UCF Art Majors Curriculum Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

For aspiring artists seeking a blend of creative expression and structured learning, the University of Central Florida (UCF) offers a robust art program. This guide will explore the curriculum requirements for art majors at UCF, providing a detailed overview of the pathways available and the key components of the program. By combining artistic exploration with technical skill development, UCF aims to prepare students for a variety of careers in the arts and design fields.

Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree: Art Studio Pathway at Seminole State College

A popular route for students interested in pursuing an art major at UCF is to begin with an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree at Seminole State College. This pathway offers several advantages, including affordable tuition, smaller class sizes, and a guaranteed transfer option to UCF upon completion of the A.A. degree.

Program Description

The A.A. degree is designed to seamlessly transfer to an upper-division public college or university in Florida. Students complete the A.A. General degree, including common program prerequisites tailored to their chosen program.

Benefits of Starting at Seminole State

Affordable Tuition: Earn a state university education at approximately half the cost.
Small Class Sizes: Benefit from a more personalized learning environment with classes of 30 or fewer students.
Online Degree Option: Study when and where you want, with courses offered both in person and online.
Seamless Transition: Continue your progress toward a bachelor’s degree in a high-demand field at Seminole State.
Guaranteed Transfer: Take advantage of guaranteed admission to UCF or another Florida state university for your bachelor’s degree.
University Transfer Pathways: Take prerequisite courses for majors in various fields, including art.

Key Courses in the A.A. Art Studio Pathway

The following courses are illustrative of the curriculum and are subject to change. Students should consult with advisors to ensure they meet all requirements for their chosen university program.

ARH 1000 - Art History I: An integrated study of visual art forms (architecture, sculpture, and painting) from Paleolithic times to the Early Renaissance, including selections from the Western Canon. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement.
ARH 1001 - Art History II: A continuation of Art History I, covering the main developments of visual art forms from the 16th century to the present, including selections from the Western Canon. This course also partially satisfies the writing requirement.
ART 1201C - Design I: An investigation into the dynamics of organizing principles, using both traditional and contemporary media. Students explore visual elements and fundamental principles of design, focusing on visual literacy and human communication.
ART 1202C - Design II (3-Dimensional): Focuses on the formal understanding and manipulation of basic organizing principles in three dimensions. Students learn to create and construct three-dimensional situations using basic hand tools and readily available materials.
ART 1300C - Drawing I: This course emphasizes observation, analysis, and organization as the basis for draftsmanship. It includes studies of line, plane, mass, volume, perspective, chiaroscuro, form, and density, and introduces a variety of drawing media.
ART 1301C - Drawing II: A continuation of Drawing I, exploring the development of a personal vision with regard to drawing concepts and visual composition. Color is introduced, along with a painterly attitude toward depicting observational form. Drawing of the human figure is introduced.
ART 2330C - Figure Drawing: This course approaches the representation of the human figure through the study of structure, proportion, scale, anatomy, and life qualities. Live models are used, and students explore both dry and wet media.
ART 2500C - Painting I: An introduction to technical and formal issues in acrylic and/or oil painting, designed to assist students in developing a visual language by emphasizing conceptual form, structure, and content.
ART 2400C - Printmaking I: An introduction to the basics of printmaking, including intaglio, relief, and silkscreen processes. Students learn the use of tools, techniques, and machinery used in printmaking.
ART 2501C - Painting II: Explores a personal vision with regard to painting concept and image development, focusing on discovery, individual voice, and specific projects.
ART 2600C - Ceramics I: An introduction to techniques and a variety of content and expression available to the ceramic hand-builder, from sculpture to pottery.
ART 2601C - Ceramics II: Further develops techniques and a variety of content and expression in both wheel-thrown pottery and hand-building, exploring the connection among potential functions, aesthetics, and concepts.
ART 2949 - Special Topics in Fine Arts: This course is scheduled for individual students who wish to explore special ceramics topics in greater depth than is possible in existing ceramics courses.
ART 2940 - Fine Arts Workshop: Topics of current interest are presented in group instruction.
ART 2941 - Fine Arts Internship: Provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom theory to practical, work-related applications.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art at UCF

The Art, BA program at UCF is designed to inspire creativity while also teaching the foundational elements of art, history, and design. The curriculum challenges students to explore how they think about art and how they see the world around them. Students learn from nationally and internationally recognized faculty and gain the skills needed to market themselves.

