Course Descriptions

ART 100A Introduction to World Art 3 cr. DI
An introduction to the dominant styles in painting, sculpture, architecture, the graphic arts and photography from prehistory to the present. Class lectures and discussions are supported by slides of historically significant works. Course requirements include visits to Boston area museums at students’ expense. Not open to Art Majors. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for ART 100.

ART 101 Color and Design 3 cr.
A development of the individual’s capacity to think in visual terms. Opportunity is provided to analyze the creative process through workshop experiments, which integrate the elements of art and the principles of design with color. Required of Art Majors and Minors. Six scheduled studio hours plus three open studio hours per week.

ART 102 Basic Drawing 3 cr.
A foundation course in drawing techniques using a variety of mediums with emphasis on the realization that drawing is fundamental to every form of art. A wide range of studio problems is offered to develop basic drawing skills. Required of Art Majors and Minors. Six scheduled studio hours plus three open studio hours per week.

ART 200 Glassblowing 3 cr.
A course designed to introduce students to the basic techniques used to form glass blown vessels. Offhand and mold blown forms will be demonstrated. Students will be required to create self-developed projects in a teamwork environment. Historical and contemporary glassworking concepts will be discussed throughout the course. 3- Dimensional Studio elective. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 201 Glass Sculpture (Fall) 3 cr.
An investigation into the uses of glass in a sculptural context. Techniques covered will include solid formed works done on a pipe, molten glass casting, kiln formed processes, and other mixed media applications. Proper use of the annealing ovens and other cold working equipment will be stressed. Students will be required to develop a journal, which will include creative concepts and detailed technical information. 3-Dimensional Studio elective. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 202 Figure Drawing 3 cr.
A studio course that provides students with the opportunity to draw directly from live models. Required of Art Majors. Six scheduled studio hours plus three open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 102.

ART 203 Form and Design 3 cr.
An introduction to concepts of form and space. A three dimensional investigation of design theory and practice is pursued through experiments with wood, plaster, metal and plastics. Required of Art Majors. Six scheduled studio hours plus three open studio hours per week.

ART 232 Prehistoric, Ancient and Medieval Art (Fall) 3 cr. DI
A comprehensive study of the major styles in painting, sculpture and architecture from Prehistory to the end of the Middle Ages. The relationship between the work of art and the social and cultural forces that have contributed to its style and meaning are examined. Class lectures and discussions are supported by slides. A visit to a Boston museum is required. Museum visit at students’ expense. Required of Art Majors. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 233 Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo Art (Spring) 3 cr. DI
A comprehensive study of the major styles in painting, sculpture and architecture from the Proto-Renaissance to the end of the 18th Century. The relationship between the work of art and the social and cultural forces that have contributed to its style and meaning are examined. Class lectures and discussions are supported by slides. A visit to a Boston museum is required. Museum visit at students’ expense. Required of Art Majors. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 234 A History of Landscape Images in Art 3 cr.
An examination of the development of landscape imagery in art from the earliest known appearances in Neolithic art to landscape images in contemporary art. This course will examine how people have interpreted faith, life and ideas into landscape imagery. Paintings and etched scapes, photographic, architectural and environmental projects will be analyzed. Class lectures and discussions are supported by slides. A visit to a museum or gallery is required. Museum visit at students’ expense. Offered only through the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 236 The Arts in America (Spring) 3 cr. DI
A study of painting, sculpture, architecture, and the decorative arts from the colonial period to the present. Emphasis on such major themes and styles as portraiture, genre painting, American impressionism, and modernism, including Native American and African American traditions and Asian influences. Art works will be studied in their cultural, social and political contexts. Course requirements include visits to Museum and historic houses in Salem and Boston. Museum visits at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 300 Introduction to Teaching Art 3 cr.
An introduction to the study of education through the visual arts. Course content includes an exploration of art history, the art of children, cultural and ethnic influences, design and expression and art production. Motivating children and teaching of the visual arts is included, as is the development of a process for assessment. Required of Art Majors in the Art Education Concentrations. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 301 Intermediate Glassblowing 3 cr.
A course which continues the development of the skills learned in glassblowing. Further development of techniques will be crucial to being able to develop more complex forms. Exercises emphasizing detail and craftsmanship will be assigned. Teams will be formed at the beginning of the course utilizing assistants to execute more advanced techniques, including working with came and multiple blown segments and bit work. 3-Dimensional Studio elective. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: Art 201.

