Artisanry 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

Ceramics Option

Ceramics at UMass Dartmouth encompasses both traditional and non-traditional work and encourages both sculptural and functional approaches. A variety of clay techniques and forming processes is taught, including hand-building, wheel-throwing and slip-casting. Ceramics students learn how to use clay and glaze materials, to build and fire kilns, and to utilize the history of their craft. The Ceramics faculty encourages in its students individual exploration and professional goals.

Non-Studio Electives

All university academic courses qualify as non-studio electives. Not included are courses such as applied music or studio classes.

Free Electives

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

Designated Courses

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 details, see the “Student Reviews” section at the top of this page.

Total credits: 124

Jewelry/Metals Option

At UMass Dartmouth, Jewelry/Metals offers a comprehensive and diverse understanding of the technical and aesthetic potential of metal. Earlier studies feature skills for metal fabrication, construction, forming and surface treatment; while later, more advanced studies explore such techniques as forging, casting, stonesetting, chasing/repousée, holloware, enameling, and die-forming. As students gain technical skills, they are encouraged to grow in expressive ability and to strive toward professionalism.

Non-Studio Electives

All university academic courses qualify as non-studio electives. Not included are courses such as applied music or studio classes.

Free Electives

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

*Designated Courses

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 details, see the “Student Reviews” section at the top of this page.

Total credits: 124

Textile Design/Fiber Arts Option

Textile Design/Fiber Arts encompasses woven, constructed, printed and dyed textiles; focusing on the function and purpose of cloth in traditional and non-traditional applications.

Students explore a variety of textile surface design techniques: resist and immersion dyeing, screen printing, weaving on multi-harness floor looms, knitting, felt-making, basket forms, embroidery and machine-sewn structures. Simultaneously, computer design skills are introduced, connecting to portfolio development for the textile design industry.

Students are encouraged to study worldwide textile history as a primary source for design and project development. Project assignments include resist-dyed or hand-printed yardages, unique garment constructions, rugs, expressive wall hangings and sculptural forms. Projects in other courses are in sample form, suitable for portfolio presentation, including computer-aided design collections for home furnishings, apparel and fashion, decorative papers or other segments of design where repeat pattern is emphasized.

Internships with industry design studios, production artists, costume shops, museums or in textile conservation areas are encouraged.

Graduation requirements in Textile Design/Fiber Arts are two-fold: development of thesis work for exhibition in the annual Artisanry senior exhibition, and a formal portfolio review conducted by a visiting professional designer. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be well-prepared for many professions, including designing for aspects of industry production and personal production as a studio textile artist.

Non-Studio Electives

All university academic courses qualify as non-studio electives. Not included are courses such as applied music or studio classes.

Free Electives

Any university course (including Studios and Studio Electives) may be used as Free Elective.

*Designated Courses

Students in this program must complete the courses indicated with a grade of C or better; if a C- or lower is received, the course must be retaken.

Total credits: 124

Gen Ed Note

All Artisanry courses satisfy Cultural/Artistic Literacy; lower division courses are marked C, but advanced courses are eligible as well. Some courses satisfy other requirements, as noted.