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The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

Laptop Requirement

To complete this program, the student must have the use of a laptop computer. Please consult with the department for current hardware and software requirements. Students qualify to receive special education discounts on computers and software sold through the Associated Students Bookstore (an Apple authorized campus store). For some programs, in an effort to lower student expenses, bundles consisting of a specially priced Apple laptop computer with the program's required software will be made available at the beginning of each academic year through the Associated Students Bookstore. This laptop computer package is expected to serve the student for the entire length of the program.

Course Requirements for the Major: 72 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

Additional required courses, depending upon the selected Option (Art Studio or Interior Architecture) are outlined within the requirements below.

Courses common to the BFA Option in Art Studio and the Option in Interior Architecture are; ARTS 122, ARTS 123, ARTS 125, and ARTS 250; and one course selected from ARTH 110, ARTH 140, or ARTH 150.

Major Option Course Requirements: 72 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.  Use the links below to jump to your chosen option.



The Option in Art Studio: 72 units

Prerequisites for Admission to the BFA Option in Art Studio

Students who declare themselves an Art Major in the Department of Art and Art History are placed in the BA program. After completion of the Lower-Division Option requirements below, students may apply for admission into the BFA, and in most instances, they will be able to apply their lower division ARTS and ARTH coursework towards the BFA requirements. Advisors will clarify receiving credits toward the BFA. It is advisable to have taken upper division art studio courses in the area of your emphasis before applying to the BFA in Art Studio Option. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is needed to apply to the program. Admission to the program is determined by a portfolio review. Students in the BFA Art Studio Option must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in order to remain in the program.

Lower-Division Requirements: 27-30 units

The Digital Intermedia emphasis requires 27 units of lower-division coursework.  All other emphases require 30 units.  The 3 unit difference is made up in the upper-division coursework.

5 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Foundation studies in the elements and principles of art and design as applied to 2D media. Includes critical thinking and conceptual development, materials and methods, and additive and subtractive color theories and applications. 6 hours activity. This course requires the use of a laptop computer and appropriate software. (000720)
Foundation studies in the elements and principles of art and design as applied to 3D media. Includes critical thinking and conceptual development leading to design and construction, materials and methods, and use of color. 6 hours activity. This course requires the use of a laptop computer and appropriate software. (000721)
Beginning drawing techniques based on studio disciplines. A variety of approaches and materials will be used. 6 hours activity. (000710)
Prerequisites: ARTS 125 or faculty permission.
Interpretive drawing techniques with expressive use of graphic media, including color. An introduction to drawing the human body will comprise a major portion of the course. 6 hours activity. (000711)
Prerequisites: ARTS 122 or ARTS 125, sophomore standing.
This is a foundation computer course for studio artists. The course covers basic instruction using the computer for painting, drawing, image processing, photographic composites, words as art, animation, research, and presentation. Emphasis is on conceptual and creative processes. Art and design principles, aesthetic decision making, and visual effectiveness are addressed. Basic drawing skills strongly recommended. 6 hours activity. (000737)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Survey of the major visual arts of the Ancient World through the Middle Ages. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (000705)
Survey of the major visual arts of India, China, and Japan from the prehistoric to the nineteenth-century period. An emphasis on the traditional Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto arts. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000707)
A survey of visual arts, including Pre-Columbian, Post-Columbian, Native American, Islamic, and African. These arts will be placed in their historical, social, and religious contexts. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000709)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Survey of the major visual arts of Europe and the U.S. from the Renaissance to 1800. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (021083)
Survey of the major visual arts of Europe and the U.S. from 1800 to the Present. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (021084)

3 courses selected from:

