Art Major
Digital Media Arts Major
Art Minor
Digital Media Concentration
Multimedia Authoring Concentration
Endorsement in Visual Arts (PreK-12)
The Department of Art offers introductory and advanced courses in ceramics, design, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, videography and art history. All students, regardless of major, are welcome in art courses, as visual art is for and about everyone.
The art department offers two majors.
First, the traditional art major (studio focus) provides a concentrated hands-on experience that promotes deep learning in art and broad skill development across the college curriculum. Students majoring in art study a range of art media and processes while mastering at least one in depth. Flexibility is a crucial advantage of the art major's compact size, allowing and encouraging students to easily pursue second majors and minors in other disciplines.
Second, the Art Department also offers a major in Digital Media Arts. While introducing the world to the iPad2 in March 2011, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs remarked, “Technology alone is not enough. It is technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities that yields the results that make our hearts sing.” Since the launch of Google (1998), Facebook (2004), Youtube (2005), Twitter (2006), iPhone (2008), and the iPad (2010), the need for experts in creating digital media content has dramatically increased. Today, we live in an age where nearly every type of organization needs employees who are skilled in the art of video production, photography, and web-design. The Digital Media Arts major teaches the theories and skills necessary for many of these types of careers. Students enrolled in this major often consider a second major in areas such as Professional Writing or Communication, Technology and Culture."
The various art department programs support many student interests, including:
Degree Type Offered: B.A. Major
Requires a bachelor of arts degree and consists of a minimum of 36 semester hours distributed as follows.
Note: Students may not double major in Art and Digital Media Arts.
Foundation
Three courses (9 credits):
ART-120 Introduction to Visual Design
Credits: 3 Term Offered: Fall and Spring
A studio project-based introduction to the elements and principles of 2-D and 3-D design in visual art and communication contexts. Emphasis is on visual problem solving, mastery of visual design principles, technical proficiency, and critical analysis of how visual images communicate. This course provides a foundation for students planning to take advanced courses in any art media and other fields in which visual imagery plays an important role. As a stand-alone course Art 120 provides critical and practical skills related to visual communication.
ART-130 Introduction to Drawing
A studio based exploration of drawing from observation using basic materials like graphite and charcoal. This course investigates drawing as a process generating and critically evaluating visual ideas as well as producing visual imagery. Art 130 is a foundation course for students planning to take advanced art courses in any medium. As a stand-alone, this course builds practical and theoretical skills in seeing and making the 2-D images we call drawings. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: fine arts & music
Any digital media course at the 300-level
Art History
ART-200W Survey of Art History (prehistory to 1400)
Credits: 3 Term Offered: Fall Only
An overview of the history of art from the mysterious cave paintings and carvings of the Paleolithic to the towering structures of Gothic cathedrals. This course is a requirement for art majors and minors and is very highly recommended to other students as a visual approach to the study of history and society. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW; ENG 110 FILA general Education: fine arts & music and writing intensive
ART-201 Survey of Art History (1400 to Present)
Credits: 3 Term Offered: Spring Only
An overview of the history of art from the Renaissance to the present. This course is a requirement for art majors and minors and is very highly recommended for other students as a visual approach to the study of history and society. Corequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general Education: fine arts & music
ART-300W Modern & Post-Modern Art
Critical study of the visual arts of the last 100 years with emphasis on understanding the implications of the concepts we know as modernism and postmodernism. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW; ENG 110 FILA general Education: fine arts & music and writing intensive
-or-
ART-301W Perspectives on Contemporary Art
This course is a critical exploration into the views and theories shaping the production of art from the late 20th century into the early 21st century. Starting with an understanding of postmodernism in an art context, this course examines the impacts of globalization, identity, representation and environmental issues as major paradigms shaping contemporary art practice. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW and ENG-110 FILA general education: fine arts & music and writing intensive
Studio Focus
Select four studio courses including at least one 400-level course from the following :
ART-310 Ceramic Sculpture
Studio course working with clay to create sculptural forms using coils, slabs and press molds. Corequisite: ENG-110 FILA general education: fine arts & music
ART-311 Wheel Thrown Ceramics I
Studio introduction to the potter's wheel as a tool in the production of functional and sculptural clay forms. Corequisite: ENG-110 FILA general education: fine arts & music
ART-315 Wood Sculpture
Students conceptualize and create sculptural objects using wood as a primary material while gaining experience using hand and power tools and learning techniques including joining, laminating, fabricating, and carving. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: fine arts and music
ART-316 Metal Sculpture
Credits: 3 Term Offered: May Term
Studio exploration of solving and designing and personal expression in metal fabrication using arc welding, plasma cutting, oxy/acetylene welding and cutting, cold metal work, mechanical fastenings, and MIG welding.
