UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR: BFA in Studio ArtsCREDITS REQUIRED IN MAJOR: 75
FOUNDATION COURSES= 15 credits
COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / CREDITS / PREREQUISITESART 141 / Surface, Space, Time 2D / 3 / EYE or Concurrent
ART 142 / Surface, Space, Time 3D / 3 / None
ART 151 / Fundamentals of Perceptual Drawing / 3 / EYE or Concurrent
ARH 111 / Prehistory through Medieval / 3 / College Writing
ARH 112 / Renaissance to the Present / 3 / College Writing
Portfolio Requirement and Choose Concentration
GENERAL STUDIO = 9 credits
ART 251 / Drawing: Media and Strategies / 3 / Foundation CoursesART 281
or ART 282 / Introduction to Printmaking: Intaglio and Relief or Introduction to Printmaking: Lithography and Screenprinting / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 312 / Topics in Studio Art / 3 / Foundation Courses & Portfolio
THREEUPPER LEVEL ART HISTORY COURSES:
ARH 300 or 400-level / Three upper-level Art History courses / 9(3 each) / ARH 111 & 112
SELECT ONE CONCENTRATION & THE ASSOCIATED SEQUENCES OF COURSES FROM THE FOLLOWING:
CERAMICS / 15 total creditsART 231 / Introduction to Ceramics I / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 232 / Introduction to Ceramics II / 3 / ART 231
ART 332 / Intermediate Ceramics / 3 / ART 232 & Portfolio
ART 431 / Advanced Ceramics I / 3 / ART 332
ART 432 / Advanced Ceramics II / 3 / ART 431
PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL ART & DESIGN / 18 total credits
ART 222 / Digital Art & Design / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 271 / Photography: Analog to Digital / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 321 / Exploring Time-based Art & Design / 3 / ART 222 & Portfolio
ART 372 / Digital Photography / 3 / ART 271 & Portfolio
ART 471 / Advanced Photography & Digital Art I / 3 / ART 372
ART 472 / Advanced Photography & Digital Art II / 3 / ART 471
PAINTING & DRAWING / 15 total credits
ART 261 / Introduction to Painting / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 352 / Experimental Drawing / 3 / ART 251 & Portfolio
ART 361 / Intermediate Drawing & Painting: The Figure / 3 / ART 251, ART 261 & Portfolio
ART 461 / Advanced Drawing & Painting I / 3 / ART 361
ART 462 / Advanced Drawing & Painting II / 3 / ART 461
Sculpture / 15 total credits
ART 291 / Additive-Subtractive / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 292 / Altered-Constructed / 3 / Foundation Courses
ART 393 / Topics in Sculpture / 3 / ART 291, ART 292 & Portfolio
ART 491 / Advanced Sculpture I / 3 / ART 393
ART 492 / Advanced Sculpture II / 3 / ART 491
ADDITIONAL UPPER-LEVEL COURSES: 6 CREDITS
ART 400 / Internship in the Visual Arts / 3 / Junior Status and Permission of the ChairART 401 / Senior Seminar
The BFA senior exhibition requirement must be completed while enrolled in ART 401 Senior Seminar / 3 / Senior Status
MAJOR ELECTIVES: 18-21 CREDITS
ART200-, 300-, or 400-level / Select six to sevenof any upper level studio course / 18-21(3 each) / Dependent on course
MAJOR COURSES OVERLAPPING IN THE CORE:
CORE AREA / COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / REQUIRED BY MAJOR?CE / ART141, 142 and151 / Surface, Space, Time 2D
Surface, Space, Time 3D and
Fundamentals of Perceptual Drawing / Yes
CI / ARH111 and ARH112 / Prehistory through Medieval and
Renaissance to the Present / Yes
INT / ARH111 and ARH112 / Prehistory through Medieval and
Renaissance to the Present / Yes
EISRC / ARH312 / Art as Social Action / No
DIV / ART 310
ART 311 / Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Gender Identity and Modern Art / No
CAP / ART401 / Senior Seminar / Yes
From the 2017-2018 Course Catalog:
The BFA degree is offered for students who seek focused, undergraduate professional education in studio practice. There are degree concentrations in ceramics, photography and digital art & design, painting and drawing, and sculpture. The program prepares students to become open, resourceful, critical, and independent thinkers, capable of successfully conceiving, articulating, and resolving their own visual problems, and equally capable of successfully viewing, appreciating, and contemplating the work of others. They will be engaged and active artists producing work that encompasses theoretical and practical knowledge.Students who intend to pursue professional careers in art and design or who plan to pursue graduate study culminating in the MFA degree are encouraged to seek admission to the BFA program.
