Fine Arts
| Degree: | Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) |
| Major: | Fine Arts |
| Specializations: | Art Graphic Design |
| Minor: | Graphic Design |
| Department: | Building 82, Room 253 850-474-2045 http://uwf.edu/art |
| College: | Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities |
| CIP Code: | 50.0702 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120 | |
The B.F.A. features two areas of concentration: The B.F.A. in Graphic Design and the B.F.A. in Fine Art.
The B.F.A. specialization in Graphic Design is a professional degree that provides students with the skills and experience to succeed as practicing Graphic Designers and Designers in ancillary fields. Advanced classes in the program emulate client-based practices of the field.
The B.F.A. specialization in Fine Arts is a professional art degree program that provides a more intensive course of study than the traditional B.A. in Studio Art. The B.F.A. in Fine Art prepares students for entry into the professional art world and/or graduate school. In the B.F.A. in Fine Arts program, students can concentrate in a number of studio areas, including Digital Art, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, and Ceramics.
Program Requirements for the B.F.A. in Graphic Design
All students must complete 21 semester hours in designated Prerequisites, a Major Core of 30 semester hours, and 30 semester hours in advisor-approved upper-level electives in ART, ARH, PGY, DIG, GRA, ADV, and MAR. In their senior year, students must take one of the following as a capstone: "GRA 4873C Exhibition Design Studio," "GRA 4874C Senior Design Studio," or "GRA 4940L Internship in Graphic Design." As a culminating experience, students must also apply to participate in the department's competitive B.F.A. Exit Exhibition in their Senior Year.
A grade of “C” or better must be earned in all courses that are identified as common prerequisites, major, or major-related. Transfer students may satisfy deficiencies in required classes through coursework at UWF or outside courses articulated by the department. However, none of the art courses in the General Education curriculum may be used to satisfy junior/senior requirements.
Program Requirements for the B.F.A. in Fine Art
All students must complete 24 semester hours in designated Prerequisites, a Major core of 24 semester hours, and 36 semester hours in electives, of which 24 must be upper-level ART, ARH, PGY, or GRA classes. As a culminating experience, students must apply to participate in the department's competitive B.F.A. Exit Exhibition in their senior year; before this, though, they must take the zero credit "ART 3950 Junior Portfolio Review" in their Junior year.
A grade of “C” or better must be earned in all courses that are identified as common prerequisites, major, or major-related. Transfer students may satisfy deficiencies in required classes through coursework at UWF or outside courses articulated by the department. However, none of the art courses in the General Education curriculum may be used to satisfy junior/senior requirements.
Art Specialization
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Multicultural Requirement:
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| ARH 2050 | Western Survey I: Prehistory to the Medieval Period * | 3 |
| ARH 2051 | Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary * | 3 |
| ART 1300C | Drawing I - Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 1301C | Drawing II - Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 2201C | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 2203C | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 2500C | Painting I - Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 2701C | Fundamentals of Sculpture | 3 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000-4000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Major Concentration Track Choices
Students should select one of the following classes depending upon their concentration.
| Choose one of the following depending on Concentration Track: * | 3 | |
| Introduction to Digital Studio Practice (Digital Art) | ||
| General Printmaking ( Printmaking) | ||
| Drawing III: The Figure (Drawing) | ||
| Painting II-Intermediate (Painting) | ||
| Ceramics ( Ceramics) | ||
| Advanced Sculpture: Exploring Materials (Sculpture) | ||
| Photography as Art Form: Basic Camera (Photography) | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Major Core
| ART 3950 | Junior Portfolio Review | 0 |
| ART 3213C | Advanced Ideas and Concepts | 3 |
| ART 4800 | Portfolio | 3 |
| ART 4801C | BFA Senior Seminar I | 3 |
| ART 4891C | BFA Senior Seminar II | 3 |
| ARH 3590 | Non-Western Art | 3 |
| ARH 4930 | Theory and Methods in Art History | 3 |
| Either one of the following: | 3 | |
| Modern Art: 1850-1980 | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Major GPA Calculation
Courses with the following prefixes will be used in calculating the major grade point average: ART, ARH, GRA, and PGY. ARH 1000 Art Appreciation will not count towards the Major GPA.
