Art

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Andrew Harris

School of Art

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Fine Arts Building, Room 293
Phone: (415) 338-2176
Fax: (415) 338-6537
Undergraduate Email: sch_art@sfsu.edu
Graduate Email: artgrad@sfsu.edu
Website: http://art.sfsu.edu

Interim Director: Mario Laplante
Graduate Coordinator: Chris Finley

Mission Statement

The SF State Art program is designed to provide students with intellectually informed instruction in the histories and practices of the visual arts within the context of a liberal arts university. The guiding principal of its curricula and instruction is the belief that art is an important means to interpret human experience, and is a fundamental mechanism by which a society evolves, understands, and reflects upon itself. It supports the university mission to offer instruction that promotes respect for and appreciation of scholarship, freedom, human diversity, and the cultural mosaic of the San Francisco Bay area and beyond, and encourages critical thinking within an inclusive worldview.

The curriculum provides students pathways to engage in personal, philosophical, political and/or conceptual questions through art practice, research, and writing. Using a heuristic approach to learning, fueled by curiosity, students are encouraged to understand and challenge normative paradigms, resulting in new forms and ways of thinking. The conceptual exploration of materials, objects, images, texts, actions, and events develops transferable skill sets that will enrich students’ lives and prepare them for roles as artists, curators, historians, and creative professionals. The program cultivates visual literacy and critical thinking, and engenders professional conduct (discipline), adaptability, social awareness, and social justice, through an understanding of the role of art in the human experience. The program currently offers degrees and undergraduates majors in the areas of art and art history, as well as pathways to teaching art.

Program Scope

The School of Art is committed to offering a fine arts curriculum in a liberal arts context with diverse and vital programs for the study of the visual arts in Northern California. Its programs foster development of specialized skills, encourage personal creative direction, and promote understanding of the history and cultural traditions that shape artistic expression. The School of Art faculty are dedicated to bridging the practice, theory and history of art, and to combining traditional and new technologies in a manner that reflects and affects contemporary culture. The Bachelor of Arts in Art program consists of a core and the choice of a concentration in Art History, Studio Art, or Art History and Studio Art. The area of concentration focuses study in one specialty, but with a degree of breadth sufficient for understanding and awareness in other areas. All courses are designed to provide a broad experiential and conceptual orientation to the visual arts and art history. Advanced courses in the concentrations focus on perceptual skills, conceptual practices, creative expression, and critical thinking. Attention is given to traditions and heritage of the discipline, contemporary issues and forms, imaginative problem solving, and written English proficiency within the discipline.

The Master of Arts in Art is the only terminal master’s degree in Art History in the San Francisco Bay Area. Coursework emphasizes methodology, history, research, and writing. Students produce a thesis that allows for focused research on a specific topic under the direction of a thesis advisor.

The Master of Fine Arts in Art program emphasizes the development of individual creative direction in the context of contemporary, interdisciplinary art practice. Coursework emphasizes contemporary art, critique, experimentation with forms of expression, and professional presentation of works of art.

The School’s website offers additional information: http://art.sfsu.edu/

Facilities

The Fine Arts Building features specialized studio spaces for Sculpture, Fiber, and Material Studies (including a dye laboratory, loom, and surface design studios), Photography (including chemical and digital labs), Painting and Drawing, and Printmaking. Specialized equipment includes large format printers and a laser cutter. The building is also home to the 3,800 square foot Fine Arts Gallery, and the Martin Wong Gallery. Graduate studio spaces are located in the Fine Arts Building. The School maintains an instructional archive/collection of historic and contemporary prints, drawings, and photographs.

Career Outlook

Opportunities for the graduate with a bachelor’s degree in art vary depending on the student’s initiative and inclinations. Students dedicated to creative expression in art practice, or scholarly research in the history of art, may elect to pursue graduate education. Others may find opportunities for technical or on-the-job training in the related fields. A course in exhibition design is offered in the professional environment of the Fine Arts Gallery and provides intense, practical, and theoretical training for gallery and art museum careers. Art and art history students with an interest in working with visual artifacts, and with the diverse professional aspects of presenting art and artists elect courses in this popular area.

Graduate degrees open the door to teaching positions at the college-university level. Students who elect to pursue careers outside the arts may find access to more rewarding cultural life experiences through their visual arts education.

