The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art is a professional degree which provides students with a solid foundation in artistic design principles which grounded in the history of art. A broad base of foundational core art courses prepares students for upper-level concentration courses and provides opportunities to develop and expand mastery of technical and creative artistic expression. We offer academic programs specializing in ceramics, painting (including both oil and watercolor), sculpture and art history as well as post-baccalaureate certification in Art Education. For those considering a career as a professional artist, many opportunities for developing skill and creativity exist at Sul Ross.
Choose one of four tracks including:
- Studio Art
- Digital Art
- Art History
- Art Education with certification
Specializations in Studio Art are Ceramics, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Mixed media, and Sculpture.
Areas of specialization in the Digital Art track are Illustration, Animation, and Graphic Design.
Art History majors will take independent studies in art history under 3301, 4301, 4302 with proposal and 4303 capstone project.
Art Education Majors will take 6 SCH in ART 3303 (Art theory) and ART 3309 (Crafts) and blocks 1 and 4 in the education certification program as part of their area of specialization.
The diversity of the core art classes guarantees students develop professional standards in all four areas of art: two-dimensional painting, drawing, and surface design, three-dimensional work such as sculpture and ceramics, digital art and surveys of art history. Students learn to write, discuss their work professionally, and prepare professional portfolios to prepare for a career in the art field or to apply for graduate school.
Minor in Art
Students must consult with an Art Program advisor to help coordinate the classes to take. An Art minor must complete 18 hours in art with a total of 6 advanced hours.
Required classes include:
- 3 sch Art 1302 (Drawing I), 3 sch Art 1303 (Design I)
- 3 sch of Art History, selected from: Art 1307, 1308, 3308 contemporary Art history, 3307 Women in Art, 3313 European Art & Arch., 3314 Latin American Art, or 3310 special topics in Art History
- 3 sch of a two-dimensional class; either Art 2301 (Painting), Art 2302 (Watercolor), or Art 3302 (Printmaking)
- 3 sch of a three-dimensional class; either Art 2305 (Ceramics) or Art 2309 (Sculpture)
- 3 sch of an advanced studio; Art 3301, 4301 or 3310
Program Coordinator
Gregory Tegarden
432.837.8405
gtegarden@sulross.edu
| Avram Dumitrescu, MAA Adjunct Professor of Art, Gaming FAB 07 C-43 432.837.8380 adumitrescu@sulross.edu |
Carol Fairlie, MFA Professor of Art FAB 09 C-43 432.837.8258 fairlie@sulross.edu |
| Gregory Tegarden, MFA Associate Professor of Studio Arts FAB 10 C-43 432.837.8405 gtegarden@sulross.edu |
“Studying at Sul Ross State University was an incredible opportunity. The classes were usually small, so we were really able to get to know our teachers and the subject we were studying, and our classmates became like family, not just people sitting across the table from us. Currently I’m building my freelance business in graphic design and illustration as well as writing a series of graphic novels. Sul Ross helped me build the skills I needed to start working towards my future goals.” -Allison Smith, BFA Digital Art
“I miss the wide-open spaces and nature of Alpine, there’s nothing quite like it here near Austin. I feel that I thrived better in a smaller community and didn’t feel like just a number in my classes.” -Kacey Barton
“All the opportunities and help that was offered were positive aspects of my time at Sul Ross. You get to know your professors and they get to know you. I began as a student worker in the library and with the degree in digital arts I received I now am a digital imaging library assistant. Coming from a small town Sul Ross made me feel at home.” -Al Gomez
“My time at Sul Ross was almost universally positive and, perhaps unsurprisingly, formative. The lessons I learned there, both in and out of the classroom, paved the way for my acceptance into an MFA program and eventual career path as museum professional. Perhaps most importantly the reasoning skills I learned through class critiques have been one of the most significant contributors to my professional success. The abilities to observe and analyze objects and to justify decisions with clear persuasive language are instrumental in museum work as I imagine they are in many other fields. I was drawn to Sul Ross because of its location and my advice to prospective students would be to take advantage of that location. Sul Ross is a gateway to amazing cultural and natural resources; no other college in Texas is better positioned to enable such diverse exploration. What makes Sul Ross so special is its proximity to so many unique places, Texas’ two National Parks, an international art mecca in Marfa, research telescopes in Fort Davis, and of course, the vibrant cultural exchange of an international border.” -Kevin Ramler
“During my time at Sul Ross for my graduate work, I become so grateful for the intimate class size, the one-on-one instruction I was able to receive and the opportunity to get to know my classmates. I am a head Ceramic Technician for the Craft Center at the University of Oregon where I have been able to put to use all of the skills I learned while studying at Sul Ross and really start to expand on them in greater ways.” -Mariah Williams