Students interested in the Digital Intermedia emphasis select two courses from the list below. Students interested in the Photography emphasis are required to take ARTS 240 and ARTS 241 as two of the three courses listed below.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This course presents basic instruction in the techniques of painting and in the preparation of various supports. Emphasis will be placed on developing appreciation for the painted surface, and on the expressive potential of shape, color, and texture, as they relate to space and composition. Although some painting exercises are directed by the instructor, student self-motivation is expected. Several projects will be developed by the student. 6 hours activity. (000718)
Introduction to fine art printmaking processes, with equal emphasis on idea development and technique. Students experience a variety of print methods, such as, etching, linoleum, screen print, and photographic printmaking through demonstrations, lectures, and gallery visits. 6 hours activity. (000730)
This course provides an introduction to the theory and application of photography as a fine art. Basic digital photographic skills and techniques are emphasized. Primary emphasis on the place of photography in art history, current art theory, and issues in photographic representation. 6 hours activity. This course requires the use of a laptop computer and appropriate software. (000738)
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental theories, vocabularies and techniques of traditional chemical-based photography. Course content includes basic film and darkroom techniques and their application to building visual competency in the creation of lens-based imagery. Film camera required. Open to non-majors. 6 hours activity. (021085)
Development of ideas through introduction to handbuilding techniques, using the pinch, coil, slab, and mold methods of construction. Experimentation with a variety of low-fire glazes, and other low-fire surface treatments. 6 hours activity. (000714)
Introduction to sculpture is a beginning course designed to develop skills in building three-dimensional form by learning to work with a variety of tools and techniques. Materials may include clay, plaster, wood, cardboard, metal, and found objects. Assignments are designed to guide students in their development of concept, content, and personal expression. 6 hours activity. (000726)
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.
An introduction to glass as a visual art medium using the techniques of off-hand glass blowing, sheet glass fabrication, and other related techniques. Emphasis is on the development of sculptural ideas. 6 hours activity. (000717)

Upper-Division Requirements: 42-45 units

The Digital Intermedia Emphasis below requires 45 units of upper-division coursework. All other emphasis require 42 units.

Art Studio Courses: 21-24 units

Students must select a single emphasis from one of the following studio course groups to fulfill this requirement. Select 21-24 units from the emphasis group. Most studio courses at the 300 level may be taken two times for credit, and 400-level courses four times for credit. A minimum of 12 units must be taken at the 400 level. Painting and drawing courses may be combined for a single emphasis for the BFA degree.

Ceramics Group

24 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 260 or equivalent experience in low-fire hand-building techniques; ARTS 122; ARTS 125.
Aesthetic exploration of ideas, using the potter's wheel and/or hand-building techniques to create sculptural forms. Development of techniques in basic wheel-throwing and/or hand-building, clay body formulation, investigation of surface enrichment techniques, and kiln firing. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000746)
Prerequisites: ARTS 361 or faculty permission.
This course provides a variety of approaches to surface enrichment techniques. The execution of the surface information learned in this course provides a more sophisticated avenue for expression. Includes individual approaches to problem solving, with an emphasis on concept development and the refinement of technical skills and related craftsmanship. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000750)
Prerequisites: ARTS 361.
An investigation of the use and production of plaster molds and slip-casting technology as a tool for personal expression. Critical discussions on the nature of appropriate forms, multiples and duplicates as conceptual options in contemporary ceramics. Emphasis on concept development and the refinement of technical skills and related craftsmanship. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000751)
Prerequisites: ARTS 362 or ARTS 363 or faculty permission.
In-depth study and development, with emphasis on individual ideas and directions. Concentration on creating a personal vocabulary of concepts, construction methods, and surface treatments as a means of expression. Discussions of contemporary ceramic issues, and professional procedures for the ceramic artist. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000802)

Digital Intermedia Group

The emphasis in Digital Intermedia is for the fine art student who chooses to integrate digital media with any combination of traditional media, and/or new media. It is an interdisciplinary degree for thinkers and makers exploring new technologies or hybrid forms. The emphasis allows students to customize their course choices to best meet their creative needs. This customization must be made in consultation with the BFA faculty mentor.

