Courses Offered in Art + Design

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 ART100.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

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. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

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. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course allows non-Art majors to explore the theory, history, techniques and processes of printmaking. Printmaking processes including screen-printing, mono-printing, lithography, intaglio, or relief printmaking, will assist in the preparation of an introductory printmaking portfolio. The medium is explored as a viable means of artistic self-expression. Six scheduled studio hours plus three open
studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

This is a studio class that introduces creative expression through the fine art of painting. Students will work in the medium to explore the techniques, processes and theories of painting as an access point to creative expression. In this course students will prepare a series of paintings informed by different approaches to painting in contemporary art; throughout history; and from around the world. Special concern will be paid to each student's individual level of development. This course is not open to Art+Design majors. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

This studio-based course is designed to introduce non-Art majors to the technical and aesthetic aspects of digital photography, including the acquisition and manipulation of images using both camera and computer. The student will achieve an understanding of the medium of digital photography and will become more comfortable and confident in their ability to see, interpret, and express the visual world. Emphasis will be placed on building vocabulary while developing students' abilities to constructively analyze and critique work. 5.33 scheduled studio hours per week plus five open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

This studio based course is designed to introduce non-Art majors to fundamental drawing concepts while working from direct observation with a variety of materials The student will achieve an understanding of what the act of drawing is about and will become more comfortable and confident in their ability to see interpret and express the visual world. Emphasis is placed on learning to observe, interpret and represent forms accurately. Additional emphasis will be placed on building vocabulary while developing students' abilities to constructive analyze and critique work. 5.33 scheduled studio hours plus five open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

A studio course that provides students with the opportunity to draw directly from live models. Required of Art Majors. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART102.

Credits: 3.00

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. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces students to basic design principles and processes used by designers, illustrators, and photographers for both screen and print. Students will explore the fundamental techniques of graphic design with an emphasis on conceptual and aesthetic concerns along with developing approaches to the creative process. Required of all majors and Graphic Design and User Experience and Interface Design minors. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week. Not open to students who have received credit for ART303-Introduction to Electronic Media.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

This course introduces students to the technical and aesthetic aspects of digital photography, including the acquisition and manipulation of images using both camera and computer. A digital camera with manual settings is required. Required of Art + Design majors in the Graphic Design and Studio Art & Photography concentrations. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Not open to students who have taken ART324-Basic Digital Photography.

Credits: 3.00

An experimental investigation of monoprint, combining the immediacy of painting with distinctive printmaking techniques. The resulting prints possess unique qualities that cannot be duplicated. Techniques may include overlay, reduction, rolled color, stencil, collage, multi-plate printing, and laser print transfer. 2-Dimensional Studio Elective in the Graphic Design concentration; Depth or Breadth Elective in the Studio Art & Photography concentration; and Elective for the 2-Dimensional Minor. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week. 

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

An introduction to the medium of serigraphy (screenprinting) as a means of creating multiples and as a viable means of self-expression. The process demands that an image be deconstructed into multiple layers which are then reconstituted by forcing ink onto paper through a mesh screen. Investigation of color theory, the history of the medium, hand-drawn transparencies, photo-stencils, and the appropriation of imagery are central to this course. 2-Dimensional Studio Elective in the Graphic Design concentration; Depth or Breadth Elective in the Studio Art & Photography concentration; and Elective for the 2-Dimensional Minor. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

An investigation of intaglio printmaking processes focused on utilizing low-toxicity corrosive chemicals to etch images onto metal plates. Techniques such as dry point, engraving, aquatint, experimental grounds, and multi-plate printing may also be explored. 2-Dimensional Studio Elective in the Graphic Design concentration; Depth or Breadth Elective in the Studio Art & Photography concentration; and Elective for the 2-Dimensional Minor. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

Block-printing, humankind’s oldest form of image reproduction, is investigated primarily through carving into wood and linoleum blocks. History of the medium and techniques including multiple block, reduction, and divided block printing are explored. 2-Dimensional Studio Elective in the Graphic Design concentration; Depth or Breadth Elective in the Studio Art & Photography concentration; and Elective for the 2-Dimensional Minor. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

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.

