Painting and Drawing

The short version

Start with ART 303 Beginning Painting.
We call it Painting and Drawing. The JSU catalog calls it Painting, so search for that.

Painting students train in a wide range of media, from traditional oil to acrylic and mixed media. Early courses build technique. Upper-level courses move toward conceptual and experimental work, independent studio practice, and showing work in the community.

For drawing beyond the foundations, look at ART 344 Drawing Studio, ART 345 Intermediate Drawing Studio, and ART 445 Advanced Drawing and Illustration as studio electives.

Required course flowWhat opens what, from freshman year to the BFA Seminar

Each course below opens the next one. Arrows follow the prerequisites listed in the JSU catalog.

START HERE · FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEARSArt foundations

ART 134 Drawing I
ART 233 Design I
ART 234 Drawing II
ART 240 Design II
ART 111 Survey of Art I and ART 112 Survey of Art II
ART 335 Figure Drawing
ART 341 Digital Literacy for Artists/Designers or ART 302 Introduction to Graphic Design

OFFERED FALL AND SPRINGART 303 Beginning PaintingPrerequisite: ART 134 Drawing I and ART 233 Design I.

FALL OF SOPHOMORE YEARART 298 Portfolio ReviewZero credit hours, pass/fail, offered each fall. Take it once you have finished Drawing I and II (ART 134, 234), Design I and II (ART 233, 240), and ART 111 or 112, and while you’re taking or have finished ART 303. Passing it gets you into the BFA program and is required before any 400-level studio.

OFFERED SPRINGART 403 Painting IIPrerequisite: ART 234, ART 240, and ART 303.

AFTER ART 303ART 305 Special Topics in PaintingPrerequisite: ART 303 and/or permission of instructor.

OFFERED FALLART 404 Painting IIIPrerequisite: ART 403 Painting II.

ART 405 Advanced Painting IVPrerequisite: ART 404 Painting III.

ART 490 Advanced Independent StudyPrerequisite: completion of studio emphasis and permission of department head and instructor.

SENIOR YEARART 488 BFA SeminarRequires acceptance into the BFA program and senior standing. Includes portfolio presentation, the BFA exhibition, and a senior paper.

All six painting courses are required. There are no concentration electives.

The rest of the majorArt history, studio electives and the hours breakdown

Requirement	Hours
Art foundation core courses	24
Painting concentration	18
Upper division art history: three courses from the approved list	9
Upper division studio electives: nine courses in at least two other studio areas	27
ART 488 BFA Seminar	3
Major total	81
Jax MIX general education	41
Degree total	122

Getting into the BFA program

Pass Portfolio Review in the fall of your sophomore year, with at least a 2.50 GPA overall and a 3.00 in the major. You also need a C or better in every major course. Foundations covers what to take first.

Source: JSU Catalog 2026-2027, Painting (Bachelor of Fine Arts). Meet with your advisor every semester, and check the catalog year that applies to you.