Policies in the Department:All art majors must submit a portfolio of original works to the Department of Art for evaluation after completing the foundation requirements (ART 141, ART 142, ART 151, ARH 111, and ARH 112) and before enrolling in 300-level studio courses. Portfolios are not required for the art history concentration. Transfer students who have completed the art foundation at another institution must submit a portfolio at the next scheduled opportunity and no later than the second semester at USM. The portfolio should consist of no more than twelve works within specific categories. Each student will choose two works to mat with white, off-white or ivory mat board and firm backing. The materials do not have to be archival. The unmatted works on paper will be presented in individual clear sleeves with a firm backing inserted behind the work. Two works will be selected by the Department to exhibit for a two or three-week exhibition. The categories and numbers of work for each category are as follows:
- Two-dimensional works (three pieces) should be taken from and/or exhibit skills in the visual design of the flat page;
- Three-dimensional works (two pieces) should exhibit (in photographs) capabilities in the physical development and articulation of form and space;
- Drawing category (three pieces) should contain works of any medium exhibiting skills and concepts of drawing;
- Self-portrait (one piece) should be executed from life and may be in any medium but should be a representational depiction rendered by hand; and
- Open submissions (three pieces) may be work in any medium as long as it conforms to the overall guidelines of this review.
Portfolios that do not adhere to the established procedures will not be accepted for review.
Art candidates whose portfolios are not accepted are required to meet with their advisor and one additional full-time faculty member to review and discuss their plans for re-submission. Portfolios that are not accepted may be re-submitted two additional times. Failure at the conclusion of these three times will result in denial of acceptance as an art major.
Students are required to submit a portfolio for acceptance to the Department prior to enrolling in any 300-level or above studio courses. Studio Art minors may enroll in required studio courses with permission of the instructor.
Portfolio deadlines and application forms may be obtained from the Department of Art. Portfolios are reviewed once each semester. Final notification of a decision will come from the Department of Art approximately two weeks after the portfolios have been evaluated.
Students already enrolled in the University who wish to change their major to art must follow the Departmental admission procedures concerning submission of portfolio, as described above. Art presentation workshops are offered annually.
Only students who have completed the art foundation and who have earned 60 credits or more may enroll for Independent Study courses. Grades of C– or better must be earned to satisfy a major or minor requirement.
Academic credit for summer workshops is available with Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine. Contact the Department of Art or Summer Session for more information.
Course Fees
A course fee is assessed in all lecture courses, as well as ceramics, digital art & design, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture courses.
Transfer Students
To receive a BFA degree in art from USM, a student transferring to USM must complete at least two 3-credit studio courses in their area of concentration and one 3-credit art history course at USM. To receive a BA degree in studio art from USM, a transfer student must complete at USM at least two 3-credit studio courses within one discipline and one 3-credit art history course.
Core curriculum codes
EYE – Entry Year Experience
CW – College Writing
QR – Quantitative Reasoning
CE – Creative Expression
SCA – Socio-cultural Analysis
CI – Cultural Interpretation
SE – Science Exploration
EISRC – Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, & Citizenship
DIV – Diversity
INT – International
CAP - Capstone