This fundamental course introduces the beginning art student to the principles of drawing. Accurate observations of shapes, forms, contours and tones will be stressed while learning to use a variety of mediums, i.e. pen and ink, graphite pencils, charcoal, marker and colored pencil techniques. Fundamental understanding of perspective drawing concepts, including one-, two- and three-point perspective will also be taught in this course. Students will produce works of art using a variety of drawing techniques i.e: cross-hatching, hatching, scumbling, back-fourth strokes, overlaying colors, stippling and washes.

Students are introduced to the principles of design using a variety of media as they complete projects that emphasize various aspects of composition. They will learn about balance, repetition of shape, positive and negative space, focal point, the illusion of depth and motion.

Students are introduced to the principles of color theory utilizing various affects, techniques and mediums to create a comprehensive understanding of color principles. Light, hue, value and saturation are all explored in the course and students will learn many aspects of color relationship, application and how to affectively utilize the many facets of color and color theory in the commercial art field.

Students will study the history of lettering from ancient symbols to today’s digital technology. Students will also study various type families, become familiar with the terminology and practice the art of hand lettering. Students will learn the art of designing with type and become familiar with different ‘moods’ or the feel type can have for different occasions. Students will also learn different styles of type used throughout history. Emphasis on rules for proper letter spacing, word spacing and the arrangement of type for maximum readability will be stressed.

The structure of the human body is taught by observing the skeleton of the human figure. Understanding the bone structure is an essential prerequisite to drawing the human figure accurately with an emphasis on the muscular structure of the human body. Upon completion, students will be able to produce professional drawings of anatomically correct figures, depict chiaroscuro (the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting) in the figure, contrast and emphasize value and placement of the figures by using pencil, charcoal, pastel, conté and other mediums.

For any undertaking in print or digital media, understanding and manipulating vector graphics will be a cornerstone of every student’s academic and professional career. In Adobe Illustrator, students will learn the leading industry-standard software for vector-based design. Upon completion, students will know how to leverage the software to assist in whatever their chosen path of digital or print media: graphic design, web design, interactive design, illustration, or even videography – among other career tracks. To achieve this comprehension, students will create their own designs, many of which will be based on real-world problems students will face on the job. Printing, color, and design techniques (the latter learned in previous courses) will be integrated for the completion of the various projects.

Students will explore the theory of aesthetics and design concepts as it applies to graphics. It will also encompass a detailed investigation into the principles and concepts of effective visual communications through the use of two- and three-dimensional design with a goal of creative problem solving. There is also an emphasis in Information Gathering, Step 1 of the Nossi 9 Step Creative Process and commercial application of designing corporate graphics such as logos and symbol designs.

This course teaches students the core principles of Adobe Photoshop, the industry-standard raster-based photo manipulation program. Similar to Adobe Illustrator in significance and industry dominance, the ability to manipulate raster images will be a persistent theme throughout any career path involving print or digital media. Among the fundamental concepts explored will be file type constraints, image optimization, compositing, image restoration, color correction, masking, typography, effects, layout, print management, elementary animation and video, and even elementary 3D principles among other topics. By the end of the course, students will have a broad enough understanding of Photoshop to competently utilize it in whatever their chosen course of study.

Students will delve deeper into the usage of fonts as a major design element. Real life projects will allow students to “practice” choosing appropriate fonts for the subject/client as well as choosing the correct size and color. Students will learn to properly use space, the typographic grid and hierarchy in their designs. Students will begin to use type as a graphic art.

Adobe InDesign is used to create both print and interactive layouts for single and multi-page ads, magazines, brochures, and books, as well as other print projects that need exact typographic and layout specifications. InDesign’s interactive PDFs and Apps for tablet devices and e-pubs give designers a range of abilities within this one program. In this course, the student will focus on how to employ InDesign to create interactive page layout applications. From the feature tools used within InDesign to the understanding of basic User Interface design (UI) and User Experience design (UX), the student will gain the necessary knowledge to implement this skill-set within their career.

In this course, students will be introduced to various painting mediums to increase their versatility in the visual communications industry. Projects in watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oil and mixed media will be explored.

Adobe Photoshop is the premier program for creating digital paintings and illustrations. It is used for everything from print to web to video. In this course, students will learn to work with brushes and master the settings. Extensive painting projects weekly and large projects will be achieved.

This course introduces students to the world of 3D and basic animation. Many programs will be explored including Blender, Photoshop, and others within the Adobe Creative Suite. This course is to learn basic modeling to aid in the illustration process for envisioning depth, lighting, and structures within the scene. The intro to animation will pursue onion skin behaviors within the program.

