Choosing A Degree

Both the BA and BFA degrees have a great deal to offer a student. Choosing the right degree depends on the individual student’s interests, his or her aptitude for study in Art or Graphic Design, and his or her long-term goals.

For students with a variety of interests and skills, the BA offers a better opportunity for study outside of Art or Graphic Design. Students earning second degrees or minors increase their range of opportunities for life after graduation, whether that be a professional career, or graduate study.

The BFA degree allows for more in-depth study in Art and Graphic Design. Students in the BFA Studio Art program need to be aware that graduate studies, either the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or the Master of Arts in Teaching: Art Education (MAT) are strongly recommended. Many students who pursue a BFA in Graphic Design will focus on two discipline areas to broaden their skill sets and increase the viability of their professional portfolio. For example, many Graphic Design majors study both print media and interactive integrated media design. Additional areas of study are illustration and photography. Graphic Design majors with a serious interest in web design or multimedia are strongly advised to earn a BA degree with a second major. Second majors for students interested in web design could be Information Science or Computer Science. A second major for multimedia would be Broadcasting.

A misconception many students have is that they need a BFA degree in order to go on to a graduate program in Art Education. While this is true for the MAT program at Oswego, it is not true for all graduate programs in Art Education and is certainly not a standard. It should also be noted that entrance into the BFA degree does not guarantee entrance into the MAT program at Oswego, nor any other graduate program at Oswego. NOTE: All degree programs in the Art Department require a grade of C- (C minus) or better in all courses taken to fulfill major requirements.

Degree Options

Bachelors of Art (BA)

Students earning an art minor or BA degree are given the choice of studying art history, studio art or graphic design. The BA offers ample opportunity for multiple or interdisciplinary studies in various programs across campus including psychology, cognitive science, communications, advertising/marketing, technology education and information science, among others. Many BA students earn a second degree or minor in a complementary area of interest such as psychology, cognitive science, technology education, advertising/marketing, computer science, communications, broadcasting, or information science. BA art students can follow one of three different tracks depending on their chosen concentration:

BA: Track I – Studio Art
BA: Track II – Art History
BA: Track III – Graphic Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

For those students seeking a demanding program with a high degree of focus and academic effort, the BFA offers in-depth study of either studio art or graphic design. The BFA is limited to a select group of students chosen through a separate application process. Typical students seeking this program have long-term plans for graduate study in the fine, applied or educational arts, or a professional life in the graphic arts. The program is extensive and demanding and access is limited. Admission requires a diverse portfolio, exemplary academic performance, and natural talent. BFA art students have two degree options depending on their chosen concentration:

BFA: Studio Art
BFA: Graphic Design

Master of Art (MA)

Advanced study in Studio Art or Graphic Design.