Read also: Undergraduate Programs at UNC

Program Objectives

Acquire specific knowledge about art and architecture from prehistory to the present.
Attain critical thinking skills in order to create, observe, research, and interpret visual culture.
Possess sound organizational skills and exemplary communication abilities to be successful in a variety of professional endeavors.

Admission Requirements

All students must successfully pass the Studio Art Portfolio review (ART 3950).
Students must complete one upper-level course in their specialization before submitting the Studio Art BFA Portfolio (ART 4953).
Students who are not admitted into the Studio Art BFA program will continue in the Art BA, Studio track.
Students who do not pass the Studio Art BFA Portfolio review should meet with their CAHSA Academic Success Coach to discuss their options.
"C-" (1.75) or below grades from other institutions do not meet departmental requirements.

Degree Requirements

Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 18 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the School of Visual Arts and Design. Nine of these must be in an area of specialization.
Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course used to satisfy major requirements; however, a GPA of 3.0 or higher must be achieved in the major requirements.
Co-op credit cannot be used in the major.
Students should consult with their CAHSA Academic Success Coach each semester.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Studio Art at UCF

The BFA degree prepares students for professional practices and is recommended for students who plan to attend graduate school. The BFA degree provides a solid foundation in techniques and theory in focused areas of competence. The School affirms that a theoretical and working understanding of the historical meanings and studio applications of the human image are critical in the education of Visual Art and Art History students. As part of the program, some courses study the form and proportion of the human figure. Nude models are used as reference.

Program Overview

The BFA program emphasizes a theoretical and working understanding of the historical meanings and studio applications of the human image. Some courses study the form and proportion of the human figure, using nude models as reference.

Program Structure

The program includes core requirements, restricted electives, specialization electives, outside of specialization electives, art history electives, capstone requirements, and general electives.

Core Requirements:
- Basic Level (6 total credits):
  - ARH2500 - History of Non-Western Art (3)
  - ART2823 - Art as Interface (3)
- Advanced Level (3 total credits):
  - ART3950 - Studio Art Portfolio
  - ARH3471 - Art in the Last 25 Years (3)
Restricted Electives: 42 total credits, including at least three 4XXX-level Studio Art courses.
Specialization Electives: Students choose one specialization and complete six upper-level courses (3XXX/4XXX) in that area.
- Specializations: Advanced Design/Sculpture Combination, Book Arts, Ceramics/Sculpture Combination, Drawing, Drawing/Printmaking Combination, Drawing/Illustration Combination, Drawing/Painting Combination, Painting, Photography
Outside of Specialization Electives - Studio Art: 15 total credits, including five upper-level Studio Art courses from at least three areas, excluding the specialization.
Art History Electives: 9 total credits, including three upper-level Art History courses.
Capstone Requirements: ART4935 - BFA Exhibit/Seminar (3)
Electives: 3 total credits, including one additional course.

Assessment

Studio Art Portfolio Review (ART 3950): All students must successfully pass this review.
Faculty Evaluation: Faculty in the student's specialization area evaluate students through interviews and a review of their work.
Minimum Grade Requirements: Students must earn at least a "C" (2.0) in each required course and achieve a GPA of 3.0 or higher in major requirements.

Teaching

Studio-Based: The program emphasizes studio practice and hands-on learning.
Faculty Mentorship: Once admitted into the BFA program, students are required to be supervised by a specialization faculty mentor for at least two semesters.
Nude Model Use: Nude models are used as reference in some courses.

Additional Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement: Proficiency equivalent to one year of college instruction in a single foreign language is required.
Signature Experience: The Signature Experience requirement is met by successful completion of ART 4935 - BFA Exhibit/Seminar.
Honors in Major: Students interested in completing Honors in the Major should contact their program advisor.

Transfer Notes

Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit.

Equipment Fees

Part-time students pay $31.50 per term, while full-time students pay $63 per term.

Potential Career Paths

Art Directors
Art/Design Teachers
Curators
Environmental Design
Gallery/Museum Assistant
Industrial/Manufacturing Designer
Muralist
Professional Artist/Illustrator
Public Artist
Theatre/Film Set Artist/Designer

Read also: Choosing Your UGA Major

Read also: Explore UCSB Majors

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