Art Courses - 3000 and Up

ART 3030. Drawing III: Multimedia (3). Prerequisite: ART 2030. An intensive exploration of a wide range of drawing media, with emphasis on experimentation, the creation of a visual style, and the use of drawing as a means of personal expression. Students will be required to contract for a specific number of drawings to be completed during the term.

ART 3040. Figure Drawing III (3). Prerequisite: ART 2040. A continuation of studio practices from previous figure courses with added emphasis on exploring the expressive possibilities of the figure. Students will combine and mix a variety of drawing and painting media and papers and techniques in order to complete a portfolio of figurative work that reflects variety of theme and interpretation. ($100.00 course fee)

ART 3050. Painting III (3). Prerequisite: ART 2050. Advanced skill development in painting, with continued experimentation in a wider variety of methods and materials, and an emphasis on exploration in an individual area of interest. Students are expected to define and carry out projects based on their specific objectives. The focus will be on the encouragement and development of the student's personal direction. The use of color, content, composition, and emotional impact will be stressed. Students will focus on creativity of expression through conceptual and technical experimentation in a variety of painting media. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 3060. Photography III (3). Prerequisite: ART 1400, ART 2060, ART 2500. This course is an intermediate-level study of photography. Students will be required to make an intensive investigation of digital, black-and-white, and alternative photographic processes. Course projects will enable students to use fiber-based papers, toning, medium format cameras, digital negatives and alternative processes such as cyanotype and Van Dyke Brown prints. Emphasis will be made on the quality of visual ideas, the audience-response to the image, and the evaluation of both technical and aesthetic qualities in the finished prints. ($150.00 course fee)

ART 3070. Clay III (3). Prerequisites: ART 2070. Advanced study in the techniques and concepts of the work in clay. A continuation of the work done in Clay II with the refinement of a personal approach to clay, plus the possible introduction to or continued instruction in clay and glaze formulation, alternative firing methods, and/or the loading and firing of electric kilns. Concentration in this course may be on wheel throwing, sculpture, and/or handbuilding techniques with students beginning to develop their own personal approach to working with clay and decorating original ceramic ware. ($100.00 course fee)

ART 3080. Sculpture III (3). Prerequisite: ART 2080. This course will focus on each student's development in the conceptual realm with emphasis on material and technical exploration. In addition to tailoring to the individual needs of students, this course will also require the study of pertinent text and timely and culturally relevant work. ($35.00 course fee)

ART 3090. Printmaking III (3). Prerequisite: ART 2090. Besides continuing and developing techniques in traditional printmaking methods, this course will emphasize experimentation and personal exploration into one or two specific methods as well as introducing photographic techniques and dimensional prints. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 3150. Watercolor Painting II (3). A deeper investigation and continuation of special techniques and approaches introduced in Watercolor Painting I. Mastering the application of certain techniques alongside the sensitive use of spontaneous and unpredictable outcomes will help students to better understand the medium. Summer only. ($50.00 course fee).

ART 3160. Mixed Media Painting (3). Creating with a combination of several different media in a single work of art. Students will incorporate paint, collage, transfers, found objects, and more as they create their works, offering students the opportunity to explore a new approach to image making on the flat surface. Summer only. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 3410. Linear Design (3). Prerequisites: ART 2420. One of a core series of Design Communications courses that focuses on the development of a professional-level design portfolio. The stage of design requires a portfolio review prior to registration. Projects include publication design, web-site design, and introduction to visual rhetoric. This course requires proficiency in working with and combining raster-based and vector-based digital imagery. Extensive outside work is required. ($150.00 course fee)

ART 3411. Junior Production Workshop (1). Emphasizes technology and production skills for web and multimedia. This course must be taken twice; once each semester during the junior year.(course/lab fee $100)

ART 3420. Information Design (3). Prerequisites: ART 3410 or approval from the professor for design minors. The course will emphasize the communication of ideas within the framework of Information Design, which seeks to edify more than to persuade. Students will examine how people read and learn information, and navigate through a space- a book, the web, or a physical space. Problems will be complex and multi-faceted such as a redesign of an identity system, navigational system, and informational signage for hypothetical clients. Students will be introduced to the study of semiotics as well as a brief historical perspective of information and environmental design fields. Emphasis will be on research with groups and individual work. Extensive outside work will be expected. The stage of design requires passing portfolio review. ($100.00 course fee)

ART 3430. Illustration I (3). Prerequisite: ART 2030, ART 2040, ART 2420. This course is an introduction to Illustration in the graphic design industry. Emphasis is on problem solving within the context of a client communication problem and working relationships with Creative Directors. This course requires proficiency in basic design skills, drawing, figure drawing, and painting. Extensive outside work is required. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 3440. History and Philosophy of Design (3). Prerequisite: Junior Standing. Students will examine the history and relevant theory of visual communication and graphic design including its historical relationship to the larger culture in which it functions. In viewing graphic design beyond the aesthetic, emphasis will be placed on its role in areas such as commerce, culture, propaganda, ideology and the social / political arenas. The underlying themes will be technological influence on communication and the evolution of visual form and language. This lecture course combines readings, discussions, and practical application of theory / concepts through written assignments and possible creation of visual artifacts. ($50.00 course fee)
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).

