University Catalog > Courses > Art and Visual Technology (AVT)

Art and Visual Technology (AVT)

College of Visual and Performing Arts

NOTE: On July 1, 2001, the Division of Art and Visual Technologies (formerly housed within the Institute of the Arts) became the Department of Art and Visual Technology (AVT) within the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). The former Division of InterArts and the VIT Graduate Program are both included within AVT.All courses formerly listed with prefixes of ARTS and VIT are now listed with the prefix of AVT. Courses formerly listed with the prefix ARIN are now listed with the prefix AVT or CVPA.

103 Introduction to the Artist's Studio (3:3:0). For non-majors only. Through a series of projects, readings, class critiques, videos, CD-ROMs, slides, and field trips, students are encouraged to explore materials, techniques, concepts, and processes that are essential to the understanding of the language of the visual arts and the role of the artist. Students also develop imaginative thinking and sensitivity to their visual environment.

104 Studio Fundamentals I (4:2:4). First half of a two-semester course that introduces common concepts, principles, and practices in two dimensional and color media. Course activities are a blend of studio projects, study and practice, discussions, and presentations. A review of historical and contemporary achievements in the arts, visual communication, and the environment will inform student activities in developing fundamental knowledge and basic skills in the visual arts.

105 Studio Fundamentals II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 104 or permission of instructor. Second half of a two-semester course that introduces common concepts, principles, and practices in three dimensional and time-based media. Course activities are a blend of studio projects, study and practice, discussions, and presentations. A review of historical and contemporary achievements in the arts, visual communication, and the environment will inform student activities in developing fundamental knowledge and basic skills in the visual arts.

180 Computers in the Creative Arts (3:1:2). Introduction to computing from an artist's perspective. Emphasis on employing computers for artistic creation and research. Overview of hardware, software, operating systems, peripherals, 2D graphics, and web design.

204 Visual Thinking (3:3:0). Introduction to visual thinking. Topics include information from visual perception, memory, classical and modern art, performance, and dance. Opportunities for students to assess themselves as visual thinkers.

206 Color (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 104, or permission of instructor. Examines color in both light and pigment, behaviors of colors in relation to one another, physical and archival properties of pigment, dyes and color reproduction processes, psychology of color, basic digital processes and light projections, and practical applications in visual communication, in the environment, and in the arts.

207 Writing Out Loud (3:3:0). Explores the relationship between writing and the voice, looking at texts that were written to be performed aloud. Students will write and present their own work and have the opportunity to develop personal and collaborative projects. This course emphasizes composition for oral presentations, and delivery, poise, persuasiveness, clarity, and comprehensibility in public delivery.

215 Graphic Information Design I (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 104, 105, and 222 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Introduction to the elements of basic typographical composition, including the historical development of letter forms; recognition, use and specification of existing typefaces; and alphabet design.

222 Drawing I (4:2:4). An introduction to the fundamentals of drawing with emphasis on observational study and formal composition. The student's perceptual and rendering skills are developed through exposure to a range of materials, methods, and formal concepts, including effective and expressive use of lines, mass, value, perspective, and composition.

232 Painting I (4:2:4). An introduction to the basic techniques and principles of oil and water-based painting through projects which combine observational study, technique development, and the fundamentals of formal composition, color interaction, and the articulation of form. Students are given basic knowledge of and experience in the preparation of various supports, the mixing of color, and the techniques of paint application.

243 Printmaking I (4:2:4). An introduction to the basics of hand printing with an emphasis on the translation and transferal of images, the tools, equipment and technical skills that enable the making of a well defined print. Students will explore various print media with reference to historical and contemporary models. Discussion, presentation, and field trips will focus on the practical and conceptual concerns of making multiple images.

252 Photography I (4:2:4). Introduction to the basic principles and aesthetics of photography, 35mm camera operation, and darkroom practices including film processing and print development.

262 Sculpture I (4:2:4). An introductory course that will give students a foundation in basic technical and formal processes of sculpture and introduce the diverse methods and concepts underlying the work of historic and contemporary sculptors. Emphasis will be placed on the exploration of various materials, technical execution, conceptualization, and creative problem solving to enable students to visually manifest their individual ideas.

