Students who have completed over 60 credit hours (at the end of their sophomore year) are required to participate in this mid-career portfolio review. 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

This course examines the relationship of typographic design to illustration. Students will learn to apply the basic elements and principles of graphic design to a range of typographic projects to learn how type works with images to communicate ideas. In addition, students will discuss historical and contemporary use, examining page layout, identifying crucial relationships, with special emphasis on creative typographic design solutions.
Prerequisites: FD1010 Digital Image Making and FD2120 Visual Design 2

This course offers the beginning illustration student a broad view of the major personalities who influenced the illustration field. Examining how past illustrators conceived and produced their artwork for the mass media; this course uncovers the roots of style, and reveals the singular philosophies that shaped the major avenues of illustration.
Prerequisite: none

Students explore a variety of media that are particularly effective for illustrators working with deadlines. The emphasis of this course is experimentation with innovative techniques using both water-based and oil media to discover new ways to express their ideas visually.
Prerequisites: FD 1115 Visual Design 1 and FD 1360 Structural Drawing

This figure drawing course allows students to exercise and develop both observational and constructive drawing skills. Students continue their study of gesture, the effect of light and shade on form, planes, constructive anatomy techniques, and achieving effective proportion through daily drawings of the draped and undraped figure. Character development, pose, composition, and illustrative storytelling themes add interest to the studies. Students use charcoal, conte crayon, inks, and pastels on various drawing surfaces.
Prerequisite: FD 1380 Life Drawing 2

This course introduces basic oil painting materials and methods, using the still life as inspiration to develop the students' perceptual abilities. At the conclusion of this course the student will have been introduced to and understand the basics of observational painting materials and methods in oils, using the still life as subject matter.
Prerequisites: FD 2120 Visual Design 2 and FD 1360 Structural Drawing

This course is the foundation illustration course. Students learn to apply their problem-solving skills to make narrative illustrations in various media, such as pencil, pen and ink, scratchboard, charcoal and watercolor. Students are challenged to develop finished illustrations through a series of preliminary drawings which analyze and direct the meaning of the work. Projects challenge the student's ability to create pictures that communicate to a mass audience with impact and style.
Prerequisite: IL 2510 History of American Illustration

Students paint from live models to further develop artistic skills in this studio course. They explore the potential of the human figure as a vehicle for creative visual expression. The integration of drawing, painting, composition, color and content are important.
Prerequisite: IL 2550 Life Drawing 3: Human Anatomy

All Juniors are required to participate in their departmental Junior portfolio review, which occurs at the completion of the Junior year. This review enables the department to redirect students toward certain remedial tasks and helps them to focus on their professional objectives.
Prerequisite: IL 2000 Illustration Sophomore Portfolio Review

With emphasis on personal style, expressive approaches, and employing both the draped and undraped model, this course continues the anatomical, constructive and compositional ideas introduced in Figure Painting. Oils and acrylics are the primary materials used in this painting course.
Prerequisite: IL 2650 Life Painting 1

Landscape painting continues the illustrator's study of basic oil painting materials and methods. Students further their understanding of representational painting through both studio and location work and employing plein-air studies that observe the landscape to master traditional compositional principles. At the conclusion of the course the student will understand the basics of observational painting in oils, using the landscape as subject matter.
Prerequisite: IL 2650 Still Life Painting

The information age demands that the illustrator must absorb complicated text and summarize it with a single image. In the areas of advertising, editorial and institutional illustration, the artist does just that. This course defines and develops the necessary methods required to successfully conceive and produce powerful single image illustrations that quickly communicate to a mass audience. Studio projects will rely on the analytical method of thumbnail sketches, reference gathering, preliminary drawings, and color studies for the production of finished illustrations.
Prerequisite: IL 2570 Basic Illustration

A figure drawing course that utilizes pastels, watercolors, charcoal, graphite and conte crayon to exercise and develop the drawing skills of the student. Students study advanced concepts of storytelling, costumed drapery, pose, character development, composition, and continue their study of the anatomy with particular emphasis on the head and hands. Students also examine the effect of light on form.
Prerequisite: IL 2550 Life Drawing 3: Human Anatomy

