Studio Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art
Core curriculum requirements for a BFA in studio arts can range from 39 to 63 hours depending on your choice of courses.
See the course catalog for a complete list of degree requirements, course offerings and descriptions.
Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art
The Bachelor of Arts in studio art requires fewer credits in studio courses than the BFA degree in studio art. The BA in studio art allows students to pursue a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in studio art or an additional major and/or minor in another field.
Students pursuing a BA in studio art are not required to take part in the final senior BFA exhibition. The BA also enables students to convert to the BFA in their second year, as the first-year requirements of both the BFA and BA are the same. Conversely, a student pursuing the BFA in studio art may change to the BA during the course of their studies, as long as he or she has completed the required credits for the BA upon graduation.
See the course catalog for a complete list of degree requirements, course offerings and descriptions.
Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art
The TCU School of Art offers a 60-hour program (three-year residency) for a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA), with optional concentrations in painting, printmaking or sculpture. The TCU MFA program is highly selective and is available on a full-time basis only.
The program’s focus is studio work, with emphasis on critical thinking about the creative process and the role of the artist in the world. Students attend graduate seminars each semester on various topics, including the present and historical functions of art criticism and theory, contemporary art history and the professional practice available to MFA graduates. To enrich their academic experience, students are encouraged to apprentice in area galleries, schools and museums. Colloquia are offered at scheduled intervals, as are feature presentations and discussions by speakers, faculty and other members of the art department.
Weekly group critiques of individual work help students develop deeper self-knowledge, critical thinking abilities, more precise visual language and clarity of expression.
The art faculty encourages interaction between graduate and undergraduate students. Graduate students often assist in undergraduate classes, working closely with senior faculty. Qualified graduates can be teachers of record their third year.
For more information, about the MFA program at TCU, contact:
Cameron Schoepp
MFA coordinator
c.schoepp@tcu.edu
817-257-6701
Applying to MFA Program
Prerequisites: BFA, or equivalent, including a concentration in your intended specialty as evidenced by appropriate credit, an acceptable portfolio of work, a statement of professional experience and goals, and letters of recommendation.
Learn more about the admissions process for the MFA.
See the course catalog for a complete list of degree requirements, course offerings and descriptions.
Minor in Studio Art
Students who major in another subject but who have an interest in visual art production and wish to obtain depth in the subject should minor in studio art.
See the course catalog for a complete list of degree requirements, course offerings and descriptions.
As a studio art student, you’ll experience your education through a variety of contexts from cross-disciplinary interaction and off-campus exhibitions to classes in professional practices. Choose from courses in painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and new media. As part of your projects, you could make interactive and robotic components, create a printmaking artist’s book or build a steel-fabricated sculpture.
Studio art majors have gone on to such graduate programs as the University of California at San Diego, Ohio State University, University of Connecticut, Yale University, Temple University, San Francisco Art Institute and the University of Florida.
Painting
The painting concentration will help you develop a personal approach to art making, with individual instruction, discussions of contemporary art and history, and class critiques. You will develop technical painting skills and learn how to communicate your ideas with water-based and oil mediums. In advanced courses students learn to build their own substrates and use basic woodworking tools. A wide array of new technology available as well, including camera drones, plotters, and projectors, you can combine traditions of painting with emerging trends. You will graduate with a cohesive body of work and a knowledge of what it takes to be a practicing contemporary artist in the studio to the professional realm.
Photography
The photography concentration prepares students for professional achievement in fine art photography. You’ll gain an understanding of the subtle aspects of visual information, the craft and process of the photographic medium and your role as an intelligent critical consumer of visual information.
Printmaking
The printmaking area instructs students thoroughly in technique, and encourages each student to pursue further creative inquiry. In addition to the four basic printmaking processes-lithography, relief, intaglio and screen-printing-the printmaking concentration also offers study of digital processes, papermaking, and the creation of self-published artists’ books. Interdisciplinary and collaborative projects are also encouraged and integrated into the printmaking curriculum.
Sculpture
You’ll explore relationships between ideas, materials, perceptions, criticism, and contemporary and historical issues. The sculpture concentration emphasizes fabrication and casting skills, and you’ll also develop a conceptual and technical base for your visual vocabulary. Our facilities are highly versatile, and you’ll be able to explore virtually any medium. Sculpture maintains well-equipped areas for clay and clay modeling, metal casting, mold making, stone and wood carving, steel and wood fabrication and welding.
