Drawing Courses

Method and Theory in Art History

ARH 500 three credits
An introduction to art historical methodology with application to studio problems. Oral reports and research papers are required.

Graduate Seminar I

ART 505 three credits
Forum for exploring contemporary art and design issues and for learning from peers about developments in a variety of art fields. A broad range of critical writings are discussed.

Graduate Seminar II

ART 506 three credits
Continuation of ART 505.

Fine Arts Symposium

ART 507 three credits
Integrates the beginning Fine Arts graduate student into the studio program, deepens and enriches the student's awareness of personal direction, and introduces the student to the greater art community and issues of the professional artist. Students periodically present and discuss their work among each other, guest critics discuss and evaluate their work, and professional artists make presentations in their studios. The course also presents professional topics such as grant writing, studio space, business, and bookkeeping. Required of Fine Arts MFA students; takes the place of an elective.

Graduate Drawing Studio

ART 521, 522, 621 up to twenty-seven credits
This course constitutes the exploration of the students' interests in observational, conceptual and/or multi-media works on paper and other surfaces. The Fine Arts Department provides an educational context where drawing is considered a core activity related to other disciplines and also primarily as an end in itself.

The major studios involve intensive work and research in the student's area of concentration. Students investigate the aesthetic, conceptual, technical, and structural properties of chosen media through an individualized study program developed under the guidance of their major advisors. Through questioning and experimentation, students are expected to consolidate technique with the development of strong, expressive ideas. Informal critiques and individualized discussions are scheduled.

Graduate academic/studio electives

XXX nine credits
As decided in individual study plans in consultation with primary advisor.

Visual Thesis

ART 512 six credits
The preparation of a body of conceptually focused, original, and innovative visual work for exhibition or presentation. Graded A-F.

Writing Seminar

ART 515 three credits
Organizational tools for thesis preparation, with analysis of content and style of theses of recent graduates and other writings. Writing begins with a revision of the thesis proposal as the introduction to the thesis. A preliminary draft of the thesis is prepared by the end of the semester. Significant class time is devoted to group critiques of student writing.

Written Thesis

ART 516 three credits
The completion of the written thesis, a verbal explanation of the visual thesis which includes research of sources and a discussion of pertinent aesthetic issues, materials, and processes. Graded A-F.

Philosophy of Art

ART 520 three credits
Themes to be discussed include the nature of form and expression in art, the similarities and differences between the artist's relation to the work of art and the spectator's, the difference between linguistic and visual arts, and the social function of art. The works of a few major philosophers will be compared to demonstrate alternative points of view.

Instructional Development

ART 590 three credits (required only for Teaching Assistants)
Provides the fundamental knowledge needed to develop course content, curriculum development, and project planning for studio classes taught in the foundation program.