21 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 122, ARTS 125, ARTS 250.
Intermediate studies in digital media and electronic arts. Hands on exploration of digital media with focus on cross-media and interdisciplinary collaboration to create new media artworks; and understanding of presentation issues surrounding digital media for a variety of platforms. Course focus may vary each semester. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000770)
Prerequisites: ARTS 350 or faculty permission.
Advanced concepts in digital media and electronic arts with emphasis on development of personal aesthetics, technical excellence, and development of cohesive bodies of work which demonstrate understanding of the relationships between content, form, and media. Course focus may vary each semester. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000753)
Prerequisites: ARTS 450 and at least one additional 300/400-level art studio course; faculty permission.
Advanced concepts in translating electronic media artworks from the virtual world to the tangible with emphasis on integration of traditional fine art media and electronic media. Explorations may include photography/digital imaging, digital painting, digital printmaking, sculpture, installation, public art, and performance works. Conceptual development and studio practice involves integrating vocabularies and production techniques from a diverse palette of artistic methodologies and tools. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000862)

Drawing Group

24 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 122; ARTS 125; ARTS 126; or faculty permission.
The exploration of a broad number of media and and techniques through a number of structured assignments. The exposure of the drawing student to current technical possibilities which extend and broaden the concept of drawing. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000740)
Prerequisites: ARTS 125; ARTS 126; or faculty permission.
An emphasis on form development and composition using the human figure. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000752)
Prerequisites: ARTS 325 or faculty permission.
An exploration in drawing in depth both as an expressive and descriptive medium. A variety of drawing media and any number of personal directions. Recommended for art majors. Six hours of personal direct-grading system will be used. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000795)
Prerequisites: ARTS 326 or faculty permission.
Study of human form based upon the human figure using a variety of media. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000810)

Glass Design Group

24 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 276 and faculty permission.
Further studio practice in design and production of glass, using the techniques of free blowing, casting, fusing, and laminating. Emphasis is on idea development. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000754)
Prerequisites: ARTS 376 and faculty permission.
Advanced practice in glass and production techniques and aesthetics. Emphasis is on idea development 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000811)

Students with a glass emphasis, where the course selections allow for only 18 units, may fulfill their additional 9 units by taking ARTS 399, ARTS 489, ARTS 499, or by splitting their emphasis between two disciplines (such as glass and sculpture).

Painting Group

24 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 122; ARTS 125; ARTS 126; ARTS 227; or faculty permission.
Instruction in the course builds upon techniques acquired in Beginning Painting. Emphasis will be placed upon learning technical skills and on developing enough control over painting media to permit exploration of personal modes of expression. Because the assignments are flexible, the student is expected to bring a knowledge of drawing, design, and color to the painting studio. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000743)
Prerequisites: ARTS 122; ARTS 125; ARTS 126; ARTS 227; or faculty permission.
Extends basic techniques of painting in water-soluble media, both transparent and opaque; paper support. Emphasis on technical understanding and beginning development of personal expression. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000744)
Prerequisites: ARTS 327 or faculty permission.
This course stresses the generating of artistic ideas and encourages students to develop increased awareness of personal motivations to produce art. Students will be expected to produce a number of works which begin to demonstrate cohesive content. Students attempting this course are expected to be highly knowledgeable with regard to material and should be highly motivated, because assignments are highly personalized. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000798)
Prerequisites: ARTS 327; ARTS 328; or faculty permission.
Advanced study in watermedia using paper support. Emphasis on development of personal expression. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000799)

Photography Group

24 units selected from:

