BFA Fine Arts - Art at University of Cincinnati

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Program provides students with strong technical and critical thinking skills. Studios are taught by artist-teachers who are active professionals in one or more visual arts disciplines. Faculty provide a dynamic mixture of media, craft, and aesthetic viewpoints that expose students to various ideas and attitudes about art. In this context, art students are encouraged to develop their own innovative philosophies and approaches to art and a unique visual language.

Faculty: College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning | Duration: 4 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Cincinnati, OH, United States

What you will study

In consultation with faculty advisers, fine arts students determine their own interests and elect creative work in one or more of the program’s disciplines: art & technology, ceramics, drawing and painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. In addition, students complete course work in art history and electives in humanities, sciences and social sciences from other colleges in the university.

Career pathways

Fine artists express themselves visually using one or several different art forms. For example, they may find employment as photographers, ceramists, model builders, or video animators. If students complete the teaching licensure option offered within the School of Art, they can teach elementary and/or secondary school art.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to this major follows the university/college admission requirements: The College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati seeks to attract, enroll, and graduate academically talented students from a wide range of backgrounds. Success in our programs is largely dependent upon sound academic preparation. In multidisciplinary programs like those in DAAP, students’ insight and perspective are greatly enhanced by exposure to students from different backgrounds, geographies, and co-curricular interests. DAAP has an admissions review process to support these goals. Effective for Fall 2025, first year students (i.e., those applying from high school) are no longer able to submit an optional portfolio as part of the undergraduate admissions process. Please note that it’s impossible to predict – or guarantee – what credentials a student will need to gain admission into DAAP, because the size and quality of the applicant pool varies each year. Please visit the Admissions Office's website for more information, including application materials, requirements, deadlines, and timelines.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer semesters for first-year and transfer students; the College-Conservatory of Music generally accepts transfer applications for fall only, except BA Music and Electronic Media.

First-year: Early Action deadline November 1 (fall only); fall application deadline March 1 (rolling admission), spring November 1, summer March 1. Confirmation deadlines: May 1 (fall), December 1 (spring), April 1 (summer). The BSN has a priority deadline of November 1 and CCM applicants are encouraged to submit pre-screening materials by November 15.

Transfer: fall application deadline July 1, spring November 1, summer March 1. CCM programmes: December 1 application deadline for fall; DAAP programmes: March 1 application deadline for fall.

First-year applicants apply through the Common Application; ACT/SAT scores are optional for fall 2025 and fall 2026 entry.

Graduate applications: programmes set their own deadlines and decision schedules. Most programmes use the UC Graduate Admissions Application; Nursing uses NursingCAS, Occupational Therapy OTCAS, Physical Therapy PTCAS, Athletic Training ATCAS, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology CSDCAS, and Public Health SOPHAS.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.uc.edu/apply.html

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