School of Art

OFFICE	220 Design Building
TELEPHONE	225-578-5411
FAX	225-578-5424

For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.

CURRICULUM:

Studio Art

LSU is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design. Through the College of Art & Design, the School of Art offers the professional BFA degree in Studio Art with concentrations in digital art, graphic design, and studio art (with areas of emphasis in Photography (Track A); Printmaking and Book Arts (Track B); Painting and Drawing (Track C); or 3-D: Ceramics and Sculpture (Track D). In addition, students concentrating in these areas may minor in art history, ceramics, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and visual communications. All studio art classes meet for two class hours per semester hour of credit. Outside of regular class time, students are expected to engage in a minimum of one additional hour of studio work per hour of credit.

Certain courses offered by the school require fees to defray the cost of consumable materials used by students. This information is included in the individual course syllabus.

Enrollment in certain required art courses may be restricted to “majors and minors only” early in the registration process.

Registration for all multiple credit courses taken for more than three credits in a given semester will require prior permission of the instructor.

Personal Computer Requirement

All students entering the School of Art are required to have their own laptop computer with wireless internet access prior to the first semester of study. Students planning to enter Graphic Design, Digital Arts, or Interior Design may have additional requirements and should refer to laptop specifications for those areas when purchasing a laptop for their first semester. For information regarding the type, specifications, and software for all School of Art students, or to address questions regarding this requirement, please visit 220 Design Building or the School of Art website.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree provides the liberal education and specialized instruction needed for a professional career in the visual arts.

Admission Requirements

Admission into the program for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art is a selective two-part process. The first phase occurs when a student who is admitted by the Office of Enrollment Management indicates a preference for studio art and chooses a degree path and a concentration. Students who have completed AP art courses with a portfolio score of three or better will be considered for credit toward studio art foundation courses.

The second phase of the admission process takes place upon conclusion of the second year with the completion of: ART 1011 , ART 1012 , ART 1847 , and other relevant courses from the student’s intended concentration, listed below. Students will submit a portfolio of creative work produced in the required first and second-year courses. Students who pass the portfolio review may pursue their concentration and any studio art minor listed in the LSU General Catalog. Students who do not pass the review may opt to complete an alternative degree path in the College of Art & Design.

Transfer Students

Transfer students from other institutions will be considered for admission to the Studio Art program and/or Foundations Program on a space-available basis. The same applies to students already enrolled at LSU who wish to transfer into the Studio Art program. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to apply for admission by February 15 for entry in the fall semester.

Substitution credit for art courses taken elsewhere will be considered if they are equivalent to courses required for the curriculum in Studio Art. Consideration will also be given to courses taken through an art program accredited by NASAD. Additionally, transferring students are expected to submit a portfolio of work completed in relevant courses for evaluation by faculty within the chosen concentration.

“C” Grades and Repetition of Courses

Studio Art majors must pass all required art and art history courses with a grade of “C” or better. A student who earns a “D” or “F” must retake the course.

Students majoring in Art in the College of Art & Design will select from one of three concentrations: Studio Art, Graphic Design; and Digital Art. Please review the foundation requirements for the intended concentration.

Students pursuing the Studio Art concentration are required to select from the following four tracks:

Photography (Track A);

Printmaking and Book Arts (Track B);

Painting and Drawing (Track C);

or 3D: Ceramics; or Sculpture (Track D).

Specific courses for each track may be found on the School of Art website. Foundation and recommended elective courses must be selected with the advice and approval of the advisor in the School of Art.

Studio Art Foundations (30 Credits) – Foundation courses are comprised of ART 1011 , ART 1012 , ART 1847 , ART 1360 , ART 1661 or ART 1662 , ART 1762 , ART 1848 , ART 1849 , ART 2050 or ART 2055 , ART 2995 . Foundation courses must be completed by the end of the fourth semester. Critical course sequence should be selected based on the intended track (see School of Art advisor).

Digital Art and Graphic Design Foundations (24 credits) - Foundation courses are comprised of a total of eight courses (24 credits). Four of these courses are required for all students in the School of Art: ART 1011 , ART 1012 , ART 1360 , and ART 1847 . Another four courses should be selected from the following, with the student’s future concentration in mind: ART 1661 , ART 1762 , ART 1848 ¹⁺², ART 1849 , ART 2050 ¹⁺², ART 2655 , ART 2995 ¹⁺². Please find course descriptions in the General Catalog under **COURSE SEARCH** – ART; and review the degree path for each concentration you are considering.

1 – Required for the graphic design concentration

2 – Required for the digital art concentration.

Studio Art Electives (6-9 credits):

Art History Requirements (15 credits) – Three credits of ARTH 2470 , six credits from ARTH 1440 or ARTH 1441 or 2000 level, and six credit hours above 4000-level.

General Electives (3 credits)

General Education Requirements – See “Degree Requirements of the College ”. Thirty-nine hours of general education courses must be completed as required by the university.

Art Curricula Outside the School of Art

Other undergraduate degree programs in art are offered by academic divisions outside the College of Art & Design. The College of Humanities & Social Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in art history. General requirements for this degree may be found in the sections, “Degree Requirements of the College ,” and “Liberal Arts ,” in the “College of Humanities & Social Sciences ” section of this catalog.

Students interested in pursuing this degree should confer with a counselor in the School of Art and the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. The art history area offers a wide range of courses in all major historical eras. Students graduating from the program are prepared to continue their education in graduate school or to enter a variety of related fields without additional training beyond the college level.

Programs

Major

Studio Art, B.F.A.

Minor