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Community Arts Major

About Community Arts Major more

A unique major, Concordia developed the Community Arts major as the second of its type in the country. It combines art fields and sociology/social justice concepts to help students understand how to use the arts to foster community development. As part of this major, students partake in internships with non-profit arts organizations. In addition grant writing and legal issues are addressed to help students learn about this important field of public arts.

Careers in Community Arts more

  • Art Director
  • Art Professor
  • Art Teacher
  • Art Therapist
  • Community Arts Organizer
  • Exhibitions Curator
  • Gallery Owner
  • Graphic/Web Design
  • Illustrator
  • Liturgical Artist
  • Photographer
  • Studio Artist
  • On-campus, Online or Both?

    Can I do this all on campus?
    You must attend classes in person at Concordia's campus.
    Yes
    Can I do this entirely online?
    Sorry, classes can only be completed on campus.
    No
    Can I take some courses online?
    Sorry, classes can only be completed on campus.
    No
    Course for Community Arts Major

    ART-101 Approaching Art

    This seven-week course lays the foundation for approaching visual art by introducing fundamental aspects of the nature of art and art making. The course will investigate four areas which are key to appreciating art. These four units will include the importance perceptual skills, the nature of the creative process, the place of art in its cultural context, and the role and processes of abstraction. The course will involve looking at art, reading, writing and speaking about art using acquired

    ART-102 2D Design

    This course introduces the foundation design elements and principles for two-dimensional design. Compositional problems are introduced and solved in a studio setting. In addition basic two-dimensional media are introduced and explored during the different units of the course of study.

    ART-103 3D Design

    This course introduces the foundation design elements and principles for three-dimensional design. Compositional problems are introduced and solved in a studio setting. In addition basic three-dimensional media are introduced and explored during the different units of the course of study.

    ART-111 Drawing I

    This introductory studio course is designed to familiarize beginning students with fundamental techniques and concepts of drawing. In that basic skill building is the core of this course it is a very approachable class for non-art majors. Although some history of drawing will be presented learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review. (Prerequisite: ART101 or consent of instructor)

    ART-121 Painting I

    This course is designed to introduce students with fundamental concepts in oil and/or acrylic painting. Historical and contemporary approaches to paiinting will be addressed. Non-art majors can also succeed in this course.

    ART-141 Photography I

    This course is designed to familiarize beginning students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of photographic practices and processes. The use and operation of the 35mm film camera, experimental and traditional black and white darkroom techniques and new digital technologies will be taught through demonstration and assigned projects. Photographic history and criticism will also be introduced. Portfolio production will be the main form of assessment in this introductory course.

    ART-151 Sculpture I

    This introductory studio course is designed to familiarize beginning students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of contemporary sculpture. Both additive and reductive sculpture will be explored as students are introduced to both traditional and non-traditional sculpture media. Students will also investigate the relationship of drawing to the sculptural process. Although some 19th and 20th C. sculpture history will be presented, learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio

    ART-161 Ceramics I

    This introductory studio course is designed to familiarize beginning students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of contemporary ceramic art. Students will see and also investigate sculptural and vessel forms in clay, along with the relationship of drawing to the creative process. Although significant clay art history and technology will be taught, learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review.

    ART-202 Digital Art I

    This introductory course is designed to familiarize beginning students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of design using computer technology as the primary medium. Students will build on drawing and composition skills to create designs with a variety of design software programs. Although technological and ethical issues in the field will be addressed, learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review. (Prerequisites: ART102, or consent of instructor).

    ART-211 Figure Drawing

    This course is designed to familiarize beginning students with anatomy and the figure as a subject matter vital in an artist�s vocabulary. Students will build on drawing and composition skills to create designs with a variety of drawing media. Although the history of figurative art will be explored, learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review. (Prerequisites: ART102, ART111 or consent of instructor)

    ART-221 Painting II

    This course is designed to introduce students with fundamental concepts in oil and/or acrylic painting. Historical and contemporary approaches to paiinting will be addressed. Non-art majors can also succeed in this course.

    ART-231 Relief Print Making

    This introductory course is designed to familiarize students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of relief and intaglio printmaking. Students will build on drawing and composition skills to create editions of prints. Techniques covered will include woodcut, linocut, collagraph, and monoprints. Although some history of printmaking will be presented learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review.

    ART-241 Photography II

    This course expands students� knowledge of the use of the 35mm camera and black and white darkroom processing and printing. Students learn to control film exposure and development in order to make consistently good prints. Photographic theory is introduced. Students will fully explore their ideas through shooting a lot of film. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio development and review, as well as class participation. (Prerequisite: ART141 or consent of instructor)

    ART-251 Sculpture II

    This is an intermediate level course designed to stimulate and further develop interest in sculptural methods and techniques for personal expression. Media exploration and contemporary aesthetic issues such as environmental sculpture or installation are introduced, as students are encouraged to create and solve problems in sculpture in specific areas of the discipline. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio development and review. (Prerequisite: ART151 or consent of instructor)

    ART-261 Ceramics II

    This intermediate course is designed to advance students� knowledge of the techniques and concepts of contemporary ceramic art. Students will investigate both sculptural and vessel forms in clay with special emphasis given to exploration of a wide variety of surface treatments. Students will develop substantial knowledge of glaze technologies. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review, along with class participation. (Prerequisite: ART161 or consent of

    ART-271 Art of Mexico

    This course is intended to provide a survey of the history of Mexican art. It is arranged in three parts starting with pre-conquest indigenous cultures, which will be the majority of the course emphasis. It will also include the Colonial Period and Revolutionary Art. Special emphasis is placed on relating the art to the cultural contexts from which it came. Influences such as religion and political histories are investigated in their relationship to the art. (Prerequisite: ART101 or consent of

    ART-272 Art of Asia

    This course is intended to provide a survey of the history of Asian art. It is arranged in three parts starting with India and South East Asia, then moving to China and finishing with Korea and Japan. Special emphasis is placed on relating the art to the cultural contexts from which it came. Influences such as religion, trade and political histories are investigated in their relationship to the art. (Prerequisite: ART101 or consent of instructor)

    ART-273 Ethnographic Art

    This course is intended to provide a survey of non-western, world art. It is arranged in multiple units, which will sample ethnographic art from across the world. Cultures from West Africa, the Near East and the Far East, indigenous cultures from the Americas and Oceanic cultures will be surveyed. Special emphasis is placed on relating the art to the cultural contexts from which it came. Influences such as religion and political histories are investigated in their relationship to the art.

    ART-300 Community Arts

    This course is designed to introduce students to the variety of forms community arts programs have taken and are taking across the country. Facets of community arts programs such as legal aspects, funding issues, cooperation and collaboration, as well as aesthetic issues will be explored. Many fine and performing arts genre will be addressed and specific programs will be referenced and researched. Guest presenters from the Twin Cities will play a large part in this course.

    ART-302 Digital Art II

    This course is designed to expand students� facility in using the computer to solve more complex problems. Students will build on drawing, composition and computer skills to create designs with a variety of design software programs. Students will be encouraged to develop a personal voice with the computer. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review. (Prerequisite: ART202 or consent of instructor)

    ART-332 Screen Printmaking

    This course is designed to familiarize beginning students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of silkscreen printmaking. Students will build on drawing and composition skills to create editions of silkscreen prints. Techniques covered will include cut, painted and photographic stencils. Although some history of printmaking will be presented, learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review.

    ART-333 Intaglio Printmaking

    This course is designed to familiarize beginning students with the fundamental techniques and concepts of intaglio printmaking. Students will build on drawing, composition, and other art skills to create editions of intaglio prints. Techniques covered will include etching, dry point, aquatint, collagraph, monoprinting and photo-polymer plates. Although some history of printmaking will be presented, learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review.