A maximum of 6 units may be selected from CDES 396, CDES 496, JOUR 353, and JOUR 453.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: Introductory photography course on the college level, or faculty permission.
Concentration on expressive and aesthetic aspects of photography in fine arts. Emphasis on ability to manipulate and compose with light as a most crucial element in the organization of plastic space. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000786)
Prerequisites: ARTS 340 or permission of instructor.
This course provides an introduction to contemporary techniques and aesthetics of non-silver photography. Both historical and non-traditional photographic processes and their application to fine art photography are covered in this course. 6 hours activity. (000789)
Prerequisites: ARTS 340.
This course provides instruction in the design, construction, and presentation of photographically produced artworks. During the semester, students are required to produce a portfolio quality body of artwork. Theoretical and historical relationships to the student artwork are discussed. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000872)
Prerequisites: ARTS 343.
Advanced exploration of contemporary techniques and aesthetics of non-silver photography. This course provides instruction in the design, construction, and presentation of non-silver and/or non-traditional photographic artworks. Students produce a portfolio quality body of artwork. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (015013)
Prerequisites: CDES 206 (with a grade of C or higher).
This course addresses photographic perception, creative process, and a more thorough investigation of narrative editing practices and techniques related to digital photography. Technical concepts include advanced systems of exposure and digital imaging processing for high-quality digital output. Open to non-majors. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001737)
Prerequisites: CDES 396 with a grade of C or higher or faculty permission.
This course addresses the development and execution of a single photography project culminating in a final portfolio. Individual research on historic and contemporary photo-practices is expected. Open to non-majors. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (001794)
Prerequisites: JOUR 260 for majors, no prerequisite for non-majors.
Theory and practice of news photography, including picture-taking for college publications, as well as special photographic projects. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (002011)
Prerequisites: ARTS 240 or APCG 112 or CDES 206 or JOUR 353.
This course deals with the advanced skills, theory, history, and ethics of newspaper and magazine photojournalism. It builds on basics from the prerequisite course to develop the photography skills of students who seek to become professional photojournalists. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020492)

Printmaking Group

24 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 230 or faculty permission.
An intensive exploration of intaglio processes, focusing primarily on etching, through demonstrations, lectures and gallery visits. Emphasis is placed on the individual development of imagery, concept, and technical skill. Students are expected to have knowledge of drawing and design. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000762)
Prerequisites: ARTS 230 or faculty permission.
This course explores the materials and methods of fine art screen printing, through demonstrations, lectures, and gallery visits. Emphasis is place don the individual development of imagery, concept, and technical skill. Students are expected to have knowledge of drawing, design, and color. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000763)
Prerequisites: ARTS 230 or faculty permission.
An intensive exploration of stone and photographic lithography processes through demonstrations, lectures and gallery visits. Emphasis is placed on the individual development of imagery, concept, and technical skill. Students are expected to have knowledge of drawing and design. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000764)
Prerequisites: ARTS 230 or faculty permission.
An intensive exploration of relief printing techniques, primarily from wood, through demonstrations, lectures, and gallery visits. Emphasis is placed on the individual development of imagery, concept, and technical skill. Students are expected to have knowledge of drawing, design, and color. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000765)
Prerequisites: ARTS 331, ARTS 332, or ARTS 333; or faculty permission.
An exploration of advanced printmaking techniques and concepts as they relate to individual ideas. Emphasis placed on the development of personal creativity and expression represented through the print medum. Self-motivation and technical proficiency in a variety of printmaking processes is necessary. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000828)

Sculpture Group

24 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTS 270.
An intensive exploration of three-dimensional form, using a variety of methods, such as assemblage and metal fabrication, and varied materials, such as wood, plaster, metal, and clay. An emphasis is placed on creative thought and technical skills. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000758)
Prerequisites: ARTS 270.
Aesthetic development of form through foundry processes. Foundry experience in "lost wax" and similar processes, investment, casting, metal finishing, oxyacetylene, electric arc, T.I.G. welding. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000759)
Prerequisites: ARTS 270.
This intermediate sculpture course provides an in-depth study of the body as subject and object in historical contexts. A wide variety of methods and materials are explored, including clay, direct and cast plaster, other castable materials, woodworking, metal fabrication, and mixed media assemblage. Assignments center around problem solving and development of an expressive response to the body as form. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000760)
Prerequisites: ARTS 371, ARTS 372, or ARTS 373; or faculty permission.
Advanced studio sculpture emphasizing individual development and direction. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000824)

Or the following group of courses may be selected:

Students may fulfill the required 24 units in this emphasis with Internship credits (ARTS 489) or Special Problems (ARTS 399, ARTS 499), to be arranged with the area faculty.

Art Studio Electives: 6-12 units

6 units selected from:

Any upper-division studio ARTS courses outside the student's emphasis selected from the group above.

Digital Intermedia students take 12 units that may be focus related courses outside of ARTS. Electives to be selected with and at the discretion of the BFA faculty mentor. Examples of subjects outside of ARTS are APCG, CDES, CSCI, and MUSC.

