• 48 required credit hours
• 27 general education credit hours
• 53 elective credit hours

This emphasis is available at the Vienna campus. However, many of the required courses are regular offerings and may be used to supplement the visual culture coursework in Vienna.

In addition to the above, students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of coursework selected from at least five of the following studio areas: alternative media, ceramics, graphic design, painting, papermaking, printmaking, photography, or sculpture. At least one course must be at the 3000 level or above.

Advanced standing as a major in the Art Department is achieved by faculty evaluation of a portfolio of the student's studio coursework. This evaluation is usually done during the second semester of the sophomore year or after a student has successfully completed 45 credit hours of study, providing the student has completed a minimum of 18 credit hours of studio coursework.

Following portfolio evaluation, students are formally advised of admittance to the department as candidates for the BA program or are advised to resubmit their portfolios the following semester. Students whose portfolios do not receive a favorable evaluation when resubmitted are advised to seek another department for their major. The department notifies students of portfolio review dates.