Fine Arts Major

The BA in Fine Arts is a is a 14-credit** major available to students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering. The Fine Arts major is a conduit for interdisciplinary study and inquiry that incorporates a broad range of artmaking techniques, approaches, and perspectives. The Fine Arts Department offers a diverse range of studio courses in the areas of animation and 3D modeling, drawing and painting, photography, print media, sculpture, performance, and video. The dynamic curriculum also provides students with the opportunity to thoroughly examine contemporary art, creative research, and public art through seminar-based instruction. Combining studio practices and seminar courses, the Fine Arts major emphasizes project-based learning, collaboration, and interdisciplinary dialogue.  Students entering the major develop the ability to critically and resourcefully synthesize the expansive potentialities of art. These skills are gained through exposure to a diverse set of artistic approaches, their histories, and contemporary applications. The Fine Arts major guides students through a process of learning to independently question, interpret, and analyze the world through making, scholarship, and reflection.

**The 14-credit major is available for students graduating Spring 2025 and beyond. Students graduating in Spring 2023 - Fall 2024 are declared into the 16-credit major.

Core Studio Requirements (2)
Students are encouraged to take these classes their freshman and sophomore year.

FNAR 0010 Drawing I
FNAR 0020 Contemporary Art Studio

Introductory Studio Requirements (3)
Select three introductory studios, such as.

FNAR 1010 Video I
FNAR 1030 Intro to Photo: Darkroom Photo
FNAR 1040 Digital Photo I 
FNAR 1050 Mixed Media Animation
FNAR 1060 Sculpture I
FNAR 1070 Intro to Clay
FNAR 1080 Figure Drawing
DSGN 0010 Art, Design & Digital Culture
FNAR 1090 Painting I
FNAR 1100 Intro to Printmaking
FNAR 2090 Hand-Drawn Computer Animation
FNAR 2280 Screenprinting

*Course fulfills a College of Arts and Sciences sector requirement (Sector IV: Humanities and Social Science).

Art History Requirements* (3)
Select one introductory level course in art history.

Select two upper level courses with topics in art history, such as:

ARTH courses from the 2000 level or above.
FNAR courses at the 3000 level
DSGN seminar courses at the 3000 level

*If you are interested in taking a humanities course in another College of Arts and Sciences department that includes topics on the history of art, contact your advisor to discuss fulfilling this requirement.
 

Fine Art Seminar Requirements (2)
FNAR 4020 Senior Seminar -  Fall
FNAR 4030 Senior Seminar - Spring

Art and Design Electives (4)

Select any combination of four FNAR and DSGN courses to fulfill this requirement.

The Fine Arts Minor is a six-credit program available to undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, Wharton and the School of Nursing. This minor introduces students to a broad range of Fine Art disciplines and methodologies with the ability to take multiple classes in one area of study.

Fine Arts Introductory Studio Requirements (2CU)
Fine Arts Minors are required to take two introductory studios, such as:
FNAR 0010 Drawing I
FNAR 0020 Contemporary Art Studio
FNAR 1010 Video I
FNAR 1030 Intro to Photo: Darkroom Photo
FNAR 1040 Digital Photo I 
FNAR 1050 Mixed Media Animation
FNAR 1060 Sculpture I
FNAR 1070 Intro to Clay
FNAR 1080 Figure Drawing
DSGN 0010 Art, Design & Digital Culture
FNAR 1090 Painting I
FNAR 1100 Intro to Printmaking
FNAR 2090 Hand-Drawn Computer Animation
FNAR 2280 Screenprinting

Art History Requirement (1CU)
Fine Arts minors must take a one Art History course, such as:
Any ARTH course. Art History course listings can be found on the Art History Department website by clicking on the course menu.
-OR-
Any FNAR or DSGN seminar course, including:
FNAR 3000-3999
DSGN 3000-3999
-OR-
DSGN 0020 Design 21
FNAR 1110 Big Picture: Mural Arts
VLST 1010 Eye, Mind, Image
CIMS 3203 The Animation of Disney
CIMS 3204 History of Children's TV

Fine Arts and Design Electives (3CU)
Minors must complete three studio electives in Fine Arts or Design. Fine Arts and Design electives can be taken in any order as long as prerequisites are met. A complete list of fine arts and design electives can be found on the university's course catalog.

To declare a Fine Arts major, schedule an advising appointment with Matt Neff, Director Undergraduate Fine Arts & Design (mneff@design.upenn.edu) or Kate Lawrence, Associate Director Undergraduate Fine Arts & Design (klawr@upenn.edu).

To declare a Fine Arts minor, submit your request through PATHForms. An advising appointment is not necessary to declare a minor, but advisors are available to answer questions via email or through an appointment.

The Undergraduate Program in Fine Arts & Design accepts transfer credits, credit away credits, as well as study abroad credits. To request a transfer, credit away, or study abroad credit to be reviewed by the Fine Arts Department, students must submit all course syllabi and other supporting materials from the respective institution using the College of Arts and Sciences External Course Approval Tool (XCAT). Credits will be evaluated and approved on a case-by-case basis, and must align with current Undergraduate Fine Arts curriculum and course offerings. 

Students must confer with College of Arts and Sciences policies governing credits.