About the major
The Interdisciplinary Studio Arts B.F.A. at Youngstown State University is your launchpad into the world of contemporary art. Whether you're drawn to ceramics, digital media, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture—this program is designed for curious, creative minds ready to blur boundaries, explore big ideas, and make meaningful work across disciplines.
If you’re seeking a program that pushes the limits of traditional art-making, this concentration offers a holistic approach to developing your creative practice. With a strong emphasis on practical skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration, you’ll gain the flexibility to blend art forms and explore innovative ways of creating. This program prepares you not only to succeed as an artist, but also as a creative professional across diverse industries. With a focus on hands-on experience and self-expression, you’ll be empowered to develop both your technical skills and personal voice.
At YSU, we believe in providing a high-quality, forward-thinking education in the visual arts—one that opens doors and empowers you to thrive. When you graduate with a B.F.A. in Studio Art, you’ll leave with the skills, confidence, and creative vision to build a future that’s uniquely your own.
Contact information
To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, professional development and careers, exhibitions, faculty, and students, visit Department of Art or contact us at 330.941.3627.
To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Requirement -Student Success | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551A | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Any Gen Ed Math (Recommended MATH 2623) | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (2 courses) | 3 | |
| Survey of Art History 1 *included in major | ||
| CL History of American Democracy | ||
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with a lab) | 7 | |
| Social Science (2 courses) *If pursuing Social Media minor you must take CMST 2600 | 6 | |
| General Education Electives *If pursuing Business minor you must take ECON 1505 for one gen ed course elective *ART 1544 included in major | 6 | |
CMST 1545 (3 s.h.) | ||
ART 1544 (0 s.h.) *Included in major | ||
Any Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Foundation Courses (10 s.h.): | ||
| ART 1501 | Fundamentals of 2D Design | 3 |
| ART 1502 | Fundamentals of 3D Design | 3 |
| ART 1521 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| ART 1503 | Freshman Seminar and Portfolio Review | 1 |
| Introductory Courses (12 s.h.): | ||
| ART 2625 | Introduction to Printmaking: Intaglio and Relief | 3 |
| or ART 2626 | Introduction to Printmaking: Lithography and Screenprinting | |
| ART 2650 | Introduction to Painting | 3 |
| ART 2674 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| ART 2691 | Introduction to Digital Media | 3 |
| ART 2611 | Introduction to Sculpture | 3 |
| or ART 2631 | Introduction to Ceramics | |
| Major Required Courses (10 s.h.): | ||
| ART 3722 | Interdisciplinary Art Practice | 3 |
| ART 3703 | Junior Portfolio Review | 1 |
| ART 4803 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| ART 4802 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Studio Art Electives (21 s.h.): | 21 | |
| Choose two 1500 or higher Studio Art Electives from the following courses: | ||
ART 1510*, ART 1511*, ART 1512*, ART 1522, ART 2611, ART 2625, ART 2626, ART 2631, ART 3713, ART 3722, ART 3723, ART 3733, ART 3748, ART 3771, ART 3773, ART 3792, ART 3794, ART 3795, ART 3796, ART 3797, ART 3798, ART 4800, ART 4801, ART 4824, ART 4851, ART 4884, ART 4891, ART 4893, ART 4896 *1 s.h., need to take a total of 6 s.h. from this category. | ||
| Choose five 3700 or higher Studio Art Electives from the following courses: | ||
| Art History and Theory (12 s.h.): | ||
| ART 1541 | Survey of Art History 1 | 3 |
| ART 1544 | Survey of Art History: Body, Gender, and Self | 3 |
| Choose two additional 3700 or higher Art History courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Professional Artist Preparedness (5 s.h.): | ||
| ART 3701 | Professional Preparedness / Artist Business Practices | 3 |
| ART 3702C | Community Engagement Internship | 2 |
| or ART 4884 | Museum Internship | |
