Students in painting courses acquire experiences with a variety of materials and techniques. The program allows students the freedom to explore and develop their personal style. Students are encouraged to work in a variety of mediums, including oil, acrylic, and enamels, as well as combinations of experimental mediums. Students learn fundamentals such as mixing, glazing, and building their own supports by hand. While a variety of projects focuses attention on basic painting techniques, experienced students are given the freedom to experiment and develop their individual style. The focus for all painting students is to create cohesive work that speaks of the students' interest and to ultimately find their place in contemporary art.

The Art Department has hosted several visiting artists in the area of painting, most recently, Roger Shimomura.

In 2007, students were able to assist in the creation of a mural in downtown Conway, led by Pittsburgh artists and UCA alumnus, Morton Brown. Students were able to see the development of a mural firsthand, from conception to creation. They worked with the community to help develop ideas for the content of the mural, and worked directly with Mr. Brown to execute the painting on the side of the City Municipal Building.

BFA Major in Studio Art (80 hours of Art)

This degree requires a minimum of 127 hours, including 80 hours of art and art history, 44 hours of general education (see BFA Model Plan of Study and General Education Program check sheet), 3 hours of foreign language at the 2000 level, and 40 hours upper division credit. No minor is required. Art courses must follow a prerequisite structure. This degree may require more than the normal eight semesters to complete.

Students must complete the 38 hours of core courses, area studies and art history, 21 hours in an approved studio emphasis, and 21 hours in BFA required courses to complete 80 hours of art classes  Acceptance to the BFA degree program requires faculty approval of the BFA application which includes the application form declaring emphasis being pursued, a typewritten statement, slides or digital images of at least 12 works, and a copy of a current UCA transcript.  Applications may be submitted each fall and spring semester. A minimum of 23 hours in art is required after acceptance to the BFA program, including ART 4300, 4301, 4675, 4150,  4160, 4372, and 6 hours of art in a special degree plan.

Core Courses (12 hours)

These four classes are required:

ART  1310     2-D Design     Offered fall, spring, summer

ART  1321     Drawing I         Offered fall, spring, summer

ART  2312     3-D Design      Offered fall, spring

ART 2322      Drawing II, Life     Offered fall, spring

Area Studies (14 hours)

These three classes are required:

ART 3324     Drawing III, Advanced Life Drawing     Offered spring
                       Prerequisites:  Art 1310, 1321, and 2322

ART 2140     Portfolio Assessment     Offered fall
                        Prerequisites: ART 1310, 1321, 2312, 2322;
                                               3 hours from 2325, 2335, 2336               

ART 3140      Portfolio Assessment II    Offered spring
                        Prerequisite: 2140

Select one from Category A and one from Category B

Category A:

            ART 3361     Sculpture I     Offered fall
                                  Prerequisites:  ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing                            

            ART 3379     Ceramics I     Offered fall, spring
                                   Prerequisites: ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing                             

           ART 3350      Fibers     Offered spring, even years
                                  Prerequisites: ART 2312 and 3 hours drawing    

            ART 3315     Contemporary Media in 3D    Offered spring
                                   Prerequisites: ART 2140 and 3 hours 3000-level studio classes 

Category B:

            ART 3318     Photography I     Offered fall, spring
                                  Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                            

            ART 3330     Illustration I     Offered fall
                                   Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                             

            ART 3332     Painting I         Offered fall
                                  Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                          

            ART 3334     Watercolor I     Offered fall
                                   Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                          

            ART 3353     Graphic Design I   Offered fall, spring
                                  Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing                            

            ART 3343     Printmaking I         Offered spring
                                  Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing

One additional class from category A or category B, OR
        ART 3304      Introduction to Art Education    Offered spring
                               Prerequisites: ART 1310 or 2312, 1321

Art History (12 hours)

These two classes are required:

        ART 2335     Art History, Prehistoric-Medieval    Offered fall, spring

        ART 2336     Art History, Renaissance-Modern         Offered fall, spring

Select two of the following:

        ART 3301     Modern Art     Offered fall

        ART 3302     History of American Art     Offered spring

        ART 3303     Nineteenth Century Art History   Offered spring

        ART 3307     Arts of Africa    Offered spring, odd years

        ART 3311     Ancient South American Art     Offered spring

        ART 3329     Ancient Mesoamerican Art    Offered spring, even years

        ART 3365     Women in Art     Offered fall

        ART 3385     Art of India    Offered on demand

        ART 3395     Art of Japan     Offered on demand

ART 3150     BFA Folio        Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisite: Acceptance to the BFA program

ART 4150     BFA Professional Orientation        Offered fall, spring
                       Prerequisite: Departmental approval

ART 4325     Drawing IV, Experimental        Offered fall
                       Prerequisites: ART 2140, 3324

ART 4372     Senior Seminar        Offered fall
                       Prerequisites: Senior standing and 9 hours of art history

ART 4675     BFA Intership        Offered fall, spring, summer
                        Prerequisites: Written proposal and departmental approval
                        semester prior to enrollment   
                        Note: A maximum of 12 hours of variable credit courses in art may
                        be applied to the BFA degree

         
ART 4300     BFA Studio Practicum            Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisites: Written proposal and departmental approval
                        semester prior to enrollment  

ART 4301     BFA Studio Practicum       Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisite: ART 4300

ART 4160     BFA Exhibit        Offered fall, spring
                        Prerequisite: Departmental approval

Painting Emphasis (21 hours)

Note: Painting I may not be used to fulfill Category B in Area Studies

Select seven of the following:

    ART 3332      Painting I        Offered fall
                            Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing

    ART 3333      Painting II        Offered spring
                            Prerequisites: ART 2140, 3332

    ART 4388      Advanced Studio: Painting        Offered fall, spring
                            Prerequisites: ART 2140, 6 hours in one studio area, and
                             faculty permission
                            Note: May be repeated for credit

   ART 4388      Advanced Studio: Painting        Offered fall, spring
                           Prerequisites: ART 2140, 6 hours in one studio area, and
                            faculty permission
                           Note: May be repeated for credit

   ART 3334      Watercolor I           Offered fall
                           Prerequisites: ART 1310 and 3 hours drawing
                           Note: another upper level 2-D elective may taken instead

  ART 3339      Watercolor II        Offered spring
                         Prerequisite: ART 3334
                         Note: another upper level 2-D elective may taken instead

  ART 3325      Color        Offered spring
                           Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing

  ART 4371       Directed Studio Problem        Offered fall, spring
                           Prerequisites: 3 hours ART 4388, written proposal and
                           departmental approval semester prior to enrollment
                           Note: A maximum of 12 hours of variable credit courses in art
                           may be applied to the BFA degree  


*For more information see the Undergraduate Bulletin.

  For detailed course information and descriptions, see Courses in Art

 You will need the free Adobe® Reader® to view these. Click here to download Adobe Reader.

To download BFA/Painting Emphasis Checklist, click here:
Painting Checklist

To download pdf of the General Education Checklist, click here:
UCA Core (General Education) Classes Checklist. 

To download BFA Studio Program Completion Plan, click here: BFA Studio

To download BFA application, click here: BFA Application

To download BFA Studo Practicum Guidlines, click here: BFA Studio Practicum

To download Individual Study Guidelines, click here: Individual Study

To download Directed Study Guidelines (ART 4102, 4202, 4302), click here:
Directed Study

To download Art Internship Guidelines (ART 4375, 4675), click here: Art Internship 

Note: Program information updated on July 2012.