Department of Art and Design
Faculty: Professor Valle, Chair; Professor King; Associate Professors Bacci, Frorup; Assistant Professors Aelavanthara, McCullough, Singer, Wertel.
The art program at The University of Tampa is a challenging course of study and practice built upon fundamental principles designed to develop students' technical skills, advance visual literacy, stimulate intellectual curiosity, sharpen aesthetic conceptualization and expand one's ability to think critically.
Students enter the program as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or pre-Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) majors, where they join other like-minded artists enrolled in a demanding Foundations Program. Regardless of their intended area of concentration, the foundation coursework explores the principles upon which all further coursework is grounded. Next, students are exposed to the Studio Core that introduces them to the major media (drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography).
What is the difference between the B.A. and BFA?
The B.A. is designed to expose students to a demanding but more broadly based curriculum in visual arts with a secondary area of concentrated study. As a traditional liberal arts degree, the B.A. affords students the ability to complement their artistic education with an additional concentration in business, social or natural sciences, humanities or other fine arts disciplines and areas of specialization.
The BFA is a professionally oriented degree that provides comprehensive and rigorous training in visual concept development and professional studio practice. For completion of the BFA degree, students are required to take purposefully sequenced upper level studio courses culminating in the production of a mature, cohesive body of work showcased in a culminating senior exhibition. Special emphasis is given to helping students develop long-range professional goals through art practicums and service learning experiences. Students pursuing a professional career in art or advanced studies (Master of Fine Arts) normally select the BFA, as it is often considered the foundation of graduate-level work.
The BFA is a highly selective, invitation-only degree program. Students can declare a BFA degree when they enter UT. It is listed as "Pre-BFA in Art" until they are deemed "BFA Proficient" during the portfolio review in ART 299. After the review has been completed, the department chair provides students with a letter describing their assessment and recommending a degree path for their success. If students are endorsed for the BFA, the registrar will be notified and "BFA Proficient" will be recorded on their transcript. Students must have this proficiency to graduate with a BFA in Art.