272 Interdisciplinary Arts (4:4:2). Prerequisite: AVT 104 or permission of instructor. Introduces students to interdisciplinary art practice and to the equally important practice of writing about their own work and the work of others. It complements Studio Fundamentals and focuses on studio practice in its cultural context, with practical projects in performance, writing, and installation. Students also look at artists' writings and draft, write, and edit their own art writing. The class helps students prepare for the writing intensive class (Writing for Artists), for AVT Honors, and provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of non-traditional media practices.

280 Two-Dimensional Digital Arts (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 104 and 180 or permission of instructor. Students will learn to use both vector and raster graphics software programs. Emphasis will be placed on concept development, visual aesthetics and technique. Students will produce a series of art works to be presented in digital, printed, and HTML format.

305 Creative Processes (3:3:0). Study of the creative process in general, with particular emphasis on the inspiration, working methods, and final creations of various artists. Students are encouraged to explore their own creative processes through regular journal keeping, collaborative exercises, and two major projects.

307 Aesthetics (3:3:0). This course aims at the creation of heightened aesthetic perception and understanding. Emphasis is placed on examining a broad range of contemporary art and culture to engage an expansive conception of aesthetic experience.

308 Mixing It: Art for a New Century (3:3:0). Prerequisites: AVT 307 or permission of instructor. This interdisciplinary course looks at art making and ideas from the last two decades, with a special emphasis on artists currently working and shaping (or responding to) the culture with which we are immediately involved. It investigates what art making itself is in contemporary society, what informs the current artistic condition, and how it differs from its predecessors, considering a broad spectrum of influential factors, including technology, politics, the role of the artist's intent, and the influence of the market and educational systems on art making.

309 Art as Social Action (4:4:2). This interdisciplinary course looks at the work of citizen-artists who make their art with the express purpose of becoming agents of social commentary, social protest, community improvement, individual and world betterment, and even radical change. Examines the art practices by which these artists take the content of their lives and turn it into art. Through lectures, films, videos, and projects, students explore the lesser-known history of socially engaged art-making and investigate the ways art stimulates connections and conversations between the viewer and the object, between the artist and the viewer, and among the viewers.

311 Graphic Information Design II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 215, portfolio review or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Introduction to graphic communication design concepts, processes, and production. Students create a portfolio of graphic products which solve typical problems in communication design.

313 Graphic Information Design III (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 311 and 345 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. An intermediate graphic design course with an emphasis on publication and information design. Students will develop a series of professional graphic communication products.

323 Drawing II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 222 or permission of instructor. This course builds on skills and concepts covered in Drawing I. The student will continue to develop rendering and observational skills, while utilizing formal concepts and a knowledge of materials and expressive techniques.

324 Figure Drawing (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 222 or permission of the instructor. This course will focus on drawing through the study of the human body. Composition, action, and design will be emphasized through a variety of media such as graphite, charcoal, color pencil, oil stick, watercolor, gouache, and mixed techniques.

326 Nontraditional Approaches to Drawing (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 323 or permission of instructor. Investigates contemporary trends that challenge mainstream notions and traditional roles of drawing. Students are first guided in creating innovative works by learning to combine familiar drawing techniques with new approaches, and conventional drawing media with unusual formats and surfaces. Students then progress to investigating and experimenting with nontraditional materials and methodologies so that they can develop a personal thematic and conceptual drawing aesthetic.

333 Painting II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 232 or permission of instructor. Building on concepts, knowledge of materials, and techniques covered in Painting I, this course seeks to further develop the student's formal and technical skills while enhancing her/his perceptual awareness. As students continue to practice and develop traditional techniques of observational painting, their development will be enriched by the introduction of concepts, methodologies, and approaches relevant to contemporary painting.

336 Experimental Painting (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 232, or permission of instructor. Using late 20^th century and contemporary painting as a starting place, students will explore recent experimental and conceptual approaches to the practice of painting. Through a series of structured and free problems, students will be encouraged to investigate non-traditional materials, scale, formats, surfaces, and methods of paint application, as well as content and concept-driven approaches to the picture plane. In the context of expanding and defining their own practices, students will be engaged with questions as basic as: what should a painting look like? What should a painting do? The course will include one field trip, slide lectures and video screenings.

337 Figurative Painting (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 232, or permission of instructor. In this course students will explore the human form as the main subject for a broad array of visual, conceptual and expressive inquiries. By using a human model for all class projects and self-portraiture for several home assignments, students are challenged to hone their observational skills and to investigate formal pictorial issues. By directing attention to the expressive properties of color, scale, space and process within the context of observational practice, students learn conceptual and visual thinking that makes art purposeful and engaging.

