B.A. in Art and Media Design

This course is designed to assist the student in a visual understanding of the art of the past and present. The Western tradition is analyzed, with emphasis upon art forms such as architecture, painting, and sculpture. The course highlights the major art periods starting with prehistory and ending with the modern era. Students are expected to take this course before taking major level courses in Art.

An introduction to the language of art and design (space, line, shape, value, texture and color) and the principle of composition for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. A series of hands-on projects will reinforce these concepts. Students are expected to take this course before taking major level courses in Art.

In this hands-on course students will learn the fundamentals of photography, including how to use 35 mm manual and SLR cameras, and how ISO, shutter speed, film, light, and composition affect the outcome of an image. Students will also learn a range of photographic processing techniques, Photoshop, and printing processes in the development of a print portfolio.

This course introduces the elements and principles of digital media in a variety of forms. Basic knowledge and skills using video camera equipment, digital editing applications such as Final Cut Pro and After Effects, script-writing and storyboarding are discussed within a framework of examples from the past and the present.

This course introduces students to the Macintosh computer system, digital camera basics, and Adobe software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Digital imaging, illustration, layout, and other digital art techniques will be introduced. This course is intended to prepare students for intermediate classes in graphic design, web design, photography, and digital art.

A foundation course in drawing. An introduction to principles and procedures of drawing in various media. Lectures and studio work. Students are expected to take this course before taking major level courses in Art.

This course focuses on major developments in art since the mid-19th century including painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and the cinema. Technological innovations, the tendency toward rapid stylistic changes, and the materials and media most prevalent in our contemporary art scene are all discussed within their relevant historical, social, and cultural contexts. Field trips to galleries, museums, and related institutions are an important component of this course.

In this hands-on course, students will develop a range of advanced techniques in digital and electronic media art and film. Students will improve their editing skills obtained from introductory courses and focus on concept development and production techniques in the creation of digital video projects. This course also allows students to both develop and refine techniques they have used in earlier courses, while experimenting with new emergent technologies relevant to their interests and the field. Digital media and film theory and history are integral to course content.

This course introduces students to digital photography and digital camera operations, covering lighting, composition, exposure, and the fundamentals of traditional photographic concepts. Photographing two- and three-dimensional objects and optimizing photos for a digital workflow are skills developed in this course. The history and technology of photography will be discussed.

Students will develop increased proficiency in Illustrator and other software used in professional art and graphic design settings. Students will integrate drawings created both manually and on the computer to create finished illustrations ready for distribution in a range of media. Elements of typography, layout, and composition will also be discussed and explored. Projects involve the representation of varied texts as visually dynamic and clear communication vehicles. The course looks at the art of typography in both pre-electronic and electronic realms. Students analyze, edit, and configure copy for business, literary or informational purposes.

The art of typography is explored from its beginnings to its current use. Typographic evolution will be studied within the framework of world events, architectural development, and art history. Students are introduced to all aspects of typographic designs and layouts through class demonstrations, lectures, and studio work. Emphasis is given to exposure and practice with various grid structures through a variety of projects. Creative thinking is encouraged, along with prescribed techniques and media.

This course provides an introduction to designing and creating interactive experiences for the Web using a range of interactive techniques, software, and scripting. The course introduces students to HTML, Dreamweaver, and Flash (with basic ActionScript) and strengthens their speed and proficiency using imaging software. Historic and creative innovations in web design and Net Art will be discussed.

In this course, students will receive an in-depth hands-on experience designing and creating interactive and immersive multimedia experiences for the Web using a range of techniques, software, and scripting. Advanced Dreamweaver, JavaScript, Flash, ActionScript, and Processing Language will be covered. Creative innovations in web design and Net Art will be discussed.

This is a required course designed to encourage senior students to explore and develop creative projects demonstrating mastery of process, techniques, tools, and materials of applied and/or fine art medium. The evolution of an individual style and a body of work is emphasized. Students will develop better awareness of complex problem solving, creative process, and experimental approaches and principles of art media.

This course is the major capstone. Senior students are to select a theme for their culminating body of art, prepare an artist's statement, and set up a Senior Year Art Exhibit showcasing their best work. In addition, they will prepare portfolio of work including actual works, photos, and a personal website in preparation for graduate school or the job market.

This course is only for art majors and is individualized depending on the student's area of interest. Students are required to complete an internship. The format of this experience will be determined in consultation with the department faculty. Students will work with their major advisor to determine appropriate distribution of credits over a time period of one or more semesters.

Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for seniors who are majors or minors. Students may enroll in 495 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ.

This course both surveys and samples the creative, technological and social developments that have had impact on the evolution of the graphic arts. Course content emphasizes both the visual and written record through a variety of media including original objects, reproductions, film, the Web and other published sources.

The work of women as well as many other minority or racially diverse groups has often been overlooked and under-documented throughout much of history. At the same time, women and feminist scholars have provided leadership in the field of art and culture studies, bridging gaps and expanding the boundaries of traditional academic studies. Through a diverse group of readings, classroom lectures and discussions, visits to area museums, interactions with women artists, and independent research, this course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the important contributions women have made and are making in the art world.

This course will provide advanced study in art history in a variety of diverse, timely and interdisciplinary topics covering particular periods, artists, movements, and thematic approaches in the field of art history. Course topics will emphasize; subjects in art which highlight the creative achievements of diverse groups of people; themes created in conjunction with important cultural collections, exhibitions or events related to art within the greater Washington, D.C. area; and those subjects which are of particular interest to our campus community. Topics will be offered on a rotating basis. Course may be repeated as topics change.