ART 3450. Illustration II (3). Prerequisite: ART 2030, ART 2040, ART 2050, ART 2420, ART 3430. Planning and rendering of advertising and editorial illustrations in various media. Projects include creating imagery for such formats as publications, editorial, and packaging design. This course requires proficiency in basic skills, drawing, figure drawing, and painting. Extensive outside work is required. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 3650. Museum Studies (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810, SOC 2010.  Introduction to the philosophy, purposes, structure, historical development and future of museums. Examines functions of collection, conservation, research, exhibition/interpretation, and social/cultural services; museum field growth.

ART 3660. Art History Research and Methodology (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810, SOC 2010. An intensive study of the nature of art history as an intellectual discipline and of the approaches scholars have taken to various art historical problems. Attention as well to principles of current art historical research and writing. Recommended for juniors who have declared art history as a major.

ART 3810. Elementary Art Education (3). Prerequisite: Introduction to Art Education. Examines the elementary school culture and the practical application of child development theories to the development of thematic units of study. Students will explore age-appropriate materials and processes, develop strategies for facilitating learning and develop comprehensive lesson plans as a basis for micro-teaching in local elementary schools.

ART 3820. Secondary Art Education (3). Prerequisite: Intoduction to Art Education. Examines middle and high school cultures and the aesthetic development of the pre-adolescent and adolescent learner. Students will explore media and processes appropriate for the secondary student, and develop comprehensive, concept-driven lesson plans as a basis for micro-teaching in local secondary schools.

ART 4015. Art Senior Capstone (3).  Students will reflect on and assess their educational experiences to prepare for their transition to life beyond the university. Among the primary course questions are: "What is a Meaningful Life?" and "What is my role in choosing and creating that life?" Potential answers to these and related questions will be made through a series of assignments and projects which require intentional thinking, discussing, writing and other creative activities, both in and out of class. This course is offered in the fall semester only. Taken in the Fall semester prior to Spring graduation only.

ART 4030. Drawing IV (3). Prerequisite: ART 3030. A continuation of the creative processes of ART 3030, with the additional requirement of developing and completing a body of thematically-related drawings. Students will further investigate media, scale, and surface qualities while refining their choice and understanding of subject matter, concept, and intended audience. Students will also concentrate on defining their drawing as sketches, illustrations, and/or finished works.

ART 4050. Painting IV (3). Prerequisite: ART 3050. This is an independent studies course in painting in which the content of the course is planned by the student under the supervision of the instructor. There should be a continuation of concerns from Painting III with an emphasis on point of view and image making in painting. Students should continue to focus on creativity of expression through conceptual and technical experimentation in a variety of painting media. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 4060. Photography IV (3). Prerequisite: ART 1400, ART 2500, ART 3060. Intense advanced study of black and white, digital and/or alternative photographic processes. There will be an emphasis on nurturing a photographically self-reliant individual with independent visual images. Students will develop their own ideas into visual projects with an emphasis on the quality and variety of a final portfolio. ($150.00 course fee)

ART 4070. Clay IV (3). Prerequisite: ART 3070. Students in this course will continue to create an individual relationship with clay and its different stages, on and off the wheel. They will find a focus of direction to work on, one which will expand on the individual's communication skills. Students will be further exposed to historical and contemporary work from around the world. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 4090. Printmaking IV (3). Prerequisite: ART 3090. Advanced study in one specific method of printmaking. This course emphasizes experimentation and development of the student's personal approach to the medium. ($50.00 course fee)

ART 4200. Student Teaching Seminar (0-4). This seminar deals with practical issues associated with the student teaching experience, ART 4240, which is taken concurrently.  Students will meet periodically to discuss classroom practice and procedures for seeking employment.

ART 4240. Student Teaching (8). (For prerequisites see: Admission to Student Teaching; in the education section Admission to Student Teaching) This laboratory course gives the student teacher experience in the school and an opportunity to observe and use appropriate classroom procedures under the direct supervision of an experienced teacher. This course requires satisfactory presentation of a professional portfolio and includes a seminar which meets periodically during the full-time student teaching experience. ($325.00 course fee)

ART 4250 (3).  Examines significant and often complex issues in art education, including contemporary curriculum theories, assessment methodologies, art dialogue and inquiry strategies, and approaches to art education in community settings.  Research and theory supporting these topics will be applied to actual classroom practice.

