Studio Art (BFA)

Program Description

The BFA program in Studio Art is designed for students to study forms and ideas together. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes painting, drawing, sculpture and installation, photography, video art, digital art, performance, metals, ceramics, design, and praxis courses. Students in the program meld art history and theory, the humanities and sciences, and combine it with the high energy of New York City. The first–year Foundation Program is a focused progression of studio and critical art theory courses enables students to explore many forms and philosophies of art making, giving them an unusually wide array of skills and visual languages with which to express their ideas. Students develop technical and analytical skills, as well as creative discipline, and a clearer understanding of the relationship between art and society.

Students are encouraged in their junior year to enroll for one semester in a study-abroad site sponsored by New York University. Senior students enroll in Senior Studio, a year-long course designed to further young artists’ studio practice, preparing them to be exhibiting artists. Students participate in individual and group critiques where they meet with senior mentors, full-time faculty, visiting artists, and curators and develop a cohesive body of work supported by a written thesis outlining the ideas and contexts that drive his or her creative process.

In addition, all seniors can apply for the Senior Honors program where they will work closely with a professional guest curator to discuss selected students’ work and ideas to present a group exhibition. 

Other Opportunities

The Studio Art/Art Education dual-degree program is designed for NYU BFA/undergraduate studio art majors interested in adding an art education component to their four-year degree and completing a master’s degree in art education during a fifth year of study. This dual degree allows you to complete your BFA in Studio Art and MA in Teaching Visual Art, making you eligible for New York State Initial Certification for and positions teaching in New York City public elementary, middle, and high schools.

Accreditation (NASAD)

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply. 

Program Requirements

The program requires the completion of 128 credits, comprised of the following:

¹

Students complete 6 credits per semester for 2 semesters.

²

Students register for this 1-credit course for two semesters.

³

Students can enroll only during junior and senior year. Must receive an internship offer and approval from major advisor to register.

Sample Plan of Study

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Develop a broad base of knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, which complements the art-making process and provides opportunities to interpret artworks.
2. Demonstrate technical expertise related to the meaning of the artwork, ensuring that technical skills support and enhance artistic expression.
3. Understand historical and contemporary art modes and develop language-based and theoretical models for contextualizing artwork.
4. Demonstrate the ability to critique and identify aesthetic and content-related issues in both the work of others and one’s own work.
5. Exhibit self-discipline, maintaining consistent focus and effort in artistic practice and development.
6. Show initiative and ingenuity in devising and sustaining a plan of experimentation or action that drives creative work forward.
7. Effectively use research and other resources in the completion and refinement of artworks.
8. Engage in risk-taking within artwork, showing a willingness to experiment and maintain an open mind in the creative process.
9. Work independently to develop a unique and meaningful artistic practice, while also collaborating effectively with fellow artists.
10. Demonstrate growth and development toward a personally constructed conceptual direction in artistic work.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.