B.F.A. Studio Art
the program
The Bachelor of Fine Arts is designed for undergraduate students who want to combine intensive and innovative studio art practice with an outstanding education in the liberal arts. A thorough grounding in art history and critical theory helps students explore issues in their own work and that of others. Studio courses in a wide variety of disciplines mix the rich visual traditions of the past with emerging forms and ideas. Interdisciplinary classes, which integrate modern and postmodern approaches with experimental artistic practices, encourage students to envision fresh new ways of making art.
Located in the center of the international art world, the NYU program allows students to participate directly in the evolution of contemporary culture, viewing exciting exhibitions, and attending important lectures and live performances as they happen. Because our program offers the vast academic resources of a major research university as well as a studio faculty of accomplished professional artists, we are able to prepare students for meaningful careers in the arts, while exposing them to a rich cultural environment that far exceeds the scope of more narrowly defined art programs.
enrollment
Approximately 220 undergraduate students are enrolled, with 60 freshmen and transfer students entering each fall. A small number of transfer students enters in the spring semester. The intimate size of most studio art classes (18-20) encourages individual attention and close relationships with teachers and peers.
the curriculum
The first–year Foundation Program, a focused progression of studio and critical art history 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.
In the following years, students choose studio courses in consultation with an adviser. Some elect to stay within a single concentration; others prefer a mix of experiences. Praxis courses combine critical theory with innovative artistic practices, and classes in experimental forms, such as Autobiography, Art and Activism, Sex and Contemporary Art, and Art in Public Places, expand the definitions of art and its audiences. Students may also select a minor concentration from among many of the undergraduate programs at NYU.
Seniors may apply to the studio honors program, in which they are given studio space to work on independent projects, culminating in a senior exhibition.
Liberal arts courses, both required and elective encourage a broad historical and aesthetic perspective and the cross-pollination of ideas. At the core of the liberal arts program is the Morse Academic Plan (MAP), offered through the College of Arts and Science. MAP courses immerse students in comparative, critical, exploratory, and interdisciplinary studies in the liberal arts.
Internships in the junior and senior years allow the exploration of career opportunities within the context of the professional art world.
Dual Degree Program B.F.A. Studio Art / M.A. Art Education
In the senior year, students may begin to take graduate level art education courses and then continue for a fifth year to earn the M.A. in Art Education with certification for K-12 art teaching.
study abroad option for undergraduate art majors
After their first year, students are encouraged to enroll for at least one semester in one of the art-enriched study abroad sites sponsored by New York University. These programs are NYU in Florence, where students live and work at the 55-acre Villa La Pietra estate; NYU in Ghana, where students work with a vibrant mix of contemporary artists and traditional crafts-people; NYU in London, where students explore the exciting contemporary British art scene; NYU in Berlin, a youth-oriented city with an engaged and engaging artist community; and, Shanghai, where contemporary Chinese artists are stretching the traditional boundaries of their rich cultural heritage. Many of these sites make studio space available to art majors -- all of them provide an exciting extension of their art studies in New York City.
There are other NYU study abroad sites and student exchange opportunities as well. For more information: NYU Study Abroad
degree requirements
Courses in the following areas must be completed to fulfill Liberal Arts requirements 42 Credits Morse Academic Plan (MAP) 20 Credits Expository Writing 8 Foreign Language 4 Foundations of Contemporary Culture, including: Conversations of the West and World Cultures 8 Other Liberal Arts Requirements 22 Credits History of Art Since 1945 3 Contemporary Art 3 Integrated Liberal Arts: Art, Culture & Society 4 Mathematics 4 Natural Science or Psychology 4 Liberal Arts Elective 4 86 Credits Foundation Program 22 Credits Fundamentals of Drawing I & II 6 Fundamentals of Sculpture I & II 8 Media Fundamentals (select two from: Photography, Digital Art, Video) 8 Studio 36 Credits Studio concentration in Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Video, Photography, or Digital Art. 12 Undergraduate Projects: praxis or experimental forms courses 12 Department elective courses (including Printmaking, Craft Arts, Internships, Critical Theory, and Visual Culture.) 12 Art History, Theory & Criticism 10 Credits Art & Contemporary Culture I & II 6 Visual Arts: Praxis 4 Unrestricted Electives 18 Credits Any courses at NYU will complete this requirement. 0 Credits New Student Seminar (designed to assist new students in their transition to NYU) 0 English Proficiency Examination 0
Liberal Arts & Science
Studio Art Specialization (Major)
The following studio courses are taken in the first year of study:
The following courses offered by the Art Department are required in addition to those listed under Liberal Arts:
Additional Requirements
TOTAL:
128 Credits
application procedures for the undergraduate studio art program
Follow the instructions outlined by the NYU Office of Undergraduate Admissions for filing application materials.