ART-322 Web Design and Development
Design and construct websites using current HTML and CSS standards and digital tools including Brackets, Dreamweaver and Photoshop. Emphasis on design process, content development and professional workflows.
ART-323 Graphic Design
A studio based exploration into visual communication with typography and images using Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Emphasis is placed on the design process and creative thinking. Corequisite: ENG-110 FILA general education: fine arts and music
ART-328 The Book Arts
An interdisciplinary hands-on workshop in creating artist's books-works of art conceived and produced in book form. Book binding techniques and experimental approaches to narrative, materials and form are emphasized.
ART-331 Collage and Assemblage
Learn skills and concepts for collage and assemblage, the re-purposing of 2D and 3D found images and objects into unique works of fine art. This class will examine the history and evolution of collage and assemblage, and its place in the world of fine art, applied arts, and advertising. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW, and ENG-110 FILA general education: fine arts & music
ART-335 Painting
A project based investigation of the materials, practices, and aesthetics of painting with emphasis on how these three elements work together to create compelling 2-D colored images. This course provides practical and theoretical foundations for four hundred-level courses in drawing and painting and for independent work in these media. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: fine arts and music
ART-344 Photography
Learn to skillfully and confidently use digital cameras and software including Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to create compelling photographs. Emphasis is placed on composition, visual communication and creative process in a contemporary photography context. Corequisite: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: fine arts and music
ART-346 Studio Photography
Learn skills and concepts for studio lighting of portraits, objects and environments using continuous lights, strobes, on-camera lighting and special effects such as light painting. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: fine arts and music
ART-347 Videography I
Learn the fundamentals of video production including camera operation and control, stationary and moving camera techniques, audio recording, natural and artificial lighting, framing and shot structure, and use of nonlinear editing software. Students will complete hands-on exercises and assignments designed to build strong visual and technical skills needed to produce effective videos and short films. Corequisites: COMM-100, ENG-110, FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: fine arts and music
ART-411 Wheel Thrown Ceramics II
A continuation of ART 311, building more advanced forms including multiples, large-scale pieces, and sculptural forms. Emphasis is on personal experimentation and expression through aesthetic forms and advanced instruction in materials and surface techniques. Prerequisite: ART-311 or permission of department
ART-415 Advanced Sculpture
An advanced course in which students develop a series of related sculptural forms in a specific medium. The focus is on in-depth exploration of materials, advanced techniques, and the development of individual working processes and creative voices. Knowledge of historical and contemporary sculpture is emphasized. Prerequisite: ART-115
ART-422/DMS-522 Web Design and Development II
A continuation of Art 322 using team-based approaches to web design and development. Emphasis is placed on developing fully responsive websites and designing for interactivity. Prerequisites: ENG-110, COMM-100, and ART-322, or permission of instructor
ART-423/DMS-523 Graphic Design II
Build on skills gained in Art 323 to produce real and realistic design products for print and screen. Emphasis is placed on the production process from information gathering and research to strategy, concept development and completion. Prerequisites: ENG-110, COMM-100, and ART-323, or permission of instructor
ART-430 Advanced Drawing
An advanced-level studio course in drawing, exploring the potential of various drawing media. Emphasis on advanced mastery of drawing and composition skills and on the development of individual interests and concepts conveyed through drawing. Prerequisites: ART-130 or ART-335
ART-435 Advanced Painting
An advanced-level studio course in painting, exploring the technical and conceptual potential media (oil, acrylic, other water-based paints, and mixed media/collage) and color composition. Emphasis on advanced mastery of painting and compositional skills and on the development of individual interests and concepts conveyed through painting. Prerequisites: ART-130 or ART-335
ART-444 Advanced Photography
An advanced level photography course connecting contemporary photography practices with individual student directions. Emphasis is placed on developing advanced visual and technical skills and conceptual approaches, and preparation for thesis level work in photography. Prerequisites: ART-344 or ART-346
ART-448X/DMS-548 Videography II
Use skills gained in Art 347 to produce a short nonfiction video that promotes an idea, for example, a company profile, event promotion, advocacy or fundraising video, or mini-documentary. Topics will include treatments and proposals, planning, research and fact checking, interviewing, shot coverage, editing process, narrative structure and creative approach, and dissemination of the final product. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW, ENG-110, COMM-100, and ART-347 or permission of instructor FILA general education: experiential learning
ART-470 Special Topics
A study of specific topics related to studio art and art history. May be taken more than once provided different topics are covered.
