Shared Experience Courses

The BFA in Art has a core of shared experience classes that provide a broad, multidisciplinary education and foundation in art and design thinking, making, methods, and tools. Shared Experience courses are spread across students’ four years of study in art and design.

 

In the first year, shared experience provide a broad foundation of art and design terminology, skill, thinking, and making across the array of disciplines in the School. First Year Shared Experience Courses include:

ART 1011 Visual Organization
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Use art and design terminology and vocabulary in written and oral communication.
  • Apply principles of visual organization to finished projects utilizing a variety of visual art media, ranging from traditional to emerging studio technologies.
  • Critically evaluate through the lens of art and design, formulate a unique artistic perspective, and apply their perspective to art and design projects.
  • Create two-, three-, and four-dimensional art and design projects that utilize art and design principles and elements of organization.

ART 1012 Form, Space, and Color
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Use art and design terminology and vocabulary in written and oral communication.
  • Apply color theories and models across media in art and design projects.
  • Apply principles of visual organization to finished projects utilizing a variety of visual art media, ranging from traditional to emerging studio technologies.
  • Critically evaluate through the lens of art and design, formulate a unique artistic perspective, and apply their perspective to art and design projects.
  • Create two-, three-, and four-dimensional art and design projects that unify form, concept, and technique

ART 1013 Process in Art and Design
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Use art and design terminology and vocabulary in written and oral communication.
  • Apply principles of visual organization to finished projects utilizing a variety of visual art media, ranging from traditional to emerging studio technologies.
  • Critically evaluate through the lens of art and design, formulate a unique artistic perspective, and apply their perspective to art and design projects.
  • Create two-, three-, and four-dimensional art and design projects that utilize art and design principles and elements of organization.
  • Create art and design projects that utilize creative processes and strategies, including concept development, planning, sketching, reflection, and revision.

ART 1014 Narrative in Art and Design
At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Use art and design terminology and vocabulary in written and oral communication.
  • Apply principles of visual organization to finished projects utilizing a variety of visual art media, ranging from traditional to emerging studio technologies.
  • Apply color theories and models across media in art and design projects.
  • Critically evaluate through the lens of art and design, formulate a unique artistic perspective, and apply their perspective to art and design projects.
  • Create two-, three-, and four-dimensional art and design projects that utilize linear and non-linear narratives and story storyboarding techniques.

 

After finishing  first year shared experience courses students must take the following courses prior to graduation. Students may repeat each course up to two times, but must take each course at least once.

ART 3005 Translation as Making

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to material and encourages students to achieve a skillful level of craftsmanship in the development and making of both investigative and finished work. An interdisciplinary approach promotes the study and interrelatedness of all creative activity across all design and artistic disciplines. It will challenge students to think critically and creatively by pushing accepted conceptual, formal and technical boundaries in an innovative way.

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Create artifacts (physical, cognitive, verbal, etc) that connect across art and design media and disciplines
  • Explain how human-made objects are perceived within contemporary society, interpret objects’ meanings, and develop new meanings through art and design projects
  • Analyze the process, find values, and organize student’s personal experience in relation to a specific making process.
  • Demonstrate competence with art and design terminology and vocabulary in written and oral communication.
  • Apply principles of visual organization to finished projects utilizing a variety of visual art media, ranging from traditional to emerging studio technologies.
  • Critically evaluate through the lens of art and design, formulate a unique artistic perspective, and apply their perspective to art and design projects.
  • Create two-, three-, and four-dimensional art and design projects unifies form, concept, and technique

 

ART 3010 Topics in Multidiscplinary Art

This cross-disciplinary course emphasizes the development of concept while allowing students to collaborate across the media boundaries. Students may repeat the course with different topics. An interdisciplinary approach promotes the study and interrelatedness of all creative activity across all design and artistic disciplines. This course challenges students to think critically and creatively by pushing accepted conceptual, formal and technical boundaries in an innovative way.

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Apply professionalism in student’s chosen field
  • Identify major historical trends in art, as well as their cultural relevance
  • Produce artifacts (physical, cognitive, verbal, etc) that connect other fields to student’s selected concentration
  • Apply visual elements and organization to 2d, 3d, or 4d finished projects
  • Identify historical achievements, current major issues, and direction in their field – Utilize strategies to take work from concept to completion
  • Create work that demonstrates how to unify form, concept, and technique

During the fall of their senior year (last year of study), students take ART 4050 Art and Design Capstone to prepare for careers and adventures beyond graduation.

ART 4050 Art and Design Capstone

The capstone course is for all Art and Design concentrations and is intended to provide an overview of issues, resources, information, and practices for the emerging art and/or design professional. Students prepare materials to enter their desired profession, such as a resume, cover letter, web site, and other marketing materials, as well as learn about resources for artists such as residencies and exhibitions, and for designers, such as professional organizations and development.