Courses

• CFA AR 587: Information Design
  This course explores ways of graphically structuring information. Students will learn process, organize and ultimately symbolize and visualize complex and quantitative information. Focus is on information graphics that reveal multiple hierarchies of data, through which new relationships are made visible. Representation (determining an appropriate form language for an idea) and narrative structure (main organizing principle) are the frameworks that will be studied in order to create precise, clear, legible and efficient communication. Open to undergraduate and graduate graphic design students. 2 cr.
• CFA AR 589: Interactive Design
  This course opens the door to different ways of thinking and making forms, and adding interactivity through computer programming and looks at how it can be used for creative projects by creating a new context or extending what we already know. Class time will be split between lectures, work sessions, discussions, presentations and critiques. 2cr
• CFA AR 594: Graphic Design Theory
  Students will be exposed to the writings of early 20th century avant garde designers, mid-century proponents of the International Style and design neutrality, poststructuralist theories of the 80's and 90's, the shift back to the notion as the designer as an individualized author in the early00's, and current debate over issues of technology and the designer as an agent of social change. This course will include weekly readings and written responses. Each week, a student will be assigned to present the reading(s) for the week, and introduce the work of the designer(s)/author(s) to be discussed. There will also be a studio component to create a designed visual response to one or more of the readings covered. This will be an elective course open to MFA students in graphic design. 2 cr
• CFA AR 595: Visual Systems
  This course is focused on research and application of visual systems as a subject matter. Student investigations of modules and relatedness will form how visual systems direct and influence a creative process. While most design assignments require a visual or typographic system this course will address systems as a conceptual inquiry. Students will conduct a holistic exploration of abstract and physical systems to consider speculative solutions grounding visual systems in context. Lectures will discuss systems in nature, sciences, architecture, math, music and linguistics as well as technological applications within the design and art world. Design problems will approach analysis of systems and form as a visual response related to object, material and space. Open to undergraduate and graduate students this elective course meets once a week. 2cr; meets 3 hours a week.
• CFA AR 597: Experience Design
  Students will study and design interactive experiences in physical space. Emphasis is on how user experince shapes design. Projects include designing usable, interactive environments across a range of scales from mobile devices to social networks to museum displays and finally full scale architectural spaces. Work will be generated and discussed in terms of: concept development, media production, prototyping and implementation.
• CFA AR 600: Contemporary Issues in Art Education (Online Only)
  Examines current trends in practice and theory as well as artists of the past and present who express contemporary personal, social and global concerns in their work. Discussions are focused on how the course content can influence classroom curriculum and instruction. Students conduct library research to find related articles on a topic relative to the course content. Assignments are written, visual and digital.
• CFA AR 601: Graduate Typography
  The ability to communicate graphically and typographically sits at the forefront a successful graphic design practice. Graduate typography presents an opportunity for advanced study of the relationship between form and language in order to develop a strong typographic acumen for print and screen. Students will build upon fundamental elements of typography to explore advanced practical and hypothetical applications. Projects rely on a mastery of traditional typographic methods as a basis to discover innovative typographic forms and concepts for print and screen. 4 credits. 3 contact hours per week. Fall or spring semester.
• CFA AR 610: Teaching Art to Special Populations (Online Only)
  Provides an examination of approaches to the education of children with special needs. Designed to help the art specialist integrate special youngsters into heterogeneous school settings; coursework includes the study of behavior, assessment, linguistic needs, classroom management, and different modes of interdisciplinary and intercultural learning.
• CFA AR 620: Art Curriculum Planning (Online Only)
  The study of contemporary techniques for implementation of goals in planning curricula and programs of study for all levels Pre-K-8 and 5-12. Instruction includes consideration of scope and sequence in relation to stages of development, and community and individual needs. A substantial terminal written project is required.
• CFA AR 621: Site-spec. Art
  This graduate level elective will be interdisciplinary and open to students in all majors, both in the Visual Arts program and all other schools in the university. The course aims to instruct students in the professional practice of making site-specific art commissions for public and private clients. The students will gain professional skills in the development of a site-specific work of art that will require the utilization of a variety of media, an interdisciplinary approach and team work. Students will also learn how to work and negotiate with prospective clients who wish to contract site-specific art for particular settings and architectural environments. Credit amount varies.
• CFA AR 636: Anatomy and Figure Drawing
  Drawing analysis of the human figure with emphasis on anatomical structure; study of the skeleton and muscle groups as they affect volume and surface definition. Drawing from the living model, prepared skeleton, and anatomical casts; as well as compositional work from memory. 4 cr
• CFA AR 638: Drawing Concepts
  Discussion of a broad range of drawing issues, including drawing from memory, and from secondary sources. Introduction of subjects explored in non-representational drawing traditions. Drawing process will be emphasized through a study of drawing media- such as water-based inks and paints, collage, and pastel- to address both aesthetic and technical concerns. 4 cr
• CFA AR 639: Figure Drawing
  The focus of this class will be to teach students to think and understand the principles of drawing as a visual language. Class will involve an in-depth study of the human figure. Students will make a series of drawings and sketches in a variety of mediums, including graphite, charcoal, conte, ink, etc. Students will study from a live model, and will use the human figure as a vehicle to better understand the fundamentals of organic form, proportion, and balance. 4 cr
• CFA AR 640: Pro Prac:Intern
  
