Mar 12, 2026  
2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

School of Visual Arts

 

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Special Requirements for the School of Visual Arts

  1. Visual Arts majors must have completed all VIAR courses required in their freshman year (VIAR 101 -VIAR 102 , VIAR 111 -VIAR 112 , VIAR 121 ), MATH 102   or MATH 105  or equivalent, ENGL 101 -ENGL 102  or equivalent. Students will also need to have one of the required sciences courses complete and must have a GPA of 2.0 before registering for 300-level Visual Arts courses.
  2. All VIAR Students must enroll in and complete VIAR 209 . Upon completion of core foundational courses within the Visual Arts degree program, and before completing 60 credit hours, Visual Arts majors are required to complete the School’s online Sophomore Portfolio Review. In this review, students are required to assemble a digital portfolio of works completed during VIAR 101 , VIAR 102 , VIAR 111 , and VIAR 112 . A faculty team evaluates each e-portfolio for craftsmanship, application of skill sets, and design development. Prescriptive actions may be taken with individual students to address weak areas, including mentoring by designated faculty. Students successfully completing the Sophomore Portfolio Review are given credit for the review and a Certificate of Completion.
  3. The Department of Visual Arts embraces and teaches the latest software and hardware technology used in professional settings and in private artistic expression. To maintain these standards, students concentrating in Computer Art and Animation, Graphic Design, New Media and Digital Art, and Photography are required to purchase specific computer hardware relevant to their respective curricula. Graphic Design is the only concentration that specifically requires that only Macintosh laptops be used for the course curriculum. Computer Art and Animation and New Media require PCs, and Photography students may use either PCs or Macintosh laptops for their respective curriculums. Additional software/hardware may be required and will be outlined by each faculty member once a student begins their respective courses in their concentration.

    Due to the rapid advancement of both hardware and software, the School of Visual Art recommends students avoid purchasing anything until a student starts their concentration in the sophomore year. Purchasing any form of technology too soon will render it outdated before a student reaches their chosen concentration. To that end, the school generally recommends its students use campus computers and/or an inexpensive home computer for things such as writing papers or using the internet during the first year-and-a-half of their studies. Students concentrating in Photography will need a laptop in the first semester of their sophomore year. Students concentrating in Computer Art and Animation, Graphic Design, and New Media and Digital Art will need a laptop in the second semester of their sophomore year. At the end of the Fall Semester of their freshman year, students should then inquire with the head of their chosen concentration for specific technology requirements.

  4. Students pursuing a concentration in Graphic Design are required to enroll in VIAR 344 , a selective admissions course and co-requisite to VIAR 345 . To continue in the Graphic Design concentration, a student must earn credit in VIAR 344  and a grade of “C” or better in VIAR 345 .

    The portfolio review assesses a student’s readiness for the demands of upper-level graphic design study. Passing VIAR 345  alone does not guarantee continuation in the program. Students must demonstrate strong conceptual thinking and visual execution to qualify.

  5. The VIAR curriculum has many courses listed as electives. However, various concentrations in that curriculum have specific courses students must complete for these electives. Students should carefully follow their degree audit for their chosen concentration to fulfill graduation requirements and to avoid taking unnecessary courses. Students should work in close consultation with advisor.
  6. To ensure a timely graduation, students should make themselves aware of the required electives for each concentration. With your advisor, plan a schedule for completion and graduation. Students that choose other electives not recommended by their advisor may have consequences for graduating on time.
  7. In addition to the degree requirements of the College, students that transfer from a different institution that have a minimum of 12 semester hours must take an additional 6 semester hours at or above the 300 level in their major at UL Lafayette. Of the total 18 hours, 12 must be in the captsone sequence (VIAR 409  and VIAR 410 ) with accompanying concentration courses. VIAR 409  and VIAR 410  must be taken in consecutive semesters. Permission must be obtained from the professor and the department head to do otherwise.
  8. Transfer students may be required to participate in a portfolio review for course placement and/or for a transfer studio course to be applied toward the degree.
  9. Visual Arts majors are not allowed to pursue a minor in Art History.
  10. Advanced placement credit, to highly qualified high school students who take college-level courses in high school simultaneously with their other high school courses, is available for Art History VIAR 121  and VIAR 122 . Those students that score a 3 will receive 3 credits for VIAR 121. Students that score a 4 or 5 will receive 6 credits for both VIAR 121  and VIAR 122 .
  11. Credit by other means may be requested by highly qualified first-time freshmen who have special competence in visual arts.  A portfolio review is used by faculty to conduct placement in the appropriate foundational design courses. Credit may be awarded for VIAR 101  or an extra studio course may be added to a student’s academic plan.  Please contact the school for details.

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