Department of Art and Design

Faculty: Professor Valle, Chair; Associate Professors Frorup, Aelavanthara, McCullough; Assistant Professors: Blokhina, Magnusen, Modder, Scarce, Wolff; Associate Teaching Professor: Trentinella; Assistant Teaching Professors: Arslanbek, Gassett, Haddad, Paris; Lecturers: Boigenzahn, George, Quintana, Wicks.

The Art and Design programs at The University of Tampa is a challenging course of study and practice built upon fundamental principles designed to develop students' technical skills, advance visual literacy, stimulate intellectual curiosity, sharpen aesthetic conceptualization and expand one's ability to think critically.

The department offers both Liberal Arts degrees (B.A.) and Professional degrees (BFA). What is the difference between the B.A. and BFA?

The B.A. is designed to expose students to a demanding but more broadly based curriculum in visual arts with a secondary area of concentrated study. As a traditional liberal arts degree, the B.A. affords students the ability to complement their artistic education with an additional concentration in business, social or natural sciences, humanities or other fine arts disciplines and areas of specialization.

The BFA is a professionally oriented degree that provides comprehensive and rigorous training in visual concept development and professional studio practice. For completion of the BFA degree, students are required to take purposefully sequenced upper-level studio courses culminating in the production of a mature, cohesive body of work showcased in a culminating senior exhibition. Special emphasis is given to helping students develop long-range professional goals through art practicums and service-learning experiences. Students pursuing a professional career in art and design or advanced studies (Master of Fine Arts) normally select the BFA, as it is often considered the foundation of graduate-level work.