| or ART 4887 | Studio Art Internship | |
| Required Minor (12-18 s.h.): *if pursuing Social Media or Business minor, one course will be fulfilled within the gen ed requirements. | 12-15 | |
| Choose one Minor from the following options: | ||
Minor in Business for Non-Business Majors (18 s.h.)* | ||
Minor in Entrepreneurship (15 s.h.) | ||
Minor in Marketing (12 s.h.) | ||
Minor in Non-Profit Leadership (14-15 s.h.) | ||
Minor in Social Media (18 s.h.)* | ||
| Electives to meet 120 hours (if needed) | 3-0 | |
Total Semester Hours | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| ART 1501 or ART 1502 | Fundamentals of 2D Design or Fundamentals of 3D Design | 3 |
| ART 1521 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| Any Gen Ed Math | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 1502 or ART 1501 | Fundamentals of 3D Design or Fundamentals of 2D Design | 3 |
| ART 1503 | Freshman Seminar and Portfolio Review | 1 |
| ART 2650 | Introduction to Painting 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 1551A | Writing 2 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 2674 | Introduction to Photography 1 | 3 |
| ART 2625 or ART 2626 | Introduction to Printmaking: Intaglio and Relief 1 or Introduction to Printmaking: Lithography and Screenprinting | 3 |
| ART 15XX/26XX/37XX/48XX Studio Art Elective | 3 | |
| ART 1541 or ART 1542 | Survey of Art History 1 or Global Art since 1400 | 3 |
| Minor Course 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 3722 | Interdisciplinary Art Practice | 3 |
| ART 2691 | Introduction to Digital Media 1 | 3 |
| ART 15XX/26XX/37XX/48XX Studio Art Elective | 3 | |
| ART 1542 or ART 1541 | Global Art since 1400 or Survey of Art History 1 | 3 |
| Minor Course 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 3701 | Professional Preparedness / Artist Business Practices | 3 |
| ART 2611 or ART 2631 | Introduction to Sculpture 1 or Introduction to Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 3700 level or higher Art History Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science + Lab | 4 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science *If pursuing Social Media minor you must take CMST 2600 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 3703 | Junior Portfolio Review | 1 |
| ART 3700 level or higher Studio Art Elective | 3 | |
| ART 3700 level or higher Art History Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| ART 3702C or ART 4884 or 4887 | Community Engagement Internship or Museum Internship or | 2 |
| Minor Course 3 | 3 | |
| Request a Graduation Evaluation from the CCAC Advising Office, 2310 Bliss Hall, (330) 941-3625 after you have completed 80-85 sh. | ||
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| ART 4803 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| ART 3700 level or higher Studio Art Elective | 3 | |
| ART 3700 level or higher Studio Art Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science | 3 | |
| Minor Course 4 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 4802 | Senior Project | 3 |
| ART 3700 level or higher Studio Art Elective | 3 | |
| ART 3700 level or higher Art History Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed *If pursuing Business minor you must take ECON 1505 | 3 | |
| Minor Course 5 or electives to meet 120 s.h. | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
Choice of Introductory Courses should be based on primary studio interests as they will be prerequisites for upper level study.
Learning Outcomes
1) Students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency of art vocabulary.
2) Students will be able to demonstrate technical expertise appropriate to their
progression in the program as it is relevant to their chosen artistic medium.
3) Students will be able to demonstrate a high level of content expression appropriate to
their progression in the program as it is relevant to their chosen artistic medium.
Faculty
Joy Christiansen Erb, M.F.A.
Chair and Professor
Bliss Hall 4001A
330.941.1397
jchristiansenerb@ysu.edu
Dragana Crnjak, M.F.A.
Professor
Bliss Hall 0016
330.941.1860
dcrnjak@ysu.edu
Joseph D'Uva, M.F.A.
Professor
Bliss Hall 4071
330.941.2540
jduva@ysu.ed
Dana Sperry, M.F.A.
Professor
Bliss Hall 4081
330.941.3627
jdsperry@ysu.edu