The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art is a selective, studio-intensive program for students who want to deepen their artistic practice and prepare for professional work or graduate study in the visual arts. 

The 61-credit BFA builds on Hunter College’s 42-credit Studio Art major with an additional 19 credits of advanced coursework. During the BFA year, students develop an independent body of work, participate in rigorous seminars and critiques, and work closely with a cohort of artists. The program culminates in a public group exhibition at the end of the second semester. 

Program at a glance 

Program feature  What to know 
Total major credits  61 credits: the 42-credit Studio Art major plus 19 BFA credits 
Admission  Selective application, preliminary review, and faculty committee interview 
Entry term  Fall only 
BFA year  Two consecutive semesters beginning in the fall 
Minimum GPA  3.0 to apply and remain in the program 
Studio access  Assigned studio at Hunter’s MFA Studio Building, 205 Hudson Street in Tribeca 
Culminating experience  A public BFA Degree Exhibition at the end of the second semester 

 

Is the BFA right for you? 

The BFA may be a strong fit if you are ready to: 

  • Develop a focused, self-directed body of work 
  • Commit substantial time to studio practice outside scheduled classes 
  • Participate actively in seminars, critiques, readings, writing, presentations, and exhibitions 
  • Work independently while contributing to a close-knit cohort 
  • Prepare for graduate study, professional opportunities, or a sustained studio practice after graduation 

 

Eligibility 

To apply, you must meet all of the following requirements by the start of the upcoming fall semester: 

  • You are declared in the 42-credit Studio Art major 
  • You will have completed at least 90 credits toward the 120-credit bachelor’s degree 
  • You have a minimum GPA of 3.0 
  • You will have completed all Common Core, science, and language requirements 
  • You will have completed at least 39 credits toward the 42-credit Studio Art major 
  • You are not planning to graduate before completing the full BFA year 

Plan early. Meet with the Undergraduate Studio Art Advisor during your junior year to review your DegreeWorks record, remaining requirements, and BFA timeline. 

 

Transfer students 

Transfer students cannot apply directly to the BFA. You must first declare the 42-credit Studio Art major and complete the required major progress before applying to the BFA during the appropriate applicationcycle. Meet with the Undergraduate Studio Art Advisor as early as possible to review transfer credits and residency requirements. 

 

When the program begins 

The BFA begins in the fall semester only. Students may apply during a fall or spring application cycle, but all accepted students enter the program the following fall. Application deadlines, preliminary review dates, and faculty committee interview dates are announced at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. 

 

How to apply 

  • Confirm your eligibility. Meet with the Undergraduate Studio Art Advisor to review your degree progress and application timeline 
  • Prepare your materials. Complete the application form and assemble every required document and work sample 
  • Request an advisor review. Have the Undergraduate Studio Art Advisor review your application before submission 
  • Submit by the announced deadline. Follow the instructions provided for the current fall or spring application cycle 
  • Complete the selection process. Applications that advance through preliminary review proceed to an interview and presentation of work before the BFA Faculty Selection Committee

LINK: Download the Current BFA Application Form / Schedule an Advising Appointment in Navigate  

 

Required application materials 

  • Completed BFA application form 
  • Current transcript 
  • List of courses completed, including each course title, course number, and applicable transfer credits
  • Short essay or statement of intent 
  • Two letters of recommendation from Art & Art History faculty 
  • 10 to 20 work samples documenting your current artistic practice 
  • Interview and presentation of work to the BFA Faculty Selection Committee, if invited 

Before you submit: Use the instructions and deadlines issued for the current application cycle. Incomplete or outdated application materials may delay or prevent review. 

 

What to expect in the BFA 

BFA students are expected to be highly self-motivated, work independently, and develop a distinct artistic voice through rigorous coursework and sustained studio practice. 

  • Attend all classes and participate fully in seminars, critiques, presentations, and program activities 
  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA 
  • Devote approximately 15 to 20 hours each week to self-directed studio practice, in addition to scheduled classes 
  • Use your assigned studio at the MFA Studio Building at 205 Hudson Street in Tribeca 
  • Attend artist talks, lectures, exhibitions, Hunter Open Studios, and other events at Hunter’s uptown and downtown locations 
  • Create a new body of work during the BFA year and present it in the culminating BFA Degree Exhibition 

 

Curriculum 

The BFA requires 61 total credits: the 42-credit Studio Art major plus 19 additional BFA credits. The curriculum below is organized to make the two parts of the degree easy to distinguish. 