ART 302 Stained Glass 3 cr.
An introduction to a variety of techniques developed over the centuries for the fabrication of stained glass panels. Traditional lead came and copper foil construction techniques will be primary forming processes. Mixed media and kiln forming techniques will also be explored as auxiliary approaches to realizing the students’ ideas. 3-Dimensional Studio elective. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 303 Introduction to Electronic Media 3cr.
A course that explores the computer technologies used by graphic designers for page design, layout and typography, and introduces illustration, photo manipulation, and paint and multimedia software. The emphasis is on page layout software as a tool for page assembly, multimedia and World Wide Web applications. Traditional production techniques will be addressed. Required of Art Majors and Graphic and Web Design Minors. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class.

ART 304 Crafts (Spring) 3 cr.
An investigation of the fundamental concepts of crafts in historical and contemporary times as they relate to design and materials. The student will work with wood, metal, fabrics and clay. Required of Art Majors in the Art Education Concentrations. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 305 Representational Painting (Fall, Alternate years) 3 cr.
An introduction to the basic methods of representational painting. This course emphasizes the use of oil paint as a medium for rendering objects and situations realistically. Required of Art Majors in the Painting Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 307 Preparation to Teach Art Pre-K-9 (Spring) 3 cr.
An exploration of the skills and techniques utilized to create and implement art learning experiences. A field component is included requiring classroom observation in local schools. Required of Art Majors in the Art Education Concentration (Pre-K-9). Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 300.

ART 308 Ceramics-Handbuilding 3 cr.
An introduction course designed to offer students the opportunity to investigate handbuilt forms as they relate to function and non-function. While concentrating on techniques of clay construction, the course stresses the use of clay as an art medium, maintaining an emphasis on ceramics in a fine arts context. Required of Art Majors in 3-D Studio Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 310 Illustration 3 cr.
An exploration of the various mediums and techniques the illustrator uses. Specialized problems imposed by mechanical production requirements are considered with emphasis on editorial, book and advertising illustration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 102.

ART 311 Lettering and Calligraphy _(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
An exploration of the alphabet as a language system with its graphic implications. Projects emphasize the visual relationships of formal and informal letterforms as affected by rhythm, line, shape, and texture. The student is introduced to the five basic alphabet styles and type recognition. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 314 Electronic Publication Design 3 cr.
An exploration of publication design through computer application. A study of the creative approaches to the design of brochures, newsletters, annual reports, and pamphlets. Combines the elements of design and production into a single process. Required of Art Majors in the Graphic and Web Design Concentrations and Minors. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class.

ART 315 Typography 3 cr.
A course providing students with an understanding of the art and technique of selecting and arranging type styles, point sizes, line lengths, line and character spacing and word spacing for typeset application. Students will be introduced to the history of the alphabet from early Sumerian pictographs, Phoenician symbols, and Egyptian hieroglyphics through the 20th century. The course will provide students with an understanding of the development of typography from independent movable type to the electronic media. Required of Art Majors in the Graphic Design and Web Design Concentrations. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 316 Printmaking - Monoprint (Fall) 3 cr.
An investigation of the monoprint process including overlay, multiple plate, stencil, collage, sequence and folded imagery. Required of Art Majors in the Printmaking Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 317 Printmaking – Screenprinting (Spring) 3 cr.
An introduction to the theory, techniques and processes of Screenprinting. The medium is explored as a viable means of artistic self-expression. Required of Art Majors in the Printmaking Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 318 Printmaking - Intaglio (Spring) 3 cr.
An investigation of the Intaglio process including drypoint, hard and soft ground etching, aquatint, and color. Required of Art Majors in the Printmaking Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 319 Printmaking - Lithography _(Spring, alternate years) 3 cr.
An introduction to metal plate lithography. Technical and aesthetic aspects of the planographic process are explored in the context of self-expression. Required of Art Majors in the Printmaking Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

