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Buffalo State University 58 courses 78 total credits
The B.F.A. in Art and Design offers a broad selection of program concentrations for the visual arts student; ceramics, graphic design, metals/jewelry, painting, and photography. This 78-credit hour degree, (81 credits for graphic design concentration), prepares students for advanced studies, graduate studies, or for beginning careers as professional designers, artists, or historians. All concentrations have the same 27 credit required foundation studies course sequence so that whichever concentration is selected, all these courses will count toward that concentration’s requirements. In addition to completing the major concentration course requirements, the remaining credits are completed in the required General Education 23 courses. To remain in, and graduate from the B.F.A. program a 2.5 GPA or higher in the major must be maintained. For freshman, there is no entrance portfolio review for admission. Transfer students are urged to submit their portfolios the semester before transfer to facilitate placement in departmental courses and/or for possible portfolio review. For more specific information and additional program requirements please refer to each individual concentration program. Students in the B.F.A. program will enjoy the opportunity to display their strongest work in exhibitions and during special events. The Art and Design Department reserves the right to temporarily retain students’ work for official purposes, such as exhibitions, program display, special events, and recruitment, etc.; and to use images of the students and/or their work for publicity, documentation, and recruitment. Students are expected to assume the costs of materials used in courses. Some studio courses may have an additional charge for materials used in class. Students enrolled in a studio course are expected to work a minimum of two additional hours each week outside of class for each credit granted for that class and the hours gradually increase as the student progresses in the concentration.
| General Education 23 Requirements | 33 credits |
| Interdisciplinary Electives | 9 credits |
Foundation Studies Courses
Required Courses Complete ALL of the following Courses: Choose one of AAD 470, AAD 495 or HIS 400.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AAD 101 | Drawing I | 1-3 |
| AAD 102 | Introduction to Two-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| AAD 103 | Introduction to Three-Dimensional Design | 3 |
| AAD 104 | Digital Presentation Methods | 3 |
| AAD 105 | Introduction to Digital Design and Fabrication | 3 |
| AAD 150 | Themes and Issues in the Contemporary Arts | 3 |
| AAD 251 | Art History: from Prehistory to Medieval Period | 3 |
| AAD 252 | Art History: from the Renaissance to the Modern World | 3 |
| AAD 470 or AAD 495 | Senior Seminar or Special Project | 3 |
| Total Foundation Studies Courses | 27 credits | |
Ceramics Concentration: Ceramics Required Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DES 220 | Ceramics I | 3 |
| DES 320 | Ceramics II | 3 |
| DES 321 | Ceramics: Junior Studio | 3-12 |
| DES 321 | Ceramics: Junior Studio | 3-12 |
| DES 421 | Ceramics: Senior Studio | 3-12 |
| DES 421 | Ceramics: Senior Studio | 3-12 |
| DES 421 | Ceramics: Senior Studio | 3-12 |
| Total Ceramics Concentration: Ceramics Required Courses | 21 credits | |
Interdisciplinary Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DES 230 | Introduction to Jewelry Making | 3 |
| DES 242 | Fibers I | 3 |
| DES 250 | Wood Design I | 3 |
| DES 312 | History of Craft: Industrial Revolution to the Present | 3 |
| DES 338 | Computer Three-Dimensional Modeling and Rendering | 3 |
| FAR 240 | Introductory Sculpture | 3 |
| FAR 345 | Figure Modeling | 3 |
| Total Interdisciplinary Courses | 21 credits | |
Graphic Design Concentration: Graphic Design Required Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DES 271 | Typography | 3 |
| DES 307 | Color Theory | 3 |
