May 03, 2025  
2025-2026 Binghamton University Academic Guide 
    
2025-2026 Binghamton University Academic Guide

Studio Art, BFA

Location(s): Main Campus


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The Department of Art and Design provides a creative environment for academic excellence in the areas of drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and graphic design. Students receive rigorous training and individualized attention by faculty who are committed to teaching excellence in traditional practices, expanded media and transdisciplinary approaches to art. Our curriculum emphasizes experimentation, problem solving and collaboration, and provides creative learning experiences for liberal arts students who wish to explore studio practices through elective courses. Students can choose to major in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and graphic design. 

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a pre-professional degree with intense focus on studio arts for students who wish to pursue art as their career. Students graduate with an exhibition and professional portfolio and are prepared for careers in creative industries, fine arts or the pursuit of a graduate degree. The degree requires 74 credits in the area of concentration within the art major.

Program Requirements


University General Education Requirements


All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.

Harpur College Requirements


All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences  page for more information.

Restrictions on Double Majors


ARTS BFA majors may not double major with the ARTS BA due to considerable overlap in the programs.

Major Requirements


There are seven tracks for the BFA: Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Graphic Design, and Intermedia. Consult with the department for appropriate courses for each track.

Media-Specific Track Requirements


Students must fulfill the following requirements for the following tracks: Photography, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Graphic Design (74 credits total):

  • Four introductory courses, by advisement
  • Five elective courses from the intermediate level (300 level or higher), by advisement
  • Five studio courses in one specialization track, by advisement (no more than three transfer courses allowed)
  • Three art history courses, by advisement
  • Seminar in Studio Art (ARTS 496)
  • Senior Exhibition Seminar (ARTS 499) critique and exhibition

Students planning to transfer to Binghamton University from a SUNY school or from Binghamton University to another SUNY school and pursue the SUNY Transfer Path in Design through the Graphic Design track should take ARTS 210 (Graphic Design I) as one of their five studio courses in graphic design, ARTS 171 (Drawing I) as one of their four introductory ARTS courses, and ARTH 110 (Intro to Art History I) and ARTH 111 (Intro to Art History II) as two of their three art history courses.

Students planning to transfer to Binghamton University from a SUNY school or from Binghamton University to another SUNY school and pursue the SUNY Transfer Path in Art Studio Drawing track should take ARTS 210 (Graphic Design I), ARTS 230 (Sculpture I) and ARTS 271 (Intermediate Drawing) as their three 200-level ARTS courses. Additionally, they should take ARTH 110 (Intro to Art History I) and ARTH 111 (Intro to Art History II) as their two art history courses.

Intermedia Track Requirements


Students must fulfill the following requirements for the Intermedia Track (74 credits total):

  • Five introductory ARTS courses decided in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies or faculty advisor such as:
  • Six ARTS courses from the intermediate level (300-level or higher) such as:
  • Three studio courses from the advanced level (400-level) decided in consultatation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies or faculty advisor
  • Three art history courses decided in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies or faculty advisor such as:
  • ARTS 496   Seminar in Studio Art
  • ARTS 499   Senior Exhibition Seminar

Additional Information About the Program


  • A maximum of six transferred courses may count toward the BFA.
  • The department requires a grade of C or better in courses counted toward the major.
  • No courses for the major may be taken Pass/Fail.
  • Advanced courses may be repeated for further development, with the approval of the chair. Certain courses can be repeated for credit and may count toward the major.

For more information on the Studio Art BFA program, please refer to the Art and Design website. To apply to the Art BFA program, please visit the University Admissions website.

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