“I chose Sul Ross State University because I was expecting a more hands-on approach to my education that a smaller university could provide—and that is exactly what I got. Smaller classes and a close teacher/student environment. My greatest decision was to be a Graduate Student Assistant which allowed me to prepare to teach and get the experience in the class room setting. The experience, under Carol H. Fairlie’s tutelage, was extremely valuable as I am now teaching and applying that knowledge. Sul Ross State University offers a positive and educational environment by a varied and diverse faculty encouraging individuality and creative thinking with a dedication to student success.” -Richard Curtain
Degree Plans
B.F.A., in Art – Studio Art
Freshman Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 1311
3 credit hours
ART 1312
3 credit hours
ART 1316
3 credit hours
ART 1317
3 credit hours
ART 1303
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 2346
3 credit hours
ART 2347
3 credit hours
ART 2316
3 credit hours
ART 2366
3 credit hours
ART 1304
3 credit hours
FA 2302
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 15 sch
Total: 15 sch
Summer Semester
_
ART 3310
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 9 sch
_
Junior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 3301
3 credit hours
ART 4301
3 credit hours
ART 2313
3 credit hours
ART 3304
3 credit hours
ART 2326
3 credit hours
ART 3302
3 credit hours
ART 3308
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Senior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 4302
3 credit hours
ART 4303
3 credit hours
FA 3303
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
ART 3323
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art: 121
B.F.A., in Art – Digital Design
Freshman Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 1311
3 credit hours
ART 1312
3 credit hours
ART 1316
3 credit hours
ART 1317
3 credit hours
ART 1303
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 2313
3 credit hours
FA 2302
3 credit hours
ART 2316/2366
3 credit hours
ARTC 2331
3 credit hours
ART 1304
3 credit hours
ART 2326/2346
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 15 sch
Total: 15 sch
Summer Semester
_
ART 3310
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 9 sch
_
Junior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 3301
3 credit hours
ART 4301
3 credit hours
ARTC 3333
3 credit hours
ARTC 3334
3 credit hours
ART 3332
3 credit hours
CSAT 3310
3 credit hours
ART 3308
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Senior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 4302
3 credit hours
ART 4303
3 credit hours
ARTC 4303/ 3340
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
FA 3303
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art: 121
B.F.A., in Art – Art History
Freshman Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 1311
3 credit hours
ART 1312
3 credit hours
ART 1316
3 credit hours
ART 1317
3 credit hours
ART 1303
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 16 sch
Total: 15 sch
Sophomore Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 2346
3 credit hours
ART 2347
3 credit hours
ART 2316
3 credit hours
ARTC 2366
3 credit hours
ART 1304
3 credit hours
FA 2302
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 15 sch
Total: 15 sch
Summer Semester
_
ART 3310
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 9 sch
_
Junior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 3301
3 credit hours
ART 4301
3 credit hours
ART 2313
3 credit hours
ART 3304
3 credit hours
ART 2326
3 credit hours
ART 3323
3 credit hours
ART 3308
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 15 sch
Total: 12 sch
Senior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 4302
3 credit hours
ART 4303
3 credit hours
ART 3302
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
FA 3303
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
3000+ Elective
3 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 12 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art: 121
B.F.A., in Art – All Level Certification
Freshman Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 1311
3 credit hours
ART 1312
3 credit hours
ART 1316
3 credit hours
ART 1317
3 credit hours
ART 1303
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
SRSU 1101
1 credit hour
_
_
Total: 16 sch
Total: 12 sch
Summer Semester
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 9 sch
_
Sophomore Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 2313
3 credit hours
ART 2347
3 credit hours
ART 2346
3 credit hours
ARTC 2366
3 credit hours
ART 2316
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
ART 1304
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Core Class
3 credit hours
Total: 15 sch
Total: 15 sch
Summer Semester
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Core Class
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 9 sch
_
Junior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 4301
3 credit hours
ART 4302
3 credit hours
ART 3303
3 credit hours
ED 3302
3 credit hours
ART 2326
3 credit hours
ART 3302
3 credit hours
ART 3308
3 credit hours
ART 3323
3 credit hours
Total: 12 sch
Total: 12 sch
Senior Year
Semester I
Semester II
ART 4303
3 credit hours
ED 3300
3 credit hours
FA 3303
3 credit hours
ED 4322
3 credit hours
ART 3309
3 credit hours
ED 4601/4602/4603/4605
3 credit hours
ED 4314
3 credit hours
_
_
Total: 12 sch
Total: 9 sch
Total Credit Hours Required for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art: 121