Credits: 3.00

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.

Credits: 3.00

What insights can works of art give us into American history and culture? How have Americans expressed social, aesthetic, and political beliefs through their creation of and reaction to works of art and visual culture? How has cultural context affected artists' decisions about style and subject matter? This course explores these questions through the study of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, and decorative arts created from the colonial period to the 1940's, including Native American and African American traditions. Course requirements include visits, at students' expense, to museums and historic houses in Salem and the Boston area. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: The Human Past

This course covers the design and use of letter forms, typographic page layout, hierarchy of information, major type families and their characteristics, type as expression, and legibility/readability issues. Students will develop original typographic designs with the goal of enhancing their sensitivity to the shapes and uses of letter forms and typefaces within graphic design. The history of the development and classification of typefaces is introduced. Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week. Not open to students who have taken ART315-Typography.
Prerequisite: ART204

Credits: 3.00

This course is an in-depth study of the digital methods of photographic image acquisition, creation and manipulation for graphic design and interactive multimedia application. Current digital technology and image editing software are fully examined and the techniques are applied through the traditional artistic approaches to design. Emphasis is place on creative and original solutions to assigned design problems. Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week. Not open to students who have taken ART410-Digital Imaging.
Prerequisite: ART204

Credits: 3.00

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. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

An introductory course designed to offer students the opportunity to investigate hand built 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. 3-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

This course focuses on both the technical proficiency and the graphic design methods used in producing a range of publications such as brochures, magazines, and annual reports. Students create electronic pre-press files using industry standard software. The complexities of layout and grid systems are covered, including the use and integration of images, typography, and other graphic design elements. Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration and Graphic Design minors. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART303.

Credits: 3.00

An investigation of the monoprint process including overlay, multiple plate, stencil, collage, sequence and folded imagery. Required of Art majors in the Printmaking concentration. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

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. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

An investigation of the Intaglio process including dry point, hard and soft ground etching, aquatint, and color. Required of Art majors in the Printmaking concentration. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

An introduction to metal plate lithography. Technical and aesthetic aspects of the planographic process are explored in the context of self-expression. 2-Dimensional Studio Elective in the Graphic Design concentration; Depth or Breadth Elective in the Studio Art & Photography concentration; and Elective for the 2-Dimensional Minor. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

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. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

This course introduces students to the world of photojournalism through study and practice. Issue relating to workflow, editing and sequencing will be discussed, leading to the production of a photographic essay. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART176, ART205, or ART326

Credits: 3.00

This is a fundamental course in chemical photographic techniques. Emphasis is placed on exposure, developing, printing and the aesthetic evaluation of photographic materials. A 35mm film camera with manual over-ride is required; loaner cameras are available. Required of Photography minors. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

An investigation of the traditional materials, methods and techniques necessary in the development of watercolor painting. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

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. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

An exploration of various non-traditional approaches to image creation including collage, assemblage, and shaped canvas. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course traces major artistic developments from the Neoclassical period of the late 18th Century to the present. Students will explore art and visual culture from aesthetic, technical, and socio-cultural perspectives. They will also learn about and practice discipline specific strategies for thinking and writing about art and different genres of art writing. Course requirements include visits to Salem and Boston area museums at students' expense. Three lecture hours per week. Required of Art + Design majors. Not open to students who have received credit for ART332.
Prerequisite: W-I course; Prerequisite or Co-requisite: W-II course.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Written Commun-Level III

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. Not open to students who received credit for ART333.

Credits: 3.00

An overview of works of art by Native American and African 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. Not open to students who have received credit for ART334.

Credits: 3.00

This course explores the history of women artists and the representation of women in art and visual culture. We will examine historical changes in training and exhibition opportunities for women, and explore shifting ideas about appropriate subject matter and materials for female artists. We will also analyze how visual representations of women have contributed to cultural beliefs about gender. In the process, students be hone their ability to describe, analyze, and interpret images verbally and in writing. Visits at students' expense to Salem and Boston area museums are required.. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

An introduction to the basic methods of non-representational 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. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

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. : Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

An exploration of the fundamentals of modeling, carving, casting and assemblage. Required of Art majors in the 3-Dimensional Studio concentration. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This is a continuation and refinement of the material covered in Basic Darkroom Photography. Editing, sequencing and visual articulation are stressed. Portfolio preparation, darkroom work, and critiques are required. Required of Photography minor. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART326.

