Art & Creative Media Department
Department Mission
The Department of Art & Creative Media offers rigorous experience-based instruction in the practices of studio art, creative media, art history and art education. A full-time faculty of working artists and scholars along with accomplished visiting professionals are dedicated to the development of emerging creatives who enrich our society with thoughtful insight, valuable skill sets and an understanding of the responsibilities that come with visual literacy.
Creativity and critical insights are essential to any academic inquiry. As such, the Department is committed to being accessible to students from a variety of University disciplines, our vibrant Pueblo culture and the Southwest United States. Art, history and education are fundamental to a community’s identity; they are a reflection of its values and are key to fostering a diverse culture of lifelong learners.
Department Goals
- Prepare students in the practices of Studio Art, Creative Media, Art History, and Art Education toward the achievement of personal creative goals, art-related careers or further academic and professional education.
- Provide relevant studio and laboratory opportunities within well-appointed facilities that are conducive to creative growth and the development of fundamental skills across a range of formal topics.
- Nurture an environment that encourages professional curiosity, collaboration and respect for diverse and multiple viewpoints.
- Provide services and experiences to a variety of University disciplines as well as local, regional and national communities, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and global citizenship.
Department Student Learning Outcomes
Outcome 1 Exploration of the Creative Process: Experiment with and adopt a variety of processes, methods, and interpretations to explore innovative solutions to creative challenges.
Outcome 2 Development of Skills & Techniques: Exhibit sufficient fluency in one or more media to craft work that meets appropriate professional standards for the scale and scope of a project. Demonstrate an ability to adapt techniques and formal methods to serve the objectives of the work.
Outcome 3 Communication of Ideas & Context: Clearly articulate visually, orally, and in writing the content and context of art historical research and creative work.
Outcome 4 Demonstrate Awareness & Intellectual Maturity: Display a willingness to question one’s own perspective. Approach the creative and scholarly process with curiosity and persistence. Take initiative in working independently or collaboratively to achieve stated objectives.
General Program Requirements
- The art faculty firmly believes that a quality undergraduate art program must be built from the strong foundation of basic concepts and techniques provided by the required ART CORE courses. Art history, drawing and design combined with an introduction to the basic art processes, provide the necessary background of information and skills for individual artistic growth and maturity. A strong grounding in the fundamentals of art, as provided in the ART CORE, indicates the department’s insistence upon respect for and commitment to the academic discipline of art as a professional career.
- Art majors must complete the required courses known as the ART CORE, before proceeding into the beginning courses.
- No grade lower than a C will count toward either an art major or minor.
- BFA candidates must maintain a 3.0 in the art major.
- Students are required to take 30 hours of major courses in residency.
Co-Curricular Requirements
The faculty supports and encourages the involvement of art majors and minors in the Art Club and related activities specific to each studio.
Art (ART)
Undergraduate Courses
Appreciation and understanding of visual experiences and techniques reflecting the cultural dynamics of creativity. (F, S, SS) (Gen Ed: H, GT-AH1) (CC)
Guided development of individual job objectives. (F)
The foundation of visual form, emphasizing two-dimensional design and color theory. (F, SS)
The foundation of visual form, emphasizing three dimensional design. (F, S)
Development of perception and technical skills in rendering. (F, S)
An introduction to observational seeing through photography. The class focuses on composition within the camera frame and selecting the photographs that most effectively convey the objectives of each experiment. (F,S,SS,E,O,AN)
A survey of world art from prehistory to ca. 1300 CE. Introduces issues related to visual design, historical context, and interpretation of works of art. (F) (Gen Ed: H, GT-AH1) (CC)
A survey of world art from ca. 1300 CE to contemporary times. Introduces issues related to visual design, historical context and interpretation of works of art. (S) (Gen Ed: H, GT-AH1) (CC)
Basic problems in sculpture relating specific concerns of visual form and process. Prerequisite: ART 116 or permission of instructor. (F, S)
Continued development of perception and technical skills in rendering, utilizing the human figure. Detail investigation of the skeleton and muscle forms are explored. Prerequisite: ART 141. (F, S)
Essential skills in ceramic processes; emphasis on form and function as related to students' needs and creative intent. (F, S, SS)
Introduction to multiple image production utilizing relief printing including woodcut, linocut and collagraph. Introduction to shop techniques, safety procedures and history of the medium. Prerequisite: Art core or permission of instructor. (F, S)
This course is an introduction to two-dimensional Digital Art. The student will learn to create original imagery through the use of art-oriented software. (F)
Explore the fundamental characteristics of light & its effect on the photographic image. Use the 5 characteristics of light to direct every aspect of the process from basic studio sets to large scale location works. (F,S,SS,E,O,AN)
Special Topics. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
This course introduces the classic writings in ancient and modern philosophy theory and criticism informing American and European art of the late twentieth century. (SS)
Art majors must present a portfolio of their artwork or art history research prospectus for the art faculty to evaluate. Prerequisite: Art core classes. (F)
Explore the world of medieval art from ivory cosmetics cases to gargoyles. Discover the roles that art played in daily life, politics, and religion within Jewish, Christian, and Islamic contexts c. 300-1300 CE. (F,S,SS,E,O)
A study of art and architecture in Italy and the Netherlands from ca. 1300 to 1600 CE. Prerequisite: ART 212. (AN)
From Caravaggio to Chippendale, baroque and rococo art presents a feast for the senses. This course examines such topics as drama and sensuality in religious art, courtly life, depictions of the everyday, and eroticism. (F,S,SS,E,O,AN)
Creating sculptural elements whose form and content are a response to its site and context. Prerequisite: ART 233 or permission of instructor. (F, S) Repeatable (9).