Art History Courses: 6 units

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTH 130.
An investigation of artists and issues that have occupied the global contemporary art world since 1980. 3 hours lecture. (000838)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
In-depth investigation of certain special areas of interest in art history based upon particular faculty competencies and student interest. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 9.0 units. (000856)
Prerequisites: ARTH 110.
In-depth study of the art and architecture of the Greek world during the Bronze Age, Aegean, Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. An emphasis will be placed upon understanding the development of the Greek artistic concepts, such as idealism and realism, within their cultural and political context. 3 hours lecture. (000858)
Prerequisites: ARTH 110.
In-depth study of the art and architecture of the Roman world covering the Etruscan, Republican, Early and Late Imperial periods. An emphasis will be placed upon understanding the Roman character of Roman art and architecture, as well as domestic life through the arts as found at Pompeii, Herculaneus, etc. 3 hours lecture. (000860)
Prerequisites: ARTH 110.
In-depth study of the art and architecture of the Middle Ages, with an emphasis on the Romanesque and Gothic periods in France and England. The course will cover great cathedrals, such as Notre Dame of Paris, Chartres, Amiens, etc., and their sculpture and stained glass decorations. The course will also provide an understanding of the nature of style change and development from the Classical to the Medieval periods. 3 hours lecture. (000843)
Prerequisites: ARTH 120.
An investigation of the arts of Northern Europe and Spain during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with emphasis upon the Netherlands' development of oil painting. The scriptoria and illuminations of the International Style, the Limbourg Brothers, the Master of Flemale, Van Eyck, Van der Weyden, Van der Goes, Bosch, Schongauer, Grunewald, Durer, Cranach, Charoton, Fouques, Berruguete, Bruegel, Holbein, and the Tutor Mannerist Style; reciprocal influences with the Italian Renaissance of Italy will be covered. 3 hours lecture. (000845)
Prerequisites: ARTH 130.
An investigation of form and content in European painting, printmaking, sculpture, and architecture during the first half of the nineteenth century. Attitudes toward observation versus invention, and originality versus eclecticism, common to Romantic, Neoclassical, and Realistic artists will be examined. Writings by philosophers, artists, and critics such as Burke and Runge will be analyzed, as well as the effect on art of the industrial revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and progress in the fields of education and science. Issues related to gender and to Non-Western peoples will be discussed. Some of the artists to be covered are Bonheur, Delacroix, Friedrich, Goya, Ingres, and Turner. 3 hours lecture. (000774)
Prerequisites: ARTH130.
An investigation of the European Avant-Garde of the first half of the century: Modernism, Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Futurism, Constructivism, Dada, Neue Sachlichkeit, the Bauhaus, and Surrealism in painting, sculpture, architecture, and performance art. These movements will be related to music, dance, literature, theater, and to the European social, intellectual, and political ambience of the period up to and including World War II, when key European artist refugees arrived in the United States. Such artists as Marcel Duchamp, Kathe Kodwitz, and Pablo Picasso will be considered. 3 hours lecture. (000777)
Prerequisites: ARTH 130.
This course investigates the development of American art from the Colonial period to World War II. It concentrates on painting, but also considers sculpture, architecture, photography, as well as decorative and folk arts. Artists to be explored at some depth include Benton, Cole, Henri, Homer, Krasner, Lawrence, O'Keefe, Pollack, Rivers, and West. Art will be presented in its social and historical contexts. The roles played by museums, galleries, and art schools, and the influence of collectors and dealers will be examined. Mutual influences between American and European, Non-Western, and Ethnic cultures will be discussed. 3 hours lecture. (000835)
A survey of ancient Mexican art and culture of formative, classic, conquest, including the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Mxtec, Classic Gulf Coast, Toltec, and Aztec. Sites discussed include El Tajin, La Venta, Monte Alban, Milta, Tula, and Tenochtitlan 3 hours lecture. (000841)
An investigation of the art of the ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America prior to European contact, from the Preclassic to Postclassic periods. The relationship of art to religious beliefs and practices will be explored, as well as the development of local styles associated with royal courts. Sites discussed include Tikal, Palenque, Copan, Uxmal, and Chichen Itza 3 hours lecture. (020618)
Prerequisites: ARTH 120.
This course is also offered as CHST 473.
A survey of Mexican art and culture from the Cortesian Conquest, the Colonial Period of monastery- and church-building, the Revolution of 1810, the Revolution of 1910, and the painters of the great revolutionary mural movement that followed, Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueriros, to contemporary artists who have tended toward international pluralism. Attention is given to the process of acculturation that produced the modern Mexican peoples, their national character, and their contemporary art. 3 hours lecture. (000842)
An investigation of the art of Peru and adjacent regions prior to European contact. The relationship of art to religious beliefs and practices, political ideologies, and the significance of styles and technologies are examined. Cultures surveyed include Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Tiwanaku, and Inka, as well as the Northern Andean civilizations such as San Agustin. 3 hours lecture. (020619)
Investigation of the traditional and contemporary arts and cultures of the Amerindian and Eskimo of the continental United States, Canada, and Alaska. Six major culture areas will be examined: the Arctic, Pacific Northwest, California, the Southwest, and Eastern Woodlands, and the florescent cultures of the Plains and Intermontane. Such problems as a definition of Indian Art, transoceanic contact, acculturation, and the moral and ethical questions posed by Indian Rights will be considered. 3 hours lecture. (000852)
An investigation of the arts and cultures of the African continent, with major emphasis upon the Negroid peoples south of the Sahara, the medieval kingdoms of the Sudan and the rain forest cultures and great civilizations of Ife, Benin, and the Congo, the sculpture, painting, body art, architecture, music, dance, belief systems, aural tradition of folklore, and reciprocal influences with other continents will be considered. 3 hours lecture. (000853)
Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ARTH 120.
This survey acquaints students with the language of form and space and stylistic vocabularies related to interiors, furnishings, and architecture from the Egyptians through 18th century European. Some aspects of Asian and Islamic furnishings and decorative arts will be included as influences on European design. 3 hours lecture. (000775)
Prerequisites: ARTH 130.
Survey of the language of form and space and stylistic vocabularies related to interiors, furnishings, and architecture for 19th and 20th century European and American art from the Colonial period. Styles such as Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhaus, Memphis, and Post Modern will be addressed, and architects and designers such as William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eileen Gray, and LeCorbusier will be included. 3 hours lecture. (000778)
The development of photography from roots in classical and medieval discoveries to the present, its role in historical documentation, its reciprocal influence upon the arts, its contribution to science, and its importance as an extension of human vision. Non-silver processes and fusion of photography with computer and other media will be examined. Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Alfred Stieglitz, and Edward Weston are among the photographers to be considered. 3 hours lecture. (000773)

