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The Foundation Program
The small size of the Foundation classes fosters an exceptional degree of personal attention from the faculty and creates a sense of camaraderie among the students. The “Introduction to University” class supports students’ adaptation to university life and study.
The Foundation studio curriculum guides students in the study of relationships: from black to white, paper to steel, ideas to reality. Students obtain skills in drawing, color, composition, form, space, motion, two- and three-dimensional design work, basic design principles and visual perception. Fundamental visual communication skills are stressed, such as model making, sketching and visual presentation. Students create and present their work to engage class discussions and group critiques. In addition to the studio classes, courses in art history provide students with a diversity of cultural perspectives.
Within the year, students take short introductory courses in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, or painting and printmaking. This experience helps students select their area of focus for the BFA degree. Successful completion of the Foundation Program qualifies a student for entry into sophomore year. Students are required to create a final portfolio that must demonstrate a high level of skill before being accepted into the program of their choice.
Foundation Courses
- Drawing Studio
- Surface Research
- Space Research
- Time Studio
- Project
- Art History Survey I and II
- Focused Inquiry (English) I and II
- Introduction to the University
- Mathematics
- Behavioral/Social Science elective
