Hi, I am Prof. Eric Hongisto, Program Director for the Fine Arts major in the Department of Art + Architecture. I am here to help you select the courses you should register for.

A student typically registers for 16-18 credits per semester.  Four, 4 credit courses and perhaps 1 or 2 credits of extracurricular activities.
The first class you should take is either Survey of Western Art History I or II. This year-long art history survey course is a prerequisite for many courses in your major.  
Most students take Art History I before Art History II, but this is not required.   Art History I is offered in the fall and Art History II in the spring.  Survey of Western Art History 1 fulfills the Core F, Visual and Performing Arts requirement.

You should also register for Art Fundamentals and Drawing I.

Both of these classes are the beginning studio courses in the major and are needed as the pre-requisites for all the mid-level and upper-level courses in the program.  Both of these classes are offered in fall and spring.
For your next course, you should register for a Composition course. Developing good writing and speaking skills is essential to your success in the classes you will take at USF.  You should know which class to register for. If you do not, please review the chapter on Rhetoric and Composition.

If you not able to register for either Survey of Western Art History, Drawing 1 or Art Fundamentals because of time restrictions or if the courses are full, there are several other options. Here are some suggestions:

A first-year seminar or a transfer year seminar.  These seminars serve as a great introduction to the academic environment at USF and will fulfill a Core requirement. 

A foreign language.  As a Fine Arts major, you are required to take three semesters of a foreign language. I recommend that you start early to complete this requirement.  

You can enroll in Public Speaking which is an important course to take early in your college career.  This course fulfills your Core A1 requirement.  

Or, you can choose another core course such as History, Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies, or Ethics. 

Once you have selected your classes, your schedule should resemble something like this.

ART 120 Art Fundamentals
ART 101/102 Survey of Western Art 
History 1 or 2
ART 130 Drawing I
Core or Rhetoric and Composition* course


ART 120 Art Fundamentals
ART 101/102 Survey of Western Art 
History 1 or 2
Core or Rhetoric and Composition* course
Language course* or CORE course
*depending on your placement tests

If you are a transfer student, you may have completed some of these courses. It is important for you to review your degree evaluation to determine which courses you need to complete.  
Spend some time navigating the Schedule of Classes to familiarize yourself with the layout.  Look for courses that you would like to register for, including specific sections. Please note that the Fine Art courses are listed under the subject heading Art. Spend some time doing this to find a schedule that works for you. You should also keep a back up list in case some classes are closed. 

If you need help, please contact us.
art+architecture@usfca.edu
415.422.5685

We look forward to meeting you during Orientation.  During Orientation we will review the major requirements and you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and fellow students.  
Welcome to USF!