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University of Montana Catalog 2025-2026

Art B.F.A.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information. 

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Art

  • This major requires a minimum grade of C in all required courses. 

Course Requirements

Foundation Level Requirements
Complete all of the following courses:
ARTH 150HIntroduction to Art History3
ARTZ 105AVisual Language - Drawing3
ARTZ 108AVisual Language - 3-D Foundations3
Complete one of the following courses: 3
Digital Imaging I
Intro to Media Arts
Introduction to Film Editing
Creative Coding I
Intermediate Level Requirements
Complete all of the following courses:
ARTH 201HArt of World Civilization: 1400 to Present3
ARTH 250LIntroduction to Art Criticism3
Complete 18 credits of the following courses:18
Art (ARTZ) and Graphic Design (GDSN) courses at the 200 level
Media Arts (MART) courses at the 200 or 300 level
Upper-Division Level Requirements
Upper-Division Studio Credits Outside of Area of Concentration:
Complete 15 credits in Art (ARTZ), Graphic Design (GDSN), and Media Arts (MART) at the 300 and 400 level15
Upper-Division Studio Credits in Area of Concentration: 1
Complete 12 credits of the courses in Art (ARTZ) at the 300 and 400 level12
Upper-Division Art History and Criticism Requirements:
ARTH 350Contemporary Art and Art Criticism3
3 credits in Art History (ARTH) at the 300- and 400-level. 3
Senior Thesis Capstone
Complete all of the following courses:
ARTZ 494Seminar- Professional Practices3
ARTZ 499Senior Thesis/Capstone3
Total Hours75
1

These courses should be in the same discipline to demonstrate an area of concentration. Substitutions for courses in related disciplines outside ARTZ, MART, or GDSN can be approved by supervising faculty. Consult with your advisor before selecting courses.

Four Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
AutumnHours
ARTZ 105A Visual Language - Drawing 3
ARTH 150H Introduction to Art History 3
WRIT 101 College Writing I 4
Math Course 3
General Education Requirements 3
 Hours16
Spring
ARTZ 108A
Visual Language - 3-D Foundations
or Creative Coding I
3
MART 112A Introduction to Film Editing 3
GDSN 149A Digital Imaging I 3
MART 101L Intro to Media Arts 3
General Education Requirements 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Autumn
ARTH 201H Art of World Civilization: 1400 to Present 3
Intermediate Studio Requirements 6
General Education Requirements 3
Foreign Language 4
 Hours16
Spring
Foreign Language 4
Intermediate Studio Requirements 6
General Education Requirements 6
 Hours16
Junior
Autumn
ARTH 250L Introduction to Art Criticism 3
Intermediate Studio Requirement 3
Upper Division Studio Courses (in area of Concentration) 3
Upper Division Studio Course (outside area of Concentration) 3
Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
ARTH 350 Contemporary Art and Art Criticism 3
Upper Division Art History (ARTH) 3
Upper Division Studio Courses (in area of Concentration) 3
Upper Division Studio Course (outside area of Concentration) 3
Elective 3
 Hours15
Senior
Autumn
ARTZ 494 Seminar- Professional Practices 3
Upper Division Studio Courses (in area of Concentration) 3
Upper Division Studio Course (outside area of Concentration) 3
Elective 6
 Hours15
Spring
ARTZ 499 Senior Thesis/Capstone 3
Upper Division Studio Courses (in area of Concentration) 3
Upper Division Studio Course (outside area of Concentration) 3
Elective 6
 Hours15
 Total Hours123

Last Updated Autumn 2024