343 Printmaking II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 243 or permission of instructor. An introduction to relief printing, including the study of historical antecedents and their relevancy to contemporary printmaking. Students will learn reductive and additive techniques in preparing printing surfaces for single color, multi-color, and multi-block printmaking.

345 Digital Bookmaking (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 180 or 280 or permission of the instructor. An intermediate course in the hand printing of digitally processed images in book format. Projects will focus on developing visual ideas in electronic imagery and digital printing on special ized papers for hand binding. Elements of time and space will be explored in movable and sculptural structures. Personal content will evolve in making booklets of sequential or narrative digital images.

346 Digital Printmaking (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 180 or 280 or permission of the instructor. A beginning course in the hand printing of digitally processed images. Projects will focus on electronic means of creating and manipulating imagery for application within various processes in printmaking. By exploring personal content, with an emphasis on images of the self and languages of the body, students will achieve skills in the multiple steps and incremental development required in making prints.

353 Photography II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 252, or permission of instructor. A continuation of Photography I, with further investigation into the aesthetics of photography through experimentation with new films, developers, and papers, and development of a portfolio of photographic images.

354 Digital Photo (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 252 and 180 or permission of the instructor. A computer-intensive class using the software program Photoshop, in which students create digital images from the viewpoint of a photographic artist. Offers an opportunity for developing technical proficiency in the use of digital tools from image capture to digital manipulation and creating digital negatives for use in the analog darkroom. On-going discussions and critiques of projects allow the student to develop insight and aesthetic awareness concerning digital techno1ogy' s impact on traditional photography.

355 Color Photography I (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 353, or permission of instructor. This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts, theories, modern materials, and processes of color photography with a concentration on creative photographic expression and technique. This combined lecture and darkroom course will expand the student's photographic repertoire through work both with color negative, print and transparency materials.

356 Studio Lighting I (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 353, or permission of instructor. An introduction to the theory, concepts and applications of photographic studio lighting with an emphasis placed on the ability to control and manipulate light. Students will investigate both artificial and natural light sources and produce a series of photographs based on a combination of technical understanding and creative problem solving.

363 Sculpture II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 262, or permission of instructor. An intermediate level studio course which will give students the opportunity to investigate a wider variety of materials, techniques, and conceptual issues. Emphasis will be placed on individual creative work and increasing familiarity with historical and contemporary aesthetics.

370 Entrepreneurship in the Arts (4:2:4). Combined lecture and studio course in developing entrepreneurial skills in the arts. Special focus will be given to developing communication skills, planning strategies, and nurturing the skills that enable students to creatively solve problems and think about opportunities. Students will conceive, develop and present a for-profit or not-for-profit business strategy followed by a full business and marketing plan for the final project.

371 Visual Perception and the Arts (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 3 credits of AVT or 3 credits of ARTH or junior standing, or permission of instructor. Review of the major approaches to the study of visual perception. Topics include an analysis of picture perception, visual thinking, the relationship between symbolic and nonsymbolic thinking and representation, and how pathologies of vision affect art production.

372 Hip Hop Culture (3:3:0). Examines hip hop as an art form within a continuum of cultural expression, and also explore its gains, conflicts, and contradictions. Along with surveying and assessing the varieties of artistic expression emerging from hip hop, the course will take a comprehensive look at the multi-layered social, political, and aesthetic aspects of hip hop, its historical causes and precedents, and its contemporary derivatives and implications.

373 Performance Art Studio (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 272 or permission of instructor. Studio course focused on the theory and practice of collaborative performance art. Detailed analysis of the creation and production processes from an interdisciplinary perspective in conjunction with practical training in multimedia technologies, body sculpture, and theater of images.

374 Sound and Vision (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 180 or 280, or permission of instructor. Combined lecture and studio course that will focus on the selection, editing, processing, and integration of sound and music (post-production) into video and animation. Time, frequency, and amplitude domain techniques, as well SMPTE synchronization formats and MIDI control will be studied. Students will post-produce the sound and music for a 5 minute video/animation that will be due at the end of the semester.

375 Writing and Performance (4:2:4). Prerequisite: 3 credits of AVT or 3 credits of ARTH or junior standing or permission of instructor. Explores the relationship of word, sound, and image in performance and visual art, performance poetry, theatre and web-based performance. Conducted as a series of practical, critical workshops. Students produce written papers and performance documentation for assessment.

