Banner Code: AR-BFA-AVT

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Mason Core

Foundation Requirements
Oral Communication3
Quantitative Reasoning3
Information Technology 13
ENGH 101Composition (Mason Core) 23
ENGH 302Advanced Composition (Mason Core) 23
Core Requirements
Literature3
Arts 33
Natural Science 47
Global History3
Global Understanding 53
Social and Behavioral Sciences3
Total Credits37
1

Studio Arts concentration students must take either AVT 180 or AVT 110 for this requirement. All Graphic Design concentration students must take AVT 110 for this requirement.

2

Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGH 100 for ENGH 101. Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGH 100 or ENGH 101, as well as in ENGH 302, to fulfill degree requirements.

3

AVT majors may not choose AVT courses to meet this requirement, and they may not double-count ARTH courses toward both the AVT major and the Mason Core arts requirement.

4

Including at least one laboratory science.

5

AVT majors may not double-count ARTH courses toward both AVT major requirements and the Mason Core global understanding requirement.

AVT Major Requirements

Studio Foundation
AVT 104Two-Dimensional Design and Color (Mason Core)3
AVT 105Three-Dimensional Design and Beyond (Mason Core)3
AVT 110Digital Design Studio (Mason Core) 13
or AVT 180 New Media in the Creative Arts (Mason Core)
AVT 222Drawing I (Mason Core)3
Foundation Electives
Select three courses from the following:9
Typography (Mason Core)
Introduction to Web Design
Painting I (Mason Core)
Printmaking I (Mason Core)
Darkroom Photography I (Mason Core)
Digital Photography I (Mason Core)
Sculpture I (Mason Core)
Introduction to New Media Arts
Interdisciplinary Arts (Mason Core)
Special Topics
Art History
ARTH 374Art Now3
Select one from the following:3
History of Graphic Design 2
Experiential Design History
Any ARTH 200-400 level course
Critical Analysis & Contemporary Practice
AVT 307Aesthetics3
AVT 395Writing for Artists 33
or AVT 396 Writing for Designers
AVT 472Critical Theory in the Visual Arts 43
or AVT 408 Visual Communication Theories
Select one from the following:3
Visual Thinking
Creative Processes
Art as Social Action
Entrepreneurship in the Arts
Visual Perception and the Arts
Hip Hop Culture
Sound Art I
Thinking Through Animation
Advanced Aesthetics
Visual Communication Theories
Introduction to Art Teaching and Learning
Studio Core & Research Practicum
AVT 101New Majors Colloquium3
AVT 202Sophomore Core3
AVT 303Junior Core3
AVT 404Senior ProSeminar2
Professional Practices
AVT 413Professional Design Practices 53
or AVT 453 Professional Practices (Mason Core)
Synthesis
AVT 497Senior Project (Mason Core) 63
or AVT 498 Senior Design Project (Mason Core)
Total Credits56
1

Graphic Design concentration students must take AVT 110.

2

Graphic Design concentration students must take either AVT 318 or AVT 410 to fulfill this requirement.

3

Graphic Design concentration students must take AVT 396 to fulfill this requirement. 

4

Studio Arts concentration students must take AVT 472 for this requirement. Graphic Design concentration students must take AVT 408 for this requirement.

5

Graphic Design concentration students must complete AVT 413.

6

Graphic Design concentration students must take AVT 498 to fulfill the Synthesis requirement.

 
 
 
 

Concentrations

Select one concentration and complete the requirements therein:

Graphic Design (GD)

All AVT BFA majors concentrating in graphic design must complete AVT 215 Typography (Mason Core)AVT 217 Introduction to Web Design and AVT 252 Darkroom Photography I (Mason Core) or AVT 253 Digital Photography I (Mason Core) under Foundation Electives (above).

AVT 311Graphic Design Methods and Principles3
AVT 313Editorial Design3
AVT 414Brand Identity Design3
Select 15 credits from the following: 115
Mobile App Design
Illustration
Comics
Book Arts: Books Enclosures
Digital Printmaking
Photobook: Concepts Form
User Experience Design
Motion Design
Advanced Typography
Web Design and Usability
Advertising Design
Package Design
Topics in Graphic Design
Advanced Web Design
Introduction to Design Thinking
Or other courses as approved by graphic design director.
Total Credits24
1

AVT 393, AVT 489,  AVT 491, and AVT 496 may be taken with permission of the graphic design director.

Studio Arts (SA)

300-400 level AVT studio courses24
Or other courses as approved by director.
Total Credits24

General Electives

Select 3 credits from General Electives3
Total Credits3

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Visual Technology Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan below is a recommended sequencing of courses based on prerequisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor and with PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.

Graphic Design Concentration

First Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 1013AVT 1053
AVT 2223Mason Core Quantitative Reasoning3
AVT 1043AVT 2153
ENGH 1013AVT 2533
AVT 110 or 1803Mason Core Literature3
 
 15 15
Second Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 2023ENGH 3023
AVT 2173AVT 3133
AVT 3113AVT 3073
AVT 318 or 4103Mason Core Natural Science with Lab4
Mason Core Natural Science Non-Lab3AVT GD 3xx/4xx Studio3
 15 16
Third Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 3033Mason Core Oral Communication3
AVT 3963AVT GD 3xx/4xx Studio3
ARTH 3743AVT GD 3xx/4xx Studio3
AVT 4143AVT 370 or 4083
AVT GD 3xx/4xx Studio3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 4042AVT 4133
Mason Core Social & Behavioral Science3AVT 4983
AVT GD 3xx/4xx Studio3AVT 4723
Mason Core Western Civ/World History3Mason Core Global Understanding3
General Elective3Mason Core Arts3
 14 15
Total Credits 120

Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/current-student/majors-at-mason/.

