Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Jewelry & Metal Arts
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
BA
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,682 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,301 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
About: The School of Jewelry & Metal Arts BFA at Academy of Art University teaches metal design principles and studio practice. The curriculum covers sketching, color theory, soldering, stone-setting, welding, casting, mixed-media, enameling and digital techniques including CAD and 3D modeling. The career-centered programme pairs hands-on fabrication, award-winning faculty, and real-world projects.
Career Outcomes: Graduates move into roles such as CAD Jewelry Designer, Casting Specialist, Technical Designer, Studio Jeweler / Gallery Artist, Gallery or Museum Curator, and Jewelry & Metal Arts Instructor; they work in design studios, manufacturing, galleries, museums, education, bespoke jewelry businesses and freelance entrepreneurial ventures globally today.
The School of Jewelry & Metal Arts BFA program exposes students to an array of metal design principles and techniques. Curriculum covers sketching, color theory, soldering, stone-setting, welding, casting, mixed-media, enameling, digital techniques, and more.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Visual Communication
- Effectively execute design concepts
- Demonstrate evidence of trialing and self-editing designs, as evidenced in sketchbook/journal
- Demonstrate facility and flexibility in fine art foundations and media-specific skills
Conceptual Development and Critical Analysis
- Explore and articulate concepts, creative possibilities, and appropriate solutions within a given topic or subject
- Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the concept, execution, and refinement of a given project
Presentation Skills
- Clearly express ideas verbally, visually, and in writing
- Display work to professional presentation standards
- Demonstrate craftsmanship and attention to detail
Professional Readiness
- Manage workload to meet deadlines
- Create a coherent, original portfolio and collateral materials, including website, postcards, and business cards, demonstrating personal vision and achievement of technical proficiency in the chosen medium
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help you pursue jewelry careers. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your future jewelry careers. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring professionals with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the industry.
CAD Jewelry Designer
Create jewelry designs using software for 3D modeling and printing. Realize designs using printed wax and plastic models, CNC machines, milling, and laser cutting for use with modern jewelry production techniques. Work side by side with production teams to ensure manufacturing consistency in this dynamic career path.
Casting Specialist
Work with a variety of clients during the design, prototype, and final production stages. Utilize your expertise to provide solutions for intricate designs and challenging concepts. Stay updated on the newest metal alloys and technologies to ensure the best possible metal castings.
Gallery/Museum Curator
Apply your knowledge of the jewelry profession to curate exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions in a gallery or boutique-style space. Inspire and educate the general public about the jewelry and artwork you represent. Introduce collectors and connoisseurs to new and emerging artists from around the world.
Jewelry & Metal Arts Instructor
Teach students to apply traditional hand techniques and modern technology in the production of jewelry and metal arts while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Instruct the next generation of artists and designers in the latest fabrication methods, materials, and aesthetics used by leading jewelers and metalsmiths. Provide a historical context for the student's artistic exploration and practice.
Studio Jeweler/Gallery Artist
Focus on developing a conceptual and technically sound body of work for collectors and exhibitions within a museum or gallery setting. Explore historical, political, or personal narratives while creating one-of-a-kind and limited edition works in your studio. Engage in a dialog with viewers and collectors about the many techniques incorporated into your pieces and the underlying themes represented.
Technical Designer
As a technical jewelry designer, you are a part of the design team creating drawings and digital files for use in production. Plan, iterate, and create maquettes for rapid prototyping in this exciting career path.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 42 |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 45 |
| Elective | 9 |
| Core | 36 |
| Total | 132 |
Degree Requirements
- A minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Curriculum
Semester 1
- FND 113: Sketching for Communication (Core)
- JEM 108: Wax Carving and Introduction to Casting (Core)
- JEM 110: Jewelry & Metal Arts 1 (Core)
- LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience (Liberal Arts)
Semester 2
- FSH 161: Digital Techniques for the Fashion Business (Major)
- IND 138: Model Making 1 (Major)
- JEM 155: Jewelry & Fashion (Core)
- JEM 224: Exploring Textile Techniques in Metal (Core)
Recommended for summer - LA 108: Composition for the Artist (Liberal Arts)
- LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer
Semester 3
- JEM 210: Jewelry & Metal Arts 2 (Core)
- JEM 249: Modular Casting for Jewelry and Sculpture (Core)
- JEM 275: Welding and Smithing (Major)
- LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century (Liberal Arts)
- LA 291: Designing Careers (Liberal Arts)
Semester 4
- JEM 233: Digital Design: Laser Cutting and Milling (Core)
- JEM 238: Papermaking/Mixed Media (Elective)
- JEM 240: Enameling 1 (Core)
- JEM 344: Moving Metal 1 (Core)
- LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 245: History of Jewelry and Metal Arts from Around the World (Liberal Arts)
- PH 103: Digital Photography for Artists (Major)
Recommended for summer
Semester 5
- JEM 235: Kinetics and Mechanics (Major)
- JEM 243: Introduction to 3D Printing and Modeling (Major)
- JEM 310: Innovations in Materials and Processes (Major)
- LA 110: Writing the Short Story (Liberal Arts)
- LA 222: 20th Century Art (Liberal Arts)
Semester 6
- FASCU 231: Ceramics: Expressions in Clay (Major)
Recommended for summer - JEM 239: Introduction to Contemporary Jewelry Rendering (Core)
- JEM 255: Electronics and the Wearable Form (Major)
Recommended for summer - JEM 320: The Jeweler's Lathe: Technique and Application (Major)
- JEM 333: Advanced 3D Modeling and Printing (Elective)
- LA 124: Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion (Liberal Arts)
- LA 292: Programming & Culture (Liberal Arts)
Semester 7
- JEM 420: Advanced Techniques: Metalworking (Major)
- JEM 422: Advanced Stone Setting (Major)
- LA 171: Western Civilization (Liberal Arts)
- LA 464: Dada & Surrealism (Liberal Arts)
Semester 8
- JEM 238: Papermaking/Mixed Media (Elective)
Recommended for summer - JEM 340: Enameling 2 (Major)
- JEM 450: Jewelry & Metal Arts Portfolio (Core)
- JEM 500: Internship in Jewelry & Metal Arts (Major)
- LA 128: The Body As Art: History of Tattoo & Body Decoration (Liberal Arts)
- LA 410: E-Commerce (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer