigorous, personalized study

If you want to gain skills that prepare you for a career in the arts, the Studio Art B.F.A. may be a good fit for you. The program offers a pre-professional degree that prepares highly motivated students for art professions around the globe and entry to top graduate M.F.A. programs. It exposes students to an intensive studio experience, and the opportunity to focus in one particular studio area.

The B.F.A. program is a preferred admission program which requires additional steps before you are accepted into the major.The curriculum is designed for exceptional students, who, once admitted have access to individual work space, mentorship from world-class faculty, and intimate class sizes.

Watch our videos   Review our degree maps

With intense focus in one studio area, you’ll take your practice above and beyond

B.F.A. in Studio Art curriculum

Students must complete at least 62 credit hours in studio and at least 12 credit hours in art history, including the CASE Requirements and the following:

  • SOAD-A 100 Pathways: Introduction to Art, Design and Merchandising
  • SOAD-A 101 Creative Core: Color
  • SOAD-A 102 Creative Core: Drawing
  • SOAD-A 103 Creative Core: 3D Design
  • SOAD-A 211 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops (any topic)

Two (2) additional courses selected from the following:

  • SOAD-A 211 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops (in addition to Creative Core requirement)
  • Any SOAD-S course at the 200 level

Complete 41 additional credit hours in studio courses at the 300–400 level, including both two-dimensional and three-dimensional disciplines prescribed by the coordinator of the area in which the degree is completed, to total 62 credit hours of studio work.

  • ARTH-A 102 Renaissance through Modern Art
  • One (1) course selected from the following:
    • ARTH-A 101 Ancient and Medieval Art
    • ARTH-A 155 Introduction to African Art
    • ARTH-A 160 Introduction to East Asian Art
  • One (1) ARTH course at the 200–400 level
  • One (1) ARTH course at the 300–400 level (in addition to 200-400 level course above)
  • At least six (6) credit hours from the courses above must be completed in residence on the Bloomington campus

At least 40 credit hours of studio and 6 credit hours of art history must be completed in residence on the Bloomington campus

Students must also complete the B.A. degree requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

View a full list of courses and descriptions

Applying to the B.F.A.

Admission to the B.F.A. program is competitive and subject to a portfolio review and personal interview with the faculty of the area you are applying for. Applications are not usually considered until students have had at least two to three semesters of studio courses on the Bloomington campus.

Students interested in applying for the B.F.A. will begin their studies in the Studio Art B.A. program, where they have the opportunity to build or enhance their portfolio and skills.

Is it for you?

The Studio Art B.F.A. program attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and interests. They typically possess some of the following interests and desires:

  • Desire to excel as practicing artists and designers
  • Wish to establish a solid foundation in the studio arts, and develop a significant portfolio of creative works
  • Affinity for both the fine arts and liberal arts, including the history of art
  • Aspire to stimulate creativity through intellectual curiosity
  • Interest in developing expertise in both new technology and traditional practices in an environment that encourages creative experimentation and invention
  • Interest in increasing command of the formal aspects of visual concepts

Work with a community of creatives + build a global network

You’ll have one-on-one faculty mentorship and the opportunity to collaborate with M.F.A. students. With an average class size of eight students, you’re ensured a personalized experience and education in a place where you belong. As a graduate, you’ll join a network of working artists, researchers, scholars, and innovators all over the world.

Two people working in the metalsmithing studio.
Purple sculptures in a gallery.

An exhibition of you

The last semester of the B.F.A. program is dedicated to the final thesis exhibition. This is your opportunity to propose and create an individual, cohesive body of work for exhibition in the Grunwald Gallery. With faculty mentorship and critiques throughout the process, the thesis exhibition enables you to participate in exhibition planning and installation of your original artwork.

Studio art internships

Internships offer studio art majors a chance to develop both technical and transferable skills while making vital professional contacts with others in the field. Students are encouraged to begin exploring internship opportunities as early as their freshman year.

Previous Studio Art majors have found internships with organizations such as the following:

  • 4Art Inc. Gallery
  • Accent on Interiors
  • BlueLine Media Productions
  • Cardinal Stage Company
  • Gensler
  • Indiana University - Eskenazi Museum of Art
  • Indiana University - Athletics
  • Indiana University - Union Board
  • Kala Art Institute
  • Mediaworks Advertising
  • Morningstar, Inc
  • Oliver Winery
  • Secretly Canadian
  • Shanghai Media Group
  • Truck Painting Specialists
  • Urban Outfitters

Students might also work in apprenticeships with independent artists or craftspeople, and have the opportunity to work with departments on campus or for local businesses.