2019-2020 Academic Catalog & Student Handbooks 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Academic Catalog & Student Handbooks [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art, Graphic Design, B.F.A.


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The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree is a professional degree program that provides a more intensive course of study than the traditional B.A. in Art or Graphic Design. The degree prepares students for entry into the professional design industry and/or graduate school. No minor is required due to the comprehensive curriculum. Throughout their coursework students will take a variety of studio art, art history and graphic design courses that build a wealth of skill and knowledge. Students spend their senior year developing a professional portfolio designed to help them land a job in the design industry and creating a capstone thesis project where they combine their personal interests and design methodology.

Faculty members work closely with students to strengthen students’ technical and conceptual abilities. They also serve as an entry point into professional practice through their own studio practices and professional networks. Students are expected to seek internships and actively participate in the design community through organizations like the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and it’s local chapter AIGA Mobile in order to cultivate their own professional networks. They are also encouraged to participate in local portfolio reviews and to attend regional and national design conferences.

 

University Core and General Education Electives


University of Mobile’s undergraduate program is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Professions, Alabama College for Professional and Continuing Studies, Alabama School of the Arts, School of Business, School of Christian Studies, and School of Education. All University of Mobile undergraduate students are required to complete certain basic courses that apply uniformly to the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, the Bachelor of Science degree, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the Bachelor of Music degree unless otherwise noted. These are identified as basic course (general education) requirements. 

Requirements (Please see NOTES section below)


*Notes:


  1. Consult with your College/School advisor for specific and/or additional requirements relating to general education courses. For example, COM 101  is required for business, Christian studies, and education majors and teacher certification students. MA 110  is required for all majors in the School of Business. Education majors and teacher certification students have very specific requirements, particularly regarding English, Mathematics, History, and Laboratory Sciences.
  2. FS 100 Freshman Seminar (1 semester hour) is required for freshmen only. 
  3. Students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree must also complete twelve semester hours of a foreign language. See specific requirements in the World Languages section of the catalog.
  4. Students earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, or Graphic Design must also complete six semester hours of a foreign language.
  5. Students earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in English, Creative Writing must also complete twelve semester hours of a foreign language.
  6. Students earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Management must also complete PSY 201 .  Students earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing must also complete AR 226 .

 

World Languages (B.F.A.)


Students earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must also take six semester hours of a foreign language.

Notes:


  1. A minor is not required. Students have the option to complete a minor in a discipline outside the department. The addition of a minor will require course work in excess of the 123 hours minimum required for the B.F.A. and may delay time to graduation.

  2. Portfolios are not required for admission to BA and BFA programs, but are encouraged.

  3. Candidates for the B.F.A in Studio Art or Graphic Design are required to exhibit their capstone thesis project during their senior year.

  4. All art majors must attend a minimum of three art and/or design events per semester. Attendance at these events will make up 10% of your thesis grade during your senior year. Events include on-campus artist talks and exhibitions as well as off-campus events but you must submit verification from the exhibit (postcard, brochure, etc.)

  5. Additional AR electives may be approved at your advisor’s discretion, in consultation with the Art Department chair. Some electives may have prerequisites that must be fulfilled before registering for the course.

  6. AR 331: Internship course may be repeated in order to fulfill a portion of the elective requirement. No more than six (6) hours of Internship credit will be accepted.

  7. Computer and Software Requirements - Junior Graphic Design BFA Candidates Only:
    All students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design are expected to own a personal laptop computer that conforms to the graphic design computer and software requirements by the beginning of their junior year. In addition to the laptop, students will also be expected to obtain a subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. This purpose of this policy is to ensure that students have adequate access to computing resources and obtain an extensive working knowledge of the Macintosh system and Adobe software suite outside of class. Possession of a laptop allows students access to printers and other available resources on campus and elsewhere. In addition, owning a laptop aids students with job searches and job preparation as well as provides necessary resources for freelance opportunities that otherwise would not be available. Computer and software requirements are available in the visual arts department and on the department web page.

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