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Art: About The Program
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Fine Arts B.F.A., Studio Art B.A.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in art courses.
Minimum grade of B in all transfer fine art courses.
Studio Art - Minor
Minimum GPA of 2.5 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in art courses.
All B.F.A. and B.A. art majors must apply to and be accepted by the Art department.
The Department of Visual Studies Art degree programs offer two types of bachelor's degrees in art: a focused studio program, granting the BFA; and liberal arts based program, granting the BA. The BFA degree focuses on intensive work in the visual arts supported by a program of general studies. The BA degree focuses on art and design in the context of a broad program of general studies which allows the student to pursue a minor or double major in another program.
Accepted students who select fine art or studio art as their intended major on their university application are block registered into freshman foundation courses on a first-come, first-served basis. During the spring semester of the freshman year, students with an Art GPA of 3.0 or above are automatically granted admission to the Art program. Students with a GPA lower than 3.0 must have a portfolio review/interview to determine admittance into the Art program.
Transfer and currently enrolled UB students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 are eligible to apply to the Visual Studies department's Art B.A. or B.F.A. program. Admission is determined by portfolio review and interview. Freshman foundation courses are required for the B.A. and B.F.A. degrees and are prerequisites for most upper-level courses; students are encouraged to take these courses before applying to the major.
Portfolio Review Procedure
To schedule review appointments, students must apply for a portfolio review. Application forms are available through the Visual Studies Academic Advisor's office; contact Kim James Yarwood, 205 Center for the Arts, for more information.
Schedule of Portfolio Reviews
Freshmen: Spring of freshman year if art GPA is below 3.0
Honors Scholarship: Check with Academic Advisor
Currently Enrolled: Fall and Spring
Transfers: Spring prior to Fall entry
Acceptance Information
Number of applicants/year: 180
Number of accepted majors/year: 40-50 freshmen; 30 transfers/currently enrolled
Total number of majors currently enrolled: 300
Sequence of Study for the Major
The Freshman Foundations Program consists of five studio courses and one contemporary theory course. These courses are required for all Art B.A./B.F.A. degrees and are prerequisites for most upper-level courses. Admission to the B.A. or B.F.A. program is automatic if the student's Art GPA is a 3.0 or above. Students with a GPA below 3.0 in their Art courses may only be admitted through a portfolio review and interview during the spring semester of the freshman year. Students that fail this review may apply again the following year.
During the sophomore year, all majors take introductory (200-level) studio courses of their choice. Registration for most sophomore art courses is limited to students who have been accepted to the B.A. or B.F.A. program.
Focused study in a concentration begins in the junior year. At this point the Art student may declare a concentration in the following areas: for BFA programs; Painting, Sculpture, Print Media, Photography, Emerging Media or Visual Studies Studio but must be admitted by portfolio review into Communication Design. For BA programs, students may declare in Photography or General Studio but must be admitted by portfolio review into Communication Design. The junior and senior-level CD courses are reserved for students who have been accepted to the concentration. Reviews for these concentrations take place each spring.
A two-semester Senior Thesis Project is required for the B.F.A. degree.
Degree Requirements
Please see Degrees and Policies.
Fine Arts B.F.A., Studio Art B.A.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in art courses.
Minimum grade of B in all transfer fine art courses.
Studio Art - Minor
Minimum GPA of 2.5 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in art courses.
All B.F.A. and B.A. art majors must apply to and be accepted by the Art department.
The Department of Visual Studies Art degree programs offer two types of bachelor's degrees in art: a focused studio program, granting the BFA; and liberal arts based program, granting the BA. The BFA degree focuses on intensive work in the visual arts supported by a program of general studies. The BA degree focuses on art and design in the context of a broad program of general studies which allows the student to pursue a minor or double major in another program.
Accepted students who select fine art or studio art as their intended major on their university application are block registered into freshman foundation courses on a first-come, first-served basis. During the spring semester of the freshman year, students with an Art GPA of 3.0 or above are automatically granted admission to the Art program. Students with a GPA lower than 3.0 must have a portfolio review/interview to determine admittance into the Art program.
