About the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program promotes Diné culture, creativity, and excellence in the creation of art. The program supports and promotes personal development in the visual, traditional, and literary arts. The DEP (Diné Educational Philosophy) Paradigm of Nitsáhákees (Thinking) Nahat’á (Planning) , Iiná (Living and Achieving), and Siihasin (Evaluation and Competency) is imbedded in the approach to teaching and learning.

The BFA program prepares majors with the necessary knowledge skills, confidence, and values to succeed as independent artists or graduate students within an MFA or educational program. It offers Diné student the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree while residing on the Diné nation.

The program is offered on a full-time basis at the Tsaile Campus. Individuals may apply at any time of the year but are formally considered in spring. The application deadline is June 1. This allows for an admission decision prior to the Navajo Nation Scholarship deadline.

Transfer students from other colleges or university can enroll upon their credits being accepted by Diné College. The BFA degree program is an open door enrollment degree program. The BFA degree program utilizes an art space totaling 3441 square footage; a 2-D classroom for Painting and Drawing totaling 1054 sq. ft., a 3-D classroom for ceramics and sculpture totaling 1333 sq. ft., and 3. A general classroom for 2-D & 3-D design classes totaling 1054 sq. ft. There is a film photography laboratory located in the general classroom. There is one digital Mac lab classroom for Digital Photography classes with state of-art Adobe Creative Cloud design software. The BFA degree program promotes and excellent art curriculum for any student who chooses to pursue the field of art out of a passion to create to enhance their creativity. The BFA degree program has the potential to lead to advance terminal Master of Fine Arts degree at other college and universities, and teaching job opportunities, individual entrepreneurial ventures, cultural preservation and Indian Casino industry.

The Diné College Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program provides students with:

1. An exemplary, excellent educational program in the areas of art and design to prepare them for pursuit in academia.
2. Encouragement in their developing creativity and intellectual curiosity in the fine arts.
3. Prepare students with strong foundational knowledge in the arts so they can contribute to the well-being of the Diné People and their own futures.
4. A platform for creating studio artwork utilizing Diné cultural paradigms or Diné language.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is dedicated to embedding core values of the Diné culture into its program. The BFA focuses its efforts in embedding the DEP in its program and assessment processes; specifically Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon (SNBH). SNBH is a cultural paradigm that allows individuals to effectively think and analyze critically. In addition, the paradigm emphasizes self-study and reflection on completed work.

The following is a process of the Diné Educational Paradigm as it applies to the Fine Arts:

• Nitsahakees: Thinking: The BFA degree program encourages students to utilize critical and creative thinking in creating and studying art.
• Nahata: Planning: The BFA degree program encourages students to utilize planning skills in problem solving as it applies to the visual arts
• Iina: Doing: The BFA degree program encourages students to develop self-discipline and independence in the learning process, also commonly referred to as T’ aa Hwo Aji T’ eego.
• Siihasin: Reflecting: The BFA degree program encourages students to demonstrate reflecting (critiquing) art work and the history of art.