An art minor is offered for students who wish to pursue a secondary interest in art on a structured basis.

Graduate Program in Art

Two graduate programs are offered–Master of Arts with an emphasis in art history and a Master of Fine Arts in Art. The three-year professional M.F.A. .curriculum is an integrated course of study across a spectrum of studio arts and their adjunct fields of theory, history, and criticism. The M.A. prepares students for doctoral studies and careers in galleries, museums, and other community institutions.

Art Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate competence in employing the fundamentals and principles of art in art practice and art history.
Demonstrate understanding of the traditional canons of art history and revisionist scholarship.
Evaluate and discern quality, meaning, and significance in works of art using the historical, theoretical, and social methods of art history and contemporary art practice.
Distinguish the various contexts in which art is experienced.
Show evidence of curiosity, risk-taking, experimentation and problem-solving to generate a personally constructed conceptual direction in art practice and research in visual and written work.
Understand the ethical dimensions of artistic practice and art historical scholarship within a global context.

Professor

GAIL DAWSON (2003), Professor of Art; B.A. (1979), M.A. (1988), University of California, Berkeley; B.F.A. (1997), M.F.A. (2000), University of Texas, Austin.

VICTOR DE LA ROSA (2006), Professor of Art; B.A. (1999), San Francisco State University; M.F.A. (2001), University of California, Davis; M.F.A. (2004), Rhode Island School of Design.

LEWIS DeSOTO (1988), Professor of Art; B.A. (1978), University of California, Riverside; M.F.A. (1981), Claremont Graduate School.

JEFFREY DOWNING (2002), Professor of Art; B.A. (1989), M.F.A. (1992), San Francisco State University.

MARK JOHNSON (1994), Professor of Art; B.S. (1975), Yale University; M.A. (1981), San Francisco State University; M.F.A. (1982), University of California, Berkeley.

MARIO LAPLANTE (1996), Professor of Art; B.F.A. (1983), Concordia University, Montreal; M.F.A. (1989), University of Wisconsin.

PAULA LEVINE (1999), Professor of Art; B.A. (1970), Elmira College; M.S.W. (1973), New York University; M.F.A. (1988), San Francisco Art Institute.

JULIA N. MARSHALL (1988), Professor of Art; B.A. (1969), George Washington University; M.F.A. (1973), University of Wisconsin; Ed.D. (1998), University of San Francisco.

FRANCISCO PEREZ (1986), Professor of Art; B.F.A. (1972), University of Hartford; M.F.A. (1980), Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Associate Professor

GWEN ALLEN (2007), Associate Professor of Art; B.A. (1994), Smith College; M.A. (1999), Stanford University; Ph. D (2004), Stanford University.

SUSAN BELAU (2008), Associate Professor of Art; B.A. (1993), University of California, Santa Cruz; MFA (1999), University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

SANTHI KAVURI-BAUER (2003), Associate Professor of Art; B.A. (1991), Rutgers University; M.A. (1996), Ph.D. (2002), University of California, Los Angeles.

Assistant Professor

MICHAEL ARCEGA (2013), Assistant Professor of Art; B.F.A. (1999), San Francisco Art Institute; M.F.A. (2009), Stanford University.

LIBBY BLACK (2017), Assistant Professor of Art; B.F.A (1999), The Cleveland Institute of Art; M.F.A. (2001), The California College of the Arts.

ILANA CRISPI (2016), Assistant Professor of Art; B.A. (1999), Brown University; M.F.A. (2006), Mills College.

CHRISTOPHER FINLEY (2011), Assistant Professor of Art; B.F.A. (1993), Art Center College of Design.

SEAN MCFARLAND (2018), Assistant Professor of Art; B.S. (2002), Humboldt State University; M.F.A. (2004), California College of the Arts.

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

ART 210 Introduction to Digital Media Arts (Units: 3)

The fundamentals, principles, and tools for 2D/3D graphics, time-based media, and interactive art. Examination of aesthetics, visual and verbal language and art historical and current practices in the media. Activity.

