Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts (BAFA)

• Art History
• Studio
• General

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Minors

• Art
• Art History
• Exhibition Studies

The Department of Fine Arts provides a diversity of experiences in the visual arts:

• Art history/visual culture
• Ceramics
• Digital media
• Drawing
• Painting
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture

Students interested in preparing for high-school and primary-grade art teaching may pursue a B.A. or a B.F.A. degree for their subject matter preparation. However, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not offer a certification program in art education.

• Learn from studio faculty who are practicing artists and scholars and exhibit regularly in the Northwest, nationally, and internationally.
• Art history faculty whose research engages relevant 21st century issues with an international breadth.
• The Forst Visiting Artist/Scholar Endowment brings diverse artists to the Pullman campus for various interactions with students each semester.
• Ongoing collaborations with the University's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, a top museum in the Northwest, including faculty exhibitions, MFA thesis exhibitions, and an exhibition studies minor.
• Undergraduate students manage one of the department's two galleries in Pullman and assist with the Art Center on the Tri-Cities campus.
• State-of-the-art facilities for metal and wood fabrication, ceramics, printmaking, black-and-white photography, and digital media.

Requirements and Core Courses

The bachelor of fine arts is a professionally oriented degree program. Certified B.F.A. majors select art courses in a major area of emphasis, broadly defined and allowing for interdisciplinary combinations within additional elective opportunities. At least 52 of the minimum 70 credit hours in fine arts must be in upper-division courses. Each student also prepares a written B.F.A. thesis and participates in a B.F.A. degree exhibition during the final semester of study. Students must also complete university graduation and general education requirements.

General Studio Option

The bachelor of arts in fine arts degree program allows the flexibility to develop interdisciplinary combinations within a broad liberal arts degree. Students have opportunities to double major or earn a minor from another academic department. For the bachelor of arts, a total of at least 48 credit hours of fine arts is required; 30 of these credit hours must be in 300/400-level courses. Students must also complete University graduation and general education requirements.


Art History Option

The bachelor of arts in fine arts art history option offers a broad exposure to the history of the visual arts. Students begin with foundation survey courses, the History of World Art (FA 201 and FA 202), and then take upper-division courses to consider art from specific cultures and historical time periods. In these specialized courses, students gain familiarity with contextual issues concerning the production and consumption of art. They develop research and writing skills necessary to think critically about art and visual culture. Students are also introduced to basic aspects of studio production to enhance their visual skills and knowledge of material practices. Students complete their studies by writing a thesis paper and developing knowledge of one foreign language. Students must also complete University graduation and general education requirements.

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.

For all students at WSU

Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

To get all the financial help WSU can provide, you'll need to do these two things:

• Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration, including departmental awards.
• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need. Get started here.

Click here for more info about about WSU scholarships and financial aid

For students in foreign languages

The College of Arts and Sciences awards more than $50,000 in scholarships each year. For more information, see the CAS scholarships page.

What you can do with a degree in fine arts

• Artist

• Art historian

• Designer

• Museum and gallery professional

• Educator

• Research specialist

• Film, video, and sound artist, designer, or technician

• Public arts administrator or curator

Skills you can market with a degree in fine arts

• Techniques and theories of studio production

• Knowledge of art history

• Ability to communicate ideas and concepts through the production of art and design

• Effective visual, written, and oral communication

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Cultural awareness and sensitivity

• Intellectual curiosity

• Time management and organization

• Ability to work independently or as a group member

• Visual, reading, and listening comprehension

• Art Club: Organization determined to create awareness of the arts on the WSU Pullman campus. They encourage all people from all majors and talent bases to join in to accomplish amazing projects. Their goal is not limited to only creating pieces, but also doing various tutorials to learn new things.
• Photography Club: Not just for serious photographers or people with big expensive cameras! It brings people together to learn, share, and have fun with photography. Activities include monthly competitions, a semi-annual club gallery show, various workshops, field trips, and an annual calendar.
• Pyromaniacs Clay Club: For people who enjoy working with clay. Members go to conferences and workshops, bring in visiting artists, hold sales and fundraisers, and do wheel throwing, handbuilding, and sculpture. All are welcome, but only those enrolled in a WSU ceramics class are able to use school equipment to work with clay.