Application Deadlines: Freshman early decision: November 1, 2008; Freshmen regular decision: January 1, 2009; Spring transfers: November 1, 2008; Fall transfers: April 1, 2009.
Please submit a portfolio and artist statement directly to the Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator in the Department of Art and Art Professions at the Steinhardt School of Education.
 Fig. 1. Window showing a properly formatted application disc in the Mac OS. |
Portfolio Submission Deadlines: Freshman early decision: November 15, 2008; Freshmen regular decision: February 1, 2009; Spring transfers: November 15, 2008; Fall transfers: April 15, 2009.
Your portfolio may arrive any time before the deadline but will not be reviewed until your application for admission is complete. Portfolios must be postmarked or hand-delivered by the deadline to be guaranteed the fullest consideration.
Portfolio Guidelines: Work submitted can be in any style or medium but should show a dedication and investment in innovation and exploration. Students should select work that best shows their personal style, skills and creativity.
Portfolio Instructions: The following materials should be sent directly to the Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator, NYU Department of Art and Art Professions, 34 Stuyvesant Street, Room 601, NY, NY 10003.
- All portfolios must be on a Mac OS-formatted CD-ROM or DVD. Submit 15-20 images of work completed in the last two years on a Mac OS-formatted CD-ROM (standard size, not 3”) or DVD in .jpg format only, sized at 1280 x 1024 pixels for viewing on a Macintosh computer. DO NOT submit PowerPoint or Keynote presentations.
All contents of the disc should be contained within a folder titled your name (Last, First). Each image must be numbered (corresponding to the order of viewing and title information provided in the supplementary materials). See Fig. 1.
Quicktime or DVD-formatted videos can be submitted in addition to, but not in place of, digital images. Videos can be a compilation of various works, but the total running time cannot exceed five minutes. Genres appropriate to video documentation include video art, performance, and kinetic art, NOT documentation of sculptures or exhibitions.
We do not accept VHS-formatted videos. Do not send original works. Portfolios and supplementary materials will not be returned.
Supplementary Materials: Along with your CD-ROM or DVD, your portfolio must contain the following items:
- A separate, typed, image inventory list with your name, e-mail address, and telephone number at the top. This list should indicate the number of the image as noted on your disc, title of work, date completed, dimensions of the original work, and media used.
- A separate, typed, one-page artist’s statement (with your name and email address on top), describing:
- your goals as an artist;
- your artistic influences, including two contemporary artists who are nationally or internationally recognized (these artists should have created new work within the past 20 years and they should be represented in major art museums or art galleries which feature contemporary visual artists);
- your background and interests, including previous art training, and films, literature, or music you enjoy and how you see them relating to your art work;
- what you hope to gain from studying in the studio art program at NYU (transfer applicants should discuss their reasons for transferring, as well as their current class standing- i.e, freshman, sophomore, etc.)
- A self-addressed, stamped postcard for notification of receipt of your portfolio.
mailing portfolios
Mail directly to:
The Undergraduate Student Advisement Coordinator
New York University, The Steinhardt School
Dept of Art & Art Professions
34 Stuyvesant Street
New York, NY 10003
Materials sent to any other address or contact cannot be guaranteed the fullest consideration.
To obtain an application and general admission information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, New York University, 22 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10011-9191; 212 998-4500; or visit the web site: www.admissions.nyu.edu
interviews/open house events
Due to the large number of applicants, high school applicants are not given individual appointments/portfolio reviews, but they may want to attend one of our Open House events, such as the Steinhardt Connection Program (scheduled throughout the summer); a University Open House (in September or October); a Portfolio Day (in November); or one of the Art Department's "Friday Info Sessions" scheduled throughout the fall and spring. These events include tours of campus and the art department facilities. To make an appointment for a Friday Info Session, please call the department’s main number at 212.998.5700.
Though not required, early decision and transfer applicants are strongly urged to contact Prof. Jesse Bransford, for an in-person or telephone interview.
portfolio review day
Sunday, November 16, 2008 from 12-6pm
Discuss your work with an NYU faculty member and learn more about the BFA program.
Pre-registration required. On-line registration will begin in October. For more information, contact Linda Vega, the Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator.
for further information:
Prof. Jesse Bransford
Undergraduate Program Director
212 998-5712
Email: jb165@nyu.edu
Linda Vega
Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator
212 998-5708
Email: linda.vega@nyu.edu