| DES 314 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| DES 370 | Graphical Information Design | 3 |
| DES 374 | Advertising Design | 3-6 |
| DES 377 | Advanced Graphical Design | 3 |
| DES 378 | UI/UX for Interfaces and the Web I | 3 |
| DES 379 | Animation | 3 |
| DES 380 | Illustration | 3 |
| DES 382 | Animation I | 3 |
| DES 473 | Graphic Design | 3-9 |
| DES 488 | Internship | 1-12 |
| Total | 36 credits | |
Interdisciplinary Courses
Earn at least 9 credits from the following: Choose one of FAR 102, FAR 210 or DES 242.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FAR 220 | Photography I | 3 |
| FAR 363 | Twentieth-Century Art History | 3 |
| FAR 102 or FAR 210 | Drawing II or Introductory Painting | 3 |
| Total Interdisciplinary Courses | 9 credits | |
Metals/Jewelry Concentration: Metals/Jewelry Required Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DES 230 | Introduction to Jewelry Making | 3 |
| DES 330 | Applied Jewelry Techniques | 3 |
| DES 331 | Jewelry: Junior Studio | 3-12 |
| DES 336 | Metalsmithing | 3 |
| DES 331 or DES 337 | Jewelry: Junior Studio or Metalsmithing: Junior Studio | 3-12 |
| DES 431 | Senior Jewelry Studio | 3 |
| DES 431 | Senior Jewelry Studio | 3 |
| Total | 21 credits | |
Interdisciplinary Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses: Choose one of DES 320, DES 342, DES 350 or DES 488.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DES 220 | Ceramics I | 3 |
| DES 242 | Fibers I | 3 |
| DES 250 | Wood Design I | 3 |
| DES 312 | History of Craft: Industrial Revolution to the Present | 3 |
| DES 338 | Computer Three-Dimensional Modeling and Rendering | 3 |
| FAR 240 | Introductory Sculpture | 3 |
| DES 320 or DES 342 | Ceramics II or Fibers II | 3 |
| Total Interdisciplinary Courses | 21 credits | |
Painting Concentration: Painting Required Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FAR 210 | Introductory Painting | 3 |
| FAR 311 | Intermediate Painting I | 3 |
| FAR 312 | Intermediate Painting II | 3 |
| FAR 313 | Advanced Painting | 3-9 |
| FAR 313 | Advanced Painting | 3-9 |
| FAR 313 | Advanced Painting | 3-9 |
| FAR 410 | Senior Studio in Painting | 3-6 |
| Total Painting Concentration: Painting Required Courses | 21 credits | |
Interdisciplinary Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DES 317 | Design in the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| FAR 102 | Drawing II | 3 |
| FAR 203 | Modeling | 3 |
| FAR 230 | Introductory Printmaking | 3 |
| FAR 240 | Introductory Sculpture | 3 |
| FAR 300 | Drawing III | 3 |
| FAR 400 | Drawing IV | 3 |
| Total Interdisciplinary Courses | 21 credits | |
Photography Concentration: Photography Required Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FAR 220 | Photography I | 3 |
| FAR 321 | Intermediate Photography I | 3 |
| FAR 323 | Advanced Photography | 3-9 |
| FAR 323 | Advanced Photography | 3-9 |
| FAR 325 | History of Photography | 3 |
| FAR 420 | Senior Studio in Photography | 3-6 |
| FAR 420 | Senior Studio in Photography | 3-6 |
| Total Photography Concentration: Photography Required Courses | 21 credits | |
Interdisciplinary Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses: Choose one of DES 220, DES 230, DES 242, DES 250 or FAR 240.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 215 | Introduction to Visual Communication | 3 |
| FAR 102 | Drawing II | 3 |
| FAR 210 or FAR 230 | Introductory Painting or Introductory Printmaking | 3 |
| FAR 363 | Twentieth-Century Art History | 3 |
| DES 220 or DES 230 | Ceramics I or Introduction to Jewelry Making | 3 |
| Total Interdisciplinary Courses | 21 credits | |
Select Two More Interdisciplinary Courses from the Following:
Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 312 | Basic Media Production | 3 |
| DES 378 | UI/UX for Interfaces and the Web I | 3 |
| DES 379 | Animation | 3 |
| DES 382 | Animation I | 3 |
Click a course code or title to read the full course description.
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