Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027

Visual Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts (514P, 514)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/art


Program Coordinator

Natalie C. Tyree, natalie.tyree@wku.edu

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is the initial professional degree sought for careers in visual arts and design. The Department of Art & Design offers four concentrations. The BFA in Studio concentration prepares students for a professional studio practice through rigorous artistic and academic experience. It is also the standard requirement for entrance into Masters of Fine Arts degree programs, the most common route to teaching studio art at the college level. The BFA Graphic Design concentration prepares students for careers in the visual communications field, including web design, print design, illustration, and new media. The Animation concentration prepares students for careers in fields such as animation and game design, and for professional arts practices in time-based media. The UX Design concentration prepares students for fields that incorporate interactive platform design and function.

Concentrations begin with a foundation of drawing, 2-D design, 3-D design, and art history surveys. Students then focus on a specific curricular sequence of interest to them: animation, graphic design, studio art (ceramics, printmaking, painting, sculpture, weaving), or UX design. Portfolio, upper-level studio, and seminar classes serve as the capstone experiences for BFA students in each concentration, where personal concepts and technical proficiency typically yield a cohesive body of work or competitive professional portfolio. In each concentration, the goal for the BFA student is to forge a professional practice in their chosen area.

Concentrations

  • Graphic Design (ARGD)
  • Studio (ARST)
  • Animation (ARAN)
  • User Experience Design (ARUX)

Program Requirements (79 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The major requires 79 semester hours of study. Entry into the BFA in Visual Arts program may be accomplished in one of two ways: have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in art and art history courses to include: ART 105 or ART 106, ART 130, ART 131, ART 140, a beginning studio course at the 200-level, and an upper-level 300 studio course, or have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for these same courses and pass a department portfolio review conducted by a faculty committee. Transfer students will be required to meet the second of these two options. Any student denied entrance in their initial portfolio review and having less than 36 hours in art and art history, while maintaining a 2.5 GPA in the continuing art courses, may reapply once. Prior to meeting these standards, students pursuing the BFA will be designated as reference number 514P.

The major offers four concentrations, Animation, Graphic Design, Studio, and UX Design. All concentrations require the following Art & Design Foundations courses:

Required Courses
ART 105History of Art to 1300 13
ART 106History of Art Since 1300 13
ART 130Two-Dimensional Design Foundations 13
ART 131Three-Dimensional Design Foundations 13
ART 140Drawing Foundations I 13
Total Hours15
1

Students may have no more than one "D" for a final grade.

Additionally, students must take the following courses for each concentration:

Studio Concentration

Beginning-Level Studio Courses
Select four of the following:12
Introduction to Computer Animation
3D Modeling I: Environment
Ceramics
Graphic Design I: Typography
Digital Media
Printmaking
Painting
Sculpture Survey I
Weaving
Required Drawing Courses9
Drawing Foundations II
Drawing
Drawing
Studio Area of Focus
Select seven upper-level studio courses from one of the following disciplines21
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Pottery Wheel Techniques
Ceramic Glaze Composition
Ceramic Studio Equipment Design
Special Firing Techniques
Printmaking Practices
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Senior Composition in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking
Painting Practices
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Senior Painting Studio I
Senior Painting Studio II
Advanced Senior Painting Studio I
Advanced Senior Painting Studio II
Sculpture and 3D Practices
Sculpture Survey II
Sculpture Methods, Welding I
Sculpture, Figurative Studies
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Studio Upper-Level Electives
Select three upper-level studio course electives (not from focus area)9
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Pottery Wheel Techniques
Ceramic Glaze Composition
Ceramic Studio Equipment Design
Special Firing Techniques
Graphic Design II: Layout & Information Design
Visual Thinking
Survey of Graphic Design
Graphic Design III: Advanced Graphic Design
Illustration
Package Design
Digital Illustration
Advanced Media Design
Drawing
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Senior Composition in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Senior Painting Studio I
Senior Painting Studio II
Advanced Senior Painting Studio I
Advanced Senior Painting Studio II
Sculpture Survey II
Sculpture Methods, Welding I
Sculpture, Figurative Studies
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Installation Art
Design to Prototype I
Design to Prototype II
Special Topics in Studio Art
Special Topics in Animation
Special Topics in Graphic Design
Computer Animation I
3D Modeling II: Character Design and Development
Sound and Image
Computer Animation II
Art History Upper-Level Electives
Select three of the following (either ART 405 or ART 390 is required):9
Ancient Greek and Roman Art
Art of the United States to 1865
Art of the United States Since 1865
Southern Baroque Art
Northern Baroque Art
Medieval Art & Architecture
Art and Power
Art and Landscape
Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Survey of Graphic Design
Contemporary Art
A Cultural History of Alcohol
Art of the Italian Renaissance
Northern Renaissance Art
Art Theory and Criticism
Islamic Art and Architecture
European Art, 1700-1848
European Art, 1848-1900
European Art, 1900-1945
American Architectural History
Seminar in Art History
Final Semester:
ART 432Portfolio3
ART 434Capstone Seminar1
Total Hours64

Animation Concentration

Beginning-Level Studio Courses (Select two of the following)6
Ceramics
Graphic Design I: Typography
Printmaking
Painting
Sculpture Survey I
Weaving
Required Beginning-Level Course3
Digital Media
Required Drawing/Illustration Courses (select two of the following)6
Drawing Foundations II
Drawing
Illustration
Upper-Level Elective Studio (Select two of the following)6
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Pottery Wheel Techniques
Ceramic Glaze Composition
Ceramic Studio Equipment Design
Special Firing Techniques
Graphic Design II: Layout & Information Design
Visual Thinking
Survey of Graphic Design
Graphic Design III: Advanced Graphic Design
Illustration
Package Design
Digital Illustration
Advanced Media Design
Drawing
Drawing
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Senior Composition in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Senior Painting Studio I
Senior Painting Studio II
Advanced Senior Painting Studio I
Advanced Senior Painting Studio II
Sculpture Survey II
Sculpture Methods, Welding I
Sculpture, Figurative Studies
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Installation Art
Design to Prototype I
Design to Prototype II
Special Topics in Studio Art
Special Topics in Graphic Design
Animation Concentration Focus:
Beginning-Level Animation Courses9
Introduction to Computer Animation
2D Computer Animation
3D Modeling I: Environment
Advanced Animation Requirements (Select six of the following)18
Computer Animation I
3D Modeling II: Character Design and Development
Sound and Image
Computer Animation II
Computer Animation III
Special Topics in Animation
Animation Restricted Electives (Select three of the following)9
Drawing
Drawing
Illustration
Drawing
Digital Illustration
Special Topics in Animation
Film Industry and Aesthetics
Game Design and Development
Game Design & Development Capstone
User Interface Design
Introduction to Developing and Prototyping for Interactive Design
Final Semester1
Capstone Seminar
Upper-Level Art History Requirements (Select two of the following)6
Ancient Greek and Roman Art
Art of the United States to 1865
Art of the United States Since 1865
Southern Baroque Art
Northern Baroque Art
Medieval Art & Architecture
Art and Power
Art and Landscape
Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Contemporary Art
A Cultural History of Alcohol
Art of the Italian Renaissance
Northern Renaissance Art
Art Theory and Criticism
Islamic Art and Architecture
European Art, 1700-1848
European Art, 1848-1900
European Art, 1900-1945
American Architectural History
Seminar in Art History
Total Hours64