ART 222 Introduction to Textile Art (Units: 3)

Studio experiences correlating textile media with basic techniques and processes. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 231 Drawing I (Units: 3)

Studio experiences with dry and wet materials. Visual translation of three-dimensional objects to a two-dimensional surface, as well as approaches to copying, abstraction and pattern using linear, tonal and volumetric indication, and perspective, with attention to composition. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 232 Drawing as Thinking: Sketchbooks as a Portable Studio (Units: 3)

Introduction to a variety of drawing techniques and approaches to develop observational, expressive, and thinking vocabularies in art practice. Examines methodologies for the studio and the field using sketchbooks. Activity.

ART 235 Printmaking I (Units: 3)

Studio experiences correlating drawing and printmaking media with basic techniques and processes. Activity. Extra fee required.

Course Attributes:

C1: Arts

ART 236 Introduction to Screen Printing (Units: 3)

Introduction to screen printing processes through the production of small editions. Consideration of screen print history, fundamentals of visual representations, and the role of prints in contemporary art. Activity.

ART 240 Introduction to Contemporary Sculpture (Units: 3)

Studio experiences exploring sculptural, theoretical, and visual processes using a variety of materials, methods, and context as means of investigation. Emphasis on personal creative growth and development. Activity. Extra fee required.

Course Attributes:

C1: Arts

ART 245 Introduction to Ceramics (Units: 3)

Studio experiences correlating clay media with basic techniques and processes. Activity. Extra fee required.

Course Attributes:

C1: Arts

ART 260 Photography I (Units: 3)

Black and white film processing and printing. Study of photography as a creative medium. 35mm camera with manually adjustable apertures and shutter speeds required. Automatic cameras not acceptable. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 308 Shop Safety for Artists (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Restricted to Art majors and minors.

Introduction to best and safe practices for art practitioners whose work requires fabrication using power tools, welding, and a variety of hand tools used in wood and metal work. Activity. [Formerly ART 103]

ART 311 Interactive Arts I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Skills, knowledge, concepts, and aesthetics in designing interactive artworks using basic electronics, microcomputers, and microcontrollers in a fine arts context. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 335 Printmaking Processes: Drawing the Multiple (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Art 231*.

Overview of traditional printmaking processes that utilize drawing and the hand-made mark. Emphasis on developing students' fluency in materials and connecting printmaking processes and history with contemporary practice. Activity.

ART 340 Intermediate Contemporary Sculpture: Materials & Concepts (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors and minors; ART 240 or equivalent; or consent of the instructor.

Development of contemporary sculpture material research and conceptual strategies. Emphasis on transferable skills, personal lexicon, and presentation. Emphasis on critiques, discussion, and critical discourse. Activity. Extra fee required. [Formerly ART 540]

ART 365 Documentation and Archiving Practices for the Visual Artist (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Studio Art and Art History majors and minors.

Focus on practical tools employed by visual artists in documentation and archiving of artworks, including but not limited to photography fundamentals, studio lighting fundamentals for 2D and 3D artworks, labeling of artworks, archiving of digital files, and digital imaging practices.

ART 370 Introduction to Art Practice (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Restricted to junior Art majors; ENG 214 or equivalent with a grade of C or better; or consent of the instructor.

Orientation to major program and concentrations, resources, extracurricular opportunities, and issues and trends in art practice. How to select a faculty adviser and develop a program of major study. Introduction to vocational outlooks and opportunities for graduate study. (CR/NC only)

ART 410 Conceptual Strategies I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Conceptual strategies for artists such as listing, language, chance, etc. Conceptual frameworks, methods, and strategies for studio art production and digital media. The primacy of ideas and processes in studio work. Influences among technology, art, culture, and everyday life. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 413 Introduction to Video Art (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors and minors; upper-division standing; ART 210; or consent of the instructor.

Introduction to digital video art and sound, including video art production, history, and current practices. Activity.

ART 422 Weaving I: Beginning (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ART 222 or equivalent.

Basic weaving techniques using four harness looms. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units on advisement. Extra fee required.

ART 423 Constructed Surfaces (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; ART 222.

Exploration in relief surface treatments using a variety of approaches incorporating textile-related techniques. Possibilities of raw materials and substrates for adhesion, integration or construction. The conceptual contribution that material selection and working process make. Activity. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

ART 424 Surface Design Studio (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ART 222 or equivalent.