376 Live Movies (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 272, or permission of instructor. Advanced performance studio with emphasis on cinematic forms and multimedia technologies. Also covers sound design, scenic design and materials, production planning, and interdisciplinary approaches to narrative and content in performance. Students collaborate on production projects.

377 Cyberpunk (4:6:0). Prerequisite: 3 credits of AVT or 3 credits of ARTH or junior standing, or permission of instructor. This course traces how cinema, music, fiction, cultural theory, visual art, television, theater, and performance have embraced and been shaped by Cyberpunk and cyber-culture. Seminar, with readings, writings, discussion, screenings, guest speakers, and research projects.

378 The African American Experience in the Performing Arts (3:3:0). Through lectures, slides, audio recordings, videos, and films, students examine African American contributions to the cultural fabric of American forms and institutions. Artistic contributions are examined within the aesthetic, political, historical, and social contexts within which they occurred and which they, in turn, have shaped.

382 Digital Art and Animation (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 381, or permission of instructor. Digital imaging concepts as applied to computer animation. Lab assignments introduce the technical and aesthetic challenges of computer animation techniques. Students learn to animate hand-drawn and computer generated images. This course focuses on the production of a short animated digital "film" with sound.

383 Three-Dimensional Digital Art (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 382 or permission of instructor. Students will learn how to create realistic, three-dimensional scenes with scaled objects, surface textures, lights, and shadows. These scenes will in turn serve as the sets for short animations. Emphasis will be placed on idea generation, concept development, visual aesthetics, and technical abilities.

390 Digital Media and Video Art (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 280 or permission of instructor. Integration of the study of contemporary theory, philosophy, and artistic practices with the application of new media and technology. Special focus will be placed on video, visual digital, and internet artists, their relationship to technology, and the socio-political implications of their work. Form and content, medium, and process of art works will be studied, analyzed, and discussed.

392 Gallery Practices (4:1:3). Prerequisite: 3 credits of AVT or 3 credits of ARTH or junior standing, or permission of instructor. Introduction to gallery practices associated with the department's galleries, including planning, curatorial, budgetary, advertising, installation, and docentship activities.

393 Field Experience in the Arts (1-6:0:0). Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of instructor and academic advisor. Paid or unpaid placement with an organization in the arts, with an individual in the arts, or as a teaching assistant, providing an introductory working and learning experience in the field. Placement documentation to include 45 hours of work per credit. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 6 credits.

394 Honors Seminar (1:1:0). Prerequisite: by invitation to qualified Honors students. This seminar is designed for maximum exposure to art world professionals and experiences, aligning activities with the New York ARTS Bus program, by means of field trips, research and creative assignments that may also include Washington, D.C., area galleries, artist studios, gallery talks, art events, and public art presentations. Course work will focus on yearly themes that are current in the art world. Selected students will be invited to work toward achieving credit to graduate with honors in Art and Visual Technology. Repeatable for up to 8 credits. Graded S/NC.

395 Writing for Artists (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302, or permission of instructor. A practical writing seminar that encourages students to think of text and writing practice in its broadest terms, including the ways in which artists themselves have used writing, books and language. Students are encouraged to discover the creative value and pleasure of using writing inventively.

399 Special Topics in Art and Visual Technology (1-6: 1-6:0-6). Exploration of topical studies in Art and Visual Technology including both the theoretical and critical aspects of art or studio production. Topics and credit vary with instructor. May be repeated for up to 12 credits taken under different topics.

414 Graphic Information Design IV (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 252 and 313, or permission of instructor. An advanced graphic design course with an emphasis on corporate 2D, 3D, and web graphic information design systems. Students will develop professional corporate design products and become knowledgeable about the profession's resources and range of products.

422, 423 Drawing III, IV (4:2:4), (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 323, or permission of instructor for 422; AVT 422, or permission of instructor for 423. Intermediate to advanced drawing skills and techniques with an emphasis on individual exploration and expressive techniques. Along with rigorous observational study, students will work from a variety of sources to develop a broad understanding of visual responses and solutions within contemporary art practice.

432, 433 Painting III, IV (4:2:4), (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 333, or permission of instructor for 432; AVT 432, or permission of instructor for 433. Students are expected to have strong foundations in the principles and techniques of the medium, as well as some familiarity with the issues and practices of contemporary painting. Emphasis is on further development of content and personal vision, and formal methods and techniques relevant to their expression.