Professional Preparation: 6 units

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: Lower Division ARTS Option Requirements plus 6 units upper-division ARTS courses.
This course concentrates efforts in learning the tools needed for a successful art business. It includes writing resumes, cover letters, artist's statements, and press releases; gallery, grant, and public art proposals; web publishing; print and on-line exhibition materials; exhibition installations; and print-based and web reproduction of artwork. 3 hours activity. (021322)
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; acceptance into the BFA program or permission of instructor and ARTS 425, ARTS 426, ARTS 427, ARTS 430, ARTS 440, ARTS 450, ARTS 460, ARTS 470, ARTS 476, IDES 453, or IDES 454.
Cross-disciplinary studio art seminar for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree options in Art Studio and Electronic Arts. This course affords BFA students the opportunity to develop work for their required culminating exhibition. The course also includes critical discussions and readings on aesthetics, techniques, and professional issues. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (015012)

The Option in Interior Architecture: 72 units

Laptop Requirement

To complete this program, the student must have the use of a laptop computer. Please consult with the department for current hardware and software requirements. Students qualify to receive special education discounts on computers and software sold through the Associated Students Bookstore (an Apple authorized campus store). For some programs, in an effort to lower student expenses, bundles consisting of a specially priced Apple laptop computer with the program's required software will be made available at the beginning of each academic year through the Associated Students Bookstore. This laptop computer package is expected to serve the student for the entire length of the program.

