Please see the links below to apply for the following programs:
- BFA Application (Must be a current BA in Studio Art student currently attending Cal Poly Humboldt to apply. Transfer students should contact Nicole Jean Hill nicole@humboldt.edu to discuss when and how to apply to the program.)
- Reese Bullen Gallery Proposal
- John S. and Lona B. Edwards Artist-in-Residence Program
SPECIAL NOTE FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS: Transfer students first declare a BA in Studio Art, then apply to the BFA during their first or second semester at Cal Poly Humboldt. Please contact the department chair, Professor Nicole Jean Hill (njh27@humboldt.edu) if you would like a review of your transcripts and to discuss the timeline for applying to the BFA.
BFA students work closely with faculty from our eight different media areas: Painting, Drawing/Illustration, Printmaking, Graphic Design/Digital Media, Ceramics, Sculpture, Photography, Jewelry/Small Metals. The BFA degree offers students the opportunity to further their studio art practice and to prepare for graduate school or professional art careers through a rigorous and focused course of study in the visual arts. The BFA requires 70 units of Art classes (as opposed to 54 units for the BA in studio art).
The BFA is a cohort-based program for students in their junior and senior years. Students will typically be admitted to the program in the spring of their sophomore year. Students may be able to apply to enter the program in the fall of their junior year if space permits. Students must plan on being in the BFA program for a minimum of two semesters prior to graduation.
Students applying to the program must have taken the following seven classes of the Cal Poly Humboldt studio art major:
- Art 103A: Prehistoric to Medieval Art
- Art 103B: Renaissance to Contemporary Art
- Art 105B - Drawing Fundamentals
- Art 105C - 2D Foundations
- Art 105D - 3D Foundations
- and two lower division studio electives
Only one of these classes may be in progress at the time of application. Students must have a 3.0 minimum GPA in the major at the time of application.
If you do not know if you are eligible or you do not know your projected graduation date, please see your academic advisor.
BFA students will be admitted based on the strength of their portfolio, their artistic promise, creative vision, professionalism and the suitability of the BFA to their academic plans as evidenced through their submitted work, DARS audit, personal statement and faculty references. Applicants will also be considered for admission based on their potential to positively contribute to the intellectual and artistic life of the cohort to which they are admitted.
Students will be permitted to re-apply to the BFA once if the first application does not result in acceptance to the program. Reapplications should follow the same guidelines as first time applications. Applications will be due in mid October and mid March.
To apply, you will need to submit the following:
- A statement of purpose (250-500 words)
- A PDF of your Cal Poly Humboldt B.A. Studio Art DARS audit (not DARS Plan or transcript).
- 12-15 samples of your work. 3 should be from Art 105B (Drawing Fundamentals) or equivalent, 3 should be from Art 105C (2D Foundations) or equivalent and 3 should be from Art 105D (3D Foundations) or equivalent. You should also submit 3-6 works that come from studio elective courses. This is also a place where you can showcase your strongest work and/or work that demonstrates where you see yourself developing as an artist.
- The name and email address for 2 academic references.
If you need help with best procedures for photographing your artwork, watch THIS VIDEO.
If you have additional questions please email Professor Brandice Guerra at bg816@humboldt.edu