434, 435 Painting V, VI (4:2:4), (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 433, or permission of instructor for 434; AVT 434, or permission of instructor for 435. Painting on an advanced level. Students work rigorously and independently, gaining insights into personal process and direction through one-on-one critical dialogue with faculty and formal group critiques. Emphasis is on individual decision making and personal initiative.

442 Printmaking III (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 343, or permission of instructor. An advanced print media course in intaglio printmaking. Students will explore traditional metal engraving and etching, as well as new related printmaking techniques in toray and sintra plate printing. Hand drawn, digital and photo-based imagery will be developed in a series of related prints. This course includes the study of historical antecedents and their relevancy to contemporary printmaking.

443 Printmaking IV (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 442, or permission of instructor. An advanced print media course incorporating three dimensional applications of hand printing. Students will develop concepts in digital printmaking, bookmaking, sculptural prints, and installation works focused on specific individualized themes. Issues in contemporary printmaking will also be explored through critical discussions, reading and writing assignments.

452 Advanced Photographic Printing I (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 353 or permission of instructor. An advanced darkroom course with emphasis on the fine art and craft of the black and white photographic print. Students produce a personal portfolio based on technical instruction, contemporary photographic approaches, and critical discussions.

453 Advanced Photographic Printing II (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 452 or permission of instructor. An intensive continuation of AVT 452. Students produce a photographic portfolio based on technique, content, personal expression, photographic criticism, and knowledge of contemporary trends. Critical discussions and reading and writing assignments will be included.

454 Alternative Photo Processes (4:2:4). Prerequisites AVT 353 or permission of instructor. Introduction to nineteenth century and non-traditional photographic processes including, but not limited to, cyanotype, van dyke, gum bichromate, liquid emulsion, and image transfer. Exploration and critical discussion of photography's influences, its application, and use in other mediums will also be examined.

455 Advanced Digital Photo (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 354 or permission of instructor. An advanced digital imaging course involving further exploration of digital photo techniques and personal expression. Emphasis is placed on developing technical proficiency using the software program Photoshop as well as furthering one's personal aesthetics. The semester will be spent creating digital negatives based on the use of color, its theories, and its effects. Students will have the opportunity to create large-scale photographic digital images.

456 Large Format Photography (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 353 or permission of instructor. An introduction to the basic concepts, controls, and exposure theories of large format photography. Students will work with 4"x5" view cameras both in the photographic studio and in the field. Darkroom techniques will emphasize tray processing of negatives and printing in large format. Classroom critiques, introduction to contemporary photographers and styles, and discussions will further the student's aesthetic knowledge of the view camera's applications.

457 Documentary Photography (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 452 or permission of instructor. An introduction to the practice of documentary photography. Students will be introduced to the techniques, history, choices, and ideas necessary to create meaningful photo-essays, which incorporate a personal, committed, in-depth approach to seeing and depicting people's lives and situations.

458 Advanced Studio Lighting (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 356 or permission of instructor. An advanced study of photographic studio lighting concepts using electronic strobes and power packs. Students will learn about constructing studio equipment, metering techniques, staging complex sets, uses of different types of transparency films, and working with medium format cameras. Students will be introduced to on-location photography. Students examine the principles of photographic seeing and visual perception through discussions, readings, and exercises to facilitate a greater understanding of visual communication in a studio environment.

459 About Photography: Practice and Research (4:2:4). Prerequisites: One course from AVT 452-458 or permission of the instructor. This combined studio and lecture course will investigate photography's history, critical theory, philosophy, and practice. Lectures, discussions, readings, and projects will focus on the ubiquity of the photograph, the multiplicity of its uses, and its complexity as a medium that has enormously influenced art and culture.

462, 463 Sculpture III, IV (4:2:4), (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 363, or permission of instructor for 462; AVT 462, or permission of instructor for 463. An intensive studio course for advanced students to further their individual, conceptual, and critical development. Students will be expected to produce a body of work through self-expression, based upon technical exploration, critical discussion, reading, and writing components.

464, 465 Sculpture V, VI (4:2:4), (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 463, or permission of instructor for 464; AVT 464, or permission of instructor for 465. Sculpture on an advanced level. Students work rigorously and independently, gaining insights into personal process and direction through one-on-one critical dialogue with faculty and formal group critiques. Emphasis is on individual decision making and personal initiative.

472 Critical Theory in the Visual Arts (3:2:1). Prerequisite: ARTH 374 or permission of instructor. An in-depth examination of the theory and criticism that have formed the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of contemporary practice and critical analysis in the visual arts. Emphasis will be on modernist and postmodernist practices as influenced by science, philosophy, politics, and literary theory (particularly structuralist and poststructuralist theories).

473 Advanced Performance Art Studio (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 373 or permission of instructor. Advanced laboratory for creation and production of performance art. Emphases include new technologies and their applications, multimedia scriptwriting and storyboarding, and the creation of audio-visual performance. Students contribute to and participate in a collaborative production.

482 Advanced Two-Dimensional Digital Art (4:2:4). Prerequisites: AVT 280 or permission of instructor. An in-depth look at advanced vector and raster graphics imaging techniques. Emphasis will be placed on idea generation, concept development, visual aesthetics, and technique. Each student will be required to create a portfolio of large format, high-resolution digital prints. Students will also be required to further develop their visual critical analysis skills through active participation in critiques.

483 Internet Multimedia Art (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 382 or permission of instructor. Course will investigate and present current internet developments with a special attention and focus on its artistic applications. Intermediate and advanced principles of form, content design, site mapping, aesthetic languages will be explored through the use of HTML editing, layout, and web animation applications.

487 Advanced Digital Media (4:2:4). Prerequisite: AVT 382 or permission of instructor. An in-depth look at digital media techniques including layer compositing, digital video editing, rotoscoping, and hand drawn animation. Techniques in publishing and authoring final projects to a variety of media such as CD-ROM, digital video tape, DVD, and the Internet will be introduced. The course will focus on the creation of individual as well as group projects. Emphasizes the integration of traditional techniques with the recent software applications.

489 Internship in Art and Visual Technology (1-6:0:0). Prerequisite: Senior standing, completion of 12 concentration credits, or permission of the instructor and the academic advisor. Unpaid professional level work experience related to the student's concentration and career plans which provides an opportunity to be apprenticed in a professional organization or with an individual artist. Placement documentation to include 45 hours of work per credit. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 12 credits.

491, 492 Independent Study in Art and Visual Technology (1-6:0:0), (1-6:0:0). Prerequisite: Senior standing, completion of 12 concentration credits, or permission of the instructor. Study proposal submitted prior to registration. Opportunity for development of advanced skills and concepts in drawing, painting, sculpture, and other media. Project documentation to include 45 hours of work per credit. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 12 credits.

495 Portfolio Preparation (4:2:4). Combination lecture and studio production course that addresses the nature of a professional portfolio in terms of career development and self-marketing including visual presentation of a body of work, the preparation of professional written materials, and the public/verbal presentation of one's work.

497 Senior Project (4:2:4). Prerequisite: senior Art and Visual Technology major, completion of 12 concentration credits or permission of instructor. Students participate in all aspects of the development and presentation of a cohesive and mature body of work. Students will be required to develop and present written materials and documentation related to the development and presentation of their works, as well as participate in formal oral critiques with critics and/or Art and Visual Technology faculty members.

498 Senior Design Project (4:2:4). Prerequisite: senior Art and Visual Technology major with a graphic information design concentration, completion of 12 concentration hours, or permission of instructor. Students participate in all aspects of the development and presentation of a cohesive and mature body of work. Students will be required to develop and present written materials and documentation related to the development and presentation of their works, as well as participate in formal oral critiques with critics and/or Art and Visual Technology faculty members.

522, 523 Drawing V, VI (4:2:4), (4:2:4). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor for AVT 522; AVT 522 or permission of instructor for 523. Drawing on an advanced level. Emphasis on individual decision making and personal initiative.

596 Independent Study (1-6:1-6:0). Prerequisite: BA or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Independent reading and research on a specific project under the direction of a department faculty member. Written reports required. May be repeated for credit.

599 Special Topics in Art and Visual Technology (1-6: 1-3:0-6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Exploration of topical studies in Art and Visual Technology, including both the theoretical and critical aspects of art or studio production. Topics and credit vary with instructor. May be repeated when taken under different topics.

600 Research Methodologies (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program, or permission of instructor. This graduate seminar will focus on the development of an independent research project in the student's area of emphasis. The course will explore the principal methods of researching and documenting art and arts practice. In addition to traditional methods of library research, special emphasis will be placed on new processes of examination and investigation through the use of computer-aided research systems.

610 Graduate Seminar (1-4:0:0). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of the instructor. Seminar course required of all AVT graduate students four times during their course of study. Students present their work and/or the work of contemporary artists for discussion and peer/faculty critiques. Special focus will be given to developing public communication and presentation skills on contemporary issues in the arts. Repeatable for four credits.

616 Internet Multimedia Art (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT Graduate Program or permission of instructor. Combined lecture and studio course in HTML layout and animation. Perceptual problems in designing the presentation of visual and textual information for electronic display. Exploration of how design considerations are affected by changes in media and society.

620 Theory, Criticism and the Visual Arts (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. A cross-disciplinary graduate seminar course focusing on the key theories and themes that have informed 20th- and 21st-century arts practice. The course looks at theory and criticism in a variety of contexts, from the popular to the scholarly, and considers the role of artists themselves as thinkers and writers.

622 Advanced Drawing (4:2:4). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program, or permission of instructor. Advanced directed research in drawing with continued development of individual aesthetic. Study of the historical and philosophical precedents is integral to the course.

632 Graduate Painting I (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program, or permission of instructor. Entering students are expected to be competent painters, with technical proficiency, a disciplined process, and a directed personal vision. Students work rigorously and independently toward the understanding and mastery of techniques, methods, and concepts relevant to the formal expression of a personal content. Students are expected to participate in critical discourse with supervising faculty. Achievement is measured by a faculty review board at mid-semester and at term's end.

633 Graduate Painting II (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 632, or permission of instructor. Building on research and practices established in Graduate Painting I, students continue to develop strategies for the expression of a personal vision and style. Progress is tracked and assessed through periodic one-on-one critical discussions with supervising faculty. Achievement is measured by a faculty review board at mid-semester and at term's end.

634 Advanced Graduate Painting (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 633, or permission of instructor. Working independently on a cohesive body of work, students must demonstrate a thorough understanding and mastery of techniques, methods, and concepts relevant to their own practices, and be able to discuss their own work within the context of historical and contemporary art practices. Progress is tracked and assessed through periodic one-on-one critical discussions with supervising faculty. Achievement is measured by a faculty review board at mid-semester and at term's end.

642, 643 Graduate Printmaking I, II (5:2:6), (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program, or permission of instructor. Directed research and practice in printmaking focuses on the individualized development of content and technique. Emphasis is placed on exploration and growth in the intellectual and expressive aspects of the printmaking process.

644 Advanced Graduate Printmaking (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 643 or permission of the instructor. An intensive course of creative exploration in print media that furthers students' independence through the production of an individualized body of work that reflects their specific interests within the broader contexts of contemporary social, technological, and cultural issues. Students will also engage in collaborative studio practices to enable the integration of many visual technologies in their work. These may include, digital imaging, drawing, graphic design, painting, performance, photography, and sculpture.

652 Graduate Photography I (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Critical theory and directed practice in photography which focuses on the development of a personal voice and working method through intellectual activity and creative work. Emphasis is placed on the ability to explore concepts, develop skills, and to evolve as both a communicator of ideas and as a photographic artist.

653 Graduate Photography II (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. A continuum of Graduate Photography I, this course is an intensive critique class that concentrates on the development of the student's creative work with emphasis on articulating responses to others' work, the cultural climate we inhabit and the issues involved in one's own work as it progresses. Weekly classes will share equal time with critical theory and hands-on studio work. Readings, visiting artists and lecturers, and field trips will serve to provide a variety of viewpoints as well as encourage discourse during the semester.

654 Advanced Graduate Photography (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 653 or permission of the instructor. An advanced graduate photography course. It is designed as an intensive critique class that concentrates on the development of the student's creative work with emphasis on articulating responses to others' work, the cultural climate we inhabit and the issues involved in one's own work as it progresses. Weekly classes will share equal time with critical theory and hands-on studio work. Readings, visiting artists and lecturers, and field trips will serve to provide a variety of viewpoints as well as encourage discourse during the semester.

662 Graduate Sculpture I (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. An intensive studio course that furthers student independence through production of a body of work which reflects their specific interests, including a broader context of social, cultural, and contemporary issues. Emphasis will be placed on self-evaluation, critical discussion, reading, and writing components.