Fundamental surface design techniques on fabric for producing two- and three-dimensional forms with emphasis on the design process and concept development. Studio activities from portfolio samples to larger fine art pieces are explored. May be repeated for a total of 6 units on advisement. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 430 The Language of Observational Painting (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; ART 231 or equivalent.

Exploration and development of oil painting practice with an emphasis on translating three dimensions into two using color, value, and mark-making toward representational ends. Traditional and non-traditional approaches to starting, developing, and resolving paintings. How to distinguish and articulate quality and meaning in works of art. Activity.

ART 431 Painting I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 231 or equivalent.

Concepts, techniques, and disciplines of painting. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 432 Drawing II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 231 or equivalent.

Drawing concepts and media. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 433 Figure Drawing (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 231 or equivalent.

Figure drawing concepts in varied media. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 434 Color Workshop (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 231 or equivalent.

Color vocabulary and theoretical concepts of color: Color is fundamental to painting and other disciplines. Pigments, dyes, and inks. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 435 Printmaking Workshop: Relief (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 235; 3 units of drawing from ART 231, ART 432, ART 433, ART 533, or equivalent.

Relief workshop. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 436 Printmaking Workshop: Intaglio (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 235; 3 units of drawing from ART 231, ART 432, ART 433, ART 533, or equivalent.

Intaglio workshop. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 437 Printmaking Workshop: Lithography (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 235; 3 units from ART 231, ART 432, ART 433, ART 533, or equivalent.

Lithography workshop. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 438 Monoprinting (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 235; 3 units of drawing from ART 231, ART 432, ART 433, ART 533, or equivalent.

Exploration of process. Experimentation and re-evaluation of the medium and its relationship to traditional printmaking. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 439 Screen Printing (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors and minors; ART 235 or equivalent.

Screen printing processes that utilizing hand drawn and photo-emulsion stencils with a focus on printing on paper and the role of screen prints in contemporary art. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus letter only) [Formerly under ART 536, topic "Silkscreen"]

ART 440 Advanced Contemporary Sculpture: Expanded Practice (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors and minors; ART 340 or equivalent.

Further development of transferable skills, personal lexicon, and critical discourse in sculptural practice. Exploration of sculpture within the expanded field of contemporary art including performance, installation, and social practice. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 441 Art and Social Function (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors and minors; any 200-level Studio Art course.

Interdisciplinary examination of the role of the artist as citizen through the production of artworks focusing on Social Justice. Research, production/preparation, and action exploring the broadening context in which to display, engage, and intervene in social spaces within the gallery walls and beyond. Activity. May be repeated when topics vary.

ART 445 Ceramics on the Wheel (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors.

Clay and glaze. Form exploration with wheel and hand-building techniques. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 12 units with consent of instructor. Extra fee required.

ART 460 Photography II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 260 or equivalent beginning black and white chemical process photo course.

Advanced black and white photochemical processes, techniques that utilize contemporary art concepts and approaches. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 509 Art Productions: Studio, Art History, Art Education (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors.

Research, design, and development of visual material for instructional purposes. Concurrent enrollment permitted in two different sections of the course. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.

ART 511 Conceptual and Information Arts: Special Areas (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors or consent of the instructor.

Examination of conceptual and theoretical aspects of digital media and emerging technologies for artists in relation to visual art practice. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. Activity. May be repeated when topics vary. Extra fee required.

ART 513 Digital Video and Sound (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

An introduction to digital video art including video production, history, and current practices. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required. [Formerly under ART 511, topic "Digital Video: Interactive Images"]

ART 514 Video Art: Advanced Practices (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; ART 413; or consent of the instructor.

Focus on working with new tools and strategies that expand the video medium. Topics include single and multiple channel format, installation, performance, interactivity, projection, mapping, or mobile formats. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 522 Weaving II: Intermediate (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ART 422 or equivalent.

Expands on the technical and creative skills acquired in Weaving I. Intermediate hand weaving and textile concepts using eight-harness floor looms. Exploration of multi-harness weave structures from sampling towards individual art projects. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 524 Surface Design III (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ART 424 or equivalent.

Experimental surface design applied to the study of costume. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 525 Textiles Studio Process (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors or minors; ART 222, two upper-division ART courses; or consent of the instructor.