In this course the student will learn a series of steps for creating a printed product. From the conception and execution of a design through editing and production of the finished product, students will learn about various printing processes focusing mainly on offset lithography. Upon completion of this course, the student will have a clear understanding of the four-color printing process and their role as graphic designer in the process.

With the demand for motion graphics in all aspects of marketing, communication and content production on the rise, the ability to manipulate graphical assets with respect to a timeline is invaluable. Whether a graphic designer, web developer, videographer or anyone in any creative field, knowledge of graphical animation and presentation will improve the information provided and enable designers, developers or supervisors to make better decisions. This course is designed to expose students to conventional animation practices used in the creation of professional motion graphics content. Animation fundamentals and elementary concepts such as basic editing, compositing, filters and effects, color correction, typography animation, motion tracking, chroma key footage manipulation, rotoscoping, masking and easing will be explored using industry-standard software and techniques.

The focus of this course is to provide students with the essential skills for professional copywriting and editing. Students will learn how to recognize the purpose behind any piece of copy, use creative skills to make their copy reach target audiences, apply technical specifications to any piece of copy through the use of style sheets and format spoken English into acceptable professional copy.

This course will explore the history of advertising and examine its role and importance in society. The student will learn the basics of marketing and product positioning with a focus on Conceptualization, Reflection and Refinement, Steps 3, 4 and 5 of the Nossi 9 Step Creative Process. How an advertising campaign develops, from the concept to final executions including newspapers, magazines, direct mail, television, radio and billboards will be explored, including the use of new medias, i.e. online advertising and social media.

In this course, students learn the skills and procedures necessary to start a successful freelance operation by learning advantages and disadvantages of freelancing. They will learn what steps are necessary to protect their creative property and ensure that they are paid according to their skills and demand. Ethical standards, as well as moral standards, will be explored in order that students may understand fair competition in the freelance world. Governmental regulations, licenses, and taxes will be explained.

The course is designed to help illustrators understand the importance of environments and environmental conditions in an illustration. This concept considers the environment and background of an illustration before the subject matter is introduced within the illustration. The impact and effectiveness in creating the right environment are essential for illustrators to utilize in concept art and commercial illustration. Merging the right environment with character, creature and non-organic development can be the difference between a poor, good, and a great illustration. Artwork will be created using traditional and the option of digital mediums and techniques with an emphasis on capitalizing on the benefits of both.

This course will explore the human form in a more in depth study as well as application of movement, clothing, lighting and foreshortening. Students will utilize various mediums and experiment with stylization, interpretation and application of human anatomy in visual communications. Concepts of perspective, structure and composition will also be introduced in this course, while exploring the affects that clothing and coverings have on the human form. Some introduction to animal and quadruped structure will also be introduced. Both traditional and digital mediums will be used in this course.

Traditional mediums and the powerful colorization tools of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat are merged for an unbeatable combination in the field of illustration. Savvy professionals today recognize the value of both worlds and in combination they can bring visual skills highly sought after in today’s marketplace.

Students will have the opportunity to explore illustration in the narrative form. Storyboarding video productions, television commercials and feature films are a necessity in the world of visual entertainment. Comic books, since inception, have used sequential illustration to visualize concepts and tell their stories. Students will also explore the concept and development of Concept Art, where the main goal is to convey a visual representation of design, idea and/or mood for use in films, video games, animation or comic books prior to final art.

This class is designed to extend the understanding of the software and techniques used in the creation of professional motion graphics projects including motion logos, motion text, and infographic presentations. With the demand for animation in all aspects of marketing, communication, and content production on the rise, having an understanding of key concepts and methods in motion graphic production as well as experience with relevant software will provide an extension of the capability and flexibility for careers. With such a wide range of concepts and techniques available, continued study and practice of motion graphics introduce new capabilities including 3D layers, lights, cameras, and advanced effects use and animation techniques. Building on previous semesters, students will create pro-level graphics presentations within Adobe After Effects and other software tools available.

This course will introduce students to digital sculpting and how it can be used in various forms of illustration. Digital sculpting is being used more and more by various companies and artists because of its speed and functionality. Students will be taught primarily in ZBrush but will also be using Photoshop to concept their artwork and produce finished pieces. The main purpose of this course is to give students a strong introduction to ZBrush and have them learn how to move around the interface confidently.

