BFA in Arts in Tulsa United States | University of Tulsa

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in art equips students for professional artistic careers while helping them establish themselves within modern creative practice. This program offers focused specialization in various media disciplines including graphic design, painting/drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and digital media/motion graphics. As the standard prerequisite for Master of Fine Arts programs—the recognized terminal degree in art and essential qualification for academic teaching—all B.F.A. candidates must complete an art history minor.
B.F.A. art students fulfill four foundational course requirements before advancing to intermediate and upper-level coursework.
Program Objectives
Graduates of the fine arts undergraduate program will:
Attain advanced conceptual and technical mastery in their chosen specialization.
a. Evaluation includes drawing skills assessment, both as independent practice and as applied technique across media.
b. Design principles are assessed both as discrete knowledge and as integrated application in various artistic media.
c. Projects are judged by media-specific expertise and potential for sophisticated material handling and technical refinement.
Demonstrate professional readiness through curated portfolios, professional documents, and contextual awareness connecting personal practice to art historical and contemporary frameworks.
a. Work is assessed for conceptual depth—showing originality, thematic coherence, and personal vision—with technical execution evaluated for its support of conceptual intent.
b. Artistic output must reflect informed engagement with historical and contemporary influences (evident in both artwork and written statements), with this contextual understanding deepening through advanced coursework (all studio classes incorporate relevant art historical and contemporary references).
c. Students must demonstrate competent artwork documentation and professional material preparation (resumes, cover letters, etc.).
Successfully complete culminating exhibitions or projects with accompanying artist statements that demonstrate stylistic and conceptual command.
a. Final portfolios are evaluated for consistent quality, thematic unity, and stylistic coherence.
b. Professional standards are assessed through submission quality, including image documentation and supplementary materials.
c. Senior exhibitions and capstone projects are judged by their artistic merit and execution quality.