Transfer and currently enrolled UB students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 are eligible to apply to the Visual Studies department's Art B.A. or B.F.A. program. Admission is determined by portfolio review and interview. Freshman foundation courses are required for the B.A. and B.F.A. degrees and are prerequisites for most upper-level courses; students are encouraged to take these courses before applying to the major.
Portfolio Review Procedure
To schedule review appointments, students must apply for a portfolio review. Application forms are available through the Visual Studies Academic Advisor's office; contact Kim James Yarwood, 205 Center for the Arts, for more information.
Schedule of Portfolio Reviews
Freshmen: Spring of freshman year if art GPA is below 3.0
Honors Scholarship: Check with Academic Advisor
Currently Enrolled: Fall and Spring
Transfers: Spring prior to Fall entry
Acceptance Information
Number of applicants/year: 180
Number of accepted majors/year: 40-50 freshmen; 30 transfers/currently enrolled
Total number of majors currently enrolled: 300
Sequence of Study for the Major
The Freshman Foundations Program consists of five studio courses and one contemporary theory course. These courses are required for all Art B.A./B.F.A. degrees and are prerequisites for most upper-level courses. Admission to the B.A. or B.F.A. program is automatic if the student's Art GPA is a 3.0 or above. Students with a GPA below 3.0 in their Art courses may only be admitted through a portfolio review and interview during the spring semester of the freshman year. Students that fail this review may apply again the following year.
During the sophomore year, all majors take introductory (200-level) studio courses of their choice. Registration for most sophomore art courses is limited to students who have been accepted to the B.A. or B.F.A. program.
Focused study in a concentration begins in the junior year. At this point the Art student may declare a concentration in the following areas: for BFA programs; Painting, Sculpture, Print Media, Photography, Emerging Media or Visual Studies Studio but must be admitted by portfolio review into Communication Design. For BA programs, students may declare in Photography or General Studio but must be admitted by portfolio review into Communication Design. The junior and senior-level CD courses are reserved for students who have been accepted to the concentration. Reviews for these concentrations take place each spring.
A two-semester Senior Thesis Project is required for the B.F.A. degree.
Degree Requirements
Please see Degrees and Policies.
About Our Facilities
Studio art labs are communal, spacious, well equipped and organized. Specialized studios support all major conventional, digital, and experimental processes in art and design. Highlights include: a dedicated interactive art lab for advanced work; access to high-end computing and multimedia labs; and digital color and chemical black-and-white darkrooms, extensive printmaking labs, an audio lab and sculpture facilities that boast the largest university foundry in the Eastern US. Video editing and production studios are also available in the Department of Media Study.
Studio courses are small, generally ranging from fifteen to twenty students, to maximize teacher effectiveness.
Professional Staff
Our instructional support technicians keep specialized labs and equipment running every day of the school year. The department's full-time support staff includes five technicians (digital, photo, print, sculpture labs and the Media Resource Center), the undergraduate academic advisor, and four administrative staff.
Center for the Arts
The Center for the Arts houses the Departments of Visual Studies, Media Study, and Theatre & Dance, along with the University Art Galleries, and 4 performance spaces.
The exhibition spaces at UB are a vital component of cultural discourse and the student's educational experience. The Visual Studies Department Gallery exhibits undergraduate and graduate artwork as well as invitational exhibitions.
The UB Art Galleries are located on two floors in the Center for the Arts, and near the UB South Campus at the Anderson Gallery in North Buffalo. The University at Buffalo Art Galleries' mission is to bring current issues and practices in the visual arts to UB. The full-time director, curators and support staff of the gallery sponsor lectures, performances, symposia and publications.
Studio courses are small, generally ranging from fifteen to twenty students, to maximize teacher effectiveness.
Professional Staff
Our instructional support technicians keep specialized labs and equipment running every day of the school year. The department's full-time support staff includes five technicians (digital, photo, print, sculpture labs and the Media Resource Center), the undergraduate academic advisor, and four administrative staff.
Center for the Arts
The Center for the Arts houses the Departments of Visual Studies, Media Study, and Theatre & Dance, along with the University Art Galleries, and 4 performance spaces.
The exhibition spaces at UB are a vital component of cultural discourse and the student's educational experience. The Visual Studies Department Gallery exhibits undergraduate and graduate artwork as well as invitational exhibitions.