In this course, 3D will be explored for commercial use such as building and animating logos. Students will learn how to illustrate product in 3D and that will replace the use of photography. This course would also explore practical use of 3D in the realm of concept art. A variety of programs will be explored to create a diverse number of projects and concepts.

This course will embody both the advertising and editorial segments of commercial illustration. The advertising portion of this course will have students research advertising agencies, design studios, and corporations and inquire about their illustration needs. Projects will include corporate collateral like annual reports, products, and posters. The editorial portion of this course will address corporate editorial scenarios like newspapers, magazines on both the local and national levels. Political satire and bringing visual life to the written word are examples of the areas that will be explored.

Students are introduced to the world of book illustration for the publishing world. For Children’s PB or Graphic Novel (children to adult target ages), historical and religious books, all genres will be researched by students and evaluated. From this exercise, students will choose their direction of expertise and interest.

In this course students will be challenged to explore, research, and create for the stock illustration industry. Students will gain the understanding of how stock is searched, utilized, and purchased. The projects will require students to setup appropriate accounts to sell their art after the creation process. They can manage their accounts online while learning to use keywords and descriptions appropriately to sell their art to the live market place.

Students will have the opportunity to further explore commercial illustration in the narrative form. This course will cover advanced typography and illustration in logo development to 3D applications and producing photographic quality illustrations, professional development and exploration in motion graphics. Professional application of concepts will be addressed in the campaign form of advertising. All aspects of graphic design and illustration will be applied to these concepts.

In this course, students will create a cohesive body of illustrations best represent each student’s interests and strengths. Students will use the media with which they are most confident. Emphasis is on the individual style that most fits the student’s artistic personality. Upon completion of this course, students will have created imagery suitable for use in a promotional campaign.

Independent study courses are individually designed to meet specific needs of students. They may vary from one to four semester hours of credit. They may be in any subject area a student needs in order to complete degree requirements. Independent study courses must be approved by a member of the faculty, the student’s department coordinator and by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

This course provides students who are about to graduate an opportunity to explore the presentation and interviewing techniques used to find employment. Positive self-image and goal setting concepts are reintroduced. Students are expected to create communication materials for self-promotion and develop strategies for networking and community involvement, including internship opportunities. Students must participate in a formal portfolio presentation of their work to the community and to their fellow students. They are given instructions in portfolio presentation and preparation for career opportunities.

Success Strategies is a course in goal setting, techniques of note and test taking, problem solving skills, time management and critical thinking skill development. The course is designed to help each student improve his learning skills. In addition, students will acquire skills necessary to succeed as commercial artists. Life enhancing principles are also a major aspect of this course.

This course examines history in America. The course will be a combination of lecture and discussion. 

This is a survey course of the science of psychology. It covers the key terms of most of the psychological concepts from brain biology to abnormal, motivational and developmental psychology. This course surveys a broad field of study. A study of the thinking and research behind various fields of psychology will lead to a discussion of how each field applies to human events in the everyday lives of people. An examination of how psychology applies to advertising, graphic arts, illustration and photography will be made.

This English class will include intensive grammar review as well as writing assignments to complete a portfolio. Illustrations are encouraged to enhance the writing and the portfolio (these can add points to the grade). A resume and a cover letter are a separate part of the writing. A research paper is required and must have the correct documentation and analysis format. Professional presentation of final portfolio is required for completion of this course.

This course is designed to provide the student with instruction in two major areas of the English language – writing and oral communication skills. Writing techniques using correct English grammar will be emphasized and will be applicable for different environments including corporate, business and professional settings. A variety of public speaking techniques will also be taught. The student will learn what is appropriate for each situation in which, as a professional artist, he might find himself.

Students will examine common uses of mathematics in everyday life. This course will also focus upon mathematical applications involving choice, voting systems, routing and networks, project scheduling, descriptive and inferential statistics and probability.

This course presents students with a survey of Western Civilization from the ancient world to contemporary culture. Through discussion and appreciation of historical works, students will draw connections between the origins and influences of Western Civilization, as well as an understanding of its role in shaping cultures.

This GE requirement was established, in part, because of the potent influence of science on society. Therefore, a major objective of this course is to help develop an understanding of the nature of science, including its philosophical basis, power and limitations. The content of the course is centered on life and its relationship to the environment.

This class is designed to enhance the student’s understanding and exposure to literature. Readings will come from PDF files on Moodle as well as from handouts from the instructor. A novel reading is required and each student will read and analyze a different novel from a list provided by the instructor. Readings from different genres and cultures will include short stories, poetry and drama. Essays to analyze the readings are the method of assessment as well as tests over the readings and background materials.