Robotics and Interactivity provides students with an opportunity to create interactive experiences in the physical world. Building on content learned in Web Design I (including HTML, CSS, and Actionscript) and Web Design II (including HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, and Actionscript), Robotics and Interactivity further enhances the range of experience and skills students need to design and implement interactive experiences for various platforms and environments. This hands-on design course guides students through the concept development, fabrication, assembly, and programming of custom open-course robotics, sensor-based input devices, and output components. This course prepares students for the software-based techniques taught in Advanced Digital Media.

From the most advanced motion graphics techniques to immersive interactive experiences used in movies, games, multimedia web sites, smartphone apps, and interactive installations, students in this course will invent, design and implement interactive narratives with a range of 2D/3D animation, film, and interactive software. Students will use code to bring digital objects to life in open source platforms. A range of software such as Maya, After Effects, Flash, and Processing Language will be integrated in the development of projects.

Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for seniors who are majors or minors. Students may enroll in 495 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ.

This course is an in-depth study and practice in graphic design and how art and business are integrated in terms of consumerism, advertising, and marketing perspectives. Students will expand on the range of exploratory design tools and techniques used in studio and creative professional settings for output to print and web products.

In this course, students are expected to produce design solutions that reflect refined conceptual development, advanced strategic thinking, and mastery of technique. Emphasis is placed on how to create designs that successfully meet the goals set out in the client's creative brief. This course consolidates previous graphic design knowledge and skills.

Students will visit several production houses to gain an overview of how the production process impacts design decisions. Technical proficiency will be developed through lectures, demonstrations and studio work. As students produce projects from comprehensives to print-ready digital files, they will be held to the industry standards required for effective and efficient communication solutions.

This photography track course includes a study of advanced camera and darkroom techniques, including developing and printing of color photographs and an advanced analysis of styles in photography emphasizing a student portfolio. The impact on the deaf community and culturally diverse populations is discussed through viewing photographs.

This course will emphasize the fundamentals of photojournalism. Students will act as reporters with a camera, learning how to use images to tell a story while developing a personal vision. Students will gain experience thinking fast in order to quickly capture and record decisive moments. Students will also analyze the role of photography in mass communication with an emphasis on the photographic essay. The legal aspects of news photography along with the ethics of the profession are important components of this course.

This course is designed to provide an in-depth study of a specific area of the photography discipline. Each time course is offered, the materials, equipment, artistic concepts and techniques related to the medium will be identified by the instructor, e.g. studio lighting, large format, alternative processing, pinhole, color photography.

Introductory survey of the field of communication that includes discussion of the importance of communication in our lives, examination of communication as a uniquely human process of interaction, an overview of the varied contexts in which communication occurs, and investigation of communication as an academic discipline, field of research, and possible career track. This course also provides an introduction to the Communication Studies Department.

The course emphasizes the principles involved in the selection and organization of ideas and their effective presentation to a group.

This course introduces fundamental concepts of computer programming. Students learn program logic, flow charting, and problem solving through analysis, development, basic debugging and testing procedures. Topics include variables, expressions, data types, functions, decisions, loops, and arrays. Students will use the knowledge and skills gained throughout this course to develop a variety of simple programs.

A study of gestures as a form of communication and as a basis for visual language. Concentration on the ability to think in pictures and to develop expressive and receptive communication skills in gestures. This course develops artistic sign language translation skills and leads to better understanding of the basic structures of American Sign Language.

An introduction to clay as an artistic medium. A variety of pots will be constructed using the following hand-building techniques: pinch, coil, slab, and compression. Three-dimensional design principles will be emphasized.

Beginning painting introduces students to traditional and experimental painting, including a variety of methods, techniques, and concepts that will help students learn to express themselves artistically, sharing their own unique form of visual perception through the medium of painting. Students will also learn painting content layout techniques as they iterate arrangements of elements into different compositions in order to communicate ideas, processes, and storytelling through the painting practice. How painting theory and application fits within the realm of public art will also be discussed.

This course both surveys and samples the creative, technological and social developments that have had impact on the evolution of the graphic arts. Course content emphasizes both the visual and written record through a variety of media including original objects, reproductions, film, the Web and other published sources.

A continuation of hand-building techniques used to construct more complex forms. An introduction to the potter's wheel. Students will critique their work based on principles of three-dimensional design.

Studies in Drawing is designed to provide an in-depth study of a specific area of the drawing discipline. Each time the course is offered, the materials and artistic processes related to one medium will be identified by the instructor, e.g. Mixed Media, Pastel, Ink, Dry Media, Charcoal, Collage, and Life Drawing. Students majoring in Studio Art may apply two Studies in Drawing courses to their major requirements.

Studies in Sculpture is designed to provide an in-depth study of a specific area of the sculptural discipline. Each time the course is offered, the materials, artistic concepts, and construction processes related to one medium will be identified by the instructor, e.g. Wood, Plaster, Fabric, Plastic, Glass, Metal, Papier-Mache, Mixed Media, etc. Students majoring in Studio Art may apply two Studies in Sculpture courses to their major requirements.

Studies in Printmaking is designed to provide an in-depth study of a narrowly defined area of the printmaking discipline. Each time the course is offered, the materials, tools, artistic concepts, and printing processes related to one medium will be identified by the instructor, e.g. Screen printing, collagraph, woodcut printing, linocut printing, and lithograph printing.

This course is designed to provide an in-depth study of a specific area within the ceramics discipline. While the medium used is the same (clay), different techniques, stylistic approaches, and historic perspectives will be taught in each course. As topics change, this course may be repeated.

Studies in Painting is designed to provide an in-depth study of a specific area of the painting discipline. Each time the course is offered, the materials, tools, artistic concepts and techniques related to one medium will be identified by the instructor, e.g. oil, acrylic, knife painting, mural painting, watercolor, airbrushing.