Techniques in oil and acrylic emphasizing the application of materials to subject matter and composition. Prerequisite: ART 234. (F, S, SS)
In-depth development of specific ceramic techniques; skills and personalization of style. Students will load and fire all the kilns as well as mix glazes. Prerequisite: ART 247 or permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (9).
Introduction to traditional and non-traditional methods of Intaglio printing including line etch, aquatint, dry point, resist methods, photo processes and color printing. Prerequisite: ART 270. (F, S) Repeatable (9).
Create dynamic moving image works using non-linear digital video production & planning strategies. Expand on structures & aesthetics from 100 &200 levels while exploring dig. video as an expressive & collaborative art form. (F,S,SS,E,O)
Produce exhibition quality prints from the same historical processes that defined the very invention of photography. Experiment with 19th century recipes & precious metals to craft exquisite photographic prints (F,S,SS,E,O)
Images rendered in varying techniques to express ideas related to commercial application. Prerequisite: ART 381 or permission of instructor. (F, S, SS)
Communication and design principles applied to the display of objects. Special attention to museum and gallery installations. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (F, S, SS)
Advanced studio offerings for students who have completed all other course offerings in a specific discipline. Scheduled concurrently with lower-division studios. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (9).
Formal presentation of student's portfolio or art history research to the art faculty. Senior exhibition, artist's statement, resumes and job placement interviews. Prerequisite: Senior standing. (S)
A survey of major developments in the visual arts, art theory, and criticism during the twentieth century. Prerequisite: ART 212. (F)
A study of selected recent developments in the visual arts. Reading, viewing, and discussion of new developments in media, art theory and criticism. Prerequisite: ART 411. (AN)
A study of art and visual design in Native North American cultures from prehistory to contemporary times. Prerequisite: ART 212. (AN)
A survey of art of Latin America from ancient to the contemporary times. Includes Chicano art. Prerequisite: ART 212. (AN)
Advanced projects in Site Art that involve the presentation and creation of site specific sculptural forms. Prerequisite: ART 333 or permission of instructor. (F, S) Repeatable (9).
Advanced painting with an emphasis on individual development. Focus pertains to formal, pictorial and technical problems met in developed personal imagery. Prerequisite: ART 334. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (9).
Emphasis on development of individual skills of perception and exploration of new techniques and materials. Prerequisite: ART 342. (F, SS) Repeatable (9).
This course explores advanced theories and techniques involved in working with clay: forming, firing, glazing, kiln design and construction. Prerequisite: ART 347 or permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (9).
Introduction to lithography printing using stones, aluminum plates and photo processes in black and white and multilple color techniques. Prerequisite: ART 370. (F, S) Repeatable (9).
In this course the student will learn to further develop the potential of Digital Art through the exploration of internet art, video and sound art. Prerequisite: ART 374. (F) Repeatable (9).
Students are encouraged to pursue specific areas of interest, and advance their personal imagery while continuing study of postmodern themes in contemporary photography. Prerequisite: ART 376. (F, S) Repeatable (9).
Special Topics. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
Off-campus individual experience providing transition from classroom instruction to on-the-job experience. Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of instructor. (F,S,SS) Repeatable (6)
Individual tutorial experience. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and permission of instructor. (F, S, SS)
Cooperative Education Placement. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (F, S, SS)
Advanced sections of studio offerings. Prerequisite: ART 397 or permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
Graduate Courses
Using materials and techniques based on advanced concepts and ideas. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and graduate standing. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
Graduate study of artists, their biographies and art, politics and culture, from the middle of the nineteenth through the end of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
Advanced study in contemporary art and associated criticism, aesthetics and the philosophy of art through the end of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: ART 212 or permission of instructor. (AN)
Graduate level work in sculpture/public art including expolrations in content, context, critique and techniques. Prerequisite: Three semesters of undergraduate sculpture or permission of instructor. (F, S) Repeatable (99).
Explore principles, theories, and techniques in contemporary painting: content/imagery, materials and paint handling, work in a series, exhibition, historical research, aesthetic discussion and critiques. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate Teacher Education program, ART 242 and ART 434. (F, S) Repeatable (99).
Professional drawing practices utilizing quality papers and display presentation. Prerequisite: ART 412. (AN)
Graduate level work in clay including explorations in ceramic content, context, critique and techniques (forming, firing and glazing). Prerequisite: Three semesters of undergraduate ceramics or permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
Graduate students will develop their personal, creative approach to image making through innovative exploration of relief, intaglio or lithography. Prerequisite: ART 470. (AN)
Explore principles, theories, and techniques in contemporary digital art: content/imagery, work in a series, exhibition, historical research, aesthetic discussion and critiques. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate Teacher Education program and ART 334 and ART 242 and ART 474 (or equivalents of all courses). (F, S) Repeatable (99).
Explore principles, theories, and techniques in contemporary photography: content/imagery, programs, appropriate media output, work in a series, exhibition, historical research, aesthetic discussion and critiques. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate Teacher Education program and Art 374 and Art 476 (or equivalents of all courses), or permission of instructor. (F, S) Repeatable (99).
Special Topics. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and graduate standing. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).
Graduate level studies. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. (F, S, SS) Repeatable (99).