Graphic Design Concentration

Beginning-Level Studio Courses
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Computer Animation
3D Modeling I: Environment
Ceramics
Printmaking
Painting
Sculpture Survey I
Weaving
Required Beginning-Level Course3
User Experience Strategy & Content Creation
Required Drawing/Illustration Courses (select two of the following)6
Drawing Foundations II
Drawing
Illustration
Select two Upper-Level Elective Studio Courses6
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Pottery Wheel Techniques
Ceramic Glaze Composition
Ceramic Studio Equipment Design
Special Firing Techniques
Drawing
Drawing
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Senior Composition in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Senior Painting Studio I
Senior Painting Studio II
Advanced Senior Painting Studio I
Advanced Senior Painting Studio II
Sculpture Survey II
Sculpture Methods, Welding I
Sculpture, Figurative Studies
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Installation Art
Design to Prototype I
Design to Prototype II
Special Topics in Studio Art
Special Topics in Animation
Special Topics in Graphic Design
Computer Animation I
3D Modeling II: Character Design and Development
Sound and Image
Computer Animation II
Graphic Design Concentration Focus:
Beginning Graphic Design Courses6
Digital Media
Graphic Design I: Typography
Intermediate Graphic Design Courses9
User Interface Design
Graphic Design II: Layout & Information Design
Visual Thinking
Advanced Graphic Design Requirements6
Graphic Design III: Advanced Graphic Design
Advanced Media Design
Final Semester4
Portfolio
Capstone Seminar
Restricted Electives (select three of the following)9
Drawing
Design to Prototype I
Professional Work
Illustration
Package Design
Digital Illustration
Special Topics in Graphic Design
Career Experience in Art
Introduction to Developing and Prototyping for Interactive Design
Upper-Level Art History Requirements
ART 334Survey of Graphic Design3
Select two of the following:6
Ancient Greek and Roman Art
Art of the United States to 1865
Art of the United States Since 1865
Southern Baroque Art
Northern Baroque Art
Medieval Art & Architecture
Art and Power
Art and Landscape
Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Contemporary Art
A Cultural History of Alcohol
Art of the Italian Renaissance
Northern Renaissance Art
Art Theory and Criticism
Islamic Art and Architecture
European Art, 1700-1848
European Art, 1848-1900
European Art, 1900-1945
American Architectural History
Seminar in Art History
Total Hours64

UX Design Concentration

Beginning-Level Studio Courses
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Computer Animation
3D Modeling I: Environment
Ceramics
Graphic Design I: Typography
Printmaking
Painting
Sculpture Survey I
Weaving
Required Beginning-Level Course3
Digital Media
Required Drawing/Illustration Courses9
Drawing Foundations II
Digital Illustration
Drawing
Illustration
Select two Upper-Level Elective Studio Courses6
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Pottery Wheel Techniques
Ceramic Glaze Composition
Ceramic Studio Equipment Design
Special Firing Techniques
Graphic Design II: Layout & Information Design
Graphic Design III: Advanced Graphic Design
Package Design
Advanced Media Design
Drawing
Drawing
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking
Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Senior Composition in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Techniques in Printmaking
Advanced Senior Composition in Printmaking
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Painting
Senior Painting Studio I
Senior Painting Studio II
Advanced Senior Painting Studio I
Advanced Senior Painting Studio II
Sculpture Survey II
Sculpture Methods, Welding I
Sculpture, Figurative Studies
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Foundry I
Sculpture
Sculpture Methods, Wood
Sculpture Methods, Welding II
Sculpture Methods, Foundry II
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Weaving
Senior Fiber Techniques
Senior Fiber Composition
Advanced Senior Fiber Techniques
Advanced Senior Fiber Composition
Installation Art
Design to Prototype I
Design to Prototype II
Special Topics in Studio Art
Special Topics in Animation
Special Topics in Graphic Design
Computer Animation I
3D Modeling II: Character Design and Development
Sound and Image
Computer Animation II
UX Design Concentration Focus:
Beginning UX Design Courses3
Introduction to User Experience Design
Intermediate UX Design Courses12
Future Design
User Interface Design
Introduction to Developing and Prototyping for Interactive Design
Visual Thinking
Advanced UX Design Requirements12
User Experience Advanced Studio I
Advanced User Interface Design
Advanced Developing and Testing for Interactive Design
User Experience Advanced Studio II
Final Semester
ART 434Capstone Seminar1
Restricted Electives (select two of the following)6
User Experience Strategy & Content Creation
Drawing
Design to Prototype I
Professional Work
Illustration
Portfolio
Career Experience in Art
Special Topics in Graphic Design
Cognitive Psychology
Social Psychology
Sensory and Perceptual Systems
Judgment and Decision Making
Upper-Level Art History Requirements
Select two of the following:6
Survey of Graphic Design
Ancient Greek and Roman Art
Art of the United States to 1865
Art of the United States Since 1865
Southern Baroque Art
Northern Baroque Art
Medieval Art & Architecture
Art and Power
Art and Landscape
Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Contemporary Art
A Cultural History of Alcohol
Art of the Italian Renaissance
Northern Renaissance Art
Art Theory and Criticism
Islamic Art and Architecture
European Art, 1700-1848
European Art, 1848-1900
European Art, 1900-1945
American Architectural History
Seminar in Art History
Total Hours64

Finish in Four Plans

Studio

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1063ART 1053
ART 1303COMM 1453
ART 1403Beginning Studio #13
ART 1313Beginning Studio #23
ENG 1003MATH 1093
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Beginning Studio #33Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #23
Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #13Advanced Studio Elective #13
ART 2403ART 3403
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences3
Beginning Studio #43ENG 2003
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 3413Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #43
Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #33ART 405 or ART 390 (or Upper Level Art History #3)3
Advanced Studio Elective #23Advanced Studio Elective #33
ART 405 or ART 390 (or Upper Level Art History #2)3Colonnade - Connections #13
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab 3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #53Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #73
Advanced Studio in Area of Focus #63ART 4323
ART 405 or ART 390 (or Upper Level Art History #3)3Colonnade - Connections #33
Colonnade - Connections #23ART 4341
ENG 3003Elective3
 Elective3
 15 16
Total Hours 121

Graphic Design

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1063ART 1053
ART 1303ART 1313
ART 1403ART 2313
ART 2433COMM 1453
ENG 1003MATH 109 or CS 1463
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 2403UX 3003
ART 3303UX 3303
Beginning Level Studio #13Beginning Level Studio #2 3
HIST 101 or HIST 1023ART 340 or ART 4313
Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences3ENG 2003
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
DES 3313ART 4303
ART 3343Graphic Design Elective #23
Advanced Studio #13Upper Level Art History #13
Graphic Design Elective #13Colonnade - Connections #13
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab 3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Graphic Design Elective #33DES 4383
Advanced Studio #23ART 4323
Upper Level Art History #23Colonnade - Connections #33
Colonnade - Connections #23ART 4341
ENG 3003Elective3
 Elective3
 15 16
Total Hours 121

UX Design

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1053ART 1063
ART 1303ART 1313
ART 1403ART 2433
UX 2203COMM 1453
ENG 1003MATH 109 or CS 1463
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 2403UX 3103
UX 3303UX 3403
Beginning Level Studio #13Beginning Level Studio #2 3
HIST 101 or HIST 1023ART 340 or ART 4313
Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences3ENG 2003
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
DES 3313UX 4303
UX 4003UX Elective #13
Advanced Studio #13Upper Level Art History #13
ART 4363Colonnade - Connections #13
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
UX 4403UX 4503
Advanced Studio #23UX Elective #23
Upper Level Art History #23Colonnade - Connections #33
Colonnade - Connections #23ART 4341
ENG 3003Elective3
 Elective3
 15 16
Total Hours 121

Animation

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1053ART 1063
ART 1303ART 1313
ART 1403ART 2433
ANIM 2103MATH 1093
ENG 1003COMM 1453
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANIM 2153ANIM 2203
ART 2403ART 340 or ART 4313
Beginning Level Studio #13Beginning Level Studio #2 3
ENG 2003Upper Level Art History #13
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANIM 3103ANIM 3203
ART 4973ANIM 3303
ANIM Elective #13Upper Level Studio #13
ENG 3003Upper Level Art History #2 3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences 3Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ANIM 3443ART 4341
ANIM Elective #23ANIM 4443
Upper Level Studio #23ANIM Elective #33
Colonnade - Connections #13Elective3
Colonnade - Connections #23Elective3
 Colonnade - Connections #33
 15 16
Total Hours 121