    ART-370 Mexican Art and Culture

    This course introduces the student to Mexican art and culture through study and experience in Mexico The social, political and historic context of Mexican culture is emphasized. Required pre-trip and post-trip involvement and observation and discussion carry most of the course content. Students must also complete a project following up on the experiential learning.

    ART-431 Mixed Media Graphics

    This course is designed to familiarize intermediate students with alternative and advanced graphics techniques, in particular photographic and digital applications for printmaking, as well as digital prints and non-silver photography. Contemporary issues and themes in graphics will be discussed. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review. (Prerequisites: ART102, ART111, and one of the following: ART141, 202, 231, 232, 233, or permission)

    ART-435 Advanced Printmaking

    This course is designed to encourage the individual stylistic development of advanced printmaking students. Students may explore new printmaking media while applying previously learned techniques in creating more developed projects. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio development and review. This course may be repeated for credit.

    ART-441 Digital Photography

    This course will investigate the unique approaches to digital photography as an art form. This field will be compared and contrasted with black and white photogrphy and also explored as its own unique area of artistic investigation. Emphasis will be given to seeing and thinking like an artist.

    ART-472 19th & 20th Cntry Art & Dsgn

    This course examines the revolutionary developments in painting, sculptural and architectural traditions from the 19th C. as well as the Modernist traditions of the first half of the 20th C. and the initial Post-Modern trends that follow. The course links these artistic developments with world-wide cultural influences. In addition, special attention is given to the history of design.

    ART-498 Arts Internship

    This opportunity is specifically required for Community Arts majors or minors as well as Design Majors. It establishes advanced field study in the dicipline in a setting outside the campus context. The internship will be arranged by the student in consultation with the advisor and assessment will be through contractual arrangement with the guiding mentor. (Community Arts majors are encouraged to do this through HECUA.)

    ART-499 Art Senior Seminar

    This course serves as the capstone experience in the Art Department. The course will vary somewhat based on the student�s degree sought. It will normally be the production of a solo exhibition, or of a professional design portfolio, or a Community Arts experience. The work produced and presented must be the student�s current work. Individual directions will be developed with the professor and student�s advisor. (Prereq Senior standing or Instructor consent)

    THR-111 Theatre in Practice I

    Concordia�s theatre department, in service to campus and community, offers opportunities for involvement in major theatre productions, workshop dramas, and various experimental undertakings during the school year. Auditions for all productions are open to all Concordia students. This course can include work on theatrical productions as actors and/or crews.

    THR-112 Theatre in Practice II

    Credit is given for major involvement in theatre productions, workshops, and other approved situations. Major involvement is defined as activities such as stage managing, assistant directing, designing, and directing projects. (Prerequisite: consent of instructor)

    THR-203 Creative Dramatics

    Students enrolled in this course study and practice methods and activities in creative dramatics for the classroom, parish, business, and family. Special emphasis is placed on activities designed to help students to express their own natural creativity and for these students, as future leaders of groups, to help others to express their own natural creativity as well.

    THR-251 Stagecraft

    The course provides an introduction to the scope, tools, materials and practices of stagecraft and technical management in the theatre today. The course utilizes formal lectures, group discussion, outside projects, attendance at outside theatre productions and practical lab sessions to cover the material presented.

    THR-356 Costume Design

    This course will be an introduction to the art and practice of costume design. Emphasis will be on analysis of the costume design process and organization from script to design concept to the workable costume for the actor. Attendance at area theatre productions is required. Laboratory hours required. (Prerequisite: THR251 or consent of instructor)

    Online, In-Class or Blended?

    Offered Online?
    Classes meet entirely online.

    Offered In-Class?
    Classes meet face-to-face at our St. Paul campus or other off-campus location.

    Offered Blended?
    Course work is completed through a combination of in-class and online class meetings.

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