Program: Art Studio: Bachelor of Fine Arts [BFA_BFAS] - SUNY Cortland

2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 07, 2025

The B.F.A. is an intensive degree program in studio art, intended for students who plan to pursue a professional career in art or to prepare for specialized graduate study, in particular the Master of Fine Arts. The degree requires 75 credit hours in the major, including foundation, skills core, studio specialization and five art history courses. Specializations include painting, sculpture, ceramics, print media, fibers and new media design. The culminating experience is the two-semester senior thesis project. A cohesive body of work is developed from concept to exhibition, accompanied by written abstract and oral presentation. One semester of foreign language or equivalent is required. Admission to the B.F.A. program is by portfolio review.

Career Potential:

Artists, designers and educators in ceramics, fiber arts, painting, print media, sculpture, new media design and graphic design.

Total credit hours in the major: 75

A. Core in Art Studio: 18 credit hours

Drawing Foundation

ATS 101 - Drawing I (3 cr. hr.)
(GE)
ATS 201 - Drawing II (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 301 - Drawing III (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 401 - Drawing IV (3 cr. hr.)

Design Foundation

ATS 102 - Design I (3 cr. hr.)
(GE)
ATS 202 - Design II (3 cr. hr.)

B. Exposure and Skills Core in Art Studio: 15 credit hours

Select One:

ATS 108 - Fibers I - Surface Design (3 cr. hr.)
or
ATS 208 - Fibers II - Weaving (3 cr. hr.)

Select Either:

C. B.F.A. Field Course: One credit hour

ATT 115 - Field Study at Raquette Lake (1 cr. hr.)

D. Studio Art Media Specialization Courses: 15 credit hours

Media Specialization: 9 credit hours

Select nine credit hours from one of the following specialization areas: Painting: ATS 203, 303 and 403; Ceramics: ATS 204, 304 and 404; Weaving: ATS 205, 305 and 405; Sculpture: ATS 206, 306 and 406; New Media: ATS 240, 241, 330, 340, 342, 343 and 440; Print Media: ATS 207, 209, 307, 309, 316 and 407.

Thesis: 6 credit hours

ATS 498 - Bachelor of Fine Arts - Thesis I (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 499 - Bachelor of Fine Arts - Thesis II (3 cr. hr.)

E. Art Studio Electives: Nine credit hours

Nine additional ATS credit hours at the 200 level or above.

F. Art History Foundation and Advanced Courses: 15 credit hours

Art History Foundation: 6 credit hours

ATH 121 - Art in the Ancient World (3 cr. hr.)
ATH 122 - Art in the Modern World (3 cr. hr.)

Art History Advanced Courses: 9 credit hours

Nine additional ATH hours including one ATH course at the 300-level or above. Three of the nine credits must be ATH writing intensive (WRIT).

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 125

Example of the B.F.A. in Art Studio (BFAS) over four years

First Year

Fall Total credit hours: 17-18

GE course

ATH 121 - Art in the Ancient World (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 101 - Drawing I (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 102 - Design I (3 cr. hr.)
ATT 115 - Field Study at Raquette Lake (1 cr. hr.)
COR 101 - The Cortland Experience: A First Year Seminar (1 cr. hr.)
CPN 100 - Writing Studies I (3 cr. hr.)
or
CPN 102 - Writing Studies in the Community I (4 cr. hr.)

Spring Total credit hours: 16

ATS skills core

ATH 122 - Art in the Modern World (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 201 - Drawing II (3 cr. hr.)
ATS 202 - Design II (3 cr. hr.)
CPN 101 - Writing Studies II (3 cr. hr.)
or
CPN 103 - Writing Studies in the Community II (4 cr. hr.)

Second Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

ATS skills core
ATS skills core
Foreign language
GE course

Spring Total credit hours: 15

ATS skills core
ATS specialization
ATS elective
GE course

ATS 301 - Drawing III (3 cr. hr.)

Third Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

ATS specialization
ATS elective
ATH upper division WRIT
GE course
GE course

Spring Total credit hours: 17

ATS specialization
ATH upper division WRIT
GE course
GE course

ATS 401 - Drawing IV (3 cr. hr.)

Fourth Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

ATH upper division
Art elective
ATT 490 - Thesis I
GE course
Elective

Spring Total credit hours: 15

ATT 490 - Thesis II
ATS elective
ATS elective
Elective
Elective

Catalog

Career Potential:

Total credit hours in the major: 75

A. Core in Art Studio: 18 credit hours

Drawing Foundation

Design Foundation

B. Exposure and Skills Core in Art Studio: 15 credit hours

Select One:

Select Either:

C. B.F.A. Field Course: One credit hour

D. Studio Art Media Specialization Courses: 15 credit hours

Media Specialization: 9 credit hours

Thesis: 6 credit hours

E. Art Studio Electives: Nine credit hours

F. Art History Foundation and Advanced Courses: 15 credit hours

Art History Foundation: 6 credit hours

Art History Advanced Courses: 9 credit hours

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 125

Example of the B.F.A. in Art Studio (BFAS) over four years

First Year

Fall Total credit hours: 17-18

Spring Total credit hours: 16

Second Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Third Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Spring Total credit hours: 17

Fourth Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Spring Total credit hours: 15

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