Overview

The 63-hour program in fine arts is a professional degree (BFA) intended for those who want to pursue a career as an artist. It will prepare you for graduate school and help you build a strong portfolio. In this program, you will take courses in areas such as ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and visual communication. 

Entry to this program is based on an evaluation of your portfolio, typically during your sophomore year at Calvin. 

Careers in Art - Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

• Fine Artist
• Illustrator
• Graphic Designer
• Photographer
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Join other students in writing and photographing for the Chimes or Dialogue; get involved in the Visual Arts Guild.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Art - Bachelor of Fine Art (B.F.A.)

Entry and continuation in the B.F.A. program is based on faculty evaluation of your student portfolio. 

(63 semester hours)

• ART-153 Visual Culture

• One from:
  • ARTH-101 Intro to the History of Art I
  • ARCT-201 Architectural History I
• One from:
  • ARTH-102 Intro to the History of Art II
  • ARCT-202 Architectural History II
• One from:
  • ARTH-238 Nineteenth-Century Art
  • ARTH-239 Modernism and the Arts
  • ARTH-240 Contemporary Art
• One Art History elective
• Five from:
  • ARTS-250 Introduction to Drawing
  • ARTS-251 Introduction to Painting
  • ARTS-255 Communication Design I
  • ARTS-256 Introduction to Photography
  • ARTS-257 Introduction to Sculpture
  • ARTS-258 Introduction to Ceramics
• Four from:
  • ARTS-300 Intermediate Drawing
  • ARTS-301 Intermediate Painting
  • ARTS-305 Communication Design II
  • ARTS-306 Analogue Photography
  • ARTS-307 Intermediate Sculpture
  • ARTS-308 Intermediate Ceramics
  • ARTS-316 Digital Photography
• Three from:
  • ARTS-350 Advanced Drawing
  • ARTS-351 Advanced Painting
  • ARTS-355 Communication Design III
  • ARTS-356 Advanced Photography
  • ARTS-357 Advanced Sculpture
  • ARTS-358 Advanced Ceramics
  • ARTS-380 Internship in Communication Design
• Two electives from Art Studio or Art History
• ARTS-395 Senior Seminar in Studio Art

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Edgar G. Boeve' Art Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those with an interest in pursuing a career in art
• apply through the art and art history department

Sandra Bowden Art Scholarship

• award amount: $1,100
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need not required
• apply through the art and art history department

James and Arthea DeBoer Arts and Media Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; be a graduate of Timothy Christian HS (Elmhurst, IL) or Holland Christian HS (Holland, MI)
• automatic consideration

Curt and Lisa Vander Meer Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; intending to be a studio artist or art educator
• apply through the art and art history department

Joel S. Vander Sloot Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; preference to those concentrating in photography
• apply through the art and art history department

Johanna Kempers Wyngaarden Scholarship

• award amount: $4,700
• any class level
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; be pursuing an art studio major or an art education major OR be a music major concentrating in piano performance
• apply through the art and art history departmentor the music department

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Teach This

Interested in teaching? You can gain certification in Art - Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) as a:

Calvin's teacher education program also contains education-specific course requirements that you must complete prior to certification. See course requirements for:

• Elementary education
• Secondary education