This course is designed to inform students about the issues involved in visual storytelling. Through a series of interpretive studio projects, students will derive their inspiration from various texts, illustrating classic short stories, poems and children's literature. By emphasizing advanced story analysis, development process, pictorial composition and color organization, students will analyze and develop a succession of narrative illustrations.
Prerequisite: IL3590 Conceptual Illustration

Today, illustrators advertise their services to clients through their web page. Knowing the history, limitations and opportunities in web design using various browsers, enables illustrators enrolled in this course to research, design, and implement a professional level web portfolio.
Prerequisites: DM 2110 Vector Illustration and DM 2120 Raster Image Processing

Students specialize in a single area of illustration for the entire term. They may choose illustration projects in editorial, advertising, book, or institutional areas, in order to explore artwork in a related series of instructor-directed themes.
Prerequisite: IL 3660 Illustrating Literature

This is an electronic-based, technology-driven illustration course. Projects in editorial, advertising, and book illustration are created solely on the computer, applying the software programs from previous computer classes to communicate to specific audiences.
Prerequisites: DM 2110 Vector Illustration and DM 2120 Raster Image Processing

Allows Senior students to develop their individual illustration concepts within the boundaries of editorial, advertising, or book illustration areas. Timetables and assignment themes are self-directed in consultation with the instructor. At the end of the course, a portfolio of professional-level work is completed for display in the Graduation Exhibition.
Prerequisite: must be a Senior in your last term

Continued growth in the creation and utilization of computer-generated imagery for the fields of illustration, advertising, and graphic design is a necessity today. This course is designed for students interested in exploring the potential of computer illustration as it applies to the profession. The course covers 2-D computer paint and text systems.
Prerequisite: FD 1010 Digital Image Making

Adobe Photoshop is an industry-based image-manipulation processing program. The designer, illustrator, or fine artist can use the program as a paint, prepress, color correction, and darkroom system. Numerous image effects are possible after black and white or color images have been scanned and/ or electronically created.
Prerequisite: FD 1010 Digital Image Making

This course will focus entirely on finely rendered small scale pencil drawings. At the completion of this course the student will have a great appreciation of how to apply sharp focus line drawing, fundamental perspective methods, tonal emphasis, and subtle form description as it pertains to narrative illustrations.
Prerequisites:none

Students of all abilities learn wildlife sketching and drawing techniques based on comparative anatomical studies of the principle families of animals. Various resources available to the artist are explored in order to create accurate environments for animal art. Sessions take place at the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Prerequisite: FD 1360 Structural Drawing

Students are familiarized with the illustrator's role in the development and creation of a children's book. Assignments include breaking up manuscripts, designing characters, creating a storyboard, a wrap around jacket, a 3-D page dummy and several finished pieces. Other areas covered in class are story flow, consistency, age-appropriateness, professional practices, working with text, design, color and composition.
Prerequisite: IL 2570 Basic Illustration

Telling good stories involves creating memorable characters. How is this accomplished? What is the role of costume? How can the artist develop vivid personalities to inhabit the author's stories? How does knowing the audience help define the character? The answers to these questions are the basis for this advanced course in character design. Students develop a series of characters traditionally on paper (character sketches, turnarounds, sheets and finished drawings) and with Sculpey or other clay 3-D materials.
Prerequisite: IL 3610 Life Drawing 4

Children's Book Illustration 2 is the second half of Children's Book Illustration 1. Individual assignments augment the earlier course and extend the practical methods.
Prerequisite: IL 3650 Children's Book Illustration 1

This 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

This 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

This 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

This 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

This 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

This course introduces students to expressive issues in drawing the human figure. Students learn to analyze the figure in terms of planes, masses, shapes, action, proportion, rhythm and personal mark making. Areas covered include: gesture, quick sketch, long poses, foreshortening and composition.
Prerequisite: FD 1370 Life Drawing 1

This 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

This 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

In 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

In 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

In 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

In 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

This 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

In 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

This 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

This 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

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. 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

Students 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

Students 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

This 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

For 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

This 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

Students 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

This 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

This 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

Students 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

Anthropology 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

Students 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

Students 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