The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt) supports the University Mission of learner-centered culture to prepare students with the requisite professional practices for successful careers in art and design fields or for students seeking advanced degrees. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is an undergraduate degree in the context of the liberal arts. Undergraduate students select one of two concentrations: Studio Art or Art History, and have a unique opportunity to combine their major concentration with a minor field of study. The BA degree uses the standards of the National Association for Schools of Art and Design for the respective concentrations.

The Studio Art concentration explores a variety of media within the broader context of a Liberal Arts education and Art history to gain general skills and knowledge in several studio art disciplines. This degree concentration prepares students for advanced study in studio art or a broad range of art-related careers or professions in which an understanding of art, aesthetics, and visual design is essential.

The Art History concentration will investigate and analyze visual styles, cultural movements, and social evidence over thousands of years to gain a greater understanding of art and its connections between different time periods and cultures. Students explore a specialized knowledge area to develop skills in research, synthesis, and critical analysis about a broad range of cultural and historical genres in the field, preparing students for graduate school and careers in cultural preservation, museum studies, or gallery work.

Bachelor of Arts students create a final capstone project indicating achievement within an area of inquiry. This project may take the form of an exhibit, thesis presentation, project presentation, a final portfolio, or another demonstration of skills and knowledge competency in their communication of creative scholarship. The BA mission aligns with the University’s mission and values: collaboration, academic excellence, discovery and innovation,  openness and inclusion, and integrity. The BA supports student success by encouraging the free exchange of ideas, creating experiential learning opportunities, and fostering agency in creative scholarship. BA students are represented in the University Honors Program and involved in undergraduate research, which includes presenting their research projects at university events and professional conferences.