Dan, Mouko The courses offered at SIU are well worth looking into. Courses at Carbondale have been offered for 30 years or so and have had some well known blacksmiths & damascus bladesmiths get their start there. Carbondale was only 55 miles south of where i grew up, if it weren't for a priority disorder ( I.E. full time job and full time girlfriend ) I would have gone fresh out of high school. Oh to be 18 again. Don't let things get in the way of your dreams if you are seriour about this craft! I would guess that the courses at Edwardsville are about the same but research is always a good idea and much easier than it used to be. Sorry I don't know about the fine art degree part of it. You may be able to get more info. from SIU website as well. I am sure I am like many others here that wish they would have gotten started at such a young age. Best of lick to you, it sounds like you have a good goal