Art Education & Art History (BFA)

Learn about the materials, tools, and techniques of the past and present. You'll explore art and the art-making process through hands-on studio work, theoretical investigation, weekly written assignments, and a final research paper focusing on a particular material/technique.

Examine the major styles of art and architecture in Western civilization from prehistory to the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods.

Explore the major styles of art and architecture in Western civilization from the high Renaissance through the 19th century.

Study Western fine art movements from the late 19th century to the present, including Post-Impressionism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Futurism, Dadaism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Pop Art, Performance Art, Graffiti, and Post-Modernism.

Gain insights into the art, architecture, and history of the ancient classical era, Greece and Rome, Mesopotamia and Egypt, through a study of historical context, literary, and philosophical texts of the era. (This course is cross-listed with LA 327.)

Research and write your final undergraduate art history thesis. You will independently craft a scholarly argument, explore the scholarship, and thoughtfully write a final thesis with the support of an advisor.

Understanding the full breadth of a program can help you prepare for success. Get insights into the history of art education, pedagogy, visual arts standards, advocacy, managing a classroom, and professional readiness.

Effective teaching starts with healthy psychological principles. Explore educational practices, student development and characteristics, learning processes, and teaching strategies to better understand your students and yourself. (This course is cross-listed with ARE 600, GLA 600, and LA 305.)

Create lessons and curriculum for art classrooms, museums, and community settings. To support your Midpoint Review, you will organize your artwork, lessons, and journal reflections into an Art and Process Portfolio.

Students in this final Art Education course will synthesize knowledge from previous coursework with comprehensive field experience in an art education setting, i.e., turn theory into practice. Students will develop their own personal Art Education philosophy and mission statement as well as an advocacy plan. The course will also support preparation for their Final Review which will highlight their accomplishments as both an artist and an educator.

Explore the full array of curriculum-based technologies being used in today's art education settings. 21st-century teachers need to be fluent in technology literacy. This course fulfills a California Art Teaching Credential requirement. (This course is cross-listed with ARE 615.)

Learn the indication of form, color, light and shadow through still life painting. Create interesting compositions along with various concepts relating to all majors.

Learn to use the direct photo emulsion stencil method of printing with water-based inks. You'll learn to use a variety of papers and inks to create works of fine art and contemporary communications.

Know your print mediums. You'll learn traditional printmaking processes like etching, silkscreen, monotype, book arts, lithography, and relief printing to produce a portfolio and a book of prints.

How does the art of bookmaking relate to your work and direction? You'll develop answers to that question through a critical examination of the concept of bookmaking and an exploration of diverse binding forms. (This course is cross-listed with FA 631.)

Explore the nature of three-dimensional form. You'll create a sculpture to gain technical skills, hands-on experience, and a knowledge of sculptural materials.

In-depth study of classical drawing principles on achieving heightened realism in imagery. Learn how to incorporate accurate geometrical construction and use the five-value system to analyze light and shadow on forms. Gaining skills in perspective, composition, and rendering of various textures and materials.

Learn to draw the human figure with accuracy. You'll draw from the nude model to develop an understanding of gesture, proportion, rhythm, balance, structure, and musculature.

Take a deep dive into color and design. Using traditional media, explore color harmony using different color schemes. Learn how psychology, simultaneous contrast, proportion, atmospheric depth, muting and toning, light temperature, design unity, and visual emphasis can enhance imagery.

Learn to sculpt the nude human figure. You'll explore human proportion, structure, geometry, balance, and anatomy to enhance your understanding of 3D form, volume, and space.

Explore the concepts of truth, beauty, artistic form, unity, expression, representation, and taste by reading philosophers and artists, including Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche, Croce, Henri, Rodin, and Hughes.

Explore art outside of the Western tradition. Taking a cross-cultural approach, you'll learn to recognize what art communicates about Asian, African, Polynesian, and Pre-Columbian American cultures. NOTE: LA 326 meets the undergraduate Cultural Ideas & Influences requirement. Students may also seek director approval to apply this course towards the undergraduate Art Historical Awareness requirement.

Discover the art and architecture from the Early Christian and Byzantine Empires to the start of the Renaissance. You'll analyze the historical context and literary and philosophical texts of the era.