Total credits required: 120
As a fine art major you will take a series of core courses that provide instruction in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, form/content, experimental studies and modern and contemporary art.
After completing the initial courses you then select a second group of courses that focus on painting, sculpture or photo/videography.
Beyond this you can select from 12 to 24 elective credits. In addition to the elective courses listed on the fine arts electives page, you can take any studio elective course in any department on campus provided you meet the prerequisite requirements. You can tailor your education in a wide range of disciplines that include jewelry, fibers, printmaking, installation art, digital photography, video art, and more.
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Core Courses: 27 credits
- Name3CreditsDescriptionAn introduction to the tools, materials and processes of painting including: building stretcher frames, stretching and preparing the canvas and paint application with various brushes and tools. Topics include: the cultivation of self-expression through exploring basic painting techniques and developing art literacy, including terminology; through critical review and discussion.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionAn introduction to the tools and processes of sculpture including: the perception and manipulation of three-dimensional objects and materials using constructed sculptural techniques. Topics include: realizing self-expression through exploring basic sculptural techniques and developing art literacy, including terminology through critical review and discussion.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course is an introduction to black and white photography; from a working knowledge of the camera through film processing to printing in a darkroom using traditional light sensitive materials. Students will be introduced to the history of photography - its approaches and trends - resulting in a basic knowledge of photography and its relationship to contemporary art. They will begin to explore the relationship between this acquired knowledge in photography and the individual and then begin to apply this knowledge to a realized personal vision through critical thinking and seeing. Students will need a manual 35mm camera and should expect to spend between $150- $200 in materials for this class.
Prerequisite: none. - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis lecture course focuses on issues, art movements, and criticism from 1950 to the present. Students investigate art through the writings of artists and critics that correspond with, but are not limited to, movements that include: Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Earth Art, Process Art, Conceptual Art, Feminist and other political art movements, Video and Multimedia work. Students study important issues and philosophies in contemporary art. Discussions are led by visiting lecturers, and field trips are taken to museums, galleries, and artists' studios. Course work includes a research project covering contemporary artists and issues.
Prerequisite: AH 1020 Issues in Modern and Contemporary Art + Design. - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents thoroughly analyze the total organic structure of a work of art and its meaning. The class also studies light and space in relation to both two and three dimensions. Psychology, theory, history, design, and aesthetics are investigated as tools to develop a visual vocabulary.
Prerequisite: none. - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents explore definitions and applications of contemporary sensibilities. The merging of existing art forms into innovative and experimental approaches, including the utilization of new technologies, also blends into considerations of site and audience in this multi-dimensional course.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course prepares fine art majors with essential knowledge and practical strategies necessary to effectively seek out venues for their own art, which include gallery representation, co-operative and alternate spaces, commissions, government grants, competitions, residencies and graduate schools. The class visits area artists' studios, galleries, art centers and museums. Students are exposed to working professionals such as critics, art administrators, gallery directors and museum curators. At the conclusion of the course, students will have created a professional-grade portfolio, which includes artist statement, resume and photography of artwork. Students use their portfolios to submit applications to exhibitions, residency programs, grants and graduate schools. Students also learn how to properly display, store and ship art using sound archive methods.
Prerequisite: must be a junior or senior. Non-Fine Arts majors accepted upon Department Chair's or Department Head's approval - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course allows students to work independently with the instructor assisting as needed. Personal interpretations of the meaning of art are encouraged. Emphasis is placed on incorporating design elements, material handling, technique, concept development and expression, and in the meaning of the work presented. In-depth individual and group critique analysis is expected.
Prerequisite: must be a junior or senior. - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents explore basic hand building techniques that lend themselves particularly well to the creation of both sculpture and vessels, using the medium of clay. Emphasis is placed on individual style and how clay can be used as a vehicle for expression. Students produce works made from low fire clay using a combination of coil, slab, and texturing techniques. The sculptures and vessels are then fired, and a variety of surface treatments are applied. An introduction to the history of clay in sculpture is presented.
Prerequisite: none
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Sculpture Major: 15 credits
- Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents deal with intermediate sculpture issues as they develop practical skills to create and successfully execute their artwork. A variety of sculptural methods are covered as students are introduced to the history of 20th century art. The course includes exploration of creative processes, honing visual thinking skills, using journaling as a tool, understanding real-world exhibition concerns, and the crucial task of documenting one's work.
Prerequisite: FA 1250 Introduction to Sculpture - Name0CreditsDescriptionStudents who have completed over 60 credit hours (Junior year) are required to participate in a mid-career portfolio review before reaching 90 credits (Senior year). This review is designed to identify students' strengths and weaknesses so that they may address both in their upcoming major course work.
