This is an archived version of the University Catalog and is no longer being maintained. References to people, offices, policies, and web links may be outdated. View the current catalog or email catalog@csuchico.edu for updated information. Students who have catalog rights to this version of the catalog should check with an advisor for graduation requirements.

Skip to Side Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Accessibility Settings

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 39 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 Major Academic Plans page or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.

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 .

Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

Writing Across the Curriculum (Executive Memorandum 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog for more details on the four courses.  The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.

  • Any Writing Course (W) in the department, which includes the following prefixes: ARTE, ARTH, ARTI, and ARTS.

The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (Executive Order 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.

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.

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.

Culminating Exhibition/Project:

A culminating exhibition is required of all students seeking the BFA degree. You will arrange this with the approval of your mentor, and the BFA coordinator, prior to your final semester in the BFA degree program.

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 (in the major) 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 the major) in order to remain in the program.

Lower-Division Requirements: 30 units

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. (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. (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 computers for painting, vector drawing, image processing, photographic composites, typography/words as art, animation, research, and internet publishing. Emphasis is on conceptual and creative processes. Art and design principles, aesthetic decision making, visual effectiveness, digital ethics, and sustainability 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 visual arts from prehistory through the Middle Ages. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (000705)
Survey of the major visual arts of Asia from prehistory to the present, with an emphasis on Buddhist, Hindu, 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 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. (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 the concepts, tools, and processes of contemporary sculpture in a variety of materials, which may include clay, plaster, wood, fabric, cardboard, metal, and found objects. Emphasis on person creative growth and 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 units

Art Studio Courses: 24 units

Students must select a single emphasis from one of the following studio course groups to fulfill this requirement. Select 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)
Prerequisite: 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)
Prerequisite: 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.

24 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 122, ARTS 125, ARTS 250 or faculty permission.
Studio art course which focuses on narrative illustration image making using digital image creation tools. Includes idea development, historical and social contexts of the illustrative image, and contemporary image making trends. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (021723)
Prerequisite: ARTS 350 or ARTS 352 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 350 or ARTS 352 and at least one additional 300/400-level art studio course.
Advanced concepts in translating new media artworks from the virtual world to the tangible with emphasis on integration of traditional fine art media and new media. Explorations may include photography/digital imaging, digital painting, digital printmaking, sculpture, installation, 3D printing, animation, augmented reality, virtual reality, 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 JOUR 353, MADT 396, and MADT 496.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
Prerequisites: Introductory photography course on the college level, or faculty permission.
Varied topics in photographic practice at the intermediate level. Concentration on the development of the conceptual, expressive, and aesthetics of photography. Topical photographic experiences are used to help build personal portfolios that demonstrate understanding of the relationships between content, form, technique, and its audience. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 12.0 units. (000786)
Prerequisite: Introductory photography course at the college level or faculty permission.
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, MADT 396, or faculty permission.
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)
Prerequisite: JOUR 260W for Journalism majors only.
Theory and practice of news photography, including picture-taking for college publications, as well as special photographic projects. 3 hours lecture. (002011)
Prerequisite: MADT 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 commercial digital photography. Technical concepts include advanced systems of exposure and digital imaging processing for high-quality commercial digital output. Open to non-majors. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001737)
Prerequisite: MADT 396 with a grade of C or higher or faculty permission.
This course addresses the development and execution of a single commercial 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)

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 or faculty permission.
Intermediate exploration of three-dimensional form, using a variety of methods, such as assemblage and metal fabrication, in a variety of materials, such as wood, plaster, metal, fabric, plastic, and/or nontraditional materials. Emphasis on experimentation, creative expression, and technical skill building. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000758)
Prerequisites: ARTS 270 or faculty permission.
Aesthetic development of form in bronze and aluminum through foundry processes including "lost wax", ceramic shell, casting, metal finishing, oxyacetylene, electric arc, and T.I.G. welding. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (000759)
Prerequisite: ARTS 270 or faculty permission.
This intermediate sculpture course provides an in-depth study of the body as subject historical contexts. Emphasis on a wide variety of methods, materials, and processes centered around problem solving and developing 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 sculpture studio with an emphasis on 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 units

6 units selected from:

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

Digital Intermedia students may, with advisor approval, substitute up to 6 units of coursework from subjects outside ARTS, e.g. CAGD, CSCI, MADT, and MUSC.