back to top

ART 320 Printmaking-Relief (Fall) 3 cr.
An investigation of the relief process including wood and linoleum block printing, divided block printing, reduction and multiple block printing. Required of Art Majors in the Printmaking Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 322A Metals 3 cr.
An opportunity for students to learn techniques in the design and construction of handwrought pieces in sterling silver, copper and brass. 3- Dimensional Studio Elective. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 326 Photography I 3 cr.
A fundamental course in photographic techniques. Emphasis is placed on exposure, developing, printing and the aesthetic evaluation of photographic materials. A 35mm camera with manual override is required. Required in the Photography Minor. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 328 Watercolor Painting (Spring, alternate years) 3 cr.
An investigation of the traditional materials, methods and techniques necessary in the development of watercolor painting. Required of Art Majors in the Painting Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 329 Landscape Painting (Spring, alternate years) 3 cr.
An introduction to the basic methods of landscape painting. This course emphasizes the use of oil paint as a medium of expression for the representation of the natural environment. Required of Art Majors in the Painting Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 330 Mixed-Media Painting _(Fall, alternate years) 3 cr.
An exploration of various nontraditional approaches to image creation including collage, assemblage, and shaped canvas. Required of Art Majors in the Painting Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 332 19th and 20th Century Art (Fall) 3 cr. DI
A course tracing major developments in nineteenth and twentieth-century arts in Europe and America. The works of individual artists are analyzed in terms of personal evolution and as they relate to more general stylistic tendencies. Works of art are discussed within their historical, social, and cultural context. Required of Art Majors. Course requirements include two museum visits at the students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 333 Far Eastern Art (Not offered every year) 3 cr. DI
An overview of the major stylistic developments and their relationships to the basic religious and philosophical tenets of China, Japan, India and Korea. Course requirements include two museum visits at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 334 African, Native American, and Oceanic Art _(Not offered every year) 3 cr. DI
An overview of works of art by African, Native American and Oceanic peoples studied in their social and cultural contexts. Major stylistic developments are related to basic religious and philosophical tenets. Course requirements include two visits to Boston area museums and the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. Museum visits at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 335 The History of Photography_(Spring, alternate years) 3 cr. DI
An overview of the major stylistic and technical developments since the invention of the medium. Photographs are analyzed within the context of the art and culture of the 19th and 20th century. Course requirements include two visits to Boston area museums. Museum visits at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 336 Women, Art and Ideology (Fall, alternate years) 3 cr. DI
An examination of the history of women artists and the images of women in art. Class lectures and discussions are supported by slides. A visit to a local museum or gallery is required. Museum visit at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 337 Non-Representational Painting_(Spring, alternate years) 3 cr.
An introduction to the basic methods of nonrepresentational painting. This course emphasizes the use of oil paint as a medium for rendering the fundamentals of visual experience through the formal elements without descriptive subject matter. Required of Art Majors in the Painting Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 338 History of Graphic Design _(Not offered every year) 3 cr. DI
The course examines art as communication from ancient times to the present, in the contexts of changing world-views, technologies and aesthetic preferences. The fine arts are related to the history of graphic design. The focus is on Western evolutions, with comparisons to Middle Eastern, Far Eastern and African orientations. Substantial attention is given to the modern/contemporary period. Three lecture hours per week.

ART 339 Preparation to Teach Art (5-12) _(Spring) 3 cr.
A study of the skills and techniques needed to teach middle and high school visual art. A field component of 20 hours is included requiring classroom observation and assistance in local schools. Required of Art Majors in the Art Education Concentration (Grades 5-12). Three lecture hours per week.

