BFA or BA?
Hey hey! As a student who has passed the BFA Review Process and currently pursuing a BFA degree in Visual Communication Design at Northern Kentucky University, I know the question of choosing between the two programs and want to break down the process of BFA and BA review based on my personal experience!
The BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts):
Focus: Intense 5+ more design-focused studio practice with a strong emphasis on building a portfolio.
Curriculum: Expect a heavy load of design courses covering areas like typography (you get to design your own typeface!), branding, illustration, and user experience (UX) design (interaction and motion design classes). You'll also have more studio critiques, allowing professors to offer feedback and guidance on your work.
Benefits: Graduates with a strong portfolio and your capstone showcase your design skills and creative vision. This is ideal for landing design agency jobs or pursuing freelance work.
Drawbacks: Fewer general education courses compared to a BA. This may limit your exposure to other disciplines like art history or business, which can be valuable for well-rounded design professionals. But you can always take a minor if you want to but it’ll be more work and you have to make your schedule work strictly to graduate on time!
The BA (Bachelor of Arts):
Focus: A broader approach to design, often incorporating design history and other courses in your minor. You are required to have a minor if you choose to go for a BA degree (it’s optional for BFA) and students usually choose marketing as their minor since it goes hand-in-hand.
Curriculum: Expect a mix of design courses alongside classes in art history, painting, and other areas. This provides a strong foundation in design principles while fostering critical thinking, communication skills, and other areas skills.
Benefits: Graduates gain a well-rounded education that prepares them for diverse career paths. This could include design roles within companies or careers that combine design with writing, marketing, or education.
Drawbacks: Less studio time compared to a BFA. While you'll still develop design skills, the portfolio may not be as extensive as a BFA graduate's.
The REVIEW process
While the review process itself might appear similar for both degrees, there's a key distinction between the BFA and BA applications. The BFA review tends to delve deeper, evaluating not just your technical skills but also your passion, attitude, and growth trajectory. They want to understand your design philosophy, how you envision your future path, and what makes you tick creatively.
Here's where things differ: the BFA process might involve answering roughly 10 written questions before the review date. These questions aim to get to know you as a designer beyond your portfolio. They'll probe your design motivations, how you handle challenges, and what kind of designer you aspire to be.
So, the BFA review becomes a two-way conversation. It's your chance to showcase your design identity and demonstrate not just what you can create, but also who you are as a designer.