Prerequisite: FD1990 Freshman Portfolio Review - Name3CreditsDescriptionIn this course, students define their individual direction as they investigate more closely the issues that pertain to their work. Through the activity of locating a topic (or topics) of interest, students "exhaust the metaphor" in their work through the development of sound research methods and exploration of various new and traditional sculpture techniques.
Prerequisite: FAS 2250, Sculpture 1: Sculpture Practicum - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis is the first of a two-semester course sequence of sculpture investigations and is designed to further expand awareness of materials and concepts available in the discipline of sculpture. Each semester, contemporary and/or traditional materials and methods are introduced. Topics may include, but are not limited to: kinetic and robotic art, public art, earth art, fibers, interactive art, sound and light, and figure sculptures. At the conclusion of this course, students are versed in the topic of the semester's coursework, and can create work that demonstrates this knowledge.
Prerequisite: FAS 2250 Sculpture 1: Sculpture Practicum. Non-Fine Arts majors accepted upon Department Chair's or Department Head's approval - Name0CreditsDescriptionAll Seniors who are ready to graduate are required to participate in their departmental Senior Portfolio Review, which is always the last day of the term preceding the final term of study. This pre-graduation portfolio review is an initial step in preparing students for both their graduation exhibition and their movement from the academic environment into the professional world. Participation in the Senior Portfolio Review is mandatory.
Prerequisite: FAS 3200 Sculpture Sophomore/Junior Portfolio Review - Name3CreditsDescriptionThrough advanced research, students consider contemporary issues while refining a personal visual vocabulary. Emphasis is on content, idea development and process. At the end of this course, students have progressed their art towards a coherent body of work, evolving out of concepts explored in previous studies. Individual influences and sources are researched and investigated. Extended studies include in-depth readings, reports and visits to area art venues.
Prerequisite: FAS 3250, Sculpture 2: Exhausting the Metaphor - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis is the second of a two-semester course sequence of sculpture investigations and is designed to further expand awareness of materials and concepts available in the discipline of sculpture. Each semester, contemporary and/or traditional materials and methods are introduced. Topics may include, but are not limited to: kinetic and robotic art, public art, earth art, fibers, interactive art, sound and light, and figure sculptures. At the conclusion of this course, students are versed in the topic of the semester's coursework, and can create work that demonstrates this knowledge.
Prerequisite: FAS 2250 Sculpture 1: Sculpture Practicum. Non-Fine Arts majors accepted upon Department Chair's or Department Head's approval.
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Foundation Studies: 18 Credits
- Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course introduces students to the use of the computer as an image-making tool used across all art/design disciplines. Students become familiar with problem solving technical, visual, compositional, and color issues on the computer.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course investigates the language, theories, and practices of color and two-dimensional design in the visual arts. This course familiarizes students with the basic relationships between color and compositional practices such as space, unity, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and proportion.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course engages students in rigorous observational drawing/compositional practices, techniques, and theories to deepen their understanding of drawing as a creative and expressive activity. Students draw from both natural and man-made objects to understand ideas such as design/composition, contrast, proportion, texture, mass, volume, tone, chiaroscuro, and line.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course introduces students to ideas, techniques, and methods of structural based drawing. Students become familiar with one, two, and three point perspective to analyze three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. Students will draw from life and imagination to understand issues of structure, lighting, color, and conceptual ideas as they apply to drawing.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course focuses on the basic anatomy of the human figure. Students improve their understanding of figure drawing through the studies of skeletal structures and muscle masses. Issues such as foreshortening, accurate proportion, lighting, and composition are explored.
Prerequisite: none - Name0CreditsDescriptionThis is a non-credit portfolio review taken by all Freshmen at the end of their second semester of study. Attendance at the Freshman portfolio review is mandatory as this is a graduation requirement.
Prerequisite: two semesters of Foundation study - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course explores theories and practices of three-dimensional design. Students use a variety of materials, processes, and techniques to explore fundamental issues such as volume mass, gravity, tension, compression, light, color, and structure.
Prerequisite: FD 1115 Visual Design 1
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History of Art + Design: 12 credits
- Name3CreditsDescriptionIn the first of four required courses in the history of art and design, students explore the major artists, movements and artistic themes of the Western tradition, beginning with Prehistoric art and concluding with the Gothic in the late thirteenth century. Lectures and readings examine ways in which artists conceive of religion, society, politics and the role of men and women within their historical and stylistic context. In addition, the course considers various media and materials, such as painting, sculpture, and architecture, and the fundamentals of design and composition. At the conclusion of this course, students will recognize a broad range of artists, works, and styles from ancient to medieval art. Further, students will learn to conduct research within the discipline of art history, and write knowledgably on topics from ancient to medieval art.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionIn the second of four required courses in the history of art and design, students explore the major artists, movements and artistic themes of the Western tradition, beginning with the Renaissance and concluding with contemporary art of the twenty-first century. Lectures and readings examine ways in which artists conceive of religion, society, politics and the role of men and women within their historical and stylistic context. In addition, the course considers various media and materials, such as painting, sculpture, and architecture, and the fundamentals of design and composition. At the conclusion of this course, students will recognize a broad range of artists, works, and styles from Renaissance to contemporary art. Further, students will learn to conduct research within the discipline of art history, and write knowledgably on topics from Renaissance to contemporary art.
Prerequisite: AH 1010 Art + Design History 1: Ancient to Medieval - Name3CreditsDescriptionIn the third of four courses focusing on the history of art and design, students study the painting, sculpture, craft, architecture and design of Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China, the Pacific, and the Americas. Students encounter appropriate works from the prehistoric period to the present, exploring the cultural, religious, political and historical circumstances of their creation. Nonwestern art and design are studied both in their own national and cultural contexts and from the perspective of the European cultures.
Prerequisite: AH 1020 Art + Design 2: Renaissance to Contemporary - Name3CreditsDescriptionIn the last of four required courses, students concentrate on one topic in the history of modern and contemporary art and design. Advanced studies are designed to allow students to focus intensively on themes, issues, and theoretical frameworks that define twentieth and twenty-first century art and design. Lectures, readings and assignments emphasize research, writing, and oral presentations. Topics vary from one semester to another. Sample topics include: Modern Latin American Art, Abstract Expressionism, The History of Photography, Modern German Art. At the conclusion of this course, students possess a deeper understanding of art historical movements, methods, and theories. Further, students refine and deepen their research and writing skills, researching and writing knowledgably on topics from the course.
Prerequisite: AH 2010 History of Art + Design in the Nonwestern World
Communication and Critical Thought: 6 credits
- Name3CreditsDescriptionThis is the first course in the Liberal Studies sequence and serves as an introduction to college-level reading, writing, discussion and presentation. Relying upon significant works from our intellectual tradition as stimuli, students will increase their writing skills using a number of different genres and further develop oral communication skills commensurate with those required at the college level.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionIn this second and final course in freshman reading and writing, students explore major paradigms of aesthetic theory. Building upon the work of WO 1020, WO 1060 challenges students to greater complexity of thought and greater competency in verbal and written argumentation. Together, WO 1020 and WO 1060 provide the foundations for the rest of the Liberal Studies curriculum. Thus students will develop information literacy and research abilities, will critically examine the understanding of their own aesthetic, and will foster appropriate levels of communication necessary to proceed in their college careers.
Prerequisite: WO 1020 Written + Oral Communication
Humanities + Contemporary Thought: 9 credits
Seminar 1, Seminar 2 and one other course.- Name3CreditsDescriptionThis is the first of three courses in which students examine important intellectual and social currents of the past in order to develop a broad context and perspective from within which to evaluate their culture, their own work as artists, and their lives as human beings. Students read primary source materials from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, social and political history, drama, poetry, fiction, music, sciences and religion. The goal of this course is not to provide full historical "coverage," but to give students a basic intellectual vocabulary with which to engage in honest self-examination and thoughtful, reflective discourse.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis is the second in a series of three courses in which students examine important intellectual and social currents of the past in order to develop a broad context and perspective from within which to evaluate their culture, their own work as artists, and their lives as human beings. Students read primary source materials from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, social and political history, drama, poetry, fiction, music, sciences and religion. The goal of this course is not to provide full historical "coverage," but to help students develop increasingly sophisticated intellectual vocabulary with which to engage in honest self-examination and thoughtful, reflective discourse.
Prerequisite: HU 2010 Humanities Seminar 1 - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents examine important intellectual and social currents of the past in order to develop a broad context and perspective from within which to evaluate their culture, their own work as artists, and their lives as human beings. In this final course, students focus on contemporary intellectual debates within aesthetic and social theory. This seminar focuses on the body in a variety of forms and across disciplinary and institutional contexts.
Prerequisite: HU 2050 Humanities Seminar 2 - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents examine important intellectual and social currents of the past in order to develop a broad context and perspectives from within which to evaluate their culture, their own work as artists, and their lives as human beings. In this final course, students focus on contemporary intellectual debates within aesthetic and social theory. This seminar focuses on theatre through a multi-disciplinary study, incorporating both theoretical perspectives and practical experiences.
Prerequisite: HU 2050 Humanities Seminar 2 - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents focus on contemporary intellectual debates within aesthetic and social theory. "Identity and Power" examines the role of society and culture in the construction of gender and ethnic differences in the American historical and contemporary contexts. As a result of work in this course, students will: know the history of the feminist movement and the civil rights movement in the United States from the 1800's to the present; understand the impact of these movements on politics and self-identity; critically examine the role of society and culture in the construction of gender and ethnic differences; understand and use social theory to explore social inequalities.
Prerequisite: HU 2050 Humanities Seminar 2 - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis is the third in the series of three courses in which students examine important intellectual and social currents of the past in order to develop a broad context and perspective from within which to evaluate their culture, their own work as artists, and their lives as human beings. This seminar focuses on the activity of consumption in a variety of forms, emphasizing the various relations of human beings to the goods they produce, desire, exchange, and use. In this final course of the Humanities series, students focus on contemporary intellectual debates within aesthetic and social theory. Thus students develop a broad familiarity with the nineteenth century rise and twentieth century development of economic trends and their impact on philosophical, historical and social relations. Further, students gain a greater awareness of the complexities of economic structures and systems that permeate every aspect of contemporary culture.
Prerequisite: HU 2050 Humanities Seminar 2
Mathematics: 3 credits
Choose one of the following:
- Name3CreditsDescriptionFor students who need a fresh start, this course will cover the basic mathematical concepts and skills that are relevant to anyone. This course starts with elementary mathematical operations, followed by the basic concepts of functional analysis, graphs, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability and statistics. Concepts will be introduced with examples that emphasize problem solving using visualization of the problem. Applications will address the many manifestations of mathematical laws in nature. Intended for those with little mathematical background. At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to solve simple mathematical equations, use and understand graphical methods, understand the mathematics of patterns found in nature and art, and appreciate the relevance of mathematics to everyday life: general scientific issues, polls, finance and business.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course introduces students to aspects of mathematics that are particularly relevant to art and design. A basic knowledge of mathematics is required (first year of high school level). Topics include: numeric and geometric patterns in art and nature (Fibonacci series, tilling), symmetry, perspective, polyhedra, equations and graphs of trajectories, computer graphics, and fractals. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to apply mathematical equations to solve problems related to the topics listed above.
Prerequisite: none - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents are exposed to the principles and practices of financial management in the contemporary world. Topics include basic financial concepts and tools, business plans, financial statement analysis, and working capital management investment strategies. Students set an earning goal and design a business plan and investment strategy to reach that goal.
Prerequisite: none
Physical + Natural Science: 3 credits
Choose any one of the following:
- Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course provides a non-mathematical introduction to physical and natural science. Art is shown to be an important thread throughout the history of science, the major scientific revolutions and the major concepts of physical and natural science. Artworks shown in class are used as a starting point for class discussions; as well, the course includes visits to art and natural history museums. The philosophical significance of the concepts of science is studied; for example, the impact of Newtonian science and rationalism on modern society is analyzed, and relativity and quantum theory are compared with earlier concepts.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design - Name3CreditsDescriptionThis course introduces students to the major processes responsible for the physical appearance of our planet and for the changes in our environment. Through the study of minerals and rocks, and through field trips to explore the striking geology of Colorado, students study plate tectonics, volcanism, oceanography and ecological issues. Students explore the connections between art and design and earth science.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents explore the basic aspects of life on Earth, including its requirements and patterns; its basic units; the organization of the living world; and the interdependence of living organisms. The concepts of flow of matter and energy; heredity and natural selection; population dynamics; and community interactions are also examined. Field trips and case studies are used to evaluate the living world. After completion of this course, students will be able to understand how biology explains the living world, and to address the questions of evolution and ethics that face the world today.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design
Social + Behavioral Sciences: 6 credits
Choose two of the following:
- Name3CreditsDescriptionAnthropology is the study of human beings throughout time and across space. In this course, students explore human evolution, our place in the animal kingdom, our knowledge of others, and our knowledge of ourselves through a focus on specific peoples and cultures. Students also critically evaluate our perceived understanding of other cultures and the role of that understanding in our own culture. Outcomes: Students will learn about a variety of cultures; grasp and use the principles governing the discipline of anthropology, including its methods of research and writing.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents investigate the multitude of environmental elements that contribute to the development of the personality or the "self." Humans are born into a preexisting world of social demands and expectations, and so each person's entry into and journey through that world shapes the personality in many ways; the individual journey takes place in the midst of social forces over which one has little or no control. This course provides an understanding of the balance between the internal workings of individuals and the external forces surrounding them.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design - Name3CreditsDescriptionStudents explore the nature and function of belief structures or "world views." The dynamic, living relationship between a religious organization or world view and its immediate cultural environment provides a "living laboratory" for the study of beliefs and believers. Students will gain initial exposure to Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course focuses on the understanding of basic tenets of, as well as the similarities and differences between, belief systems and on developing tolerance for others' views.
Prerequisite: WO 1060 Philosophy of Art + Design