Studio Art Concentration

First Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 1013Mason Core Literature3
AVT 2223Mason Core Quantitative Reasoning3
AVT 1043AVT 1053
AVT 110 or 1803Foundation Elective3
ENGH 1013Foundation Elective3
 15 15
Second Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 2023ENGH 3023
Foundation Elective3AVT 3073
ARTH 2xx / 3xx / 4xx3Mason Core Natural Science with Lab4
Mason Core Natural Science Non-Lab3AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3
AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3
 15 16
Third Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 3033Mason Core Oral Communication3
AVT 3953AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3
ARTH 3743AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3
AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3AVT 370, 371, 372, 374, 380, 407, 408, or 5953
AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall SemesterCreditsSpring SemesterCredits
AVT 4042AVT 4533
General Elective3AVT 4973
Mason Core Social & Behavioral Science3AVT 4723
AVT 3xx/4xx Studio3Mason Core Global Understanding3
Mason Core Western Civ/World History3Mason Core Arts3
 14 15
Total Credits 120

Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/current-student/majors-at-mason/

Art and Visual Technology, BFA/Art Education, Accelerated MAT

Overview

Academically strong undergraduates in Art may apply to the accelerated Master’s Degree in Art Education.  If accepted, students will be able to earn an Art and Visual Technology, BFA and an Art Education, MAT after satisfactory completion of 150 credits. 

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.  

BAM Pathway Admissions Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Graduate Admission Policies section of this catalog. 

Students are eligible to apply for this accelerated program once they have earned at least 60 undergraduate credits. After successfully completing 75 undergraduate credits, students must use at least 3 and no more than 12 credits of advanced standing courses (see below) to both complete the bachelor’s degree and begin the masters. An additional six credits may be held in reserve for the master’s degree, but cannot be used to complete the bachelors. 

Important information on how to apply for this accelerated master's program can be found in the University’s Accelerated Master’s Application Guide. 

Teacher Endorsement

Students for the MAT (for BFA students) must complete ALL endorsements, as well as the Praxis Core Exam. Students must meet Virginia Department of Education's required semester credit hours in the following specific areas:

12 hours of two-dimensional media12
12 hours of three-dimensional media12
9 hours of cultural context and art history, judgment and criticism, aesthetics9
3 hours of related areas of fine arts3
Total Credits36

Students should work closely with their advisor to ensure they complete these course requirements through the BFA in Art and Visual Technology and MAT degrees.

Accelerated Master's Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate students admitted to the accelerated master’s program pathway will be fully admitted into the MAT program if they meet the following requirements, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form

  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.00 
  • Completion of specific undergraduate BFA coursework 
  • Successfully meet Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and complete the application for graduation
  • Minimum grade of B in each advanced standing course
  • Submission of BAM Transition Form to the School of Art advisor at the beginning of student’s final undergraduate semester . Full details can be found at AP.6.7.3.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students in the Accelerated Pathway must choose from the following Advanced Standing courses which can be taken as Advanced Standing or Reserve Graduate credit.  A minimum grade of B is required.

Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits with a minimum grade of B in each)
AVT 595Introduction to Art Teaching and Learning3
AVT 605Issues and Research in Art Education3
AVT 667Two-Dimensional Art Making and Differentiated Instruction3
AVT 668Three-Dimensional Art Making Across Cultures3

Reserve Graduate Credit

Students may take up to 6 additional graduate credits as reserve graduate credit. These credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree. The ability to take courses for reserve graduate credit is available to all high-achieving undergraduates with permission of the School of Art. Permission to take a graduate course for reserve graduate credit is normally granted only to Mason seniors within 15 credit hours of graduation and must be approved by the Dean's Office.

To apply these credits to the master's degree, students must request that the credits be moved from the undergraduate degree to the graduate degree using the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form.

EDRD 501Literacy in Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education3
EDUC 511Child and Adolescent Development in Global Contexts3

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. 

Art and Visual Technology, BFA/Arts Management, Accelerated MA

Overview

Academically strong undergraduates in Art may apply to the accelerated Master’s Degree in Arts Management.  If accepted, students will be able to earn an Art and Visual Technology, BFA and an Arts Management, MA after satisfactory completion of 150 credits. 

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Graduate Admission Policies section of this catalog.

Students are eligible to apply for this accelerated program once they have earned at least 60 undergraduate credits. After successfully completing 75 undergraduate credits, students must use at least 3 and no more than 12 credits of advanced standing courses (see below) to both complete the bachelor’s degree and begin the masters. An additional six credits may be held in reserve for the master’s degree, but cannot be used to complete the bachelors. 

Important information on how to apply for this accelerated master's program can be found in the University’s Accelerated Master’s Application Guide.  

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students admitted to the accelerated master’s program pathway will be fully admitted into the MA program if they meet the following requirements, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form

  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.00 
  • Completion of specific undergraduate coursework 
  • Successfully meet Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and complete the application for graduation
  • Minimum grade of B in each advanced standing course
  • Submission of BAM Transition Form to the School of Art advisor at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester . Full details can be found at AP.6.7.3

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students in the Accelerated Pathway must choose from the following Advanced Standing courses, which can be taken as Advanced Standing or Reserve Graduate credit courses. Reserve Graduate credit course options cannot be taken as Advanced Standing.  A minimum grade of B is required.

Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits with a minimum grade of B in each)
AMGT 601Fund Raising/Development I3
AMGT 602Seminar in Arts Management3
AMGT 604Public Relations and Marketing Strategies for the Arts I3
AMGT 605Finance and Budgeting for Arts I3
Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program
AMGT 603The Arts in Society 13
AMGT 606Governance and Financial Management 23
1

Prerequisite: AMGT 602 Seminar in Arts Management

2

Prerequisite: AMGT 605 Finance and Budgeting for Arts I

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees.