Mar 28, 2024  
2011-2012 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Visual Design Major


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BFA degree

Visual Design Options

Visual Design is a cluster of professionally-oriented options: Digital Media, Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography. The emphasis throughout these programs is communication. Students explore visual communication in the widest sense, employing both traditional and contemporary digital technologies.

Faculty representing a variety of philosophies and viewpoints teach visual design as an art form, as a craft, or as information dissemination for education, business and commerce, or the entertainment industries. The modern visual artist/designer must be broadly-educated, articulate and literate; s/he must be an active participant in all levels of a project, not merely someone who dutifully packages the finished product.

Student Reviews

Each Visual Design option has a list of designated courses, each of which requires a grade of C or better. A student who receives a C- or below in a designated course shall be subject to dismissal from the major option. The student shall be reviewed by the department chairperson (or designee) and a minimum of one faculty member from the student’s option. The review will determine whether the student may continue in the option. If continuance is denied, the student will be offered academic advising. If continuance is approved, conditions will be stipulated in writing. If the minimum required grade has not been earned in a course, the course may be repeated subject to the University’s regulations which allow for course repetition only if space is available and only with consent of the chairperson and advisor. If the course to be repeated is a prerequisite for the next required level, the student’s advancement may be delayed by a full year. A student who receives a second grade of C- or lower  in a designated course during a subsequent semester shall be subject to dismissal from all Visual Design options.

Foundation Studio Arts Program


Required of All Majors (except Art History and Music)

Foundation Studio Arts is a rigorous two-semester program. It is designed to promote creativity, to develop technical and conceptual skills, and to provide an essential awareness of our visual culture. Its drawing, two-dimensional and three-dimensional courses serve as prerequisites-requisites for all 200 or higher-level courses in Fine Arts, Artisanry, Visual Design and Art Education. Its art history components, Renaissance to Modern Art and Modern to Contemporary Art, serve as prerequisites for the higher-level Department of Art History study that is demanded by each of the studio art departments.

Except where transferred or advance placement examination credits are accepted in lieu of requirements, first-year students may expect to take seven courses, totaling 17 credits, in each of their two freshman semesters: One drawing course, one two-dimensional studio course, one three-dimensional studio course, one art history course, one English course, one single-credit Foundation Studio Arts lecture course (Visual Arts Colloquium I and II) and one non-studio class are taken each semester.

The successful completion of the Foundation Studio Arts program is a required of all candidates for a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
 

Digital Media Option


With concentrated studies in animation and interactive media, the Digital Media program at UMass Dartmouth is an integrated design and technology program with the mission of providing future creative leaders the skills and knowledge to meet the design and communication challenges of the  twenty-first century. A key objective is to develop graduates who are broadly educated, articulate, scholarly, visually-sophisticated and capable of active participation in all phases of the design process. The Digital Media option offers students the opportunity to improve their critical thinking and aesthetic abilities while gaining an in-depth understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of various types of media and technologies.

Curricular offerings include: digital imaging, storytelling and storyboarding, two and three-dimensional animation, three-dimensional modeling, interactive design, web design and virtual reality studies.

Order of courses

DES 251, DES 254 and DES 284 are prerequisites for DES 383. DES 383, 384, 483 and 484 must be taken sequentially. During the senior year, students are required to take two courses from the digital media senior electives list.

Free Electives

All university courses (including studios and studio electives) may be used as free electives.

*Designated Course

Students in this program must complete the course(s) indicated with a grade of C or better; if a C- or lower is received, the course must be retaken. For full details, see the “Student Reviews” paragraph above.

Requirements


Art History


  • ARH 3xx/4xx Art History Elective-3 credits

(DES 331, History of Design or ARH 332, History of New Media recommended)

General Education/Distribution


  • ENL English elective - 3
  • MTH Mathematics elective - 3
  • Science electives - 6

Non-Studio Electives


Select to meet remaining General Education requirements

  • Four courses at any level - 12 credits
  • One course at 300 or 400 level - 3 credits

Free Electives


  •  Three courses at any level - 9 credits

Major Studios


* The following are designated courses.