Advanced studio experience for self-guided studio projects and assignments. Exploration and investigation of technique and mechanics necessary to create fully resolved and in-depth works of art. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

ART 527 Repeat Pattern for Fine Art (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; basic computer skills and familiarity with Photoshop and Illustrator; or consent of the instructor.

Studio experience exploring pattern repeat principles, mechanics, and creation toward contemporary uses in various disciplines of fine arts and design. Methods of producing repeat pattern, from handmade to computer-aided, are discussed and demonstrated. Activity. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC) [Formerly a topic under ART 523]

ART 529 Textile Futures (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; ART 222, 3 units from ART 422 or ART 424 or ART 624; or consent of the instructor.

Exploration of the intersection of textiles and emergent technologies and processes towards new ways of creating, defining, and experiencing textiles. Students will learn about the current climate of future textiles in practice, concept, and theory and will develop their own project concepts. Activity. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [Formerly ART 523, topic "Textile Futures"]

ART 530 Intermediate Painting: The Expanded Field (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; ART 430 or equivalent.

Contemporary approaches and concerns in painting practice. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. Activity. May be repeated when topics vary.

ART 531 Painting II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 431.

Special problems in painting. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 533 Figure Painting (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 431 and ART 433 or equivalents.

Problems in painting the human figure. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 534 Mixed Media Painting (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 231 and ART 431 or equivalents.

Formal, conceptual, and structural aspects of painting using traditional and non-traditional mediums, including water-based mediums, collage, and mechanical reproduction. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 535 Artist's Books (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: 3 units of printmaking in ART 435, ART 436, ART 437, ART 438, or equivalent.

Intensive exploration of the artist book from the perspective of the bookbinder, printmaker, and writer including the ways in which contemporary artists self-publish. Includes units on the creative process, book structures, and letterpress printing. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus letter only) [Formerly under ART 536, topic "BookArts"]

ART 536 Printmaking: Special Areas (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: 3 units of printmaking from ART 435, ART 436, ART 437, ART 438, or equivalent; or consent of the instructor.

Investigation of specific printmaking processes and techniques and different conceptual approaches to the medium. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. Activity. May be repeated when topics vary. Extra fee required.

ART 539 Art Productions: Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Upper-division Art majors and minors.

ART 541 Installation Art (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: 400 level studio course.

Investigation of personal aesthetic and theoretical issues as they relate to creating sculptural installation works where the whole (context/environment) is more than the sum of parts. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 543 Hydrarchy: Nautical Art, Watercraft, and the Art of Resistance (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to senior Art majors and minors; a 400-level studio course; or consent of the instructor.

Focus on generating artworks in a variety of media informed by investigation of broad nautical themes, culture, and myth including cultural diaspora, international trade, and native versus invasive ecosystems. Activity. [Formerly ART 677]

ART 544 Raku (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Priority enrollment for Art majors; ART 545; or consent of the instructor.

Methods of obtaining basic glazes, advanced slip decoration and design, building and understanding of varied oriental raku kilns, and reduction and oxidation firing. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 545 Ceramic Sculpture (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; priority enrollment for Art majors; ART 245.

Problems in ceramics. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 546 Glaze Surfaces (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Conducting advanced experiments in the production of a clay body. Calculating, executing, and experimenting with various aspects of the glaze potential. Constructing kilns and participating in their firing. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 548 Glaze Calculation (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors; ART 545; or consent of the instructor.

Understanding and experimenting with raw ceramic materials and their use in the formulation of clays and glazes. Basic kiln designs and firing techniques. Emphasis on proper, safe handling of materials and effective use of material and process. Activity.

ART 560 Photography III (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 260 and ART 460 or equivalents.

Introduction to imaging processes using Adobe Photoshop. A bridge course where analog media is translated to digital information for printing. Assignments combine technical exercises with conceptual themes in contemporary photography. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 562 Color Photography I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 460 or equivalent.

Advanced digital color photography and image processing and printing. Digital camera with Camera Raw file capability required. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. Extra fee required.

ART 563 Topics in Photography (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 460.

Examination and exploration of the concepts, and implementation of, the tools and techniques of photographic and lens-based processes and practices. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units when topics vary. Extra fee required.

ART 570 Internships in the Visual Arts (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art and Art History majors and minors; GPA of 3.0 or better; a 20th/21st-century Art History course with a grade of B or better.