• CFA AR 670: Advocacy and Policy in Arts Education (Online only)
  This course is intended to address policy issues and advocacy strategies for leaders in the arts. Local, State and National Arts Education policies and advocacy programs will be addressed. Students will research agencies, partners and other organizations beyond the schools that serve as sources for advocacy and often influence policy. Students in this course should develop the knowledge and expertise in understanding needs for change and developing plans for advocacy.
• CFA AR 680: Insightful and Creative Leadership in Arts Education
  This course is designed to acquaint and prepare in service art teachers with the basic skills and organizational strategies of leadership and management that are needed to serve within school systems and arts educational organizations. Our goal is to prepare in-service art teachers for insightful and strategic leadership within arts educational settings and to be effective agents of change along with being effective teachers and researchers. The course is grounded in theory as well as practice and brings together a community of art educators who will come together ' virtually' through collaborative exercises as well as will have opportunities to work with their own school leadership teams. This course will also bring in guest speakers, exemplary practitioners, researchers and policy makers from academia, public schools and school districts, charter schools and education management organizations, private and independent schools, business, and other organizations to share their experience, research, and insights about effective leadership practices.
• CFA AR 690: History of Art Education (Online Only)
  This course is intended to enrich art educators' understanding of the origins and on-going development of Visual Arts education in the United States. It will acquaint students with the rich history of their field through discussion, research and writing a historical paper. Beginning with the emergence of art education through an early apprenticeship model and progressing through the centuries to a Contemporary understanding of what Visual Art Education means and is, grounds the content of this course.
• CFA AR 747: Advanced Printmaking (Variable credit)
  This course offers intensive professional study in printmaking techniques to students who wish to focus on the print as they expand their personal visual statement, through workshop practice, critique and the refinement of critical thinking. Students may also add basic techniques to their vocabulary. Experimentation is encouraged while students develop technical skill and independent problem solving through print. In addition to demonstrations and hands-on guidance, the opportunity to combine printing applications and experimental media will be an option, as well as the opportunity to print at large scale. The class will be introduced to contemporary artists engaged in print practice through presentations, field trips to exhibitions and visiting artists.
• CFA AR 765: Practicum PreK-8
  Graduate studio teaching majors complete student teaching at the pre-K - grade 8 levels. The student intern, who is supervised by art education faculty in collaboration with the cooperating teacher, completes an eight-week practicum. A preliminary visit by the supervising faculty member occurs during the first two weeks and is followed by three announced formal observations recurring on a two-week cycle during which the student assumes responsibilities for one-third, two-thirds, and the full cooperating teacher's duties.
• CFA AR 766: Practicum 5-12
  Graduate studio teaching majors complete student teaching at the preK -- grade 8 levels. The student intern, who is supervised by art education faculty in collaboration with the cooperating teacher, completes an eight-week practicum. A preliminary visit by the supervising faculty member occurs during the first two weeks and is followed by three announced formal observations recurring on a two-week cycle during which the student assumes responsibilities for one-third, two-thirds, and the full cooperating teacher's duties.

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