Credits: 3.00

This is a course exploring the various approaches to professional portrait photography, in both studio and environmental settings. Experience with studio strobe lighting and digital retouching is provided. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART176, ART205 or ART326

Credits: 3.00

This course is an in-depth study of vector-based methods for the creation of digital illustration for print and digital projects with expressive, technical and information-based source. Elements of graphic design including aesthetic and contextual consideration are reviewed. Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisites: ART204

Credits: 3.00

This course offers a hands-on approach to the practice of User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) design. The development of engaging interfaces for mobile apps and websites requires both good design and good user research. You will apply research visualization techniques to the development of portfolio-ready interface prototypes. Along the way, you will learn to develop design systems that effectively employ typography, layout and photography. The course culminates with a comprehensive interface design project defined by you. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course includes the design and development of a web site, the development of graphics, formatting of text, and creating hypertext links. It covers planning, implementing, updating and maintaining a web site, file formats and software for Web Design. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week. Prerequisites: ART375

Credits: 3.00

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. 2-Dimensional Studio elective. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART102.

Credits: 3.00

This course is a secondary exploration of the theory, techniques and processes of printmaking. It represents a continuation of the printmaking techniques of screenprinting, monoprinting, lithography, intaglio, or relief printmaking and will assist in the preparation of a printmaking portfolio. The medium is explored as a viable means of artistic self-expression. 2-Dimensional Studio Elective in the Graphic Design concentration; Depth or Breadth Elective in the Studio Art & Photography concentration; and Elective for the 2-Dimensional Minor. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: One of the following: ART216, ART217, ART218, ART220, or ART319.

Credits: 3.00

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. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Creative Expression & Apprec

In this course, students study design as a tool for conveying meaning. Students work on complex projects such a visual identity systems, conduct research, and develop content while studying methods used in professional design studios and advertising agencies. Finished work is portfolio quality and demonstrates an understanding of formal graphic design principles as well as competent technical and craft skills. Projects also allow opportunities to discuss professional business practices. Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisites: ART314.

Credits: 3.00

In this course, students prepare a portfolio for a position in graphic design, advertising, or for graduate study. The portfolio demonstrates competency in graphic design, conceptual thinking, and craft. Coursework focuses on the refinement of designer's visual perception, problem solving, and group critiques. Students produce a resume and portfolio, and participate in a final portfolio review with a professional from the design community. Required of Art majors in the Graphic Design concentration. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART415.

Credits: 3.00

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: ART100A or ART332A or permission of the Department Chairperson.

Credits: 3.00

This is an introduction to the technical and aesthetic aspects of color photography. The theory of color, including color temperature and its effect on photographic image making, is explored. Experience with digital retouching is provided. Five and one-half studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART176, ART205 or ART326

Credits: 3.00

This is a course that explores the digital aspects of the photographic medium, both technical and aesthetic. This is an advanced course involving the digital acquisition and manipulation of images through the use of both camera and computer. Five and one-half scheduled studio hours plus three and one-half open studio hours per week.
Prerequisite: ART176, ART205, or ART326

Credits: 3.00

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 guidle lines must be submitted and meet with the approval of the faculty advisor and the Department Chairperson prior to registration.

Credits: 3.00

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.

Credits: 3.00

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

Credits: 3.00

This course will introduce students to the experience of academic exploration that is at the heart of a liberal arts education. Through study of one or more compelling questions or topics in a small seminar setting, students will practice creative and critical thinking and will learn to express themselves effectively and appropriately in a college setting. They will develop relationships and practices that allow them to effectively utilize college resources and become members of a community of learners. The specific topic of the seminar will be developed by individual faculty and will be announced in advance. First year seminars are required for first-year students and transfer students with fewer than 15 credits. Not open to students who have received credit for IDS 189 or another first year seminar course.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: First Year Seminar