Unleash Your Creative Potential
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (General Fine Arts) at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) offers an intensive 78 credit hour program designed to prepare students for professional careers in the arts or further graduate study.
Through broad exploration of studio art disciplines, students develop fundamental principles and techniques while building an individualized artistic practice. The Bachelor in Fine Arts in Studio Art curriculum encourages students to work across media, investigate relationships among different areas of studio art, and develop areas of emphasis that support their individual artistic goals.
"My favorite thing about UNO's BFA program is the community it builds. This community of students, faculty, and staff has had such an impact on me and my practice, and I know I'm a better artist because of them." — Clarissa Weitzel, BFA Studio Art
What is General Fine Arts?
Rather than requiring students to select a concentration, General Fine Arts provides a broad foundation in the principles, concepts, techniques, media, and processes of studio art. Students have opportunities to explore multiple fine arts disciplines while developing greater depth in areas that support their individual artistic interests.
Admission into the program requires a faculty review. The degree culminates in a thesis exhibition in the UNO Art Gallery.
General Fine Arts at UNO
The General Fine Arts curriculum gives students opportunities to develop their artistic practice through a range of studio disciplines and media, including:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Book Arts
- Ceramics
- Sculpture
- Graphic Design
- Game Design
- Intermedia and Digital Art
- Illustration
Students are encouraged to explore connections among these areas and to develop a coherent body of work reflecting their individual interests, ideas, media, and artistic goals.
Program Requirements
To apply for candidacy, students must:
- Junior standing our higher
- Have completed the Studio Core I and ART 2000
- Have completed at least 3 of the BFA Core II requirements
- Have completed an intermediate level studio course
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA in the major
- Secure a full-time faculty member as committee chair
Candidacy Application
To apply, students must submit:
- Application Form
- Portfolio of workrepresenting the student's area or areas of artistic development (e.g., 10-20 labeled digital images, video, or physical samples).
- Written Statementdiscussing artistic influences, aesthetic concerns, motivation for pursuing the degree, and contact information.
- Degree Works or Stellic Audit
Applications are due by the sixth week of the fall or spring semester. Admission decisions are made by Studio Art faculty once each semester. Students must receive a two-thirds favorable vote from faculty participating in the application review process for acceptance in the BFA program.
Why Choose Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art at UNO?
- Individualized Artistic Direction: Develop areas of emphasis based on your interests and artistic goals without being limited to a prescribed concentration.
- Broad Studio Experience: Explore a variety of disciplines, processes, materials, and media while discovering connections among different areas of fine arts.
- Hands-On Learning: Gain practical experience in well-equipped studios and specialized facilities.
- Professional Preparation: Develop a cohesive body of work, professional portfolio, and experience preparing and presenting your work publicly.
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Combine ideas, techniques, and media from multiple studio areas to create an artistic practice that is distinctly your own.
- Supportive Community: Learn from experienced faculty and collaborate with fellow artists in UNO's School of the Arts.
Career Paths
The breadth of the General Fine Arts degree can prepare students for professional artistic practice, graduate study, and careers across the visual and creative arts.
Potential career paths include:
- Professional Artist
- Art Director
- Graphic Designer
- Creative Director
- Illustrator
- Animator
- Game Designer
- Industrial Designer
- Gallery or Museum Professional
- Arts Administrator
- Graduate Study in Art and Design
Academic Advising
School of the Arts Advisor
Madison Bowman
315 Weber Fine Arts
6505 University Dr. South, Omaha, NE 68182
Phone: 402.554.3266
Email: madisonbowman@unomaha.edu
What is a BFA in Studio Art?
A professional degree, students interested in pursuing a graduate degree or a career as an artist should select this option. Admittance into the BFA program requires a faculty review. Through the production of a body of work students explore and develop the form and content of their personal artistic vision. The degree culminates in a thesis exhibition in the UNO Art Gallery.
BFA vs. BA in Studio Art
Program Requirements
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Complete key General Education requirements (English, Math, Oral Communication)
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Finish Art History Core, Studio Core I & II
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Complete three upper-division courses in their concentration
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Maintain a 3.0 GPA in the major
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Secure a full-time faculty member as BFA committee chair
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Students must then achieve candidacy in the BFA program, and complete the required coursework, totaling 78 credit hours