BFA

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts is designed to prepare students for technological and conceptual relevance within contemporary digital arts practice. Students are encouraged to push the boundaries of new media, explore emerging technologies and participate in the evolution of digital arts as an interdisciplinary exploration within the field of fine arts. The program balances practical and technical training with an emphasis on fine arts. This degree offers an intensive course of study in new media. Students graduating from this degree will be able to seek careers in motion graphics, prototype design, digital fabrication, digital photography, and digital audiovisual artworks.

First-Time in College Students seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts must submit a portfolio for review. Portfolios are submitted electronically through Slideroom (fiuart.slideroom.com).

Fall 2025 Portfolio Submissions open September 2. The final portfolio deadline is February 25 and the final decisions will be released no later than March 31.

Freshmen Students

FIU Application and BFA Portfolio DeadlinesDecision Date

Deadline 1 – November 1st

December 11th

Deadline 2 – December 3rd

January 22nd

Deadline 3 – February 25th

March 31st

FIU’s Art + Art History Department is a member of the National Portfolio Day Association. Students wishing to learn how to create their best portfolio may find more information Click Here

TRANSFER and Current FIU Students

FIU Application and BFA Portfolio Deadline

(Fall Only)

Decision Date

Deadline 3 – February 25th

March 31st

Transfer applicants and current FIU students applying to change majors submit portfolios to SlideRoom here: fiuart.slideroom.com

Degree Program Hours: 120

FIU Undergraduate Admissions: Apply Online

SlideRoom Portfolio Submissions: fiuart.slideroom.com

Prerequisite info FIU Transfer and Transition Services :Transfer Guides

Degree requirements and courses: DIART:BFA

DigitalartFIUweb

Portfolio Requirements:

SlideRoom Portfolio Submissions: fiuart.slideroom.com

Portfolio submission fee $30 charged by SlideRoom

20 Artworks upload to SlideRoom

  • Images must be .jpg at the highest available quality (must be under 8MB each)
  • Videos: excerpts or preferably complete works (max. 10 minutes total runtime). Videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo can be shared through url link.

  • Audio: excerpts or preferably complete works submitted as .mp3 (max. 10 minutes total runtime). Each individual file should be less than 30 MB. Audio files hosted on SoundCloud can be shared via url link.
  • The following label information must be entered in SlideRoom for each artwork uploaded.
    • Title
    • Dimensions / Duration (video/audio files)
    • Medium
    • Date Produced
    • Additional notes in the “Description” textbox.

Artist’s Statement

Your statement should be approximately 500 words maximum. Write with attention to grammar, spelling, and clarity.

Your statement should tell us about the work you have submitted. Why did you make it and what inspired you? How and with what? Describe your artistic process. Share why you’ve chosen to work using certain materials and processes. Have you participated in exhibitions or other art-related events? How have specific experiences contributed to the way you make art?

Transfer Applicants & Current FIU Students: Upload Unofficial Transcripts

Transfer applicants and current FIU Students are required to upload a copy of their unofficial transcripts. The Department will review the unofficial transcripts to confirm if the degree prerequisites have been completed. Eligibility for consideration to the BFA program is contingent on having the degree prerequisite courses – emphasis on the four foundation courses: ART 1201C, ART 1203C, ART 2300C, and ART 2330C.

New incoming Transfer applicants without these foundation courses, including those who completed the four courses but failed to meet the Academic Standard of 2.75 GPA may be considered ineligible for the BFA.

Portfolios are reviewed by a committee of faculty members. Decision notifications are generally sent out within a month of each deadline closing.

Important Information: Eligibility and Submitting BFA Portfolio

Current FIU Students interested in switching over into one of the BFA degree options must be below 75 credits earned and must have already completed the four foundations course requirements. The four foundations course requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.75 as per the BFA Academic Standards.

  • ART 1201C 2D Design
  • ART 1203C 3D Design
  • ART 2300C Beginning Drawing
  • ART 2330C Beginning Figure Drawing

Academic Standards

To progress into upper-division BFA courses, students must complete the four lower division foundation courses (12 credits) with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or greater in two attempts or fewer.

These courses include:

  • ART 1201C 2D Design
  • ART 1203C 3D Design
  • ART 2300C Beginning Drawing
  • ART 2330C Beginning Figure Drawing

Drops after the add/drop period, which result in a DR grade are considered an attempt in the course and count as an unsuccessful enrollment. Students who do not satisfy this requirement will be advised to change major to other degrees such as BA in Art History or BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Common Prerequisite Courses and Equivalencies

FIU Course(s)Equivalent Course(s)
MAC 1105MACX140 or MACX105
ARH 2050ARHX0504
ARH 2051ARHX0514
ART 1201CARTX201 or ARTXXXX1
ART 1203CARTX202 or ARTX203 or ARTXXXX2
ART 2300CARTX300
ART 2330CARTX301 or ARTX3303
CGS 2518 or COP 2250COPXXXX or CAPXXXX or CGSXXXX
  1. 2D
  2. Design II, 3D
  3. Figure drawing
  4. All courses except ARHX050 and ARHX051 require a “C” or higher.

Courses which form part of the statewide articulation between the State University System and the Florida College System will fulfill the Lower Division Common Prerequisites. Please visit https://cpm.flvc.org for a current list of state-approved common prerequisites.

Lower Division Requirements24 Credits
MAC 1105 College Algebra3
ARH 2050 Art History Survey I3
ARH 2051 Art History Survey II3
ART 1201C 2-D Design3
ART 1203C 3-D Design3
ART 2300C Beginning Drawing3
ART 2330C Beginning Figure Drawing3
CGS 2518 Computer Data Analysis or
COP 2250 Java Programming
 3

Upper Division Requirements60 Credits
ARH 4450 Modern Art*3
ARH 4470 Contemporary Art – GL*3
ARH 4771 History of Digital Art3
ART 2602C Digital Imaging*3
ART 2608C Digital Media Foundation*3
ART 2622C Introduction to Experimental Video Art3
ART 2648C Introduction to Digital Art Lab3
ART 3617C Intermediate Experimental Video3
ART 3638C Video Installation3
ART 3820 Research & Development*3
ART 3822 Creative Practice*3
ART 4636C Advanced Experimental Video Art3
ART 4649C Intermediate Digital Art Lab3
ART 4650C Advanced Digital Art Lab3
ART 4952C Thesis I3
ART 4953C Thesis II3
PGY 2800C Beginning Digital Photography3
 Advisor Approved Electives9

* Indicates courses common across tracks within BFA Digital Arts degree.

FIU is committed to excellence in student success, research and teaching, regardless of the challenges.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Art + Art History

Department of Art + Art History
Florida International University
VH 216, Modesto A. Maidique Campus – Miami, Florida 33199
Tel: (305)-348-2897

Christopher Barake

Christopher Rodriguez Barake
Sr. Coordinator of Academic Support Services
Department of Art + Art History
Office: 305-348-6648 Email: crodri@fiu.edu

Maida Purdy

Maida Purdy
Academic Advisor III
Department of Art + Art History
Office: 305-348-7500 Email: mapurd@fiu.edu

Lauren Gentile

Lauren Gentile
Academic Advisor II
Department of Art + Art History
Office: 305-348-7500 Email: lgentile@fiu.edu

University Graduate School
Modesto A. Maidique Campus, MARC 240
11200 S.W. 8th Street Miami, FL 33199
Phone: (305) 348-2455 | Fax: (305) 348-3433
Email: ugs@fiu.edu Website: https://admissions.fiu.edu/how-to-apply/graduate-applicant/index.html