ARTS Course Descriptions

ARTS 100 Onboarding Seminar

1 credit hour

A seminar course designed to acclimate students new to the GFU Art & Design department with its culture, expectations, processes, and community. Through online materials and four weeks of in-person events at the start of the semester, new students get to know the department and their fellow cohort members while planning for success in their program. Student enrollment is mandatory for the first semester of study. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 101 2D (Principles and Elements)

3 credit hours

A hands-on technical course offering an introduction to materials, processes, and theory foundational to creative visual practice. Technical material use, research, ideation, design principles, and elements are explored through two-dimensional exercises and projects. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 102 3D (Mixing Medias)

3 credit hours

A project-driven course offering an introduction to materials, techniques, and theory related to three-dimensional design and interdisciplinary collaboration. Construction methodologies, research, design principles, and creative ideation are explored through exercises, projects, and proposals. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 105 Art & Design Professional Networking Seminar

1 credit hour

A weekly seminar course focusing on both professional practice and the application of theory, concepts, and methodology of contemporary art and design practices by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 111 Drawing I

3 credit hours

A course offering students an expansive understanding of drawing as both an artistic act and a part of the daily creative process. Through skill-building exercises, sketchbook work, concept-driven projects, and critique sessions, students explore the history, techniques, and impact of mark-making. Students develop foundational skills of observational drawing, as well as being introduced to drawing practice's other facets. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 112 Drawing II

3 credit hours

A course continuing students' understanding of drawing's multiple media and the students' daily creative process. Through sketchbook work, research, thematic-driven projects, and critique sessions, students explore the history, techniques, and impact of mark-making in contemporary and varied practices. Students develop technical drawing skills and dive into drawing practice's other facets (esp. conceptual, non-representational, and figurative work). Prerequisite: ARTS 111 Drawing I. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 185 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A variety of topics may be offered that reflect the interests of faculty, visiting professors, and students.

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ARTS 206 Art and Design History I

3 credit hours

A survey course focusing on art and design's historic, social, and aesthetic developments. Through formal analysis, research, and creative exercises, students engage with primary sources and theory to uncover the rich fabric that makes up our visual histories and cultures. This course develops students' understanding of all Art and Design history with special attention to the first half of the department's foundations timeline. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 207 Art and Design History II

3 credit hours

A survey course focusing on art and design's historic, social, and aesthetic developments. Through formal analysis, research, and creative exercises, students engage with primary sources and theory to uncover the rich fabric that makes up our visual histories and cultures. This course develops students' understanding of all Art and Design history with special attention to the second half of the department's foundations timeline. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 210 Beginning Painting

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction and development of students' skills and techniques for effective painting with acrylics and oils. Students study color mixing, create effective compositions, develop depth, space, and form with paint, and gain confidence in painting ability by understanding techniques and progressing the ability to apply them. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 111 Drawing I, or instructor's permission.

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ARTS 220 Beginning Sculpture

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction and investigation of additive, subtractive, assembled, and cast sculptural techniques. Students use diverse media (such as metals, glass, plaster, clay, and wood) to explore conceptual and theoritic questions at the heart of sculptural practice. Prerequisite: ARTS 102 3D (Mixing Medias), or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 230 Beginning Photography

3 credit hours

Introduction to the materials, methods, and techniques used in photography. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 240 Beginning Printmaking

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction to techniques and methods of historical and contemporary printmaking. Rotating topics include silkscreen printing, relief, etching, and lithography. Students explore the production and conceptual questions around the print as an art object. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 250 Beginning Ceramics

3 credit hours

A course offering an introduction to the materials, methods, and basic techniques and skills of ceramic practice, including hand-building, wheel-throwing, and surface design. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 255 Topics in Studio Media

3 credit hours

A lower-division rotating lecture/studio course that focuses on an area of interest and specialty for the instructor. Media and techniques such as watercolor, kiln-worked glass, jewelry, alternative processes in photography, or paper and bookmaking may be explored. Students may repeat this course under a different topic. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 285 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A lower-division lecture/studio class that focuses on areas of interest and specialty in studio arts. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 295 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

A course structured around individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student, which is outside the regular course offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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ARTS 305 Art & Design Professional Networking Seminar

1 credit hour

A weekly seminar course focusing on both professional practice and the application of theory, concepts, and methodology of art historical study by engaging students in discourse surrounding lectures of visiting professional artists. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 310 Intermediate Painting

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of students' skills and techniques for effective painting with acrylics or oils. Students study more complex color mixing and gain further confidence in ones painting ability by understanding additional techniques and gaining the ability to apply them. Prerequisite: ARTS 210 Beginning Painting, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 320 Intermediate Sculpture

