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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Level Requirements | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| ARTH 150H | Introduction to Art History | 3 |
| ARTZ 105A | Visual Language - Drawing | 3 |
| ARTZ 108A | Visual Language - 3-D Foundations | 3 |
| 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 201H | Art of World Civilization: 1400 to Present | 3 |
| ARTH 250L | Introduction to Art Criticism | 3 |
| 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 Focus: | ||
| Complete 15 credits in Art (ARTZ), Graphic Design (GDSN), and Media Arts (MART) at the 300 and 400 level | 15 | |
| Upper-Division Studio Credits in Area of Focus: 1 | ||
| Complete 12 credits of the courses in Art (ARTZ) at the 300 and 400 level | 12 | |
| Upper-Division Art History and Criticism Requirements: | ||
| ARTH 350 | Contemporary Art and Art Criticism | 3 |
| 3 credits in Art History (ARTH) at the 300- and 400-level. | 3 | |
| Senior Thesis Capstone | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| ARTZ 494 | Seminar- Professional Practices | 3 |
| ARTZ 499 | Senior Thesis/Capstone | 3 |
| Total Hours | 75 | |
- 1
These courses should be in the same discipline to demonstrate an area of focus. 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
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| ARTZ 105A | Visual Language - Drawing | 3 |
| ARTH 150H | Introduction to Art History | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I (or Math Course) | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Intermediate Studio Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTZ 108A | Visual Language - 3-D Foundations | 3 |
| MART 112A |
Introduction to Film Editing or Creative Coding I or Digital Imaging I or Intro to Media Arts |
3 |
| ARTH 201H | Art of World Civilization: 1400 to Present | 3 |
| Math Course (or WRIT 101) | 3 | |
| Intermediate Studio Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| Intermediate Studio Requirements | 6 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Intermediate Studio Requirements | 6 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| ARTH 250L | Introduction to Art Criticism | 3 |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (in area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (outside area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH 350 | Contemporary Art and Art Criticism | 3 |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (in area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Studio Electives (outside area of Concentration) | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| ARTZ 494 | Seminar- Professional Practices | 3 |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (in area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (outside area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Art History Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTZ 499 | Senior Thesis/Capstone | 3 |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (in area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Studio Elective (outside area of Concentration) | 3 | |
| Electives/Upper Division Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Last Updated Autumn 2025