Ceramics
The ceramics program encourages students to explore relationships between ideas, materials, and contemporary as well as historical issues. The ceramics concentration emphasizes the understanding of the complete ceramic process from clay formulation to firing, and you’ll develop a conceptual and technical base for your visual vocabulary. Ceramics maintains a well-equipped area for working clay — including throwing, hand building, modeling, casting and mold making — as well as areas for mixing clay and glazes, pit and raku firing. We have programmable electric kilns and two large downdraft shuttle kilns.
New Media
You’ll explore interdisciplinary relationships and the fusion of new and emerging technologies with a traditional studio arts practice, including methods of virtual craft and digital fabrication and all types of time-based media and installation. You’ll gain an intense focus on craft and exhibition, and learn how to apply learned techniques and knowledge as an artist after graduation. The new media studio houses a fully stocked robotics and engineering lab where students can work/hack/make interactive and robotic components for their projects, complete with soldering stations and a small bandsaw and tool cabinet. The Fabrication Lab contains many high-end tools, which are in constant use by students from all areas:
Fused deposition modeling printers:
- Makerbot Replicator Dual
- Ultimaker 2 Extended
- RepRap Prusa Mendel
- Type A Series 1
Stereolithographic printer:
- Formlabs Form
CNC Mill:
- Othermachine Co. Othermill
Laser cutter/engraver:
- Spirit GLS 24”x36” 80watt laser cutter/engraver
Embroidery cachine:
- Brother PE770 with digitizing software and assortment of threads
Painting
The painting and drawing program focuses on creating and developing as an artist with an individual voice. Image, conceptual concerns, process and inquiry are emphasized throughout the program. We offer individual instruction, mentorship and extensive facilities for self-motivated students. Students are provided private, light-filled studios, a critique room, wood shop and digital technology necessary for exploring a broad range of ideas and techniques. Studio visits with Dallas-Fort Worth painters and individual critiques are arranged each semester.
For more information
Contact Adam Fung via email: adam.fung@tcu.edu
Printmaking
The course of study in printmaking, individually tailored to each student’s experiences, encourages the development of new concepts while offering proficiency in traditional and contemporary processes. Exploration of new media is encouraged. Students have individual studios while enjoying the full use of the main lab, which includes equipment for papermaking, bookbinding, screenprinting, intaglio, relief printing, letterpress, stone and plate lithography, photomechanical processes, and inkjet printing. A digital imaging lab and fabrication resources including an Epson 9900 inkjet printer, risograph, 3D printers, vinyl cutter, laser cutter, CNC router and video cameras with edition software, are also available.
For more information
Contact Rachel Livedalen via email: r.livedalen@tcu.edu
Sculpture
Art making is the focus of our three-dimensional studies program. We offer instruction and extensive facilities for mature, self-motivated students with semi-private studios and a full complement of equipment and digital technology necessary for exploring a broad range of ideas and techniques. Within this setting, graduate students are expected to use and develop practical problem-solving skills and critical thought to fully realize their art.
Interaction and criticism with working artists and fellow graduates, as well as involvement with the broader art community of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, are vital components of this program. Through this exchange, students are challenged to develop the highest professional standards in concepts, technique and public presentation of their art. Texas Christian University’s graduate program recognizes the unique situation of time and focus that graduate school offers, and therefore stresses the constant development and prolific production of your own ideas and images.
For more information, contact:
Cameron Schoepp via email: c.schoepp@tcu.edu
Chris Powell via email: c.powell@tcu.edu
Nick Bontrager via email: n.bontrager@tcu.edu
The Art Galleries at TCU are a dynamic cultural resource presenting unique exhibitions and projects by inspiring contemporary and aspiring artists. Its two galleries — Moudy Gallery and Fort Worth Contemporary Arts — act as a catalyst for critical dialogue and a vital avenue to exhibit your work.
Students can also volunteer or intern as gallery attendants. Interns are typically assigned responsibilities and research, such as overseeing social media for the galleries and researching artists’ work for future exhibition projects.
Dallas-Fort Worth’s robust system of museums and galleries also offers a wide variety of exhibition opportunities for aspiring artists.
In addition to becoming professional artists and pursuing graduate school, TCU studio arts graduates follow a wide variety of career paths. Some of our students have found employment as event planners, designers, teachers, museum and gallery professionals, as well as putting their creativity to use in other career fields. One of our students is even applying their creative skills as a prosthetics painter.