The UB Art Galleries are located on two floors in the Center for the Arts, and near the UB South Campus at the Anderson Gallery in North Buffalo. The University at Buffalo Art Galleries' mission is to bring current issues and practices in the visual arts to UB. The full-time director, curators and support staff of the gallery sponsor lectures, performances, symposia and publications.
About Our Courses
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 16-20
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 16-20
Upper level/advanced courses is: 15-20
Most of the courses in the Visual Studies Art program are studio lab classes which meet for 2.5 hours each two times a week. Several courses are in lecture, seminar or tutorial (one-on-one instruction) format.
In the Department of Visual Studies Art Program, what do teaching assistants (TA's) do?
TAs teach some 100- and 200-level introductory courses. Freshman foundation courses are taught either by full-time faculty, adjunct lecturers or TAs.
For course descriptions, please see Courses.
Freshman/introductory courses is: 16-20
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 16-20
Upper level/advanced courses is: 15-20
Most of the courses in the Visual Studies Art program are studio lab classes which meet for 2.5 hours each two times a week. Several courses are in lecture, seminar or tutorial (one-on-one instruction) format.
In the Department of Visual Studies Art Program, what do teaching assistants (TA's) do?
TAs teach some 100- and 200-level introductory courses. Freshman foundation courses are taught either by full-time faculty, adjunct lecturers or TAs.
For course descriptions, please see Courses.
About Our Faculty
The Visual Studies Art faculty are practicing artists in addition to being engaged in scholarly research and/or writing in their field. The Art Program faculty exhibits art, and receives fellowships and commissions for their artistic production.
Art faculty members have received grants and awards from such organizations as the Fulbright Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Tiffany Foundation, and the Government of the Netherlands, Polaroid, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Their works have been exhibited in many prestigious public and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art, the Smithsonian Museum, the Carnegie Institute, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, among others.
Anthony Rozak, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, is available to address student concerns.
See a list of our Undergraduate Faculty.
Art faculty members have received grants and awards from such organizations as the Fulbright Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Tiffany Foundation, and the Government of the Netherlands, Polaroid, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Their works have been exhibited in many prestigious public and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art, the Smithsonian Museum, the Carnegie Institute, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, among others.
Anthony Rozak, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, is available to address student concerns.
See a list of our Undergraduate Faculty.
Practical Experience and Special Academic Opportunities
Notable Program Features
Visiting Artists
The Visual Studies Speaker Series is a yearly program of lectures by visiting artists, critics, historians, and designers during the fall semester in the Center for the Arts Screening Room. Organized by the Department of Visual Studies, these lectures are co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Media Study and University Galleries.
Buffalo Metropolitan Area
The Visual Studies Art program frequently extends its activities and cultural programming off campus, collaborating with area alternative media and exhibition spaces, galleries, and internationally recognized institutions.
Buffalo's diverse intellectual and cultural heritage continues to attract and sustain artists in the visual arts, performance, video/film, theater, poetry, literature, music, and architecture. Grass-roots and alternative spaces dedicated to new and experimental genres, such as CEPA, Hallwalls, Big Orbit, and Soundlab, complement such world-class institutions as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and provide opportunities and support for the production of new work in all genres. The Theater District in downtown Buffalo is home to numerous experimental theaters. Locally owned art theaters, along with Hallwalls, regularly show acclaimed films not available for widespread commercial distribution.
Toronto, a ninety-minute drive from Buffalo, is the largest metropolitan center in Canada. It has hundreds of alternative spaces and commercial art galleries including the Power Plant and the Ontario Gallery of Art.
Student Organizations
The Student Visual Art Organization (SVAO) provides leadership opportunities to university undergraduate students and organizes many exhibits and events, open figure drawing sessions, and trips to museums and galleries.
Undergraduate Research and Practical Experience
Study Abroad
Students interested in study abroad have the opportunity to participate in numerous art-oriented programs around the globe.
Semester Internships
Semester-long internships are available in prominent design and art studios in New York City and elsewhere.
Local Internships
Advanced students in all B.A./B.F.A. concentrations may enroll in an internship course to gain practical experience. Placement is made individually with local companies and includes design studios; commercial photographers; galleries; and alternative art spaces, among others.
Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
Honors scholarships and performing and creative arts scholarships are awarded by the University, not by the Department of Visual Studies. See the UB Honors College section for further information. Honors students intending to major in art are automatically accepted to the program and do not need have a portfolio review. Scholarship funds based on talentships are also available for exceptional art work, determined by a slide/CD portfolio review in February.
Departmental scholarships, available to currently enrolled art majors, range from 0 to ,000. The following annual awards are designated for art-related travel and study, art supplies, tuition help, and general support:
Visiting Artists
The Visual Studies Speaker Series is a yearly program of lectures by visiting artists, critics, historians, and designers during the fall semester in the Center for the Arts Screening Room. Organized by the Department of Visual Studies, these lectures are co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Media Study and University Galleries.
Buffalo Metropolitan Area
The Visual Studies Art program frequently extends its activities and cultural programming off campus, collaborating with area alternative media and exhibition spaces, galleries, and internationally recognized institutions.
Buffalo's diverse intellectual and cultural heritage continues to attract and sustain artists in the visual arts, performance, video/film, theater, poetry, literature, music, and architecture. Grass-roots and alternative spaces dedicated to new and experimental genres, such as CEPA, Hallwalls, Big Orbit, and Soundlab, complement such world-class institutions as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and provide opportunities and support for the production of new work in all genres. The Theater District in downtown Buffalo is home to numerous experimental theaters. Locally owned art theaters, along with Hallwalls, regularly show acclaimed films not available for widespread commercial distribution.
Toronto, a ninety-minute drive from Buffalo, is the largest metropolitan center in Canada. It has hundreds of alternative spaces and commercial art galleries including the Power Plant and the Ontario Gallery of Art.
Student Organizations
The Student Visual Art Organization (SVAO) provides leadership opportunities to university undergraduate students and organizes many exhibits and events, open figure drawing sessions, and trips to museums and galleries.
Undergraduate Research and Practical Experience
Study Abroad
Students interested in study abroad have the opportunity to participate in numerous art-oriented programs around the globe.
Semester Internships
Semester-long internships are available in prominent design and art studios in New York City and elsewhere.
Local Internships
Advanced students in all B.A./B.F.A. concentrations may enroll in an internship course to gain practical experience. Placement is made individually with local companies and includes design studios; commercial photographers; galleries; and alternative art spaces, among others.
Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
Honors scholarships and performing and creative arts scholarships are awarded by the University, not by the Department of Visual Studies. See the UB Honors College section for further information. Honors students intending to major in art are automatically accepted to the program and do not need have a portfolio review. Scholarship funds based on talentships are also available for exceptional art work, determined by a slide/CD portfolio review in February.
Departmental scholarships, available to currently enrolled art majors, range from 0 to ,000. The following annual awards are designated for art-related travel and study, art supplies, tuition help, and general support:
- Rumsey Summer Scholarship
- Sally Hoskins Potenza Scholarship
- Frances Morrison Memorial Scholarship
- Julius Bloom Scholarship
- Philip C. and Virginia Cuthbert Elliott Painting Scholarship
- Dennis Domkowski Memorial Scholarship
- Eugene L. Gaier Award for Excellence in Printmaking
- Eugene L. Gaier Award for Drawing
- Carl E. and Virginia W. Sentz Memorial Award
- Alan E. Cober Memorial Scholarship
- Allentown Village Society Scholarship
- Townsend Photography Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities
The Student Visual Art Organization is open to and provides leadership opportunities to all interested university students and is active in organizing special exhibits and events, open figure drawing sessions, and trips to museums and galleries. The director of SVAO is Jeff Sherven (716-645-6878, ext. 1369).
See the UB Student Association.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Minors that Complement a B.A. or B.F.A.
Majors that Benefit from a Studio Art Minor
Courses Outside the Major that Could Improve Employment Opportunities
- American Studies
- Art History
- Business Administration
- Communication
- Comparative Literature
- English
- Media Study
Majors that Benefit from a Studio Art Minor
Courses Outside the Major that Could Improve Employment Opportunities
Links to Further Information About This Program
- Undergraduate Catalog
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions
- Department of Art
- College of Arts and Sciences
Updated: Jul 3, 2008 11:39:53 AM