ART 340 Sculpture-Mixed Media_(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
An exploration of the fundamentals of modeling, carving, casting and assemblage. Required of Art Majors in the 3-Dimensional Studio Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week

ART 344 Photography II 3 cr.
A continuation and refinement of the material covered in Photography I. Editing, sequencing and visual articulation are stressed. Portfolio preparation, darkroom work, and critiques are required. Required of Art Majors in the Photography Concentration and Minor. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 326.

ART 345 Commercial Photography _(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
An introduction to professional studio photography which includes making photographs for advertising, catalogs, publicity and other commercial applications. This course deals with studio setups and camera use for still life and commercial “shoots”. Experience with studio strobe lighting and darkroom printing and finishing techniques is provided. Required of Art Majors in the Photography Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 344.

ART 346 Portrait Photography (Not offered every year) 3 cr.
A course exploring the various approaches to black and white and color photography. Photographing the form with artificial, natural and flash lighting to create atmosphere is explored. Required of Art Majors in the Photography Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 344.

ART 351 Electronic Illustration 3 cr.
A course allowing students with an art and design interest to explore sophisticated computer illustration applications. Operation of the Macintosh graphics system with its appropriate commands is demonstrated. Elements of graphic design including aesthetic consideration are reviewed. Issues related to computer capabilities and limitations, usage, and societal impact are discussed. This course may be used to satisfy computer literacy requirements. Required of Art Majors in the Graphic and Web Design Concentrations and the Web Design Minor. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class.

ART 381 Video and Animation for Multimedia 3cr.
Covers the design, planning and production of video and animation for computer-based interactive multimedia works. Required of Art Majors in the Web Design Concentration. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class. Prerequisite: ART 303 and ART 351, or permission of Department Chairperson.

ART 384 Web Design 3 cr.
This course includes the design and development of a website, the development of graphics, formatting of text, and creating hypertext links. It covers planning, implementing, updating and maintaining a website, file formats and software for Web design. Required of Art Majors in the Web Design Concentration. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class. Not open to students who have received credit for ART 383. Prerequisites: ART 303 and ART 410 or permission of the Department Chairperson.

ART 401 Advanced Drawing 3 cr.
This second level drawing course provides both Art Majors and Non-Art Majors the opportunity to explore, in-depth, the concepts relative to landscape, figure, portraiture, abstraction, and sketching from the imagination. Students will work in their choice of mediums to develop a series of at least 5 drawings as a personal thematic study. Participation in field trips and group critiques is required. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 102.

ART 402 Topics in Renaissance Art 3 cr. DI
An examination of the major ideas and issues in Renaissance Art. This seminar course relates art to cultural, social, philosophical and personal concerns of the artists. Course requirements include visits to Boston area museums at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisites: ART 100A or ART 233.

ART 408 Ceramics - Wheelthrowing 3 cr.
An introductory course designed to offer students the opportunity to investigate wheelthrown forms as they relate to function and non-function. While concentrating on techniques necessary to forming shapes on the wheel, the course stresses the use of the wheel as a tool, maintaining an emphasis on ceramics in a fine arts context. Required of Art Majors in the 3-D Studio Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 410 Electronic Imaging 3 cr.
A study of the electronic methods of capturing, creating and manipulating photographic images through computer applications. Examination of image acquisition devices (scanners, video, still image [camera] capture systems) and the creative application of these devices for the graphic/print media, photographic media and computer presentation media. Required of Art Majors in the Graphic and Web Design Concentrations. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class.

ART 415 Graphic Design Theory and Application 3 cr.
A design studio in the principles and preparation of art work for printing media. Required of Art Majors in the Graphic Design Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisites: ART 303 and ART 314.

ART 416 Graphic Design Portfolio (Spring) 3 cr.
A study of design as a tool for conveying meaning. This course entails solving problems which include the study of letter forms as typographic units, as well as the relationship of basic concepts of visual perception to graphic design. Required of Art Majors in the Graphic Design Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 415.

