Because the prescribed degree plan is very open, students are expected to plan their courses very carefully so that they fulfill a personal direction. Because the department supports the idea of personal vision and personal direction, no predetermined concentrations exist.

The requirements for the general fine arts major include core courses at the sophomore, junior, and senior levels, and open electives grouped into two categories. The first category includes seven courses (21 credits) taken in fine arts. The second category of electives is more open, permitting four electives (12 credits) from any studio department.

In the GFA major, students collaborate between disciplines such as drawing and painting, or the combination of video, performance, and text. However, underlying these interdisciplinary opportunities is solid training in traditional skills.