663 Graduate Sculpture II (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 662 or permission of instructor. An intensive studio course that furthers student independence through production of a body of work which reflects their specific interests, including a broader context of social, cultural, and contemporary issues. Emphasis will be placed on self-evaluation, critical discussion, reading, and writing components.

664 Advanced Graduate Sculpture (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 663 or permission of the instructor. Course places emphasis on individual creative production and development, with periodic exposure of the student's work and ideas to the critical attention of the AVT teaching faculty and other graduate students. Writing and reading components.

670 Teaching Practicum (3:3:0 or 6:6:0). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Supervised classroom teaching practicum in the undergraduate program at George Mason or in a community college program. May be repeated for a total of six credits.

672 Performance Studio I (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. An introductory studio course looking at performance as a visual art practice and focusing on time, space and the body. The course emphasizes the artist as performer. Students study the work of performance practitioners, make short performance pieces, document and exhibit their work as well as take part in a program of gallery and performance visits locally and in New York. Students are required to complete a substantial research project.

673 Performance Studio II (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. In-depth studio course focused in the collaborative practice of performance art. Detailed analysis of the creation and production processes from an interdisciplinary perspective in conjunction with practical training in multimedia performance, complemented by screenings, readings, guest artists and field trips.

674 Advanced Performance Studio (5:2:6). Prerequisite: AVT 673 or permission of instructor. Advanced laboratory for creation and production of performance art. Emphases include new technologies and their applications, multimedia scriptwriting and storyboarding, and the creation of audio-visual performance. Students work independently, and also participate in and contribute to a collaborative production.

675 Advanced Performance Topics (5:6:2). Prerequisite: AVT 673 or permission of instructor. Opportunity for advanced study in interdisciplinary arts topics including: African American Experience in the Performing Arts, Cyberpunk, Global Motion, InterArts Figures, Live Movies, Writing and Performance. Repeatable up to 15 credits when taken under different topics.

676 Sound and Music for Video and Animation (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Combined lecture and studio course that focuses on the selection, editing, processing, and integration of sound and music (postproduction) into video and animation. Time, frequency, and amplitude domain and processing, are studied. Students postproduce sound and music for a 15-minute film or animation that is due at the end of the semester.

678 Interface and CD-ROM Design (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Combined lecture and studio course in multimedia interface and CD-ROM design. Special focus is given to the exportation of the traditional visual and aural artistic aesthetic to the computer environment within a multimedia context. Assigned readings in the class are augmented and supported by presentations of various digital interfaces and CD-ROM examples. Commercial, entertainment, and educational titles, as well as CD-ROM experimental art works, are studied and discussed. Studio time is divided between the AVT labs and area multimedia facilities. Students conceive, design, and develop a two-CD-ROM and/or Kiosk Interfaces that are due at midterm, and complete a dual platform CD-ROM project that is due at the end of the semester.

684 Two-Dimensional Digital Art (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Overview of 2D computer imaging applications in the arts, including painting, printmaking, mixed media, illustration, video, animation, and others. Lectures combine technical and aesthetic material, including image processing for artists and color reproduction. Emphasis on developing an advanced studio portfolio.

686 Three-Dimensional Digital Art (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Students will learn how to create realistic, three-dimensional scenes with scaled objects, surface textures, lights, and shadows. Emphasis will be placed on idea generation, concept development, visual aesthetics and technical abilities. Students are required to render a portfolio of high resolution images.

688 Digital Animation (5:2:6). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Students will study digital 2D and 3D animation practices. Lighting, camera movement, object motion, timing, and texture mapping will be introduced as students plan and produce a short animation. Emphasis will be placed on idea generation, concept development, visual aesthetics, and technical abilities.

693 Apprenticeship (3:3:0 or 6:6:0). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. AVT students apprentice at a local business that conforms to their interest in visual information technologies. May be repeated for a total of six credits.

796, 798, 799 Directed Project, Directed Reading, Thesis (1-9:0:0), (3:0:0), (1-3:0:0). Prerequisite: Admission to the AVT graduate program or permission of instructor. Three courses comprising the MFA comprehensive experience for AVT students. Involves a study of the historical basis for a studio project, an independent creative production suitable for public viewing, and a written thesis documenting the evolution of the creative problem and exploring the intention, purpose, and relative success of the finished production.