ART-471 Special Topics in Photography
A study of specific topics related to photography including mixed media and alternative process, creating and publishing a photography book, and conservation photography. May be taken more than once provided different topics are covered. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or permission of instructor Corequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW; and ENG-110
ART-490 Independent Study
Credits: 3 Term Offered: All Terms
Upon approval of the department and the division head, a student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.20 or better may engage in an independent study or research project. One desiring to pursue independent study or research must submit a written description of the proposed work to the chair of the appropriate department and to the appropriate division head prior to the last day of the drop and add period for the semester in which the study is to be conducted. At the end of the semester, the supervising professor files with the registrar a grade for the student and a description of the work accomplished. Credit may be received for no more than three independent studies or research projects.
Capstone
Two courses (6 credits):
ART-451 Senior Thesis
A senior capstone course in which students propose and produce a body of original creative work for a senior exhibition. Work is made independently with oversight provided by weekly critique sessions with classmates and the professor. Prerequisite: senior art majors
ART-461 Professional Practices
Practical preparation for professional practice in art and the creative professions. Topics include but are not limited to careers, professional organizations, self-promotion, grants, fellowships and residencies, taxes, and preparing an exhibit. Prerequisite: senior art majors
Requires a bachelor of arts degree and consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours distributed as follows.
Note: Students majoring in Digital Media Arts may not major or minor in Art.
Context
COMM-240 Contemporary Media Industries
Examines how electronic media industries have changed the way we produce and consume media products. The course will examine how the digital age has impacted notions of interactivity, virtual space, media production, networks and credibility. Particular attention will be paid to the social, economic and political implications of these changes.
COMM-410E Communication Law and Ethics in a Digital Age
Analytical survey of ethical and legal issues pertaining to communication professionals, focusing on the new digital media landscape. Issues explored include First Amendments rights, public affairs journalism, copyright, defamation, obscenity, censorship, licensing, corporate and governmental communications, and the Digital Millennium Act. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW and ENG-110 FILA general education: ethical reasoning
PWR-319 Publishing and Marketing
Surveys industry processes, including manuscript acquisition, editing, design, distribution, promotion and sales. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW and ENG-110
Production
Student must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours from the list below. At least one course must be at the 400-level or above.
COMM/MUS-309X/DMS-509 Audio Production
This course provides a hands-on introduction to the world of modern multi-track recording. Students will gain experience with the equipment fundamental to audio engineering and production, including recording consoles, microphones, equalizers, time-based effects and Avid Pro Tools; the industry standard digital audio workstation. Participants will engage in a variety of projects which demonstrate the breadth of activity of an audio engineer. These include creating a podcast and engaging in a series of real world sessions with professional recording artists. Through these sessions, the techniques of recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio will be explored. Prerequisite: COMM-100 FILA general education: experiential learning (Cross-listed as MUS-309X)
CSCI-101 Programming I
Credits: 4 Term Offered: Fall and Spring
This course introduces the fundamentals of programming in a general-purpose object-oriented programming language such as C++ or Java. Topics include data types, data representation, arithmetic and logical expressions, control structures, methods, single and two-dimensional arrays, and file I/O. The course consists of 3 credit hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab per week.
CSCI-230 Web Scripting
This course introduces the JavaScript programming language. Students learn how to use JavaScript to dynamically create and manipulate elements within web pages. Advanced JavaScript utilities such as rest operator, generators, destructuring, object literals, arrow functions, modern classes, and promises are also discussed. Prerequisites: A grade of C or greater in CSCI-100 or a grade of C or greater in CSCI-101
ART-480X Internship
Provides an opportunity for a student to gain field experience in an area related to the student's program of study or career goals. The learning objectives for internships include connecting academic knowledge and problem-solving processes to experiences and problems in professional settings. Supervision of an intern is provided by an appropriate faculty member and by a site supervisor of the agency or business in which the student is an intern. A student who wishes to engage in an internship must consult with the appropriate faculty member at least eight weeks in advance of the start of the term in which the internship is to be completed. A description of the internship, signed by the student and the faculty sponsor, must be filed with the director of internships by the first day of the semester prior to the start of the internship. Approval of each application for an internship is made by the director of internships based upon approved policies and guidelines. Internships are graded on an S or U basis. Students must complete 120 hours of internship-related work as well as weekly journal entries and a final reflective paper completed in accordance with approved requirements. A student may enroll in an internship program for 3 credits per semester, and internship credit may be earned in subsequent semesters subject to the limitations that no more than two internships may be pursued in any one agency or business and a maximum of 9 credits in internships may be applied toward graduation. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW, junior or senior standing, and a minimum 2.0 grade point average FILA general education: experiential learning
Degree Type Offered: Minor
Consists of a minimum of 18 semester hours distributed as follows:
Select one course (3 credits):
Select two courses (6 credits):
Degree Type Offered: Concentration
The Digital Media concentration consists of 12 credit hours and is designed for students in any major wishing to develop broad creative, visual and technical skills in photography, video, web design and graphic design. Introduction to Visual Design, while not a digital course, provides foundation skills in visual design essential to creating effective communication in any visual medium and is strongly recommended as a first course.
