The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt) supports the University’s 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 Fine Arts (BFA) is a professional undergraduate degree. Undergraduate students select one of two concentrations: Studio Art or Art Education. The BFA degree uses the standards of the National Association for Schools of Art and Design for the respective concentrations.
The Studio Art concentration allows students to select a sequence of upper-level studio experiences and Art History courses to personalize discipline-specific mastery and/or interdisciplinary professional practice. This self-directed approach encourages creative agency and strengthens the capacity to conceptualize and communicate artistic intentions while mastering technical skills and gaining specialized knowledge in a chosen area(s) of study. This degree concentration prepares students for graduate school, studio practice, or professional careers in art-related fields.
The Art Education concentration equips students to become model teachers to meet the evolving needs of educational environments in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Students explore a variety of art media and art history courses to assist in the development of professional knowledge of fundamental art concepts, materials, and teaching techniques. In addition, students take a series of educational theory and art methods courses that provide the skills to prepare and implement an effective curriculum for any elementary, middle, or secondary school grade level.
To indicate achievement within an area of inquiry, Bachelor of Fine Arts students in the Studio Art concentration create a body of creative work for exhibition, write a supporting artist statement, and present their work publicly by giving a formal artist talk in a gallery setting. Art Education concentration students indicate achievement by successfully completing student teaching and passing the GACE Art Education Assessment Exam used to certify art teachers in Georgia. These indicate skills and knowledge competency in their communication of creative scholarship or teaching. The BFA mission aligns with the University’s mission and values: collaboration, academic excellence, discovery and innovation, openness and inclusion, and integrity. The BFA supports student success by encouraging the free exchange of ideas, creating experiential learning opportunities, and fostering agency in creative scholarship. BFA 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.
