Visual Design Major

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.
 

• FOU 101 - Visual Arts Colloquium I 1 credits
• FOU 102 - Visual Arts Colloquium II 1 credits
• FOU 110 - Foundation: Structural Drawing 3 credits
• FOU 112 - Foundation Life Drawing 3 credits
• FOU 114 - 2D Workshop 2 credits
• FOU 115 - Visual Language 2 credits
• FOU 124 - 3D Concepts 2 credits
• FOU 125 - 3D Workshop 2 credits
• ARH 125 - Renaissance to Modern Art and its Antecedents 3 credits
• ARH 150 - Modern to Contemporary Art 3 credits
• ARH 200 - Studies in Visual Culture 3 credits

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.

Total credits: 124

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.

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.

Total credits: 124

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.

Total credits: 124

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.

Total credits: 124