Internship experience in the arts that include gallery and museum work, studio assistantships, research, etc. (CR/NC grading only)

ART 600 Studio Process and Professional Practices (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors; one 500-level Studio Art course.

Interdisciplinary studio capstone that combines research, writing, art making, seminar, and critique to reflect upon work made in previous studio courses and contextualize it within professional and institutional practices. Instruction and practice in developing and sustaining a studio practice including generating ideas, project management, and completion, understanding process, documentation/presentation strategies, exhibition contexts, writing an artist's statement, speaking about work, and preparation for professional opportunities after graduation. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

ART 610 Conceptual Strategies III (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 410 and 6 units of ART 511; consent of the instructor.

Production and research projects. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units.

ART 619 Exhibition Design (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors and Museum Studies minors and graduate students.

Theory and production of exhibitions, including planning, collecting, preparation, annotation, and criticism. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

ART 624 Sculptural Cloth and Fiber (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ART 222 or consent of the instructor.

Exploration of object making and ideas in installation through learning to shape cloth and fiber into forms and structures using a variety of textile-related techniques and approaches. Activity. Extra fee required.

ART 631 Painting III (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; portfolio review.

Advanced painting course that supports diverse practices and old and new methods of image making. Students complete a body of work while developing awareness of contemporary conceptual and profession concerns. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. Extra fee required.

ART 635 Advanced Printmaking (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Departmental recommendation and consent.

Advanced printmaking projects emphasizing aesthetic and technological developments. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 640 Independent Research and Practice Development (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 540; departmental recommendation and consent.

Sculpture workshop. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. Extra fee required.

ART 645 Ceramics IV (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; departmental recommendation and consent.

Ceramics workshop. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. Extra fee required.

ART 660 Photography IV (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 560 or equivalent.

Photography workshop. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 9 units. Extra fee required.

ART 662 Color Photography II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors; ART 562 or ART 563.

Advanced digital color printing and image processing. Digital camera with Camera Raw file capability required. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. Extra fee required.

ART 670 Art as Inquiry: Interdisciplinary Studio Experiences (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to senior Art majors; two 500-level or one 600-level course in an area of emphasis.

Self-directed studio research/inquiry focusing on the why, what, and how of studio art practice. Emphasis on contemporary practice and theory, creating a cohesive body of work, and critical feedback. Activity. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

ART 685 Projects in the Teaching of Visual Arts (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor; completion of an equivalent course in the subject matter.

Teaching experiences in art and art history through assigned instructional projects as classroom aides. Training in teaching principles including supervised classroom teaching activities. (Students may earn a maximum of 4 units toward the baccalaureate degree for any course(s) numbered 685 regardless of discipline.)

ART 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; consent of the instructor, advisor, and college dean.

Independent study of some aspect of the field not covered by regular courses under the supervision of a faculty member selected by the student. May be repeated for a total of 4 units with consent of the instructor, adviser, and department chair. Students may not enroll in more than 3 units during any one semester.

ART 704 Interdisciplinary Critique Seminar (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to M.F.A. Art students or consent of the instructor and graduate major adviser.

Intensive critical investigation of selected aspects of the visual arts. May be repeated for a total of 18 units.

ART 706 MFA Writing and Research Seminar (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to M.F.A. Art students or consent of the instructor.

Provides instruction, support, and experience in research and writing for M.F.A. students. Focuses on developing writing as an activity that complements and feeds artistic practice by looking at historical and contemporary models of artists' writing. Facilitates the development of professional artist research statements and the completion of the M.F.A. thesis report. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

ART 709 Studio Research and Practice Seminar (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to M.F.A. Art students or consent of the instructor.

Sustained, in-depth investigation of specific areas, themes, and theories within art practice and curatorial practice. Primary research may include travel for one-time events, fieldwork, exhibitions, direct community involvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. May be repeated for a total of 18 units.

ART 750 Seminar in Teaching Art Practice (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: M.F.A. Art students or consent of the instructor.

Development of teaching and related career preparation skills, philosophies, and curriculum planning in art practice fields. Strongly recommended for teaching assistants in ART 850. May be taken by advanced undergraduates preparing for college-level teaching careers in art.