Art History Courses: 6 units

1 course required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
An investigation of artists and issues in the global contemporary art world. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (000838)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
In-depth investigation of special areas of interest in art history, based upon particular faculty competencies and student interest. Recent topics include Visual Cultures of the Mediterranean, 1-1000 CE; Art of the 1960's & 1970's; Monsters and the Monstrous; and Monster Movies. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 9.0 units. This is an approved Writing Course. (000856)
In-depth study of Greek art and architecture. The course is thematic, with emphasis on gender, sexuality, race, and cultural identity. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (000858)
In-depth study of Roman art and architecture. The course is thematic, with emphasis on the political, religious, and social elements of Roman art and architecture. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (000860)
In-depth thematic study of medieval art and architecture. The course is thematic, with emphasis on religion, geography, sexuality, race, and monstrosity. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (000843)
An investigation of the history of modern art from the early-to-mid twentieth century. The course covers such movements as Cubism, Expressionism, Constructivism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Minimalism. An emphasis is placed on understanding how art relates to critical debates and social and historical contexts. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (000777)
An investigation of the history of American art from the colonial period to the present. This course examines a range of media and critically analyzes the representation of race, gender, class, and power in the history of American art. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (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, Mitla, Tula, and Tenochtitlan 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (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. This is an approved Writing Course. (020618)
This course is also offered as CHLX 473W.
A survey of Mexican art and the architecture during the colonial, revolutionary, and modern periods. Aspects of European, Spanish-American, and colonial indigenous art will be addressed, as well as the work of individual artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (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. This is an approved Writing Course. (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. This is an approved Writing Course. (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. This is an approved Writing Course. (000853)
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 Postmodern addressed, and architects and designers such as William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eileen Gray, and LeCorbusier 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: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement; acceptance into the BFA program or permission of instructor; ARTI 453, ARTS 425, ARTS 426, ARTS 427, ARTS 430, ARTS 440, ARTS 450, ARTS 460, ARTS 470, or ARTS 476.
Cross-disciplinary studio art seminar for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree options in Art Studio. 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. This is an approved Writing Course. (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 requirements.
  3. A total grade point average of at least 2.5 for all coursework is required.

Advising Requirement

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

Lower-Division Requirements: 33 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)
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: ARTI 115, ARTS 122, ARTS 123, or faculty permission.
Corequisite: ARTI 261.
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. Manual architectural drafting introduced as means of visual communication. Color rendering techniques are introduced that add surface texture, tonality, reflections, and shades and shadows. 6 hours activity. (020509)
Prerequisites: ARTI 115, ARTI 231, ARTS 250 or faculty permission.
This course is an introductory course into architectural digital visual communication methods in Computer Aided Design using AutoCAD, an industry standard computer-aided drafting (CAD) application software. Students work with basic lines and editing commands to more complicated concepts in computer drafting. They produce basic floor plans, elevations, sections, and details required in the residential drafting field. Digital modeling and rendering of three-dimensional environment will be introduced for design development and presentations. 6 hours activity. (000782)
Prerequisites: ARTI 115, ARTS 122, ARTS 123, or faculty permission.
Corequisite: ARTI 231.
This course is about understanding architectural space as a means to measure existence and expand awareness, focusing on compositional principles of design and methods for analyzing and generating spatial organizations. Students explore two and three dimensional communication techniques to effectively develop and present design ideas. A grade of C or higher is required in this course to continue in the Interior Architecture BFA program. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (020621)
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. (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. (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 computers for painting, vector drawing, image processing, photographic composites, typography/words as art, animation, research, and internet publishing. Emphasis is on conceptual and creative processes. Art and design principles, aesthetic decision making, visual effectiveness, digital ethics, and sustainability 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 visual arts from prehistory through the Middle Ages. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (000705)
Survey of the major visual arts of Asia from prehistory to the present, with an emphasis on Buddhist, Hindu, 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)

3 units selected from:

With advisor approval, students may take courses outside of the Art and Art History Department, for example in BADM, CMGT, MADT, or THEA to fulfill some requirements in this area.

Upper-Division Requirements: 39 units

13 courses required:

Students may only take 1 studio course per semester.