Studio Options and Additional Requirements


  • FIA 200-Level Drawing I - 3
    (consult advisor on selection)
  • FIA 200-Level Drawing II - 3
    (consult advisor on selection)
  • DES, FIA, ATR, AED Three Studio Electives - 9

* The following are designated courses.

Total credits: 124


General Education Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Visual Design/Digital Media will meet their departmentally-determined General Education requirements as follows:

Area E


Satisfied by any university course bearing E credit

Area I, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

Area W, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

Area O


Satisfied by any university course bearing O credit

Graphic Design Option


The Graphic Design option emphasizes the process of visual communication in a context of message, audience, environment and technology. Students learn how to approach research and analysis of content as part of the design process, and learn to develop graphic translations (symbols, books, posters and interactive media) based on that research and analysis. In addition, classical and contemporary issues of typography are explored within the program. Projects in diverse media include letterform design, information design, book and periodical design, letterpress printing and web design.

Students are introduced to a historical context of visual design as well as to state-of-the-art practices. This program prepares students for the diverse opportunities available in professional design practice as well as a continuing quest for personal and creative growth.

Recommended Studio and Non-Studio Electives

ATR 3xx Papermaking

DES 204 Media Techniques

DES 211 Color Studio

DES 281 Photo Imaging I

DES 317 Art of the Book

DES 332 History of Photography

DES 354 Typography IV

DES 385 Studio Photography

DES 284, 383, 384, 483 Digital Media II-V

FIA 241 Painting

FIA 281 Silkscreen

FIA 289 Photo Processes and Printmaking

FIA 311 Composition and Design 

Grades

Students’ grades will be evaluated by the same criteria that is outlined for all Visual Design majors, which requires a grade of C or better on designated courses. If a student receives a grade of C- or below, they will be subject to dismissal from the Graphic Design option. Continuation is subject to review by the department chair (or designee) and a minimum of one faculty member of the Graphic Design option. If continuation is granted, the student will be placed on probationary status.

Portfolio Reviews

The Graphic Design option has two portfolio reviews every spring semester. The junior portfolio review is required for all students intending to take Graphic Design V the following fall. The sophomore portfolio review is required for all students intending to take Graphic Design III the following fall.

Students are required to present a complete portfolio for both reviews. Material presented should include work from all of their design classes, a written statement and oral presentation. Faculty will make recommendations based on the quality of the work, the written and oral presentations and the progress of the student. If the presentation or work within the portfolio is deemed insufficient, the Department Chair will be notified and the student will be either dismissed or placed on probation. All protocol for dismissal or probation will follow the conditions outlined for students receiving grades of C- or below.

Free Electives

All university courses (including Studios and Studio Electives) may be used as Free Electives.

*Designated Course

Students in this program must complete the course(s) indicated with a grade of C or better; if a C- or lower is received, the course must be retaken. For full details, see the “Student Reviews” paragraph at the top of this page.

Requirements


Art History


  • ARH 3xx/4xx Art History Elective-3 credits

(DES 331, History of Design or ARH 332, History of New Media recommended)

General Education/Distribution


  • ENL  English elective - 3
  • MTH Mathematics elective - 3
  • Science electives - 6

Non-Studio Electives


Select to meet remaining General Education requirements

  • Four courses at any level - 12 credits
  • One course at 300 or 400 level - 3 credits

Free Electives


  • Four courses at any level - 12 credits

Major Studios


* The following are designated courses.

Studio Options and Additional Requirements


  • FIA 200-Level Drawing I - 3
    (consult advisor on selection)
  • FIA 200-Level Drawing II - 3
    (consult advisor on selection)
  • DES, FIA, ATR, AED Two Studio Electives - 6

Total credits: 124


General Education Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Visual Design/Graphic Design will meet their departmentally-determined General Education requirements as follows:

Area E


Satisfied by any university course bearing E credit

Area I, Tier 2


Satisfied by DES 283

Area W, Tier 2


Satisfied by ARH 200

Area O


Satisfied by DES 452

Illustration Option


The aim of the Illustration option is to equip all of its graduating students with the skills, habits and knowledge necessary for successful professional practice in the field. Conceptual imaginativeness, rendering and compositional fluency, and an originality of stylization are understood to be of equal and complementary importance. Students learn the uses of symbolism, sequencing, advanced perspective and the integration of digital processes. The history, marketing and ethics of the trade are examined, as are the various applications of illustration: editorial, advertising, book, children’s book, comic book, and documentary illustration; seniors choose an emphasis based on individual abilities and interests. A professional portfolio of work is expected for graduation.