 

Part 1: 42-credit Studio Art major 

Requirement  Credits    Courses and guidance 
Foundations  6    ARTLA 20100 Art Foundations: Seeing, Thinking, Making (3) 
  ARTLA 20200 Art Foundations: Methods and Techniques (3) 
Area of Study (Concentration)  12   Four courses in one medium: Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics, or New Genres. Complete one beginning course, two advanced courses, and one ARTCR 36000-level special topics course in the concentration. 
Studio Electives  12   Four ARTCR courses outside the selected concentration. Choose eligible 200- or 300-level  courses. Repeated courses do not earn additional major credit unless specifically approved as  repeatable. 
Art History  9   Three ARTH courses. At least one must address modern or contemporary art. Current    examples include ARTH 24700, 24900, 25000, 25100, 25700, 35100, and 45000. 
Capstone Seminar  3    ARTLA 40600 2D-3D-4D, taken near the end of the degree. 
Total  42    Fourteen courses in the 42-credit Studio Art major. 

Part 2: 19 additional BFA credits 

Term  Course  Credits 
Semester 1  ARTCR 45900 Professional Experience in Art I  6.5 
Semester 2  ARTCR 46000 Professional Experience in Art II  6.5 
BFA year  ARTCR 40500 Art and Current Ideas  3 
Either semester  One additional Art History elective  3 
BFA requirement  BFA Degree Exhibition  Required; no separate credits listed 
Total additionalcredits     19 

Curriculum planning: Course sequencing and availability can affect your graduation timeline. Review your DegreeWorks record with the Undergraduate Studio Art Advisor before applying and before registering for the BFA year. 

 

Studios and facilities 

BFA students receive an assigned studio at Hunter’s MFA Studio Building at 205 Hudson Street in Tribeca. Facilities and resources include: 

  • Assigned BFA studios 
  • Building access Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m 
  • Loading dock and freight elevators 
  • Judith Stanley Zabar Art Library and Digital Media Lab on the third floor 
  • Critique rooms for temporary installation and review of work 
  • Darkroom and large-format printers 
  • Woodshop 
  • Continued access to Studio Art facilities on the 11th floor of Hunter’s North Building at the 68th Street campus 

 

Program goals 

The BFA offers intensive studio practice alongside seminars in contemporary art history, theory, and criticism. Students read and discuss critical texts; prepare written responses; draft artist statements; give presentations; participate in critiques; and write exhibition reviews. 

Through this work, students develop a focused body of work, strengthen their professional and critical skills, prepare for competitive MFA programs and visual arts careers, and build the habits needed to sustain an ongoing studio practice. Students also work collaboratively with their cohort, faculty, gallery staff, and curators to plan, install, and present the culminating BFA Degree Exhibition.  

 

Learning outcomes 

By the end of the program, students will be able to: 

  1. Develop and sustain an independent, self-motivated body of work. 
  2. Critically engage, extend, and adapt frameworks of contemporary art in support of their studio practice. 
  3. Connect their work to broader conversations and practices in contemporary art. 
  4. Explain aesthetic choices and interpretive strategies in speech and writing, both for their own work and the work of their peers. 
  5. Examine identity, agency, and self-knowledge as elements of creative practice and critical discourse. 

 

Advising and program contacts 

BFA program questions 

BFA Director/Advisor: Professor Chitra Ganesh 

Director of Undergraduate Programs in Studio Art: Professor Dave McKenzie  

Eligibility, degree progress, and transfer-credit questions 

Undergraduate Studio Art Advisor: Anastasia “Staesi” Davis 

Schedule an appointment through Navigate 

 

BFA Faculty Selection Committee 

Daniel Bozhkov, Sarah Faux, Chitra Ganesh, Yve Laris-Cohen, Reiner Leist, Dave McKenzie, and Alan Ruiz.