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of sculptural practice in a variety of media. Students explore more complex techniques and gain further confidence in diverse media (such as metals, glass, plaster, clay, and wood) to explore conceptual and theoritic questions at the heart of sculptural practice. Prerequisite: ARTS 220 Beginning Sculpture, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 330 Intermediate Photography

3 credit hours

A course offering further studio development of skills and the introduction of more advanced photographic techniques. A focus on medium and large-format camera use is explored, with cameras available for checkout. Prerequisite: ARTS 230 Beginning Photography, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 340 Intermediate Printmaking

3 credit hours

A course offering study into further techniques and methods of historical and contemporary printmaking. Rotating topics include silkscreen printing, relief, etching, and lithography. Intermediate students mix previous print knowledge with current offerings to diversify mark-making abilities. Intermediate students begin conceptualizing intended messages with the specific print media. Prerequisite: ARTS 240 Beginning Printmaking, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 350 Intermediate Ceramics

3 credit hours

A course offering further studio development of the students' ceramics knowledge and skill in hand building, wheel-throwing, and firing techniques. Prerequisite: ARTS 250 Beginning Ceramics, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 355 Topics in Contemporary Practice

3 credit hours

A course focusing on applied and theoretical spaces outside of historical research and interpretation. Students develop their research, presentation, and even technical skills as they apply their creative skills and knowledge to pressing contemporary discussions and practices ranging from Arts Administration to Contemporary Art Forms. Topics are rotated. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 360 Art And Christ

3 credit hours

A seminar course focusing on the study of Christianity's integration within historic and contemporary art and design practices - from the conceptual, theological, and theoretical to the practical. Additionally, students evaluate and articulate how their own practice and their faith/values inform one another. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 365 Topics in Non-Western Art & Design History

3 credit hours

A seminar course focusing on art and design's expressions outside of the 'canon' and how non-Western cultures, such as African, Asian, and Latin American, have influenced history. Topics are rotated. Prerequisite: ARTS 206 Art and Design History I, ARTS 207 Art and Design History II, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 399 Cross-Cultural Experience

3 credit hours

This course offers in-depth discipline specific cross-cultural study designed to enhance the intercultural emphasis of various academic majors. The course includes class meetings followed by travel to various locations throughout the world. Students will use core disciplinary knowledge to serve, learn and interact with other cultures. (Offered in May Term. Students must meet eligibility requirements.) Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 410 Advanced Painting

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of students' skills and techniques for effective painting with acrylics or oils. Students focus on individual artistic development as they combine techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication. Prerequisite: ARTS 310 Intermediate Painting, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 420 Advanced Sculpture

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of students' skills and techniques in sculptural practice in a particular three-dimensional media. Students explore advanced techniques and gain further confidence while clarifying their conceptual and theoretical questions at the heart of the work. Prerequisite: ARTS 320 Intermediate Sculpture, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 430 Advanced Photography

3 credit hours

Focuses on the individual artistic development of students as they combine techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: ARTS 330 Intermediate Photography.

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ARTS 440 Advanced Printmaking

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of students' individual printmaking process and production skills. Students focus on a dedicated process and develop work that combines techniques and subjects into a personal style of visual communication. Prerequisite: ARTS 340 Intermediate Printmaking, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 450 Advanced Ceramics

3 credit hours

A course offering studio development of students' individual artistic development as they combine ceramic techniques and subject matter into a personal style of visual communication that clarifies their conceptual and theoretical questions. Prerequisite: ARTS 350 Intermediate Ceramics, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 455 Topics in Studio Media (Advanced)

3 credit hours

An upper-division rotating lecture/studio course that focuses within an area of interest and specialty for the instructor. Media and techniques such as watercolor, kiln-worked glass, jewelry, alternative processes in photography, or paper and bookmaking may be explored. Students may repeat this course under a different topic. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 485 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

An upper-division lecture/studio class that focuses on areas of interest and specialty in studio arts. Students may need to purchase additional supplies. Additional course fee is required.

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ARTS 495 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

A course structured around individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student, which is outside the regular course offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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ARTS 499 Thesis

2 credit hours

A course focusing on students' ownership of the conceptual and technical development of their practice and maintenance of a studio space. Students identify, research, and begin creating a body of work and a written thesis in their area of interest. Emphasis is placed on strong technical and formal articulation in support of a compelling, developing thesis concept. Professional practices for the emergent practitioner are examined and implemented. Participation in the Professional Networking visiting practitioner program through studio visits and lectures is a key component of this course. Prerequisite: Art and Design major and senior status, or instructor's permission. Additional course fee is required.

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