Undergraduate Catalog – Print Version (PDF: 4.66MB)

to succeed by the experienceof a broad university educationcombined with a rigorous art curriculumthat emphasizes criticalthinking and art production skills.The study of art provides anopportunity to open the mind tounforeseeable possibilities by whicha student may identify and appreciatetheir own unique skills. Theseabilities transfer to evolving, wideranging applications and careerpaths.Degrees Offered• Undergraduate: B.F.A., B.A.;Minor in Photography• Concentrations: (B.F.A.) CommunicationDesign, EmergingPractices, Painting, Photography,Printmaking, and Sculpture;(B.A.) General Studio, CommunicationDesign, Photographyand Visual Studies Studio.• Graduate: M.F.A.Degree OptionsThe Department of Visual Studiesart degree programs have two typesof bachelor’s degrees in art: a focusedstudio program, which grantsthe BFA; and liberal arts based program,that grants the BA. The BFAdegree focuses on intensive workin the visual arts supported by aprogram of general studies. The BAdegree focuses on art in the contextof general studies that may allowthe student to pursue a minor ordouble major in another program,if desired. Four-year BA and BFAdegrees (of 120 credits) are offeredwith undergraduate concentrationsin communication design, emergingpractices, painting, photography,sculpture, printmaking, visual studiesstudio and general studio.These concentrations intersectwith an emergent range of studioart, visual studies, and universityelectives.AdvisementAdvisement is provided foraccepted majors by a full-time academicadvisor in the department,along with faculty members in thestudent’s area of concentration.Photography MinorsNon-art majors who would like tominor in photography do not haveto take the Freshman Foundationcourses, but first need to meetwith the head of the photographyconcentration.Acceptance InformationAll BFA and BA intended art majorsmust apply to and be acceptedby the Art Program in the VisualStudies Department.Students accepted to theUniversity who select fine art orstudio art as their intended majoron their university application areblock registered into fall semesterfreshman foundation courses ona first-come, first-served basis.During the spring semester of thefreshman year students with a fallsemester Art GPA of 3.0 or aboveare automatically granted admissionto the Art program. Students witha GPA lower than 3.0 must have aportfolio review and interview todetermine admittance into the ArtProgram.Currently enrolled UB studentswith a minimum GPA of2.5 are eligible to apply to the Artdepartment’s BA or BFA program.Admission is determined by aportfolio review and interview.Freshman foundation courses arerequired for the BA and BFA degreesand are also prerequisites formost upper level courses. Studentsshould take these courses beforeapplying to the major.Individualized AdmissionFreshmen applicants to UB whofail to meet University SAT andGPA requirements but have uniqueartistic talents and conceptualabilities may be considered foradmission through the individualizedadmission process. Contactthe Department of Visual StudiesAcademic Advisor for moreinformation.Schedule of PortfolioReviews• Freshmen: Spring of freshmanyear if art GPA is below 3.0• Honors Scholarship: Check withAcademic Advisor• Individualized Admissions:February - April• Currently Enrolled: Fall andSpring• Transfers: Spring prior to FallentryAcceptance Information• Number of applicants/year:180• Number of accepted majors/year: 40-50 freshmen; 30 transfers/currentlyenrolled• Total number of majors currentlyenrolled: 300Portfolio Review ProcedureTo schedule a review appointment,students must apply for aportfolio review by applicationavailable through the Visual StudiesDepartment’s Academic Advisor,Kim Yarwood.Academic RequirementsFreshman FoundationsCurriculumUndergraduate study in art beginswith the Freshman FoundationsProgram, a series of five thematicallyfocused studio coursesand one critical theory course.Limited to sixty-eighty freshmanlevel students, the foundationsprogram provides a structured andsupportive framework that easesthe transition to a large universityand helps students adjust to itsdemands, especially valuable in thefreshman year. The goal of theprogram is to build a solid base ofconcepts and skills for subsequentstudy. Structured thematically, thesecourses introduce the student totwo- and three-dimensional media,surfaces, and modes of conceptualizationthrough group and individualprojects. Students learn torecord and refine initial ideas, clarifyrelationships of form and space,and develop skills of perceptionand hand-eye coordination. Firstyear foundations assists the studentin the development of vocabulary,critical and creative thinking, goodworking habits, basic tools and conceptsof artmaking, ways of seeing,and the transition of experienceinto artwork.Sophomore and JuniorYearsDuring the sophomore year, BFAand BA students take introductory(200-level) studio courses oftheir choice. Focused study in aconcentration generally begins inthe junior year. Three- and 400-level courses provide in-depth andfocused studio experiences.Studio ElectivesDue to an evolving, expandingcurriculum, a growing numberof hybrid studio electives are offered.These studio electives allowstudents to have the flexibility toselect the courses most appropriateand interesting to them. A varietyof seminars in contemporary artand visual studies are offered alongwith instruction in performance,video, sound, installation, public art,intervention art, new media, andgizmology. Studio electives mayalso be used to take courses in theDepartments of Media Study andTheatre & Dance.Senior Thesis ProjectThe two-semester senior thesisproject culminating in an exhibitionor presentation is required forthe BFA degree. This two-coursesequence involves preparation,research, proposal development,and advanced studio exploration.Advanced work should demonstratetechnical expertise, independentmotivation, personal interpretation/expression,and the student’sunderstanding of their work withinthe context of current contemporaryworks and artists. Studentsmay work in a single media or acombination of several media.Transfer PolicyStudents accepted to UB mustapply to and be accepted by theart program in the Department ofVisual Studies, and must have aminimum GPA of 2.5 to be eligibleto apply. Admission is by portfolioreview and interview; this reviewtakes place in the fall semester.Due to space limitations, delay ofa portfolio review could jeopardizeadmission to the Art Program.Transfer student’s courses fromother institutions must be equivalentto UB art courses and musthave a grade of B or above to betransferable. Accepted transfercredits are applied toward thedepartment’s degree requirementsupon acceptance as an art major.Transfer students interested inCommunication Design or EmergingPractices must have a secondportfolio review to be admitted intothese concentrations.ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OF STUDYUniversity at Buffalo • Undergraduate Catalog 2007-08 43