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The information here may reflect program requirements for future academic years. If you are a current student and would like to see the current or prior years’ requirements for this program, please see the University Catalog.



The Painting major requires the completion of 60 semester hours, which includes ten three-credit required courses, one three-credit Art History course, seven three-credit elective courses, and six credits of Thesis Project. This 60-credit major contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.


In addition to the program requirements listed below, all BFA students must complete Foundation & General Education requirements that contribute to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

Program Curriculum

Required Program Courses

  • DR261 Figure and Anatomy

  • DR361 Figure and Anatomy

  • IM201 Theory and Practice

  • IM301 Theory and Practice

  • PA261 Observational Painting

  • PA262 Painting: Themes and Methods

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

    • PADR270 Drawing Investigations

    • PADR370 Drawing Investigations

    • PADR470 Drawing Investigations

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

Art History

  • IS218 History of Painting and Drawing

Program Electives

  • Complete 21 additional credits from any of of the following subjects:

    • Animated Arts (AA), Creative Writing (CW), Drawing (DR), Graphic Design (GD), Illustration (IL), Intermedia (IM), Painting (PA), Painting and Drawing (PADR), Photography (PH), Printmaking (PR), or Sculpture (SC).

    • Up to 3 of the 21 credits may be from ND301 Internship

Applied Creative Practice


Painting and Drawing Minor (15 credits)

The Painting and Drawing minor requires the completion of 15 semester hours, which includes one three-credit required course and twelve additional credits from selected menus of courses. Taken together with a major, this minor contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.

Required Program Courses

  • PA261 Painting Studio: Observational Painting

Program Electives

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

    • IS218 History of Painting & Drawing

    • IS318 History of Painting & Drawing

    • IS233 History of Studio Arts

  • Complete 1 course from the following courses:

    • DR261 Drawing: The Figure and Human Anatomy

    • PADR263 Multi-Media

  • Complete 2 additional courses from the following courses:

    • DR261/361 Drawing: The Figure and Human Anatomy

    • IL253 Painting for Illustration

    • IL255 Drawing for Illustration

    • PA262 Figurative Focus

    • PA364/464 Advanced Painting

    • PADR263 Multi Media

    • PADR361/461 Advanced Multi Media

    • PADR365/465 Special Topics

    • PADR362 Pre‐Thesis Professional Practice

Course Outline

Our aim is development of a disciplined practice that will both drive your creative endeavors and help you to locate yourself as an artist in the contemporary world. Professional issues are addressed throughout the curriculum, and include instruction in writing, studio management, portfolio development, galleries and exhibitions, and public presentation.

ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (9 cr. required)
IS101 Core Seminar 1 3
IS102 Core Seminar 2 3
IS106 Place-Based Inquiry 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP100 Introduction to Creative Citizenship 3
First-Year Seminar (1 cr. required)
FD100 **First Year Seminar 1
Studio Courses (3 cr required)
FD100  Studio Elective 3
Foundation Studio (15 cr. required)
FD101  Visual Elements: 2D 3
FD102 Visual Elements: Digital Tools 3
FD105  Drawing 1 3
FD111  3D Design 3
FD112  Time Arts 3
TOTAL 31
At the completion of First Year: 31 cr. earned to date 31

**FD100 First Year Seminar is required of all first-years with fewer than 30 transfer credits.

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
IS218 History of Painting and Drawing 3
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (3 cr required)
ACP200 Creative Project Management 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
PA261  Painting Studio 1: Observational Painting 3
PA262  Painting Studio 2: Themes and Methods 3
PADR261 Multi-Media 3
DR261 Figure and Anatomy 3
PADR270 Drawing Investigations 3
IM201 Theory and Practice 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Second Year: 61 cr. earned to date 61
ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (6 cr. required)
IS220Q Interdisciplinary Seminar (Q) 3
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (6 cr. required)
ACP300 Creative Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness 3
ACP301 or ACP302 Applied Learning Internship or Applied Learning Elective 3
Studio Courses (18 required cr.)
PA364  Advanced Painting 3
DR361 Figure and Anatomy 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
IM301 Theory and Practice 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Third Year: 91 cr. earned to date 91
ID Course Title Course Req
Integrated Studies (3 cr. required)
IS200 Interdisciplinary Seminar 3
Applied Creative Practice (12 cr. required)
ACP400 Senior Seminar 3
ACP401 Thesis Critique Seminar 3
ACP499 Thesis Project 6
Studio Courses (15 cr. required)
PADR365  Advanced Special Topics Painting & Drawing Studio 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Fourth Year: 121 cr. earned to date 121

Willamette University

Painting