BA, BFA
Undergraduate studio degrees offered by the Department of Art and Visual Technology include the bachelor of arts (BA) and the bachelor of fine arts (BFA). The department also offers an undergraduate minor in AVT and an interdisciplinary minor in multimedia, and a departmental honors program for selected AVT majors.
Undergraduate AVT requirements
Art and Visual Technology, Bachelor of Arts (BA)
This program offers a broad background for students who seek a liberal arts education with a major in studio or digital art. Students can concentrate a portion of their study in digital
arts, graphic information design, painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or interdisciplinary arts (InterArts).
BA degree requirements
Effective in the spring of 2006, all students are admitted to AVT programs of study separately from their admission to the university, and only by portfolio review. Students may be admitted to study in the BA program by one of three ways:
- Presenting a portfolio and any other requested credentials at designated portfolio review days before each semester
- Completing the sequence of AVT 104, 105, and 222 with a 3.50 or higher average, and applying for admission
- Completing the sequence of AVT 104, 105, and 222; and either 323 or 324, or one 200-level course with a 3.00 or higher average; and applying for admission
Art and Visual Technology, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
This is an intensive 120-credit studio production program with an emphasis in analytical, creative, and experiential aspects of studio and digital arts. It is designed to prepare students professionally as visual artists, or for graduate study in the fine arts. Students devote a significant portion of their college careers to an in-depth study in one of the following concentrations: digital arts, graphic information design, painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, or interdisciplinary arts (InterArts).
Senior BFA students are required to participate in the visiting critics program as part of the course requirements for AVT 472 Critical Theory in the Visual Arts, and the AVT synthesis courses.
Application deadlines are at the end of the sixth week of the fall and spring semester of each year. Students planning to apply are encouraged to meet with the division coordinator of their AVT concentration in the semester prior to their application to discuss the portfolio.
Admission to the BFA program is highly competitive. Applicants must be a current BA student in art and visual technology, and must have completed AVT 104 and 105 or the equivalent. Other BFA admission requirements include the following:
- Portfolio of 10 to 15 original examples of college-level art work
- One-page (typed, double-spaced) artist statement describing your goals as an artist and how the BFA program will help you achieve your goals
- Transcripts of all college-level study
Students interested in applying should contact the Department of Art and Visual Technology for specific application information.
BFA Degree Requirements
BFA Application (MS Word file)
Art and Visual Technology, BFA Curriculum for Students Intending to Pursue the MAT Degree in Art Education
Students who intend to seek licensure to teach art in Virginia public schools or who intend to apply for entrance to the master of arts in teaching program for art education should pursue a BFA (any concentration) with the coursework suggested in the GMU University Catalog.
BFA Degree Requirements for students intending to pursue the MAT in Art Education
AVT Honors Program
Students interested in the Honors Program in Art and Visual Technology should contact the chair of department. Both BA and BFA students are eligible to apply for admission to the program. Honors students must complete at least 4 credits of AVT 394 Honors Seminar.
Minor in Art and Visual Technology
The minor in AVT requires 20 credits and offers a core of foundational studies with the opportunity for further study the following areas: digital arts, graphic information design, InterArts, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture.
AVT Minor Requirements
Interdisciplinary Minor in Multimedia
For the program of study for the multimedia minor, please see the catalog section on Interdisciplinary Minors. This minor is not available to students majoring in AVT with a concentration in digital arts.