Electives
| ART/ARH/PGY/GRA | 24 | |
| General Electives [Students must take at least 48 credit hours of upper level (3000/4000) classes.] | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- *
See Department Sheet of Recommended Electives for Each Track
Graphic Design Specialization
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
| ART 1300C | Drawing I - Fundamentals | 3 |
| ART 2201C | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ART 2203C | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| ARH 2051 | Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary * | 3 |
| GRA 2111C | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
| DIG 2000C | Introduction to Applications in Digital Design | 3 |
| GRA 2208C | Typography | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
- *
ARH 2051 is a common prerequisite which can also be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Lower Division Electives
| Sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to complete at least 60 semester hours in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4999) to meet this elective requirement. Recommend students take: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Applications in Digital Design | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Typography | ||
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Major Courses
| GRA 2508C | Color Theory | 3 |
| Choose 1 of the following 2: | 3 | |
| Digital Imaging | ||
| Photography as Art Form: Basic Camera | ||
| GRA 3102C | Graphic Design Studio I + | 3 |
| ARH 3590 | Non-Western Art + | 3 |
| ARH 3724 | History of Graphic Design + | 3 |
| Choose 1 of the following 2: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Digital Studio Practice | ||
| Graphic Design for Interactive Applications + | ||
| Choose 1 of the following 2: | 3 | |
| Contemporary Design Culture + | ||
| Advanced Ideas and Concepts + | ||
| ART 3618C | Introduction to Web-based Art + | 3 |
| GRA 4950C | Graphic Design Portfolio/Presentation/Exhibition + | 3 |
| Choose 1 of the following three to designate as capstone: | 3 | |
| Internship in Graphic Design + | ||
| Exhibition Design Studio + | ||
| Senior Design Studio + | ||
| Choose 10: | 30 | |
| Visual Identity, Branding, and Logo Design + | ||
| Comics: Sequential Art and Design + | ||
| Motion Graphics + | ||
| Digital Illustration + | ||
| Typography II: Publication Design + | ||
| Digital 2D Animation + | ||
| Drawing III: The Figure + | ||
| Digital Multimedia + | ||
| Interactive Electronic Art + | ||
| Artist's Video + | ||
| Traditional Methods in Cartoon Design | ||
| Advanced Digital Illustration + | ||
| Advanced Digital Multimedia + | ||
| Advanced Interactive Electronic Art + | ||
| Special Topics in Digital Media Design + | ||
| Professional Practices in Graphic Design | ||
| When not taken in the required section above, the following can be added here: | ||
| Contemporary Design Culture + | ||
| Graphic Design for Interactive Applications + | ||
| Exhibition Design Studio + | ||
| Senior Design Studio + | ||
| Internship in Graphic Design + | ||
When more appropriate for student's intended career path, 3000/4000 Level Art (ART), Design (GRA), Art History (ARH), Digital (DIG), or Photography (PGY) Electives as approved by advisor should be taken here. | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA
The Minor in Graphic Design offers students the opportunity to have exposure to concepts, vocabulary, and methods of the discipline of graphic design.
The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at the University of West Florida with the exception of those in Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Programs in the Department of Art & Design.
| GRA 2111C | Introduction to Graphic Design | 3 |
| GRA 2208C | Typography | 3 |
| ARH 3724 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| Choose three of the following: | 9 | |
| Contemporary Design Culture | ||
| Motion Graphics | ||
| Typography II: Publication Design | ||
| Digital Illustration | ||
| Digital 2D Animation | ||
| Graphic Design for Interactive Applications | ||
| Graphic Design Studio I | ||
| Visual Identity, Branding, and Logo Design | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |