Overview
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, offered by the Department of Art, is recognized as one of the nation's top programs in the discipline, offering students access to world-class facilities and teaching.
Tyler Painting majors are pushed to grow as artists and critical thinkers by a diverse faculty—all of whom are practicing artists themselves—with a broad range of expertise and a commitment to being engaged, passionate mentors. Students learn technique, theory and perhaps the most powerful tool of all: how to teach themselves to be self-critical.
Tyler BFA students take full advantage of the school's location in Philadelphia, a vibrant art center, to explore museums and galleries, find internships, earn placements in competitive graduate programs and launch creative practices. When they graduate, they join an alumni community that includes some of the most influential artists, thought leaders and teachers of their time.
Each student moves from a common foundation curriculum that introduces materials and processes and prepares them for success in a range of fields of study. Those who select Art as their major will work side-by-side with majors in Visual Studies, Art Education and Art Therapy. The dynamic exchange of ideas that result from these interdisciplinary conversations spur intellectual risk and drive research-based creative concepts.
Upon graduation, students have the practical skill sets and honed aesthetics for successful careers in studio art, art education and design, as well as attend top-tier graduate programs.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: TA-PNTG-BFA
Concentration
Students may complete an optional Concentration in Art Education.
Admissions
Admission to Tyler's Studio Art (Bachelor of Fine Arts) programs is based on a review of academic credentials and portfolio review. For detailed information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's admissions page.
Study Abroad
Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.
Accreditation
Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational and other art/design-related endeavors.
Contact Information
Gerard Brown, Program Head
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Room 300D
215-850-9997
gbrown@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2026-2027. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2026 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. All Painting majors must complete the BFA curriculum and General Education requirements.
- Students must earn a C- or better in Painting (ART 2501 or ART 2503) and Intermediate or Digital Drawing (ART 2502, ART 2507, or ART 3511) to enter the Painting major.
- The major studio courses and ART 4097 (capstone) must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill major requirements.
Major Requirements for BFA in Painting
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sophomore Prerequisites | ||
| ART 2501 | Painting | 3 |
| or ART 2503 | Painting | |
| ART 2502 | Intermediate Drawing | 3 |
| or ART 2507 | Intermediate Figure Drawing | |
| or ART 3511 | Digital Drawing | |
| Other Sophomore Studios | ||
| ART or DES 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ART or DES 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ART or DES 2000-2999 Cross-Disciplinary Sophomore Studios | 3 | |
| BFA Core | ||
| ART 2052 | Core 1: Collaborative Art Practices | 3 |
| ART 3053 | Core 2: Research, Practice, Agency | 3 |
| ART 3053 | Core 2: Research, Practice, Agency | 3 |
| ART 4051 | BFA Senior Thesis: Exhibition and Installation | 3 |
| or ART 4052 | BFA Senior Thesis: Publication and Distribution | |
| or ART 4053 | BFA Senior Thesis: Utility and Production | |
| or ART 4054 | BFA Senior Thesis: Performance and Event | |
| ART 4097 | Art in Practice | 3 |
| Upper-Level Program Requirements | ||
| ART or DES 3000-4999 Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Three Advanced Level Painting Courses (see list below) | 9 | |
| Three Advanced Level Drawing Courses (see list below) | 9 | |
| One Advanced Level Painting or Drawing Course (see lists below) | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Level Painting Courses | ||
| ART 2505 | Painting Materials and Techniques | 3 |
| ART 3501 | Advanced Painting | 3 |
| ART 3503 | Landscape | 3 |
| ART 3504 | Figure Painting | 3 |
| ART 3505 | Color | 3 |
| ART 3508 | Painting on Paper | 3 |
| ART 3519 | Advanced Painting: Rome | 3 |
| ART 3522 | Comics: Sequential Narratives | 3 |
| ART 4504 | Figure Painting | 3 |
| ART 4506 | Senior Painting Studio | 3 |
| ART 4507 | Senior Painting Studio | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Level Drawing Courses | ||
| ART 3503 | Landscape | 3 |
| ART 3511 | Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART 3512 | Rome Sketchbook | 3 |
| ART 3513 | Drawing Workshop | 3 |
| ART 3514 | Advanced Drawing | 3 |
| ART 3515 | Advanced Drawing: Rome | 3 |
| ART 3517 | Figure Drawing | 3 |
| ART 3522 | Comics: Sequential Narratives | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-Disciplinary Sophomore Studios | ||
| ART 2611 | Eco-Friendly Plant Based Photo Printing | 3 |
| ART 2061 | Moving Image and Sound | 3 |
| ART 2012 | Imagery and Glass | 3 |
| ART 2013 | Optics and Light | 3 |
| ART 2014 | Moldmaking and Casting | 3 |
| ART 2708 | Print Animation | 3 |
| ART 2702 | Independent Publishing and Artists' Books | 3 |
| ART 2701 | Protest Graphics | 3 |
| DES 2001 | Introduction to Design and Illustration | 3 |
Notes:
- Do not duplicate any courses previously taken for Drawing or Painting credit.
- Painting or Drawing courses taken in excess of the required eight courses will count as studio electives. This is a common practice encouraged by the Painting Faculty.
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2026-2027 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| FDPR 1511 | Drawing as Seeing 1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | Visual Language: Design | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | Space: Form and Material | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| FDPR 1512 | Drawing as Thinking | 3 |
| FDPR 1522 | Visual Language: Color and Narrative | 3 |
| FDPR 1532 | Space: Structure and Site | 3 |
| FDPR 1502 | Investigations of Art and Design | 1 |
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1 or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 2052 | Core 1: Collaborative Art Practices | 3 |
| ART 2501 or ART 2503 | Painting or Painting | 3 |
| ART or DES 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 2502 | Intermediate Drawing or Intermediate Figure Drawing or Digital Drawing | 3 |
| ART or DES 2000-2999 Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ART or DES 2000-2999 Cross-Disciplinary Sophomore Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 3053 | Core 2: Research, Practice, Agency | 3 |
| Advanced Level Painting Course | 3 | |
| Advanced Level Drawing Course | 3 | |
| Art History Elective 2 | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 4097 | Art in Practice [WI] | 3 |
| Advanced Level Painting Course | 3 | |
| Advanced Level Drawing Course | 3 | |
| Art History Elective (WI) | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 3053 | Core 2: Research, Practice, Agency | 3 |
| Advanced Level Painting Course | 3 | |
| Advanced Level Drawing Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 4051 | BFA Senior Thesis: Exhibition and Installation or BFA Senior Thesis: Publication and Distribution or BFA Senior Thesis: Utility and Production or BFA Senior Thesis: Performance and Event | 3 |
| Advanced Level Painting or Drawing Course | 3 | |
| ART or DES 3000-4999 Studio Elective | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Open Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 126 | |
- 1
These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.
- 2
Students completing a three credit Art History 2000+ elective must select a four credit open elective to reach the minimum 126 credits to earn the BFA degree.
Please Note: An approved study abroad program waives the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement; however, these credits must be made up with academic coursework taken outside of Tyler departments to be in compliance with BFA accreditation. Painting majors interested in studying abroad may elect to study abroad in a summer program, for a semester or an entire academic year. Please see an academic advisor for more details.
Art Education Concentration
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with an optional Concentration in Art Education, offered by the Department of Art, is one of two pathways at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture to earning art teaching certification in Pennsylvania and becoming a teaching artist. Students may also become certified teachers through the Bachelor of Science in Education in Art Education.
Tyler offers students seeking a BFA degree an opportunity to earn Pennsylvania Teacher Certification in Art, K-12. The BFA with Art Education Concentration combines Tyler's art curriculum with approved courses in education and the liberal arts—all with Tyler's uniquely urban, community-based approach.
Offering students access to the resources of both a world-class art school and a large, public research university, Tyler's undergraduate Art Education programs prepare students to become thoughtful art teachers with the extensive knowledge and skills to teach kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Tyler students take full advantage of the school's location in Philadelphia and the city's rich array of schools, communities, museums, galleries and artists, opening up opportunities for artistic growth, research, networking and jobs.
The Tyler faculty is committed to urban art education and the power of collaborating with communities. Tyler students don't just learn how to teach art and grow as artists—they learn how to affect positive change in the communities where they work.
Students must complete BFA requirements along with a three-year sequence in Education and Art Education that begins in the sophomore year. Typically five years are necessary to fulfill all requirements. Students work with both the Art Education faculty advisors and the Tyler academic advisors regarding completion of requirements.
Campus Location: Main
Accreditation
Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors.
Licensure/Certification
Teacher certification is the process used in the US to ensure that prospective K-12 teachers are qualified and prepared to teach at the levels and in the subjects that they intend to teach. Certification in Art Education prepares graduates to teach art to students from K-12. Certification is not always required by private institutions, but some may prefer to hire certified teachers.
In order to become certified in Art Education, students must complete a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, pass the Praxis exams required in their state of employment, and satisfy other state-licensing examinations, as applicable.
Temple University is a Pennsylvania state-approved teacher preparation program for K-12 Art. Completion of Temple University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Art Education or Master of Education in Art Education with Teaching Certification satisfies the necessary requirements for graduates to sit for the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, Praxis Subject Assessments, and Praxis Fundamentals.
For certification in some states, students may need to take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam for their desired grade levels, which they are prepared for through their field placements, classroom observations, and study of human development and pedagogy.
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/educators/certification.html
Admission
Admission to Tyler's Bachelor of Fine Arts programs is based on a review of academic credentials and portfolio review. For detailed information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's admissions page.
Contact Information
Renee Jackson, Program Head for Art Education
Tyler Building, Art Education and Community Arts Practices Suite B090C
215-777-9258
renee.jackson@temple.edu
Summary of Requirements
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2026-2027. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2026 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with the Art Education Concentration may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 155 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
University Requirements
All Temple students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
- Successful completion (minimum C-) of FDPR 1511 and ARTH 1156 satisfies the GenEd Arts (GA) requirement.
- Successful completion (minimum C-) of EDUC 2109, SPED 2231, and TESL 3631 satisfies the GenEd Human Behavior (GB) requirement.
-
Summer or semester study abroad will satisfy the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement.
BFA with Art Education Concentration Requirements
ARTE 2001, ARTE 3096, ARTE 4003, ARTE 4088, and ARTE 1001 must be completed with a C or better to fulfill concentration requirements.
Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in required College of Education coursework and additional mathematics requirement to fulfill concentration requirements.
Students in the BFA degree with the Art Education Concentration are required to take a Ceramics studio course and an additional studio course in Glass, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, or Fibers and Material Studies; a Painting studio course and an additional studio course in Painting or Sculpture; a Printmaking studio course and an additional studio course in Photography or Graphic Design. These courses may include prerequisite, sophomore, and/or studio courses within the student's chosen BFA major.
Any BFA student who wishes to pursue the Art Education Concentration must arrange to meet with the Art Education faculty advisor to discuss field placement, clearances, and requirements, as the state of Pennsylvania may change requirements after the Bulletin information has been posted. It is strongly suggested that students do so during their freshman year.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Courses | 74 | |
Foundation Program (20 credits) | ||
2000 level Sophomore studios including major prerequisites (18 credits) | ||
Major studio requirements (24-27 credits, varies depending on major) | ||
Studio electives (9-12 credits, varies depending on major) | ||
| Art History Courses | 12-13 | |
| Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | ||
or ARTH 1955 | Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | |
| Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | ||
or ARTH 1956 | Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | |
2000+ ARTH elective | ||
2000+ ARTH elective | ||
| General Education Courses 1 | 29 | |
| Education Requirements | 19-18 | |
| Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States | ||
| Adolescent Development for Educators | ||
| Introduction to Special Education | ||
| Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | ||
| Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners | ||
Mathematics course (1000 level) for PA Certification | ||
| Art Education Courses | 21 | |
| Professional Practices in Art Education and Art Therapy | ||
| Science and Art of Teaching | ||
| Art in Elementary and Secondary School | ||
| Inclusive Art Education K-12 Students in the Art Room | ||
| Student Teaching | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 155 | |
- 1
Students waived from General Education requirements via placement test (GW) or study abroad (GG) must make up the credits with electives to reach the minimum 155 credits to earn the degree.
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
BFA with Art Education Concentration (Five-Year)
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| FDPR 1511 | Drawing as Seeing 1 | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | Visual Language: Design | 3 |
| FDPR 1531 | Space: Form and Material | 3 |
| FDPR 1503 | Woodshop Fundamentals | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| FDPR 1512 | Drawing as Thinking | 3 |
| FDPR 1522 | Visual Language: Color and Narrative | 3 |
| FDPR 1532 | Space: Structure and Site | 3 |
| FDPR 1502 | Investigations of Art and Design | 1 |
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1 or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio | 3 | |
| Studio | 3 | |
| Studio | 3 | |
| EDUC 2103 | Socio-cultural Foundations of Education in the United States | 3 |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| ARTE 1001 | Professional Practices in Art Education and Art Therapy | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio | 3 | |
| Studio | 3 | |
| Studio | 3 | |
| EDUC 2109 | Adolescent Development for Educators 2 | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Second Mathematics course for certification 3 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| ARTE 2001 | Science and Art of Teaching | 4 |
| SPED 2231 | Introduction to Special Education 2 | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| 2000+ ARTH Elective 3 | 4-3 | |
| TESL 3631 | Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners 2 | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| Studio Major Course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
CRFT (Major Capstone) [WI] | ||
GAD (Major Capstone) [WI] | ||
PDS (Major Capstone) [WI] | ||
| 2000+ ARTH Elective | 3 | |
| SPED 3211 | Effective Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| Studio Elective | 3 | |
| ARTE 3096 | Art in Elementary and Secondary School [WI] | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTE 4003 | Inclusive Art Education K-12 Students in the Art Room | 3 |
| ARTE 4088 | Student Teaching | 9 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 155 | |
- 1
These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.
- 2
These 3 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Human Behavior category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.
- 3
Students need to complete either a 4-credit Art History 2000+ elective or a 4-credit second Mathematics course to reach the minimum 155 credits to earn the BFA degree with Art Education Concentration.