Grading Requirement

  1. All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.
  2. A grade of C- or higher is needed to pass all Interior Architecture Lower Division Option Requirements.
  3. A total grade point average of at least 2.5 for all coursework is required.

Advising Requirement

Advising by IDES faculty is mandatory for all majors in this degree program.

Lower-Division Requirements: 36 units

9 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Survey of the major visual arts of Europe and the U.S. from 1800 to the Present. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (021084)
Foundation studies in the elements and principles of art and design as applied to 2D media. Includes critical thinking and conceptual development, materials and methods, and additive and subtractive color theories and applications. 6 hours activity. This course requires the use of a laptop computer and appropriate software. (000720)
Foundation studies in the elements and principles of art and design as applied to 3D media. Includes critical thinking and conceptual development leading to design and construction, materials and methods, and use of color. 6 hours activity. This course requires the use of a laptop computer and appropriate software. (000721)
Beginning drawing techniques based on studio disciplines. A variety of approaches and materials will be used. 6 hours activity. (000710)
Prerequisites: ARTS 122 or ARTS 125, sophomore standing.
This is a foundation computer course for studio artists. The course covers basic instruction using the computer for painting, drawing, image processing, photographic composites, words as art, animation, research, and presentation. Emphasis is on conceptual and creative processes. Art and design principles, aesthetic decision making, and visual effectiveness are addressed. Basic drawing skills strongly recommended. 6 hours activity. (000737)
This course provides the student with an overview of the interior design profession. Through a survey of significant spaces and innovations in styles and furnishings students examine how interior design affects human activity. Life safety codes and human performance are emphasized. 3 hours lecture. (000732)
Prerequisites: IDES 115.
This course is an introduction to the tools, techniques, and principles of architectural drafting, graphic conventions, and lettering. Students measure actual sites and study the use of dimensional orthographic and three-dimensional paraline drawing techniques. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020509)
Prerequisites: ARTS 125, IDES 115.
The ability to sketch design ideas confidently is a valuable tool for designers. This course emphasizes the skill of drawing quickly by teaching visual note taking, generating visual ideas, working from non-visual sources, and establishing a method for accurate perspective drawing. Color rendering techniques are introduced that add surface texture, tonality, reflections, and shades and shadows. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000782)
Prerequisite: ARTS 122, ARTS 123, IDES 115, or faculty permission.
This course emphasizes a systematic approach to the interior design process: conceptualization, development, and synthesis. Through a series of exercises that focus on fundamental design elements and principles, students shall explore several two and three dimensional communication techniques to effectively present their design ideas. A grade of C or higher is required in this course to continue in the Interior Design BFA program. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (020621)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Survey of the major visual arts of the Ancient World through the Middle Ages. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (000705)
Survey of the major visual arts of India, China, and Japan from the prehistoric to the nineteenth-century period. An emphasis on the traditional Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto arts. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000707)
A survey of visual arts, including Pre-Columbian, Post-Columbian, Native American, Islamic, and African. These arts will be placed in their historical, social, and religious contexts. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (000709)

6 units selected from:

Students may take courses outside of the Art and Art History department, for example in BADM, CDES, CMGT, THEA and, upon advisor recommendation, to fulfill some requirements in this area.

Upper-Division Requirements: 36 units

7 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
This course is an internship offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. Supervised, out-of-classroom art-related work experience within the University (as in galleries and the slide room), and in connection with community programs and businesses (as in museums, galleries, art centers, etc.). Open to art majors and minors at junior and senior levels with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or to graduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0. 3 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. (000870)

