Studio Art, Emphasis
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art with an Emphasis in Studio Art
In the Studio Art program, students design their curriculum working with their academic advisor, allowing for a personalized and self-directed educational experience. The program encourages students to work across mediums and approaches, reflecting the nature of contemporary art practice. Through critical engagement with materials, methods, and studio critiques, students develop both technical skill and a strong conceptual voice. The curriculum fosters creative growth by supporting experimentation and cross-disciplinary inquiry. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art includes eleven studio courses.
Distinctive Features of the Program
Students who graduate with their degree in Art are career ready with a number of skills and credentials at their fingertips through their work in the following artistic techniques:
- Ceramics: hand building, wheel throwing, slip casting, sculpting, glaze formulation, clay body construction, kiln operation, and shop and chemical safety
- Digital art/New Media: Digital illustration, digital video and post-production, video compositing, animation, motion graphics, multimedia installation, UI/UX design, 3D environments, and extended reality (XR)
- Drawing: sketching, illustration, still life and figure drawing, constructive drawing, technical drawing, traditional and non-traditional media, composition, perspective, landscape, and large-format drawing
- Fibers: apparel design, surface design, printing, weaving, rug making, needlework, quilting, sewing, 2D and 3D fiber constructions, and installation.
- Filmmaking: Cinematography, camera operation, directing, photography, lighting design, animation, video art, motion design, screenwriting, acting, pre- and post-production, audio recording, sound design, production management, and industry internships.
- Painting: Oil, acrylic, watercolor, brush and palette knife techniques, under painting, frame and canvas stretcher construction, surface preparation, color theory, composition, perspective, drawing, abstract, and mixed media
- Photography: studio, event, and sports photography, studio lighting, photo editing (lightroom, photoshop), visual storytelling, documentation, and digital reproductions
- Printmaking: Lithography; Intaglio; Relief; Screenprint; Book arts; Monoprint; Mixed-media printmaking; color separation, print registration, and safe use of hazardous chemicals
- Sculpture: ideation, additive and subtractive processes, casting, assemblage, wood working, and metal working.
Depending upon their chosen medium, students also may gain expertise in software such as Adobe Creative Suite (including Animate, Audition, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Acrobat, and Express); Da Vinci Resolve; Microsoft Office; Unity; Godot; Styly; Procreate; Corel Painter; Figma; and Sketch.
Course Requirements
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Phys./Natural Science | 4 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Core II Social Science | 3 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Multicultural/International | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| ART 101 | Visual Culture and Research | 3 |
| ART 214 | Foundations: Grid/Chroma | 3 |
| ART 215 | Foundations: Form/Space | 3 |
| ART 217 | Foundations: Record/Layer | 3 |
| ART 218 | Foundations: Surface/Matrix | 3 |
| ART 219 | Foundations: Frame/Time | 3 |
| ART 298 | Foundations Review: BFA | 1 |
| ART 201 | History of Art I (CT) | 3 |
| ART 202 | History of Art II (CT) | 3 |
| ART 389 | 20th Century Art | 3 |
| or ART 464 | History of Modern Design | |
| ART History Elective (Select from ART 404, ART 408, ART 409, ART 411, ART 414, ART 415, ART 416, ART 424) | 3 | |
| ART 390 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| ART 497 | Capstone Studio | 3 |
| ART 498 | Senior Capstone Exhibition BFA | 3 |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| 300/400 Studio course | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 1 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 86 | |
Semester Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ART 101 | Visual Culture and Research | 3 |
| ART 214 | Foundations: Grid/Chroma | 3 |
| ART 217 | Foundations: Record/Layer | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class (Recommended) | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 215 | Foundations: Form/Space | 3 |
| ART 218 | Foundations: Surface/Matrix | 3 |
| ART 219 | Foundations: Frame/Time | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 121 | Concepts and Applications (CT) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ART 201 | History of Art I (CT) | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| Art Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 202 | History of Art II (CT) | 3 |
| ART 298 | Foundations Review: BFA 1 | 1 |
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| Art Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Core II Social Science (WI, M/I) | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| Art Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Core II Natural/Physical Science | 4 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 389 or ART 464 | 20th Century Art or History of Modern Design | 3 |
| ART 390 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ART 497 | Capstone Studio | 3 |
| ART 300/400 Level Studio | 3 | |
| Art History Elective | 3 | |
| Elective Outside of Major | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 498 | Senior Capstone Exhibition BFA | 3 |
| ART Studio Elective | 3 | |
| CT Course | 3 | |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |