What is the BFA program? 

The BFA, or Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree,  is a one year program designed for Studio Art Majors who seek further studies in studio art, or plan to pursue art professionally. The BFA coursework combines intensive studio practice with weekly seminars and course work. The BFA degree, typically completed as a 5th year of course work, is a 61 credit major. (The standard Studio Art Major is 42 credits.) 

For further information about the BFA Program, you may contact the Art Department Office Assistant, Anastasia (Staesi) Davis, at (212) 772-4995 or consult an undergraduate advisor.

 

Who can apply for the BFA? 

Any 42 credit studio art major who has completed at least 90 credits and has a minimum GPA of 3.0. 

Students who have an undergraduate BA degree, and are eligible, may apply to the BFA program. You should consult with your advisor. 

Transfer Students – With the approval of the BFA Committee, up to half of the required credits, or 30 credits, may be transferred from other accredited art schools.

Art LA 360.18 (2D/3D/4D Seminar/ Capstone Seminar is also strongly recommended.

 

What’s in the BFA Application?

Please consult with an advisor to see if you are eligible to apply and have your advisor look over your application prior to submission. 

You can download an application form here. 

A complete application will include:

  • BFA Application Form fully filled out
  • Current transcript
  • List of courses taken with course name, number, and transfer credits
  • Short essay/ Statement of Intent
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • 8-10 samples documenting current work
  • Interview including presentation of work to committee

 

What are you looking for? BFA Program Expectations

Ideal candidates will be highly self-motivated, keen to work independently, and develop their unique voice through rigorous coursework and a dedicated studio practice. 

You are required to attend all classes, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and work in your studio on self-directed projects 15-20 hours a week. You will receive your own studio, located at Hunter’s MFA Studio Building at 205 Hudson Street building in Tribeca.  

During your BFA studies, you are strongly encouraged to attend events such as artist talks, lectures, exhibitions at uptown and downtown campuses, and the Hunter Open Studios in the 205 Hudson street building.

All BFA students will participate in a culminating BFA Degree Exhibition at the end of their second term.  Students will present a new body of work made during the year of study in a group exhibition open to the Hunter community and larger public.

 

BFA Program Facilities 

Facilities* at 205 Hudson Street include:

Your assigned studios 

Loading dock and freight elevators, and accessible to students Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Judith Stanley Zabar Art Library and digital Media Lab, 3rd Floor

Crit rooms available for temporarily installing your work 

*BFA students will continue to have access to all facilities at the 68 street campus, on the 11th Floor in the North Building.  

Darkroom and access to large format printers 

Woodshop

 

BFA Program Goals 

The BFA Program is designed to offer students an opportunity for intensive studio practice and group seminars in contemporary art history,  theory and critique.  Students will study critical texts and prepare written responses to readings, draft artist statements, give presentations, participate in critiques, and write exhibition reviews. The rigorous course of study will prepare you to develop a focused body of work, compete for entry into MFA programs nationwide, to pursue a career in the visual arts, and maintain an ongoing art practice after graduation. Students will also prepare, install, and conceptualize their culminating degree exhibition at Hunter’s 68th street/ Harlem gallery spaces, working together as a cohort with gallery staff and curators on the show. 

 

BFA Learning Outcomes:

  1. Students will develop and sustain a fully independent, self-motivated body of work. 
  2. Students’ art making will critically engage, extend, and adapt existing frameworks of contemporary art to support their studio practice.  
  3. Student work will demonstrate  knowledge of and actively contribute to a broader set of conversations and practices in contemporary art.  
  4. Students will articulate in speech and writing a aesthetic choices and interpretational strategies that frame their work, and the work of their peers  
  5. Students will seek self-knowledge of identity and agency as an element in their creative practice and in their critical discourse.

 

BFA PROGRAM CURRICULUM // (Studio art major + BFA courses)

STUDIO ART 42-CREDIT MAJOR: 14 classes total/ 42 credits

2 classes (6 credits) introduction and foundations (ARTLA):

ARTLA 20100 Art Foundations: Seeing, Thinking, Making (3 credits) 

ARTLA 20200 Art Foundations: Methods and Techniques (3 credits)

4 classes (12 credits) in one area of study (ARTCR) 

Can include only one ARTCR 36000.

Please note that the core courses in an area of study can be repeated once for credit if taken with a different instructor (Ex. Advanced Painting with Jaudon and Advanced Painting with Davis). Areas of study to choose from are Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, and New Genres

4 classes (12 credits) elective studio

 classes outside the selected area of study (ARTCR)

Any 200- or 300- level ARTCR course; do not repeat courses.

3 classes (9 credits) of study in art history (ARTH),

at least one of which must be in contemporary or modern art, i.e. ARTH 24900, ARTH

25000, ARTH 25100, ARTH 24700, ARTH 25700, ARTH 35100, ARTH 45000.

1 class (3 credits) Capstone Seminar (ARTLA),

ARTLA 40600 2D-3D-4D to be taken towards the end of the degree.

BFA COURSES – 4 classes/total 19 credits

Semester 1 & 2  ArtCr 45900 Professional Experience in Art I (typically meets Tuesdays 1:10 – 4:50 pm) (6.5 credits each x 2 = 13 credits)

Semester 2 ArtCr 46000 Professional Experience in Art II (6.5 credits) + ArtCr 40500 Art and Current Ideas (3 credits)

Art History elective of your choice to be taken in either semester (3 credits)

B.F.A. Thesis Exhibition

61  Credits total (42 Studio Art major + 19 BFA)

 

BFA Program Full Time Faculty Selection Committee:

AK Burns

Chitra Ganesh

Reiner Leist

Dave McKenzie

Nari Ward

 

4 classes (12 credits) in one area of study (ARTCR) 

Can include only one ARTCR 36000.

Please note that the core courses in an area of study

 can be repeated once for credit if taken with a different instructor (Ex. Advanced Painting with Jaudon and Advanced Painting with Davis). Areas of study to choose from are Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, and New Genres

 

4 classes (12 credits) elective studio

 classes outside the selected area of study (ARTCR)

Any 200- or 300- level ARTCR course; do not repeat courses.