ART 780 Art Processes and Practices: Visiting Artists and Scholars (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Restricted to M.F.A. Art students; consent of the instructor.

Introduction to and exploration of specific approaches and processes in individual art practice, including writing, discussion, and material research. May be repeated for a total of 12 units. (CR/NC grading only)

ART 789 Professional Practices for Visual Artists (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to M.F.A. Art students.

Deepen the understanding of the practical tools employed by professional contemporary artists, including but not limited to grant writing, work fabrication, exhibition design, daily practice, and professional identity in relation to each student's individual practice. (Plus-minus ABC/NC)

ART 850 Directed Experience in Public Roles for Artists (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to M.F.A. Art student; consent of the supervising instructor and graduate major adviser.

Supervised directed experiences and seminar in the teaching of art and/or internship in other public roles that artists occupy. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

ART 882 Tutorial in Studio (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to M.F.A. Art students or consent of the instructor; consent of the instructor and graduate major adviser.

Critical direction on a one-to-one basis. Intended to develop a student's individual vision and capabilities as a professional artist. May be repeated for a total of 15 units.

ART 890 Creative Work Research (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 704, ARTH 700, ARTH 705; consent of student's major adviser; must be taken in the semester before acceptance in ART 894.

Development of creative research in the art area with direct application to the creative work project. (CR/NC grading only)

ART 894 Creative Work Project (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 890; consent of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) for the Master of Fine Arts and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before enrollment.

May not be repeated unless completed previously for an M.A. at SF State or with the approval of the department chair. (CR/NC/RP grading only)

ART 897 Research Projects in Art (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in the Art M.A. program; ART 700, ART 704, ART 705, and consent of graduate major adviser.

Development of a problem of major interest to a student with direct application of methods of research, research findings, and production to creative activity in the art area. (Plus-minus letter grade, CR/NC, RP)

ART 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ART 700, ART 701, ART 702, ART 703, consent of instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. One semester paper demonstrating art historical theory, methods, research. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by Graduate Studies before registration. (CR/NC grading only.)

ART 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Classified graduate standing; consent of the instructor.

Independent study of some aspect of the field related to the student's final thesis or project under the supervision of a faculty member. May be repeated for a total of 6 units with consent of the instructor. (CR/NC grading only)

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

ARTH 201 Western Art History I (Units: 3)

Conceptual and technical relationship of visual culture to the social, political, and economic life of the Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Byzantine, Early Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Southern Baroque periods. [Formerly ART 201]

Course Attributes:

C1: Arts

ARTH 202 Western Art History II (Units: 3)

Conceptual and technical relationship of visual culture to the social, political, and economic life of the Northern Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist, and Modernist periods. [Formerly ART 202]

Course Attributes:

C1: Arts

ARTH 205 Asian Art History (Units: 3)

Conceptual and technical relationship of visual form to values in the art of China, Korea, Japan, India, Tibet, and South-East Asia. [Formerly ART 205]
(This course is offered as ARTH 205 and HUM 205. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

C1: Arts
Global Perspectives

ARTH 303 The Artist in the 20th-21st Centuries: Cultures in Collision - Cultures in Fusion (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

A multicultural and multiethnic overview of selected topics in 20th-21st century art. Examines artists who have moved out of their own cultural frameworks to create alternative expressions. [Formerly ART 303]

ARTH 306 Modern and Contemporary Art in a Global Context: 1945-Present (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art and Art History majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; sophomore standing or above; or consent of the instructor; ARTH 202 or equivalent recommended.

A survey of major movements and themes in art internationally since 1945. [Formerly ART 306 and ART 506]

ARTH 400GW Writing About Art - GWAR (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art and Art History majors with sophomore standing or above; ENG 214 or equivalent with a grade of C- or better; or consent of the instructor.

Introduction to basic art historical methodologies with an emphasis on formal analysis and formal description of works of art. (ABC/NC grade only) [Formerly ART 400GW]

Course Attributes:

Graduation Writing Assessment

ARTH 401 Greek Art and Archaeology (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent.

Survey of Greek material culture (art, architecture, city planning, etc.) from the Bronze Age to the second century CE. [Formerly ART 401]
(This course is offered as CLAR 420 and ARTH 401. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ARTH 402 Roman Art and Archaeology (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent.