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
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 Postmodern addressed, and architects and designers such as William Morris, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eileen Gray, and LeCorbusier included. 3 hours lecture. (000778)
Prerequisite: ARTI 231.
This course expands Building Information Modeling (BIM) skills to include residential and commercial design projects and the use of features such as building construction, multi-levels, curtain walls, and store fronts. Students expand the use of Building Information Modeling by using more advanced programs features to implement commercial design into the projects. 6 hours activity. (000766)
Prerequisite: ARTI 261 or faculty permission
This studio approaches the application of theoretical principles and the conceptual design process in the design of objects interfacing with human interaction. Focusing on the aesthetic and functional issues related to the creation of freestanding furniture, students learn how to assess user needs, develop programs, and apply research findings to design outcomes. Special attention is given to anthropometric and ergonomic considerations. Structural principles, including materials and construction methods, are addressed in the process of designing and constructing prototype scaled furniture pieces. 6 hours activity. (000817)
Prerequisite: ARTI 362 or faculty permission.
This studio focuses on the analysis of furniture and cabinetry with emphasis on theories of use, ergonomics, design development, materials and methods of fabrication and manufacturing. Aesthetic and functional issues related to the creation of custom freestanding furniture. Special attention is given to anthropometric and ergonomic considerations, as well as the fabrication materials and construction methods. Students produce prototype furniture of their own design. 6 hours activity. (020729)
Prerequisites: ARTI 115, ARTI 261 or faculty permission.
This course introduces the building materials and finishes used in interior applications in the context of their environmental impact, their implications for human health and safety, and their potential contribution to the design of architectural interiors. This course covers how to use finishes and materials appropriately for interior applications; study how materials are installed and how they transition into one other; understand the substructure on which they are applied and how to specify materials properly. Activities include lectures and panel discussion by product representatives. Field trips to showrooms and manufacturing facilities to expand your resource base. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000734)
Prerequisites: ARTI 115, ARTI 261 or faculty permission.
This course focuses on lighting design based upon critical awareness of the luminous environment. Lighting fundamentals and applications for various types of interior environment are emphasized. Students learn to analyze the spatial requirements for light, select proper systems, draw reflected ceiling plans, draw electrical plans, lighting legends, lighting schedules, codes and emergency lighting. Understanding daylight and how to control it will be also be discussed. 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)
Prerequisite: ARTI 333 or faculty permission.
This course emphasizes the overview of interior architecture construction and detailing. Students create a set of working drawings for projects designed in the interior architecture studio. This course covers advanced problems in design and detailing of interior finish systems such as millwork details, cabinetry, electrical components, mechanical components, fittings, finish and equipment schedules with an integration to building codes and life safety requirements. 6 hours activity. (020727)
Prerequisites: ARTI 231, ARTI 232, ARTI 363 or faculty permission.
This course emphasizes the elements used by the designer in the development of commercial interiors of retail and hospitality interior spaces such as retail stores, cafes, and restaurants. 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 or interior space. 6 hours activity. (000820)
Prerequisite: ARTI 464 or faculty permission.
This studio course focuses on the application of theoretical principles and the conceptual design process in contract design or corporate and institutional designs. With case study research for assessing user needs students learn program analysis, apply evidence-based research findings to design, and evaluate performance of the built environment through various large scale projects. 6 hours activity. (020728)
Prerequisite: ARTI 363 or faculty permission.
This course focuses on the foundations knowledge, concepts, and skills fundamental to structure, construction, and materials. Interior building systems in relation to human sensory reactions, psychological factors, health, safety, and comfort including building codes relating to building systems are addressed. The vocabulary and concepts of environmental technologies related to lighting, acoustics, water and waste for architectural and interior design. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (020730)
Prerequisite: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement or faculty permission.
This course assists and mentors students in assembling a comprehensive portfolio of their academic work. Students learn various formats and processes used in creating a portfolio. Methods and examples or organization and layout are covered. The purpose of the portfolio is to showcase each student's best technical, creative, and analytical skills. The end product is a customized template than can then be supplemented with new projects as students continue to develop professionally. 3 hours activity. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. Credit/no credit grading. (000866)
Prerequisite: ARTI 363 or faculty permission.
This course familiarizes students with the everyday business, legal, financial, and ethical considerations of the practicing designer. This course addresses business principles and practices as they relate to the field of Interior Architecture. Students immerse in the Interior Architecture profession through an internship at a design or architectural firm. With the guidance of the program coordinator and the supervision of the host organization to gain greater exposer to the real design world and prepare for their future profession. A total of 90 internship hours either at an interior design, interior architecture, or community organization (habit for humanity, frugal house, university grant supported projects, etc.) is required with a year period. Ten 75 minute lectures plus 90 internship hours. 3 hours supervision. Credit/no credit grading. (021780)
Prerequisites: ARTI 464, ARTI 465 or faculty permission.
This thesis course is the culminating studio project for the interior architecture BFA. The course allows advanced students to choose projects based on their interests in global and socioeconomic issues. Students are responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive project, which entails the selection of the project, research and development, site selection and analysis, code research and its application, and design development, as well as presentations of this material. 6 hours activity. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (020731)
Catalog Cycle:21