ART 4410. Narrative and Advocacy Design (3). Prerequisites: ART 3420, ART 3440 or permission for declared design majors. This is a course in which students will find their design voice. The underlying theme will be narrative (linear and non-linear) as we investigate the designer’s role and responsibility within society. Students will explore a range of issues from recycling, sustainability and consumer consumption to community involvement and relationships with not-for-profit organizations through creative projects and investigation into contemporary and historical sollutions. Additional opportunities for basic exploration in media software applications creating linear narratives will occur through project solutions. Requires passing annual portfolio review prior to registration. Extensive outside work will be required. ($100.00 course fee)

ART 4420. Identity and Branding (3). Prerequisite: ART 4410. The final in a core series of Design Communications courses focusing on the development of a professional-level design portfolio. Projects include the development of a full-scale corporate identity program including graphics standards manual and packaging and/or display design. Extensive outside work is required. (This course can be taken to fulfill the internship requirement.) ($100.00 course fee)

ART 4490. Design Administration (3). This course is the study of coordination, management and administration of the operations of a graphic design business. The content of this course includes management, project coordination, technical issues and creative issues. Management topics will include business operations such as personnel supervision, organizational structure, finances, legal issues, self-marketing, standards and accountability. Project coordination topics will include;account service and management, marketing, project tracking, personnel supervision and external services supervision. Creative topics will include creative direction in visual communication, visual and verbal problem solving, and traditional fine arts skills. Technology topics will include technology management and financing as well as mass market publishing technologies. ($150.00 course fee)

ART 4600 - 4760. Art History Seminars (3 each) Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. Each course will be an in-depth seminar including extensive examples of visual expression with particular emphasis being placed on the art, artists, and/or architects of the period, group, or style discussed. A major segment of the course will be the consideration of the formal elements that characterize the styles, artists, and cultures discussed. Discussions will be an important segment of the particular course and will be developed in class and augmented by various assignments and activities. All students should be able to identify and discuss aspects related to the particular topics, and will complete a special research paper and presentation within a chosen area of interest.

ART 4600. Art & Architecture of Ancient Egypt & the Near East (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course is a general survey of the art and architecture of Egypt and the Near East from the beginnings of civilization until the Persian period. The course presents the major monuments of each culture by comparing the art of the two areas within successive time periods. Its aim is to acquaint students with the monuments and concepts behind them.

ART 4610. Art & Architecture of Ancient Greece & Rome (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course covers the art and architecture of ancient Greece beginning with Cycladic art and ending with the Hellenistic Age, and art and architecture of the Italian peninsula from the Etruscan Period through the Roman Empire. The course exposes students to the major monuments and concepts of the periods covered.

ART 4620. Early Christian & Byzantine Art (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This is a course devoted to the study of the artistic culture of the early Christian Church and its continuation in the Eastern Orthodox and Latin traditions, with a focus on Early Christian artistic traditions to 1000. Emphasis will be placed on an analysis of works of painting, sculpture, mosaic work, jewelry, textiles, and architecture that relates them to the Asian, African, and European expressions of Christianity from which the sprung.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).

ART 4630. Asian Art & Architecture (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course will provide a survey of the arts of Asia including India, Korea, China, and Japan. Through a study of the historical and religious context of works of architecture, sculpture, and painting, the course will attempt to discover the themes that unify the artistic traditions of Asia and those the set them apart and will cover topics including the development of images of the Buddha in India, landscape painting in China and Japan, and Japanese woodblock prints.

ART 4640. Pre-Columbian Art & Architecture (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course surveys the art and architecture of the ancient civilizations of Precolumbian Mesoamerica, from the time of the Olmec through the Aztecs. Analysis and interpretation of the art will be based primarily on its role as a transmitter of cultural information and worldview.

ART 4650. Romanesque & Gothic Art & Architecture (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course will explore the arts of medieval Europe from the tenth through the fourteenth centuries focusing upon the rich traditions of architecture, sculpture, painting, and the decorative arts from the Romanesque and Gothic period. Style and iconography will be considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including monastic reform, pilgrimage, and chivalry.

ART 4660. Art of Italian Renaissance (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course will investigate the beginnings of Italian Renaissance art from the profound changes of the late thirteenth century through the flowering of the arts in the fifteenth century. Artists and architects such as Giotto, Donatello, Alberti, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian will be viewed in the context of contemporary cultural issues and art patronage.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).