ARTS 489 must be taken for at least 3 units.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisite: IDES 231.
This course introduces the use of the microcomputer as a tool for interior design illustration, drafting, and design development. A fundamental computer graphics course for interior design students, this course builds skills and technical knowledge in image processing, two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional modeling of building interiors. 6 hours activity. This course requires the use of a laptop computer and appropriate software. (000766)
Prerequisite: IDES 231.
This course focuses on the materials available to the interior designer and their characteristics, sources, and applications. Properties and appropriate uses for interior construction and finish materials are explored. Through lectures, presentations, and the preparation of construction details, students become familiar with the application of a wide variety of interior materials and finishes. Green design and sustainability are examined. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000734)
Prerequisites: ARTS 122, IDES 231, IDES 251.
This course focuses on lighting design based upon critical awareness of the luminous environment. Lighting fundamentals and applications for various types of interior environments are emphasized. Energy conservation and efficiency are also examined. This course addresses the relationship of interior lighting and color. Students explore the application of color theory to interior design. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000768)
Prerequisites: IDES 231.
This course emphasizes the overview of interior design construction and creating a set of documentation. The course covers advanced problems in design and detailing of interior finish systems such as interior architecture and cabinetry. Exploration and production of interior mechanical and millwork drawings and construction documents. Integration of building codes and life safety issues. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020727)
Prerequisites: IDES 231, IDES 251, IDES 372 or faculty permission.
This course focuses on interior building systems in relation to human sensory reactions, psychological factors, health, safety, and comfort. Building codes relating to building systems are addressed. The vocabulary and concepts of environmental technologies related to interior design are examined. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020730)
Prerequisite: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; 6 units of upper division IDES-studio electives.
This course familiarizes students with the everyday business, legal, financial, and ethical considerations of the practicing designer. A case study is used to explain the formation of a design business, its operations and designer/client and designer/vendor relationships; project scope analysis and contract analysis for residential and contract projects; insurance, fees and compensation; public relations; and dispute resolution. This course provides an introduction to various formats and processes used in creating a portfolio. Organization and graphic solutions are emphasized for portfolio development. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (000866)

3 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: IDES 231, IDES 232, IDES 251.
Conceptual process, design theory, and programmatic concerns involved in residential interior design with an emphasis on professional applications. Building codes related to residential spaces are addressed. Green design and sustainability are examined. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000817)
Prerequisites: IDES 231, IDES 232, IDES 251.
Students design corporate offices and institutional spaces such as day-care centers and libraries. Practical issues such as compliance with building codes, sustainability, and use of modular furniture systems are addressed in relation to building types. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000820)
Prerequisites: IDES 231, IDES 232, IDES 251.
This course emphasizes the elements used by the designer in the development of hospitality interior spaces such as restaurants, clubs, coffee shops, and hotels. Both conceptual and practical issues are explored relative to site analysis, programming, space planning, green design, circulation, volume, furnishings, color, and texture in the design of interior space. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000863)
Prerequisites: IDES 231, IDES 232, IDES 251.
This course introduces students to design branded environments, showroom, tradeshow exhibit, retail store, and museum. Students learn about design concept, development, space utilization, fixtures, and display as well as the role the interior designer plays in branding and the selling of a product. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020728)
Prerequisites: IDES 231, IDES 232, IDES 251.
This design studio focuses on the aesthetic and functional issues related to the creation of custom freestanding furniture. Design and production of both hard and soft goods are covered. Special attention is given to anthropometric and ergonomic considerations, as well as the fabrication materials and construction methods. Students produce full scale furniture of their own design. 6 hours activity. (020729)

Art History Requirements: 3 units

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: ARTH 130.
Survey of the language of form and space and stylistic vocabularies related to interiors, furnishings, and architecture for 19th and 20th century European and American art from the Colonial period. Styles such as Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhaus, Memphis, and Post Modern will be addressed, and architects and designers such as William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eileen Gray, and LeCorbusier will be included. 3 hours lecture. (000778)

Interior Architecture Capstone Studio: 3 units

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: IDES 474 and 9 units of upper-division IDES studio electives.
This course is the culminating interior design studio project of the BFA professional level degree program. Students implement the project identified and researched in the course. Students research, develop, and analyze data and design criteria for a substantial project involving diverse populations. This advanced studio requires students to incorporate the skills and knowledge gained throughout their studies to create a comprehensive project, including program, presentation drawings, models, detail drawings and specifications. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (020731)

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Catalog Cycle:14