Art Course Descriptions

An introduction to the basic principles of pure design using the elements of dot, line, form, shape, value, texture, color, space, and perspective while investigating a variety of media. (3)

This in-depth exploration of color is essential to artists and designers and useful to all who wish to communicate powerfully with color. Through hands-on projects, discussions, and gallery/museum visits, students investigate hue, value, and saturation; color interaction; and psychological experiences of color. Working in paint and other media, students learn a variety of studio techniques and presentation skills, developing artwork relating to their professional and personal interests. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

This course is designed to introduce the basic fundamentals of drawing. Emphasis will be placed on the perceptive and technical skills used in rendering accurate form. The recognized elements and principles of art will be explored as they relate to unified composition. Critiques will be used to expand visual analysis and vocabulary. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

This course will introduce students to basic hand-building construction techniques. Students will produce a variety of traditional vessel shapes and explore fundamental essentials of the ceramic process such as glaze application and firing. Contemporary ceramic artists and other important topics related to the ceramic process are investigated to offer context for designing and producing ceramic vessels. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

For the student interested in exploring and understanding the fundamentals of music, this course begins with the basic elements of music. The study of the various notes, rests, clefs (treble and bass), rhythms, major and minor scales, key signatures, chromatics, sharps and flats, and construction of chords found in music will be covered. No previous instrumental or vocal knowledge or ability on a musical instrument is necessary. (3)

Introduces basic elements of music composition and the relations among these elements. Students learn to recognize various musical forms and styles and to correlate the musical periods to other art forms and sociological factors. Covers early music to Beethoven. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

Introduces basic elements of music composition and the relations among these elements. Students learn to recognize various musical forms and styles and to correlate the musical periods to other art forms and sociological factors. Covers Beethoven to 20th century. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

Designed for understanding the development, styles, and use of jazz throughout American culture and history. This course also examines its influence on other popular idioms. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

An introduction to dance as theatrical and social art forms. The course examines how dance affects culture and culture affects dance. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

Teaches different styles of modern dance with an emphasis on anatomical awareness and rhythmic sensitivity. Expressional choreography and improvisations are introduced. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

Provides an introduction to the fundamentals of jazz dance technique and its historical context. (Also listed as HPR 170.) Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

A survey of painting, architecture, and sculpture in the Western world, from Prehistory to the end of the Middle Ages, investigating meaning in the visual arts and the development of artistic style within a historical context. Liberal Arts University Requirement Designation: FNA. (3)

A survey of painting, architecture, and sculpture in the Western world from the Renaissance to the 20th century, with particular emphasis on works of art from the Washington, DC, region. This course uses those works to investigate meaning in the visual arts and the development of artistic style within a historical context. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

This course is designed to develop and expand students’ drawing skills and their understanding of the potential of drawing to convey content and have a powerful impact. Projects are designed to increase each student’s technical and perceptual ability with a wide range of media, methods, and techniques. Students will learn how to develop their own individual style and vision with a focus on form, content, and individual communication. Students will draw from a variety of sources, including the live model. Prerequisite: FA 105. (3)

This course focuses on drawing from the live model. Students will build on their observational drawing skills and understanding of anatomy and spatial relationships through a variety of media and methods. Class time is devoted to drawing from life, discussing technique, critiquing work, looking at examples, and instructor-led demonstrations. Students will learn how to develop form, content, and individual expression within the context of the human form. Prerequisite: FA 105 or permission of instructor. (3)

An introduction to three-dimensional design and the application of design principles to the element of form through a variety of media and methods. Students will explore aesthetic and practical considerations of working in a three-dimensional space. Prerequisite: FA 103 or permission of instructor. (3)

Students will explore a variety of printmaking techniques, including relief, intaglio, stencil, monoprint/monotype, and collagraph, often adapting traditional methods for modern safety, environmental, and technological standards. Students will explore printmaking as an art of multiples with endless opportunities for distribution and collaboration. Students will also consider artistic, social, political, and commercial uses of prints, past and present. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

