CVAD - Academic Programs

Core

Mission

The Core Program in the College of Visual Arts and Design provides the broad foundation to develop the practical skills and conceptual methodologies necessary to enter any of the Visual Arts majors within the College. The program promotes the understanding of historic and contemporary currents and their relationships.

The Core Program achieves the following outcomes:

Materials and techniques;
Visual aesthetics and organization;
Creative processes;
Visual literacy (development of vocabulary, critical analysis, articulation of process and product; content and context);
Historic and contemporary visual cultures;
Professional pathways.

Courses

These objectives are realized in a sequence of seven rigorous classes, including Art Appreciation for Majors, Art History Survey I, and Art History Survey II; Design I, Design II, Drawing I and Drawing II. Art Appreciation for Art Majors is a global introduction to visual culture taught largely through examples of 20th-century work. This course emphasizes meaning, function, and the nature of art within a global context through art theory, practice, and history. Art History Survey I and II are the chronological studies of the history of artistic production and consumption. Design I covers the development of two-dimensional design skills based on art elements and principles, while Design II develops three-dimensional design skills. Drawing I fosters the development of drawing skills based on art elements and concepts; Drawing II further develops drawing skills.

Samples of Core Coursework

People

Faculty teaching in the Core Program are professional artists and scholars from diverse backgrounds. Their efforts are supported by visiting artists such as Christine Bisetto (Fort Worth, Texas), Enrique Chagoya (Berkeley, California), Carol Flueckiger (Lubbock, Texas), Karen Kunc (Lincoln, Nebraska) and Nancy Palmeri (Arlington, Texas).

Graduate students who assist these faculty are appointed through a selection process which includes an intensive seminar, innovative mentor program and ongoing performance reviews. Accomplishments of graduate students affiliated with the program include competitive grants from the Dallas Museum of Art, residencies at the University of Texas at Dallas Southside on Lamar, and Graduate Student Travel Grants from the Toulouse Graduate School (UNT).

Undergraduate students in the Core Program have impressive accomplishments, including acceptance into the Annual Voertman Competition (UNT); and receipt of several scholarships such as the Multicultural and Scholastic Award (UNT), International Education Scholarship (UNT) and Study Abroad Scholarship (Lorenzo deMedici Art Institute of Florence).

Facilities

The Core Program occupies classroom spaces in three separate buildings. A centralized lecture hall provides space for presentations, while a shared light well provides open space for critiques and informal discussion.

Faculty & Staff