ART 4670. Art of Northern Renaissance (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. A study of painting and sculpture in northern and central Europe from the late 13th to the late 16th centuries. This course will focus on such artists as Jan van Eyck and Albrecht Durer, as well as such themes as the evolving representation of nature, witchcraft and other gendered imagery in art, and the early history of printmaking.

ART 4680. Baroque & Rococo Art & Architecture (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. A study of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. This course will explore such artists as Velazquez, Bernini, Artemisia, Gentileschi and Rembrandt, evocative images of nature and mystical experience, and the Palace of Versailles.

ART 4690. History of American Art: 1645-1945 (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course is a survey of American Art, focusing primarily upon painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Colonial Era to ca. 1940. Emphasis will be placed on the study of Anglo-European art and architecture within a cultural and historical context. The ideological underpinnings of American history painting, portraiture, genre, and landscape painting and art patronage will be considered.

ART 4700. 19th Century Art & Architecture (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. This course covers European art and architecture in the nineteenth century including Neoclasicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism.
Gen. Ed. Designation: GS (G – Global Studies).

ART 4710. African-American Art (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. The survey of the history of African-American art from Colonial times to the present. Emphasis will be placed upon the art, literature, and activism of the Harlem Renaissance and Nashville-based artists like Aaron Douglas.

ART 4720. History of Photography (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. (This course is only offered in the spring term in even years) This course surveys the history and development of photography primarily in Europe and America from the 1830s into the twentieth century, examining new technologies and styles such as documentary, portrait, and landscape photography as well as the relationship of photography to painting.

ART 4730. Modernism and the Visual Arts (3). A survey of the visual arts from 1800-1960. The course focuses on a variety of 2D, 3D, and architectural forms within the context of European and American culture from the period. Emphasis is given to the artist's analysis and revolutionary reaction to the modern era. Movements treated range from Fauvism through Abstract Expressionism, covering the gamut of modernist movements.

ART 4740. Postmodernism and the Visual Arts (3). A survey of the visual arts from 1960 to the present. The course focuses on a variety of 2D, 3D, and architectural forms within the context of European and American culture from the period. The survey continues the considerations of ART 4730, furthering the study of revolutionary theories and practices in the visual arts, and examines how these works reflect current social, political, psychological, and technological realities. Movements covered the range from Pop-Art through Performance Art, covering the gamut of contemporary movements.

ART 4750. Women Artists Throughout History (3). Prerequisites: ART 2800, ART 2810 or permission of instructor. A historical survey of women's roles as creators and patrons of the visual arts in Western European and American societies, from antiquity to the present. Consideration is also given to the issues surrounding the represenatation of women as subjects in art.

ART 4760. Special Topics in Art History (3).  Prerequisite: ART 2800 and ART 2810 or permission of instructor.  Any Art History seminar whose topic is not currently listed among those in the university bulletin or catalog, but qualifies as an acceptable substitute.  Approval of the course is made by the Art Department Chair and/or the appropriate Art History faculty member prior to student registration.

ART 4800. Advanced Study in Studio Art (3). Prerequisite: Highest level in particular area or permission of instructor. Specialized studio work to advance an individual student's ideas and techniques. Short thesis and oral defense of the work required. ($50.00 course fee may be required)

ART 4850. Internship in Art (2-9). An optional course for students in the B.F.A. program (required of Graphic Design majors). Students may work in any art-related employment, such as advertising, publishing, or galleries and earn university credit.
Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (I – Internships, Clinicals, Practica).

ART 4900. Senior Exhibition / Portfolio (3).  Prerequisite: ART 4015 or permission of Department Chair and Instructor. Note course policy for ART 4015 Senior Capstone.Prerequisite: ART 4015 or permission of Department Chair and Instructor. Note course policy for ART 4015 Senior Capstone. This course is for all graduating art majors. The objective is to develop the skills and impart the information necessary for being a working artist or designer, culminating in an exit review in the form of a formal portfolio review for Design Communications majors and a gallery exhibition for Studio and Art Education majors. Design Communications majors may also have a gallery exhibition. Students will develop a resume, business card, and promotional material and gain first-hand experience working with printers and other professional resources. Students will focus and get advice on the formal development-planning, preparation, execution- of their portfolio or exhibit. In addition, career-oriented discussions in a seminar atmosphere will relate to concerns and issues in the professional art and design world including but not limited to graduate school, job searches, networking as well as visits to area galleries, studios, and design firms. Upon the completion of the course, students are required to submit a slide portfolio and copies of their printed collateral (resume, business card, and self-promotional piece) in addition to their exit portfolio/exhibit. This course is offered in the spring semester only and should be taken in the spring semester prior to graduation. Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (P – Recitals, Shows, Exhibits).