Dual Bachelor's Degree: BA and BFA Combined Program
**Oberlin College's BA/BFA Integrated Arts Dual Degree Program: A Comprehensive Approach to Artistic Education**
Oberlin College, a renowned institution known for its commitment to artistic excellence, has introduced an innovative BA/BFA Integrated Arts dual degree program. This unique offering allows students to combine a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in over 45 majors from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Integrated Arts.
The program encourages students to study various arts fields, such as animation, photography, drawing, creative writing, cinema and media, dance, musical studies, studio art, and theater. By offering such a diverse range of disciplines, students can tailor their art practice to their individual interests while ensuring a well-rounded education.
At the heart of the program is a dual major structure, allowing students to earn both degrees concurrently. This means that while they are immersed in traditional academic coursework in their chosen BA major, they also engage in intensive study in Integrated Arts for the BFA.
The program's integrated curriculum extends over five years, with the first four years spent on campus and the fifth year dedicated to professional development in a real-world artistic environment. This extended timeframe provides students with a deeper engagement and applied practice in the arts, while maintaining academic breadth.
The Integrated Arts BFA encourages students to blend multiple disciplines and media in their art practice. This interdisciplinary focus is enhanced by the rigorous intellectual and critical thinking skills developed through the BA coursework.
In the fifth year, students live and work at Park Arts in Cleveland, Ohio. This immersive experience offers 24-hour access to private studios, rehearsal spaces, theaters, and production facilities, providing a launch pad for students' careers in the arts.
Oberlin's BA/BFA Integrated Arts program is designed to produce artists who can adapt to the changing demands of the 21st century. It aims to prepare students for "thinking artists" roles in visual culture, emphasizing the need for versatility and well-roundedness in today's artists.
In essence, Oberlin's BA/BFA Integrated Arts program integrates a personalized, interdisciplinary arts education within a broad liberal arts context, balancing professional artistic training with a wide-ranging, well-rounded academic foundation. This approach equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the dynamic world of the arts.
Students in the Oberlin College BA/BFA Integrated Arts dual degree program can incorporate their passion for education-and-self-development into their lifestyle by combining a Bachelor of Arts major in various fields with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Arts. The diverse range of disciplines in this program encourages a personalized and comprehensive approach to lifestyle, fostering a well-rounded education and versatility.