Free Electives

All university courses (including studios and studio electives) may be free electives.

*Designated Course

Students in this program must complete the course(s) indicated with a grade of C or better; if a C- or lower is received, the course must be retaken. For full details, see the “Student Reviews” paragraph at the top of this page.

Requirements


Art History


  • ARH 3xx/4xx Art History Elective-3 credits

(DES 331, History of Design or ARH 332, History of New Media recommended)

General Education/Distribution


  • ENL English elective - 3
  • MTH Mathematics elective - 3
  • Science electives - 6

Non-Studio Electives


Select to meet remaining General Education requirements

  • Four courses at any level - 12 credits
  • One course at 300 or 400 level - 3 credits

Free Electives


  • Three courses at any level - 9 credits

Recommended Studio Electives


FIA 285 to 482 Printmaking (ALL)

Major Studios


* The following are designated courses.

Studio Options and Additional Requirements


  • FIA 221 Figure Drawing I - 3
  • FIA 222 Figure Drawing II - 3
  • FIA 341 Painting III - 3 credits
  • DES, FIA, ATR, AED Three Studio Electives - 9

Total credits: 124


General Education Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Visual Design/Illustration will meet their departmentally-determined General Education requirements as follows:

Area E


Satisfied by a course with E credit

Area I, Tier 2


Satisfied by a course with I credit

Area W, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

Area O


Satisfied by a course with O credit

Photography Option


The profound impact of the digital revolution has resulted in a broadening of the entire field of photography, both in university programs and the world at large. Students are provided with instruction in both traditional and digital approaches to photographic study within UMass Dartmouth’s well-maintained photography lab and department media lab.

Introductory courses include standard wet-processes along with digital media processes. Extensive technical information is presented to ensure practical understanding of how to use both photographic and computer equipment. Specific assignments dealing with visual and conceptual issues are presented to begin the process of understanding more complex visual concepts.
 
Intermediate courses begin the exploration of more advanced analog and digital photographic techniques. Attention is focused strongly on maintaining the coherence of visual elements within images, as well as discovery of a personal vision.
 
Advanced courses emphasize the development of a coherent body of work. These upper-level courses present opportunities for more self-directed projects that lead to a senior portfolio exhibition of high professional quality.

Personal artistic growth is expected at every level and is fostered through numerous group and individual critiques with instructors. In keeping with UMass Dartmouth’s general education goals, competence in expression is emphasized in both verbal and written form.

Free Electives

All university courses (including Studios and Studio Electives) may be used as Free Electives.

*Designated Course

Students in this program must complete the course(s) indicated with a grade of C or better; if a C- or lower is received, the course must be retaken. For full details, see the “Student Reviews” paragraph at the top of this page.

Requirements


Art History


  • ARH 3xx/4xx Art History Elective-3 credits

(DES 331, History of Design or ARH 332, History of New Media recommended)

General Education/Distribution


  • ENL English elective - 3
  • MTH Mathematics elective - 3
  • Science electives - 6

Non-Studio Electives


Select to meet remaining General Education requirements

  • Four courses at any level - 12 credits
  • One course at 300 or 400 level - 3 credits

Free Electives


  • Three courses at any level, may include studios - 9 credits

Studio Options and Additional Requirements


  • FIA 200-Level Drawing I - 3
    (consult advisor on selection)
  • FIA 200-Level Drawing II - 3
    (consult advisor on selection)
  • DES, FIA, ATR, AED Four Studio Electives - 12

Total credits: 124


General Education Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Visual Design/Photography will meet their departmentally-determined General Education requirements as follows:

Area E


Satisfied by any university course bearing E credit

Area I, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

Area W, Tier 2


Satisfied by:

Area O


Satisfied by:

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