Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art
The Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art is a four-year, 120 credit hour degree program. The B.A. in Visual Art is a traditional liberal arts undergraduate degree, requiring 24 credit hours in Visual Art beyond the 1st year foundations courses, as opposed to the the more art intensive B.F.A. degree.
Students interested in pursuing a double major may find it easier to pair the B.A. with other undergraduate degrees. After taking the foundations courses, students take their remaining studio courses from the seven Visual Art studio areas: Ceramics, Expanded Media, Metalsmithing/Jewelry, Painting/Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles/Fibers, and Photomedia (in the Design Department).
In addition to completing the on-line application to KU Admissions, prospective students must submit a portfolio and responses to three essay questions to the Department of Visual Art in order to complete the application process and be for admission to the major in Visual Art.
First-Year Preparation
The first year foundations courses for the B.F.A., B.A., and B.A.E. degree include 10 hours of foundations studio, 6 hours of English, and 6 hours of Art History coursework.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 102 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 103 | Art Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ART 105 | Visual Art Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| HA 150 | History of Western Art: Ancient Through Medieval | 3 |
| HA 151 | History of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary | 3 |
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Visual Art. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34 Goals, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)030 | 3 |
| ART 101 (Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE))060** | 3 | ART 102 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| ART 103 (Major Requirement) | 3 | Visual Art Studio | 3 |
| ART 105 (Major Requirement) | 1 | HA 151 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| HA 150 (Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE))060** | 3 | |
| | 16 | | 15 |
| Sophomore |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4-5 |
| BA Quantitative Reasoning (QR)2 | 3 | BA Laboratory/Field Experience (LFE) | 1 |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| Visual Art Studio (Major Requirement) | 3 | Visual Art Studio ( Major Requirement) | 3 |
| | Visual Art Studio (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| | 14 | | 16-17 |
| Junior |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | ART 540 | 3 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Visual Art Studio 300+ ( Major Requirement) | 3 |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | Visual Art Studio 300+ ( Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | 4th Semester Language, or 1st semester of Another Language (BA Second Language)1 | 3 |
| HA 300+ Elective Course (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | HA 300+ Elective Course (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Senior |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | ART 599 or 660 (Capstone Requirement) | 3 |
| Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement) | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 2 |
| | 15 | | 14 |
| Total Hours 120-121 |
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core 34 requirement. If another course if used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