Students will experiment with painting techniques and styles ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Starting by painting from observation, students will gain formal skills for completing representational, abstract, and non-objective paintings. Through structured weekly projects, image lectures, discussions, critiques, and gallery/museum visits, personal approaches and content will grow. In final projects, students choose themes, develop painterly language, and produce cohesive series of paintings. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA, DSINQ. (3)

This course will introduce students to working with clay on the potter’s wheel. Students will learn basic throwing techniques focused on the production of traditional functional vessels and learn fundamental elements of the ceramic process, such as glaze application and firing. Students will also study contemporary ceramic artists and their concepts and other important topics related to the ceramic process. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA. (3)

Students will learn and apply methods for constructing two-part and three-part molds for use in the slip casting production process. Students will also design original functional ceramic products using three-dimensional design software and create models from the 3D printing process. Prerequisite: FA 107, FA 215, or permission of instructor. (3)

This course continues to advance wheel-throwing skills and focuses on the construction of larger and more complicated functional vessels. While completing wheel-throwing projects, students will learn materials and techniques associated with the development and alteration of ceramic glaze formulas. Prerequisite: FA 215 or permission of instructor. (3)

The fundamentals of building, preparing, and presenting a foundations studio portfolio. Students will present original art from foundation courses to fine art faculty who will evaluate the progress and establish goals/expectations for advanced studies. Artwork will illustrate competency in the visual elements and principles of design, drawing, color theory, and three-dimensional fundamentals. This course is pass/fail. Prerequisite: permission of department chair. (1)

An examination of different movements in art beginning around 1900 in Europe and North America as they react or contribute to historical developments of the century, including politics, nationalism and war, shifting social structures and practices, and radical changes in media and technology. Special emphasis will be given to works of art from local and regional museums, with field trips to area collections. Prerequisite: EN 102. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA, WI. (3)

This course prepares the student to teach art at the elementary and secondary levels by integrating content mastery with effective pedagogical strategies. Field experience: 20 hours. Prerequisites: ED 200SL, ED 327, and PSY 110. (3)

A studio course offering advanced study in drawing, painting, and printmaking, allowing a continuing exploration of methods and techniques and the principles of composition. This course will focus on advanced problems in the different media, with a greater emphasis on developing individual style and personal expression. Repeatable course for up to nine (9) credits. Prerequisite: FA 205, FA 211, FA 213, or permission of instructor. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: DSINQ. (3-9)

Students will complete several proposed projects that employ different techniques relating to the ceramic process or three-dimensional design. This course will focus on advanced problems concerning the production of three-dimensional objects, with greater emphasis on developing individual style and personal expression. Prerequisites: FA 107 and FA 215, or FA 210, or permission of instructor. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: DSINQ. (3)

The internship provides students field experience in a cooperating arts institution in the Washington metropolitan area. It is monitored by an academic internship mentor from the Department of Fine Arts and a representative of the partnering institution. Course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: permission of the chair or academic internship mentor in the Department of Fine Arts. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: EXP. (3-6)

A course designed to take advantage of works of art in the Washington-Baltimore area and use them as the basis for a seminar-style discussion of particular topics in the history of art. Repeatable course, provided the student selects different topics. Prerequisite: EN 102. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: FNA, WI. (3)

Continuing investigation of a particular artistic medium within the student’s concentration and under the direction of a faculty advisor. The project will be conducted within a studio shared with an advanced course in the same medium and taught by the faculty advisor. Prerequisite: application and approval of the department chair. (3-6)

An investigation of a selected topic in the student’s concentration that takes place in the senior year under the direction of a faculty advisor. The project develops the student’s independent research skills through a written paper and an artistic product. Upon completion, the artwork and paper are presented to a panel of professionals for evaluation. Prerequisites: senior status and approval of the department chair, and EN 102. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: DSINQ. (3)

Covers the fundamentals of building, preparing, and presenting a portfolio for the field of fine arts and/or application to graduate school. Students will prepare and present original art, web, and/or CD portfolios. Prerequisites: senior status in the major, FA 422, or permission of instructor. (1)

A student in this course will conduct collaborative research (scholarly work leading to new knowledge) under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: application and approval of department chair. Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements Designation: EXP. (1-6)