Required course (3 credits):
Select three courses (9 credits):
COMM/PWR-255W Introduction to News Writing
Teaches students the basic skills of researching, investigating and writing in a variety of formats. Emphasis on identification of the writing structures used by contemporary media writers and utilization of these structures in original pieces researched and written by the students. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW and ENG-110 FILA general education: writing intensive (Cross-listed as PWR-255W)
COMM/ENG-305 Multimedia Reporting and Writing
Builds on the skills-oriented approach of COMM/PWR-255W by putting theory behind the practice of writing. Through individual and group writing projects, students work toward understanding the increasingly complex definition of news, its blurring line with entertainment, and the dynamic interplay between technologies and audiences. Prerequisite: COMM/PWR-255W or permission of instructor Offered alternate years: 2021-2022 (Cross-listed as PWR-305)
COMM-347 Strategic Public Relations
This course will cover strategic planning and specialized public relations issues. Issues include risks, crisis management, social marketing campaigns, and corporate and non-profit communication. Students will learn and apply advanced public relations theories and skills to case studies and real-life situations. Prerequisites: COMM/PWR-255W and one of the following courses ART-322, ART-323, ART-344, ART-347
Degree Type Offered: Teacher Licensure
Requires the same education course sequence as for secondary licensure. Refer to the Teacher Education Program.
ART-115 Introduction to Sculpture
An introductory exploration of 3-D forms in various materials including wood, clay, plaster, and metals. Emphasis in this course is on developing technical and critical skills in the sculpture studio. This course is designed to provide a foundation for students planning to take advanced sculpture and ceramics courses. Art 115 also functions as a stand-alone introduction to the technical and critical aesthetic fundamentals of sculpture. Corequisite: ENG-110 FILA general Education: fine arts & music
ART-305X Museums and Galleries
A critical study of the visual arts understood through the institutions we call museums and galleries. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: experiential learning
ART-307X Visual Arts of Spain
An introduction to the visual arts and culture of Spain. Emphasis is on both historical and contemporary works of art and architecture, taking into consideration who and what influenced the artists and architects. Students are introduced to Spanish culture through food, music, markets, historical landmarks, and its landscapes and cityscapes. Visits include art and history museums, local markets, castles, cathedrals and other culturally relevant sites. Prerequisites: FILA-150 or FILA-350EW FILA general education: world cultures and experiential learning
ART-309 The Artist's Studio & Society
Critical examination of where, why and how visual artists work. Considers the relationships between artists and the communities in which they live and work.
ART-330 Intermediate Drawing
A studio exploration of drawing practice that builds on the foundations developed in Art 130, Introduction to Drawing. Starting with observational drawing this course will transition to exploring the potential of making drawings that are less dependent on observation. In the final stages of the class students will work on self-defined projects based on personal interests and questions. Prerequisites: ART 130
ART-422 Web Design and Development II
ART-423 Graphic Design II
ART-448X Videography II
ART-491 Research
Upon approval of the department and the division head, a student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.20 or better may engage in an independent study or research project. One desiring to pursue independent study or research must submit a written description of the proposed work to the chair of the appropriate department and to the appropriate division head prior to the last day of the drop and add period for the semester in which the study is to be conducted. At the end of the semester, the supervising professor files with the registrar a grade for the student and a description of the work accomplished. Credit may be received for not more than three independent studies or research projects.
ART-499 Honors Project
An honors project is one in which a student researches a subject, by examination of relevant literature or by experimentation or both; the student reports the results in an accurately documented and well-written paper or appropriate representation of the work. Whenever the study deals with the subject of an established course, the student is expected to go well beyond the usual work of the course in research and in assimilation of the results as revealed in the report. Juniors and seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or above may register for an honors project. One desiring to pursue an honors project must submit a written description of his or her proposed work to the chair of the appropriate department and to the appropriate division head prior to the last day of the drop and add period for the semester in which the study is to be conducted. Upon the completion of the honors project, the student must present an oral defense of his or her project. The final grade must include a satisfactory performance on the oral defense, assessed by a three-faculty member team. The project advisor will authorize the make-up of the oral defense team and will assign the final grade on the project. The honors project title will be noted on the student's transcript. It is the student's responsibility to provide a copy of the written paper or appropriate representation of the work to the library in compliance with specifications approved by the Council on Education. The library director arranges for binding and storage.