Survey of Roman material culture (art, architecture, city planning, etc.) from the foundation of Rome to the reign of Justinian. [Formerly ART 402]
(This course is offered as CLAR 425 and ARTH 402. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ARTH 403 Queer Art History (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ARTH 201 or ARTH 202 recommended.

Case studies of primarily Western art. Homophobia, censorship, reconstructing gay and lesbian history, major artists, visual codes, eroticism, lesbian feminism, families and communities, racial diversity, AIDS, and other issues. [Formerly ART 403]
(This course is offered as ARTH 403 and SXS 405. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ARTH 405 Art, Literature, and Power in the Renaissance (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: ARTH 201 or ARTH 202 recommended.

European Renaissance and Baroque art and literature, related to power structures affecting all aspects of culture and society. [Formerly ART 405]
(This course is offered as ARTH 405 and HUM 405. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

ARTH 406 Renaissance Art (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art and Art History majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; upper-division standing; or consent of the instructor; ARTH 201 or equivalent recommended.

Painting, sculpture, and architecture of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries in Italy and Northern Europe. [Formerly ART 406]

ARTH 417 The Art and Architecture of Islam (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Case study examination of the tradition and practices of Islamic art and architecture, artistic developments from the seventh century to the present, and regional variations in Africa, Asia, and Europe. [Formerly ART 417 and ART 504]

ARTH 418 Art History: Ancient to 19th Century - Special Areas (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art and Art History majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; upper-division standing; or consent of the instructor; ARTH 201 or equivalent recommended.

Investigation of specific themes, periods, styles, geographical areas, and media in art history from the Ancient period through the 19th century. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. May be repeated when topics vary. [Formerly ART 418]

ARTH 419 Art History: 20th and 21st Century - Special Areas (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art and Art History majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; upper-division standing; or consent of the instructor; ARTH 202 or equivalent recommended.

Investigation of specific themes, periods, styles, geographical areas and media in art history during the Modern and Contemporary periods. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. May be repeated when topics vary. [Formerly ART 419]

ARTH 421 Art History: Global Perspectives - Special Areas (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art and Art History majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; upper-division standing; or consent of the instructor; ARTH 205 or equivalent recommended.

Investigation of specific themes, periods, styles, geographical areas, and media in art history with an emphasis on global practices and perspectives emerging in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and their diasporas. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. May be repeated when topics vary. [Formerly ART 421]

ARTH 516 Advanced Topics in Art History (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to Art majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; one 300- or 400-level Art History course*; or consent of the instructor.

Investigation of advanced topics in Art History. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary. [Formerly ART 516]

ARTH 602 Art History Seminar (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Art majors and minors and M.F.A. Art students; one upper-division (300- to 500-level) Art History course; or consent of the instructor.

Advanced seminar on specific topics, themes, and research methods in Art History. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary. (ABC/NC grading; CR/NC allowed) [Formerly ART 602]

ARTH 700 Contemporary Art History: Practice, Theory, and Criticism (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate Art students; recommended in the first semester of graduate studies.

Seminar in contemporary art history, theory, and criticism as they apply to the creative artist. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [Formerly ART 700]

ARTH 701 Art History: Images and Meaning (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Graduate standing; ARTH 602 and ARTH 700; or consent of the instructor.

Advanced research seminar in Art History. Historical area studies, iconography, and textual analysis. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. [Formerly ART 701]

ARTH 702 Graduate Art History Methods (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate Art students.

Graduate seminar in Art History research methods. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. [Formerly ART 702]

ARTH 703 Art History Research Applications (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Art students; ARTH 700 or ARTH 701; or consent of the instructor.

Develop professional skills in problem formulation, visual, and textual analysis and art historical argument. [Formerly ART 703]

ARTH 705 Contemporary Art (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Art students; ARTH 700 and 6 units of Art History including ARTH 306 or equivalent completed within the last five years.

Focus on the research of both the visual theories and the accomplishments of the post-WWII period and the changing attitudes and styles that form contemporary traditions. [Formerly ART 705]

Art

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

School of Art

Mission Statement

Program Scope

Facilities

Career Outlook

Graduate Program in Art

Art Learning Outcomes

Professor

Associate Professor

Assistant Professor

Majors

Minor

Masters