Bachelor of Fine Arts Handbook Academic Year 2021 - 2023 Table of Contents Welcome Message 1 Introduction 2 Accreditation & Distance Education 2 Diné College Fine Arts Mission 2 Bachelor of Fine Arts Mission 2 Diné Educational Paradigm 3 Diné College Four Pillars 3 Bachelor of Fine Arts, at a Glance 3 Creative Writing 3 Digital Photography 4 Graphic Design 4-5 Navajo Silversmithing 5 Navajo Weaving 5 Traditional Painting 5-6 BFA Visual Arts Emphases (Painting, Graphic Design, & Photgraphy) 7 BFA Creative Writing 8 BFA Navajo Silversmithing and Navajo Weaving 8 Art Endorsement and Minors, at a Glance 9 Photos from Fall & Spring Art Walk 10 Admission 11 Transfer Credits 11 Tuition 12 Financial Aid 12 Transfer Students 12-13 International Students 13 BFA Degree Program Advising 14 Restricted Fine Arts Endowment 14 Scholarship Opportunities 15 Diné College Student Art Exhibition 16 Fine Arts Classroom Facilities 16 Margaret Goeken Annex Gallery 16 Diné College Library 16 Career Opportunities with Bachelor of Fine Arts 16-17 Successful Navajo Artisans & BFA Alumni 17-18 Partnerships & Grants 19 Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Checklist - Creative Writing 20 Bachelor of FIne Arts Degree Checklist - Digital Photography 21 Bachelor of FIne Arts Degree Checklist - Graphic Design 22 Bachelor of FIne Arts Degree Checklist - Navajo Silversmithing 23 Bachelor of FIne Arts Degree Checklist - Navajo Weaving 24 Bachelor of FIne Arts Degree Checklist - Traditional Painting 25 Certificate Checklist - Art Endorsement 26 BFA Faculty, Full-time 27 BFA Adjunct Faculty 28 Website Information 28 Welcome Message Bachelor of Fine Art Candidates, We welcome you to Diné College and into the Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) degree program. Here’s some need to know information about the program: • The BFA program was approved and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in October 2017. • Since May 2020, the online BFA program was accredited providing students an opportuni- ty to earn a degree from anywhere globally. • The BFA is a four-year program designed for students who have a passion for and want to make the Fine Arts a career choice. • The core ideals for the BFA program is the Diné Philosophy of Learning or Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon. The Diné Philosophy of Learning is embedded in the BFA curriculum. This is what makes our BFA unique from other institutions. • There are six emphasis programs to choose from (double-majoring is allowed, along with adding the Art Endorsement to existing BFA major): Creative Writing, DIgital Photography, Graphic Design, Navajo Silversmithing, Navajo Weaving, and Traditional Painting. • We have an exemplary group of Art and Creative Writing Faculty that teach for the BFA program. All Art and Creative Writing Faculty have extensive teaching and real art-world experience. • The BFA department has a Restricted Fine Arts Endowment Scholarship available to BFA majors, along with the Buddy Whitethorne Scholarship and LaFrenda Frank Memorial Scholarship for applicable BFA majors. There are many career and higher educational opportunities associated with a BFA degree. Some examples are teaching at K-12 or college level, pathways to an MFA program, and beoming a professional artisan. The opportunities are vast. It depends on you, the potential graduate, on how you take your BFA degree and shape it to fit your career choice. A degree is only good in how an individual decides to apply it and shape his/her career. Again, thank you choosing us in your academic & artistic endeavors. Sincerely, BFA & CW Faculty BFA Program Coordinator NCAP Coordinator 1 Introduction The Bachelor of Fine Art degree program at Diné College is a four-year art degree encompassing a various art emphasis for students who want to pursue the arts within the Navajo Nation. Students can attain a degree in the following emphasis areas: Creative Writing, Digital Photography, Graphic Design, Navajo Silversmithing, Navajo Weaving, and Traditional Painting. Students can also choose to attain an Art Endorsement with the degree. Students will also be able to minor in Art History and Theater in the future. By offering a rich curriculum on the reservation, students can pursue their passion surrounded by Diné culture, language, and environment. Accreditation & Distance Education: The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program was approved by Higher Learning Commission, North Central Accreditation, in October 2017. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program was approved by Higher Learning Commission, North Central Accreditation as a distance education degree program offering. Students can seek a BFA degree from Diné College from anywhere globally. The Higher Learning Commission approved Distance Education at Diné College in May 2020. Distance Education offers an alternative to traditional classroom instruction. Courses offered through Diné College Distance Education provide a complete educational experience comparable to the traditional classroom. Diné College recognizes the expansive demographic and varied educational needs of the Navajo Nation and realizes that in order to further the Diné College goal of providing higher education to all who seek it, Diné College must provide learning opportunities that are accessible beyond the physical campus and outside the regular scheduling of the traditional classroom. With distance education, work, home and personal responsibilities, rural settings, and distances need no longer be barriers to education. Diné College Fine Arts Mission: • The Diné College Fine Art program values, promotes, and supports the Navajo Nation visual arts tradition. • The Diné College Fine Art program mission is to provide students with an exemplary, and excellent educational program in the creation of art and design. • The Diné College Fine Art program encourages creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity while preparing students to contribute to the well-being of Diné society as artists and productive citizens. 2 Bachelor of Fine Art Degree Program Mission: The mission of the Diné College Bachelor of Fine Art Degree Program is to advance quality education in the Fine Arts rooted in the Diné culture. Alignment with the Diné Educational Paradigm (DEP) The BFA degree program is dedicated to embedding core values of the Diné culture into its program. Specifically the curriculum is shaped by Navajo thought or Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon (referred to as SNBH) in which the arts and language are integral to an individual’s striving to live a long and harmonious life. SNBH as a cultural paradigm allows BFA students to think and analyze critically and effectively. In addition, the paradigm emphasizes self-study and reflection on completed work. • Nitsáhákees -- Thinking: The Bachelor of Fine Art degree program encourages students to utilize critical and creative thinking in the creation and study of art. • Nahat’á -- Planning: The Bachelor of Fine Art degree program encourages students to utilize problem- solving skills in relation to art making. • Iiná -- Doing: The Bachelor of Fine Art degree program encourages students to develop self-discipline and independence in the learning process, commonly referred to as T’aa Hwo Aji T’eego. • Siihasin -- Reflecting: The Bachelor of Fine Art degree program encourages students to demonstrate reflection through artwork critique, community building, and the study of art history. Four Pillars of Learning • Tradition: To ensure the well-being of the Diné People, a graduate of Diné College will incorporate Navajo ways of life and thinking as a successful global citizen. • Leadership: To ensure the well-being of the Diné People, a graduate of Diné College will lead with integrity, confidence, compassion, vision, and resilience. • Knowledge: To ensure the well-being of the Diné People, a graduate of Diné College will display a level of proficiency in their declared field(s) of study and general education that enables them to successfully pursue professional careers or advanced studies and engage in life-long learning. • Skills: To ensure the well-being of the Diné People, a graduate of Diné College will engage in critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make informed decisions. Bachelor of Fine Art programs, at a glance Creative Writing The creative writing emphasis within the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Diné College is an innovative program that offers specialized instruction in the art, practice, and study of creative writing. The coursework for the degree includes courses in three genres: poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Students also participate in a survey of the history and craft of creative writing. At its core are the Diné and Indigenous narratives that inform both teaching and learning. Faculty include acclaimed and award-winning poets and writers The mission of the creative writing emphasis within the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program is to sustain the tradition and role of storytelling through an intense study of the creative writing discipline. The program goals of the creative writing program at Diné College include cultivating self-empowerment, community engagement, and critical curiosity within the student body and program faculty. 3 Students elect to focus in two of the three genres and devote half of their time to workshop courses in those genres. The other half is a customizable path of critical study in and application of the creative writing disciplines. Students can choose from topics courses that focus on areas such as contemporary writing, women’s writing, and Diné storytelling.