BFA in Art

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and school degree requirements. The Art Degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

A portfolio review is required prior to acceptance as an Art major.

Summary of Requirements
First Year Program24
General Education and Foundation Courses33
Art Major Requirements61
Electives outside the Department of Art10-11
DLG 120UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) a1
Total Hours129
a

New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. These students will complete 10 hours of electives for the BFA in Art. All other students complete 11 hours of electives for the BFA in Art.

First Year Program

Students are required to take ART 101 and choose five 100-level, studio-based courses from the six that are offered for a total of 24 hours.

Required Courses
ART 101Signifying Practices: Art and Visual Culture4
Select five of the following: 20
ART 112
Introduction to Drawing
ART 130
Introduction to Painting + Color
ART 140
Introduction to Sculpture
ART 150
Introduction to New Media Arts
ART 160
Introduction to Digital Photography
ART 170
Introduction to Filmmaking
Total Hours24

 General Education and Foundation Courses

Required Courses
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Understanding the Individual and Society course a3
Understanding U.S. Society course a3
Analyzing the Natural World course a,b4
Understanding the Past course a3
Exploring World Cultures course a3
AH 110World History of Art and the Built Environment I c4
AH 111World History of Art and the Built Environment II c4
AH 160Trends in International Contemporary Art Since 1960 c3
Total Hours33
a

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category. Students may choose a General Education course that falls below the recommended semester hour value for a particular category as long as the student reaches a total of 24 hours of General Education distributed across the six categories.

b

Students who select a course worth less than 4 hours from the Analyzing the Natural World list will need to take an additional General Education Core course as part of their electives.

c

This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.

Art Major Requirements

Students must consult with faculty advisors for approval of concentration and elective courses each semester.

Required Courses
Art Concentration in one discipline (chosen from ART courses at 200-300 level)16
Art Electives (chosen from ART courses at 200-300 level)24
ART 401Senior Projects: Critique6
ART 402Senior Projects: Thesis6
AH 201Reading and Writing Art Criticism3
Art History—Advanced level6
Total Hours61

Electives outside the Department of Art

Electives
Electives outside the Department of Art a10-11
Total Hours10-11
a

New freshmen are required to complete DLG 120 for one hour. These students will complete 10 hours of electives for the BFA in Art. All other students complete 11 hours of electives for the BFA in Art.

UIC First Year Dialogue Seminar

Required Course
DLG 120UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar1
Total Hours1

Sample Course Schedule

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
ART 112 Introduction to Drawing 4
ART 170 Introduction to Filmmaking 4
ART 101 Signifying Practices: Art and Visual Culture 4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
DLG 120 UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) 1
ART 160 Introduction to Digital Photography 4
ART 130 Introduction to Painting + Color 4
ART 150 Introduction to New Media Arts 4
 Hours15-16
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
AH 110 World History of Art and the Built Environment I 4
Concentration Course 4
Concentration Course 4
Understanding U.S. Society course 3
Exploring World Cultures course 3
 Hours18
Spring Semester
AH 111 World History of Art and the Built Environment II 4
Art Elective 4
Concentration Course 4
Understanding the Individual and Society course 3
Understanding the Past course 3
 Hours18
Junior Year
Fall Semester
AH 160 Trends in International Contemporary Art Since 1960 3
Concentration Course 4
Art Elective 4
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
AH 201 Reading and Writing Art Criticism 3
Art Elective 4
Art Elective 4
Analyzing Natural World course 4
 Hours15
Senior Year
Fall Semester
ART 401 Senior Projects: Critique 6
AH Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 2
 Hours14
Spring Semester
ART 402 Senior Projects: Thesis 6
AH Elective 3
Art Elective 4
Art Elective 4
 Hours17
 Total Hours129