COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art with a Sculpture concentration at Wichita State University is a 120-credit-hour professional degree designed to train students in both traditional and contemporary sculptural practice while building a strong foundation in fine arts, art history, and interdisciplinary studio work. In addition to completing 34–35 credit hours of General Education requirements, students must complete 86 credit hours of studio art and art history coursework, with a minimum grade of C required in all major courses and a 2.0 GPA maintained within the major. The program begins with Art Foundation Studies, including Introduction to Art and Design, Foundation 2D Design, Foundation Drawing, and Foundation 3D Design, followed by a mid-program review that evaluates student progress. Students also complete Art History coursework, including introductory surveys, contemporary art themes, and upper-level studies at both the 300 and 500 levels, helping them connect sculptural practice to historical and contemporary artistic movements. Introductory studio courses span multiple disciplines such as photography, life drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture, ensuring a broad artistic foundation before specialization. The sculpture concentration builds progressively through Intermediate Sculpture, Materials and Extended Media in Sculpture, and Time-Based Sculpture, which explore physical form, experimental materials, installation practices, and conceptual approaches to three-dimensional art. Advanced development occurs through two semesters of Advanced Sculpture, where students refine their artistic identity, technical skills, and conceptual depth. Studio Art Program Studies emphasize interdisciplinary thinking, presentation skills, and upper-level studio electives that allow students to expand their creative practice. The degree culminates in a Studio Art Senior Project and a Senior Exhibition, where students present a professional body of sculptural work in a formal gallery setting. Throughout the program, applied learning is central, with access to large studios, critiques, exhibitions, and collaborative opportunities within the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries. Graduates are prepared for careers as professional sculptors, installation artists, fabricators, gallery professionals, educators, or for continued study in MFA programs, with strong emphasis on craftsmanship, experimentation, and conceptual development in contemporary sculpture.