<p>I want to major in studio art (painting). Some of the colleges and universities that I am considering offer the BA degree, while others offer the BFA degree. Anyone have any ideas about which degree should guide my college selection list?</p>
<p>It’s really the program, not the initials at the end of your name/on your certificate that should guide your selection. In saying that, a BFA would appear to be geared directly towards the ‘Fine Arts’, and so it might seem more logical. But maybe not.</p>
<p>BFA would likely have a large concentration of required art courses.</p>
<p>The BA is generally considered to be an “academic” degree, while the BFA is more of a "professional " degree since it requires the student to spend considerably more time in intensive studio courses.</p>
<p>On the AICAD (Assn. of Independent Colleges of Art & Design) website, you can find the following discussion regarding differences between the BFA and BA degrees:</p>
<p>"WHAT’S A BFA?</p>
<p>"The BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) is an undergraduate college degree offered in all areas of the fine and applied arts. Since World War II it has become THE standard degree for students seeking a professional education in art and design.</p>
<p>"The National Association of School of Art & Design (NASAD, Reston, VA), is the nationally recognized accrediting agency for programs in art and design. It delineates two types of undergraduate degrees: “professional” programs, usually granting the BFA; and “liberal arts” programs, usually granting the BA. These two types of programs differ noticeably in their goals and objectives. In NASAD’s own words “the professional degree focuses on intensive work in the visual arts supported by a program of general studies,” whereas “the liberal arts degree focuses on art and design in the context of a broad program of general studies.”</p>
<p>"ALL undergraduate college degrees, the BFA included, must have a general studies (liberal arts) component. The difference between a BFA and a BA is in the ratio between art and design, and general studies. In a BFA approximately two-thirds of the course work is in the “creation and study of the visual arts,” with the remainder in general studies (literature, history, sociology, etc.). In a BA approximately two-thirds of the course work is in general studies, with the remainder in visual arts.</p>
<p>"AICAD believes that neither degree, BFA or BA, is inherently “better” than the other. The judgement of which degree is best for a particular student depends almost entirely on the student’s educational goals. However, AICAD does believe that the BFA is the most appropriate degree for serious, motivated students seeking to become professional artists and designers. With its specialized focus, a BFA degree program will tend to attract highly talented students and faculty, and to generate great intensity and commitment among its students and faculty.</p>
<p>"Finally, it should be noted that the basic structure of a BFA degree (one-third liberal arts, two-thirds visual arts) DOES NOT change from one type of college to another. The ratio between these two curricular components in a BFA is the same anywhere; a large university, a comprehensive four-year college, or a professional art college like those in AICAD. Contrary to some impressions, one does not get more liberal arts if the BFA is taken at a university versus an art college. One gets more liberal arts by taking a BA degree rather than a BFA. It is the type of degree, not the type of college, that determines the amount of liberal arts. "</p>
<p>I think AICAD is more than a little biased (since most of its members offer the BFA degree), but – all of the working artists and designers that I have come across (that is, people for whom art/design is their vocation and not just a hobby) do have the BFA degree.</p>
<p>Worried_mom, Thank you. Your response was very helpful. There are some great schools (e.g., Cornell U and Wash U in St Louis) that have their arts program contained in a college of art and offer only a BFA, rather than a BA in art offered through their college of A&S. Even though I think these places would offer a great educational/campus experience, I have not considered them because I don’t want the 1/3 2/3 ratio you described to be weighted away from the L.A.s</p>
<p>With the BA, you’ll take more liberal arts courses (general studies such as literature, history, etc.). With the BFA, you’ll focus more on intensive art and design studies. A BA will actually give you a greater range of career choices. A BFA will be much more focused.</p>
<p>digmedia, Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought. I might not work directly in the art industry (i.e., commercial art), but might pursue art ed or art therapy, etc. and I think a broader ed might be a better approach, even though my main passion is fine art.</p>