ART 420 Advanced Web Design 3 cr.
This course covers the fundamentals of web based animation and the techniques for advanced imaging for the Web. It builds upon the basics of design in the development and maintenance of high impact Web sites. It addresses the social, ethical, and legal issues that arise from the effects of the World Wide Web on society. Required of Art Majors in the Web Design Concentration. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class. Prerequisite: Art 384.

ART 430 Multimedia Design 3 cr.
An exploration of multimedia design for the World Wide Web. This includes researching script writing, flow-charting and the creation of storyboards. The integration of sound, video, still imagery, text, and animation are covered. The necessary computer hardware and software, interface design, navigation, and the determination of audience needs are covered. Required of Art Majors in the Web Design Concentration. Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class. Prerequisite: ART 420.

ART 432 Topics in Contemporary Art (Spring) 3 cr. DI
An examination of the major trends in the visual arts and art criticism from 1950 to the present. Media discussed include painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, and new genres. Art works will be studied in their cultural, social, and political contexts. Course requirements include frequent visits to Boston area galleries and museums at students’ expense. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 332

ART 440 Sculpture (Not offered every year) 3 cr.
Subtractive approaches will be covered with an emphasis on the development of a personal style. Required of Art Majors in the 3-D Studio Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

ART 446 Color Photography_(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
An introduction to the technical and aesthetic aspects of color photography. The theory of color, including color temperature and its affect on film filtration, negatives and slides is studied. Required of Art Majors in the Photography Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisites: ART 345 and ART 346.

ART 447 Large Format Photography _(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
A course exploring basic technical and aesthetic application of the 4”x5” view camera. Required of Art Majors in the Photography Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisites: ART 345 and ART 346.

ART 448 Advanced Commercial Photography_(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
An exploration of advanced techniques used in solving visual problems in advertising and other areas of concern to the professional photographer. Complex studio lighting, view camera techniques and color problems are explored. Guest professionals are invited to discuss their work. Field trips to commercial studios are included. Required of Art Majors in the Photography Concentration. Four scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisites: ART 446 and ART 447.

ART 449 Digital Studio Photography_(Not offered every year) 3 cr.
A course that explores the digital aspects of the photographic medium, both technical and aesthetic. This is a studio course involving the digital acquisition and manipulation of images through the use of both camera and computer. Four scheduled studio hours per week plus five open studio hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 345 or permission of Department Chairperson

ART 500 Directed Studies 3 cr.
An opportunity for qualified Art Majors to pursue advanced independent research or studio projects under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Prerequisites: Proposed project outline following established guidelines must be submitted and meet with the approval of the faculty advisor and the Department Chairperson prior to registration.

ART 501 Internship in Art 3 cr.
A program designed to provide on-the-job training and work experience. Students negotiate a commitment of time and services to an art-related business, agency, museum, gallery or individual. Prerequisites: Senior Art Major status and the approval of Department Chairperson.

ART 600H Honors in Art 3 cr.
An opportunity for qualified Senior Art Majors to pursue a one or two semester research or studio project that exhibits substantial knowledge and creative achievement outside of the normal pattern of courses. Students must have the ability to work with a minimum of direction and supervision. A proposal must be submitted and approved. Prerequisites: Senior Art Major status with a minimum average of 3.5 in the Major, Art faculty invitation, and the approval of the Department Chairperson prior to registration.

EDU 338 Teaching Art as a Special Subject (Pre-K-9) _(Fall) 3 cr.
An exploration of curriculum development utilizing art learning experiences previously formulated. Students examine and develop units of learning directed toward one specific concept of art or art history. Open only to and required of all Art Majors in the Art Education Concentration (Pre-K-9). A field component is included requiring classroom observation in local schools. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: ART 307.

EDU 345 Teaching Art in the Middle and High Schools _(Fall) 3 cr.
An exploration of art curriculum development utilizing instructional and assessment techniques from previous learning experiences. A field component of 20 hours is included requiring classroom observation and assistance in local schools. Required of Art Majors in the Art Education Concentration (5-12). Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite ART 339.