Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Painting and Printmaking, Bachelor of Fine Arts

VCU

Community college:
Uniform Certificate of General Studies (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS)

Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts (please consult with the VCU Transfer Center for additional course recommendations)

Completing the UCGS or associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting and Printmaking is offered within a large, diverse, and vibrant community of artists, scholars, and students. Primary media in the major are painting, drawing, and printmaking. Students are encouraged to use electives in pursuit of other media of interest.


Critical thinking and professional tools are key skills developed in the program through the Junior and Senior Seminar. In these courses, students learn how to write artist statements, a CV, develop a portfolio, curate exhibitions, write press releases and grants, and apply to Master of Fine Arts programs. Contemporary art history and theory are also explored in with access to internationally-recognized visiting artists and curators and visits to local collections.


Internships in the field of contemporary art are strongly encouraged and supply students with valuable experiences with museums, galleries, print studios, publications, and artists. Completion of an internship for credit, with the department chair’s approval, will fulfill the REAL Level 2 requirement for students.


Students build upon their personal practice with an independent body of work completed in Senior Degree Project, in which all seniors have access to a personal studio space. The culmination of the BFA is the Senior Show at the Anderson organized annually by students.


Travel opportunities allow students to expand their education beyond Richmond. Recent trips include an exploration of print culture in Mexico City and an annual trip for seniors to New York City.

Career opportunities

Graduates complete the program with a diverse range of skills and experiences preparing them to apply for positions that require knowledge in painting, drawing, printmaking, and contemporary art in general. In the area of printmaking, graduates can find positions with print publishers. Graduates also work for artists as studio assistants. Some graduates will become self employed, making a living from their work as artists, while others will pursue teaching opportunities in K-12 public or private schools or in the field of museum education. Further education is usually necessary to refine skills and professional networks in a very competitive marketplace. Many graduates continue their education in a MFA graduate program, which allows them to develop their talent further and to teach in higher education. Some take jobs in related fields, such as galleries and museums, allowing them to continue their own creative work.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Art Installation
  • Arts Administrator
  • Curator
  • Fine Arts Print Publisher
  • Artist
  • Artist Assistant
  • Commercial Artist
  • Gallery Assistant
  • K-12 Art Instructor
  • Printmaker
  • Visual Communications
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Art Director
  • Curator
  • Gallery Director
  • Museum Administrator
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
  • No guaranteed admission. 
  • Apply for admission during first year at community college. 
  • Review deadlines and portfolio requirements for transfer applicants here.
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Painting and Printmaking, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Virginia Community College System (Uniform Certificate of General Studies)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Prepare a portfolio as part of your application to VCU.
  • Complete your math and english requirements.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • Be prepared: Once you enroll at VCU, your VCU GPA will be determined by your grades at VCU.
  • Explore the School of the Arts website.
  • Review application deadlines and portfolio requirements for visual arts applicants.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Register to vote.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Experience Year 2

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Prepare a portfolio as part of your application to VCU.
  • Complete your math and english requirements.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • Be prepared: Once you enroll at VCU, your VCU GPA will be determined by your grades at VCU.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Explore the School of the Arts website.
  • Review application deadlines and portfolio requirements for visual arts applicants.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Register to vote.
  • Research housing options for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Painting and Printmaking, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Virginia Community College System (Uniform Certificate of General Studies)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning (or any other approved MTH course) MATH 131 3 General education
ART 101 History of Art: Prehistoric to Gothic (this course fulfills a requirement for the Art Foundation program at VCU) ARTH 103 3 Major (Art Foundation)
ART 102 History of Art: Renaissance to Modern (this course fulfills a requirement for the Art Foundation program at VCU) ARTH 104 3 Major (Art Foundation)
ART 121 Foundations of Drawing (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 131). ARTS 1XX or ARTF 131 3 Major (Art Foundation)
ART 131 Two-Dimensional Design (depending on your portfolio and admission to VCU Arts, this courses will either transfer as an ARTS 1XX elective or as ARTF 132). ARTS 1XX or ARTF 132 3 Major (Art Foundation)
Social science Select one of the following (UCGS Block III): ECO 150, ECO 201, ECO 202, GEO 210, GEO 220, PLS 135, PLS 140, PLS 241, PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211, SOC 268. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Lab Science Select one of the following (UCGS Block IV): BIO 101, BIO 102, BIO 106, CHM 101, CHM 111, CHM 112, ENV 121, ENV 122, GOL 105, GOL 106, GOL 110, PHY 100, PHY 201, PHY 202, PHY 241, PHY 242. VCU equivalent 4 General education
History Select one of the following (UCGS Block VI): HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122. HIST 3 General education
Community college credits transferred to VCU 32
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Art Foundation Program. Students must complete the Art Foundation program at VCU or equivalent courses at another institution to be eligible for admission to the Painting and Printmaking degree.
ARTF 133 Space Research (ART 132 at community college will fulfill this requirement if admitted to VCU Arts) 3 Major (Ancillary)
ARTF 134 Time Studio (ART 130, ART 203, or ART 208 will fulfill this requirement if you are admitted to VCU Arts) 3 Major (Ancillary)
ARTF 139 or ARTF 138 Project Studio or Project Seminar 2 Major (Ancillary)
Painting and Printmaking major requirements
PAPR 201 Painting From Observation 4 Major
PAPR 231 Drawing from Observation 4 Major
PAPR 290 Concepts and Issues 2 Major
PAPR 292 Concepts and Issues II 2 Major
PAPR 390 Junior Seminar 2 Major
PAPR 402 Senior Degree Project 4 Major
PAPR 490 Senior Seminar 2 Major
Select two from: PAPR 212, PAPR 213, PAPR 306, PAPR 307 4 Major
PAPR 304 or PAPR 314 Paint Practice and Theory or Print Practice and Theory 4 Major
PAPR 300- to 400-level courses in painting, printmaking or drawing 12 Major
ARTH electives 9 Major (Ancillary)
Studio electives (outside PAPR) 9 Major (Ancillary)
Upper-level electives (300 or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 16 Elective
Open electives 6 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 88
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120