Apr 19, 2025  
DRAFT 2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
    
DRAFT 2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Art, Spatial Art Concentration, BFA


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs

The BFA Art, Concentration in Spatial Art, offered by the Department of Art and Art History , is a degree for artists seeking to specialize in sculpture and three-dimensional art processes. Spatial Art students begin with the common Art core of drawing, photography, digital media art, three-dimensional design, art history, and seminars about making a career as an artist. They then move into intermediate and advanced classes focused on large metal casting, woodworking, glass, ceramics, jewelry, and installation art. All studio classes emphasize concept development and recognition of contemporary art-world trends, while upper-division art history classes provide context and develop students’ critical thinking skills.

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

No portfolios are required at the time of application for admission to SJSU. Major requirements for the first two years of study for BA Art/Studio Practice and all BFA degrees are very similar so that students have time to choose the right path and can apply for the BFA, if they choose to do so. At that time BFA program applicants must meet the following departmental requirements:

  1. Have completed, be currently enrolled in, or planning to enroll within the following two semesters in all coursework in the common preparation for the BA and BFA Art majors (25-28 units of drawing, digital media, photography, sculpture, art history, ART 1 , ART 2 , ART 3  and ART 100W ) with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Also recommended, are three to six additional units from the desired BFA concentration area.
  2. Pass the BFA - Art admissions review. During the review, which is held in October and March each year, images of the applicant’s creative work are reviewed by the art faculty to determine if the work demonstrates the creative level expected of BFA candidates. Instructions are available on the Art and Art History Department website.

Students complete the BFA Art program with a capstone project, for which each candidate prepares an individual art exhibit to demonstrate the candidate’s professional competence.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements


Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements: 

  1. Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)

  2. General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)

  3. American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)

  4. Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines

  5. Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)

  6. Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)

  7. Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)

  8. Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units


Core Lower Division General Education: 25 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 6 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units satisfied by ART100W)

Lower Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 3

Upper Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 2-4

Major Preparation: 24

Major Requirements: 52

Total: 120

3. Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):


Complete a course offered by the College of Humanities & the Arts in a discipline other than your major.

Complete One Course From:


Highly Recommend Students take ARTH 70B 

5. Major Requirements (52 units)


Core Requirements (19 units)


Upper Division Art History Requirements (9 units)


  • One Course of Upper Division Art History 3 unit(s)

Specialized Courses (27 units)


Courses can not be taken again if taken in another requirement area.

Capstone (6 units)


Total Units Required (120 units)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs