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AAU Home > Degrees/Classes > Liberal Arts BFA Graduation Requirements

Liberal Arts Requirements

BFA | BA 45 UNITS
Written Communication BFA 3 Courses | BA 3 Courses
LA 108 English Composition for the Artist - required
LA 110 English Composition: Narrative Storytelling - required

Choose one:
LA 202 English Composition: Creative Persuasion - The Art of Argument or LA 280 Perspective Journalism

Art History & Appreciation BFA 4* Courses | BA 1 Course

LA 120   Art History through the 15th Century - required
LA 121   Art History through the 19th Century - required

Choose one:
LA 118 History of Industrial Design   LA 229 Survey of Contemporary Interiors    LA 276 Seminar in Europe 
LA 123 American Art History LA 236 Survey of Bay Area Architecture   LA 281 History of Film: Pre 1940
LA 127 Topics in World Art   LA 243 History of American Illustration    LA 282 History of Film: Post 1940
LA 222 20th Century Art     LA 244 History of Fashion    LA 307 History of Aesthetics

*Note: the BFA degree requires 4 Art History courses.  Three must be LA courses and the fourth may be taken as a major, art elective or LA.


Historical Awareness                       BFA 1 Course | BA 1 Course
Choose one:
LA 171 Western Civilization   LA 276 Seminar in Europe    LA 270 US History
LA 359 Urban Sociology        


Quantitative Reasoning Literacy  (Effective Spring 2007 )          BFA 1 Course |  BA 1 Course
Choose one:  
LA 124 Natural Phenomenon   LA 254 Introduction to Ergonomics LA 256 Topics in Contemporary Math
LA 175 Astronomy Exploring the Cosmos LA 255 College Math    


Comparative Ideas & Influences (Effective Fall 2007 )          BFA 1 Course | BA 1 Course        
Choose one:
LA 127 Topics in World Art LA 343 Comparative Religion      LA 368 Experiencing Culture: Anthropology
LA 180 Geography and Museum Cultures LA 359 Urban Sociology LA 462 Myth and Symbol
LA 238 World Literature        


Employment Communications and Practices  (Effective Fall 2008 )          BFA 1 Course |  BA 1 Course                                    
LA 291 Designing Careers ~ required   


LA electives by advisement (note: classes in the above categories may also be taken as LA electives.)    BFA 5 Courses | BA 7 Courses  
LA 103 Fundamentals of English   LA 239 Materials & Processes LA 345 Art of Science, Science of Art
LA 106 Listening & Speaking for Artists   LA 260 Beginning French LA 347 Business Law 
LA 114 Art of Music 1   LA 262 Intermediate French   LA 352 Golden Section and Sacred Geometry
LA 119 Fabric and Fiber Technology   LA 267 Beginning Italian LA 365 General Psychology
LA 126 Seminar in the Arts   LA 268 Beginning Spanish LA 381 Marketing Essentials
LA 140 Music Appreciation   LA 269 Intermediate Italian LA 402 Advanced Fiction Writing
LA 151 1st year Seminar for Acad. Success   LA 273 Intermediate Spanish LA 405 Teaching: Principles & Practices
LA 155 Music and the Visual Arts   LA 272 Fundamentals of Drama LA 410 E-Commerce
LA 190 History of Opera   LA 276 Seminar in Europe LA 435 The Power of Signs 
LA 210 Contemporary American Fiction   LA 285 Gestures & Emotions in Art LA 480 The Small Business Entrepreneur
LA 216 Science Fiction and Fantasy   LA 300 Public Speaking & Oral Comm. LA 499 ST: Art of Music 2
LA 217 Writing for Comics   LA 302 Silver Screen & Ivory Tower LA 499 ST: Film Music Appreciation
LA 223 I Act, Therefore I Am   LA 303 Critical Thinking & Philosophical Concepts LA 499 ST: Genres in Film
LA 228 Topics in Modern Science   LA 305 Philosophy/Understanding Logic LA 499 ST: International Cinema: 1960 - 1990
LA 237 Popular Culture   LA 312 Creative Writing LA 499 ST: Contemporary Cinema: 1990 - Present


Waiver Options for Written Communication, Quantitative Reasoning Literacy, Art History, Historical Awareness and Comparative Ideas & Influences requirements:
During the semester tests are offered once a week at 491 Post Street.  Call 415.618.3664 to schedule an appointment. Check the schedule online at: http://my.academyart.edu/academicresources/liberalarts_bfagrad.html
Online Students: call or e-mail liberalarts@academyart.edu for a proctored exam details.

Test out & waiver options for LA 108:
  • 660 or higher on the SAT II (Writing Subject Test)
  • 510 or higher on SAT I before April 1995 (Written)
  • 590 or higher on SAT I after April 1995 (Written)
  • 3 or higher on Advance Placement (AP) exam in English Composition
  • 5 or higher on International Baccalaureates (IB) exam in English Composition
  • AAU Test Score of 3 or 4 - students will place out of LA108 and into LA202
  • AAU Placement Test Score of 5 or 6 - students will place out of both LA108 and LA202, into LA110
Test out & waiver options for Quantitative Reasoning Literacy requirement:
  • Level I or II or 28 on the American College Test (ACT)
  • 3 or higher on Advanced Placement (AP) exam in Calculus AB or BC or  Statistics or Computer Science AB
  • 5 or higher on International Baccalaureates (IB) exam in Mathematics
  • 500 or higher on Mathematics Achievement Test (SAT II Mathematics Subject Examination)
  • 600 or higher on the SAT I (Mathematics)
  • AAU Placement Test
Waiver options for Art History, Historical Awareness and Comparative Ideas & Influences requirements:
  • 3 or higher on Advance Placement (AP) exam in equivalent subject area
  • 5 or higher on International Baccalaureates (IB) exam in equivalent subject area
Only 3 units of Art History requirement may be waived by above exam scores 
         
Upcoming English and Quantitative Placement exams on the AAU campus:

Placement Exam Dates During August 2009
  • August 12, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • August 17, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Monday)
  • August 26, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • August 28, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
Placement Exam Dates During Fall 2009
  • September 9, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • September 18, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • September 23, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • October 2, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72(Friday)
  • October 7, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • October 16, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • October 21, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 ((Wednesday)
  • October 30, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72(Friday)
  • November 4, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • November 13, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • November 18, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • No Exam Week of Thanksgiving
  • December 2, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • December 11, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
Exams are by appointment (No drop-ins).
Please contact the Liberal Arts Department 415.618.3664 or email liberalarts@academyart.edu to reserve a seat.