Art Composition: A Continuing Education Syllabus for Aspiring Artists

This syllabus outlines the structure, expectations, and learning outcomes for an art composition course designed for continuing education students. This course provides a foundation in essential artistic skills, fostering creativity and technical proficiency.

Program Overview: CE Foundations

The Continuing Education (CE) Foundations Program is a six-week program designed for beginner-level art students. It offers 18 hours of instruction per week, encompassing six classes within the session. The program's curriculum is carefully curated to develop essential skills in drawing, painting, and composition. Students will explore core principles such as anatomy, perspective, and color theory. The program is non-matriculated, meaning anyone can join without an application process. Students who have been regularly taking CE classes and gradually increasing their commitment/course load may find this program particularly beneficial.

Students can work with an advisor to customize their course selection to fit their schedule, skill level, and artistic goals. Any of the currently offered 6-week, Live-Online or In-Person CE courses can be taken and are selected based upon the student’s particular interests and goals. The program is designed to be flexible and adaptable to individual needs.

The Importance of the Course Syllabus

The course syllabus is a vital document, serving as a detailed description of the course and its policies. Prior to the first day of classes, faculty will upload a copy of your syllabus to the School of Art and Design’s Microsoft Team under the appropriate semester folder.

Creating a Compassionate and Engaging Learning Community

Engagement with learning necessitates a space for honesty, making mistakes, and deep discussion. To facilitate our learning, we will abide by community rules, ensuring confidentiality and respect within the classroom. "What happens in class, stays in class." Please maintain the confidentiality of our discussion, including our mistakes and any revealed personal information.

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Adhering to Compassionate Community Rules requires a dedication on all our parts to ensure a safe class environment - to be compassionate to one another as we grow and to challenge each other constructively in that process. Making mistakes is part of life, as are accepting criticism and growing from those mistakes. If class becomes uncomfortable for you, speak up; you will be supported. If you cannot or do not want to speak up, please see me so we can determine whether and, if so, how we should address the issue(s).

It is common for people to feel anxiety about expressing opinions that challenge others, or me, past teachings, or current discussion topics. You are encouraged to stay in touch with your responses and to express your perspectives freely. But be aware that everyone may not agree - these are moments from which some of our deepest learning can emanate.

Strive for intellectual humility, recognizing that "You don’t know what you don’t know." Additionally, all knowledge is partial; therefore, we must all constantly ask questions and reflect. None of us know everything about anything. Everyone has opinions. Opinions are not the same as informed knowledge. Look beyond personal anecdotal evidence and look at broader societal patterns. Notice your own defensive reactions, and attempt to use these reactions as entry points for gaining deeper self-knowledge. Recognize how your perspective informs your reactions to your instructor and those whose work you study in the course.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes focus on the outcomes, not the specific activities. Use action verbs from Bloom’s Taxonomy to document what students will learn. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Define the elements of design and composition and identify their presence in photographic images.
Recall historically significant moments within the field of photography.
Distinguish the difference between the many applications of photographs in our society including but not limited to art, science, communication, advertising, social change, history, and technology.
Interpret how photographic images influence our desires, beliefs, values, and daily interactions.
Examine how images are used to communicate place, culture, belief, identity, and conflict.
Create photographs that communicate ideas, relate to a defined theme, and/or exemplify the elements of design and composition.

Safety and Accessibility

The chemicals used in the lab should not cause any problems if they are handled carefully. Please let me know if you experience any sensitivity to the chemicals, extra precautions can be taken. Jenkins Fine Arts Center is accessible 24-hours a day via OneCard for enrolled students. No student should work in the building alone after hours! Use the buddy system! Should you be approached by a stranger or see suspicious activity, call campus security. Never leave exterior doors propped open; this enables anyone from the street to enter the building.

Grading Rubric

The grading rubric is as follows:

A (Exceptional, outstanding): Takes problem beyond assignment to a personal solution, in form of ambition, creativity, and complexity. Critical and creative thinking combined with excellent technical skill.
B+ to A- (Extremely good, commendable): Work shows above-average proficiency. Additional energy and attention paid to enhancing technical, aesthetic, and/or conceptual aspects of the project.
B-to B (Good): All aspects of the project completed with strengths in some areas evident, including technical competency or creativity. Strong effort. Presentation shows care of and respect for your work.
C- to C+ (Adequate, average): Work is complete and directions were followed. Work demonstrates basic effort with areas for improvement in more than one dimension of assessment.
D to D+ (Needs significant improvement): Work is incomplete, directions were not followed. Needs improvement in all areas assessed. Demonstrates lack of understanding of the assignment.
F (Serious improvement needed): Directions were not followed, work was sloppy and much of the project/assignment was missing.

Assignments

Brief descriptions (1-2 sentences) of each assignment will be provided separately.

Course Policies

This is a face-to-face class.
Arriving more than 30 minutes late will be marked as an absence.
If you are absent, please check with a classmate to discuss what you missed. Visit Canvas for all assignments and materials due.
Missing class does not result in extensions on assignments or due dates.
A student may request a University Excused Absence (UEA) through the Dean of Students. A UEA is exempt from penalty, but it does not relieve the student from their coursework and responsibilities. The university recognizes legitimate circumstances result in a student being absent from class.
Projects are due at 8 am on the date specified unless otherwise noted. Late projects will be accepted but cannot earn full credit unless there is an approved (e.g. medical, etc.) reason. After projects have been graded, students may request to resubmit the project. It is better to turn in an incomplete project than not to submit a project at all. Illnesses, death in the family or other traumatic events unfortunately are part of life.

Studio Etiquette and Critique Participation

It is important to maintain a productive and cooperative studio atmosphere. Each student is expected to be a responsible citizen of the studio. Please return supplies, tools, and equipment to their proper place and clean area when you are finished working. You are expected to participate actively in critiques and be prepared and professional for all presentations.

A crit is a class discussion about work. Crits could include a monologue by the professor, class comments (led by the professor or a designated student), or response to questions posed by the maker of the work being discussed. Failure to actively participate in crits will negatively impact your grade. Do not expect anyone to take you or your work seriously if you do not. Work must be prepared for viewing or it cannot be posted for critique, will not be discussed, and you will be given a zero for the day. Being prepared means having your work printed before the start of class. If you are printing your work as crit starts you will not be allowed to display it for crit, nor will we discuss it with you individually unless you schedule an appointment. A lack of preparation will not hold the rest of the class back. Do not think that “your work” means just finished design work. Process work and class participation are part of the class and your grade.

Technology Requirements

Since this is an online course, you will need access to a computer with sound and video capability. Your computer will need a camera for participation in class. You will also need regular access to the internet that can handle streaming videos, online meetings/conferencing, and searching for digital content. You will also need access to a printer for printing out documents for projects as well as a camera for documenting your work. A cell phone camera is sufficient. A scanner will also work in place of a camera. If you do not have access to a printer, Office Depot or Staples will allow you to upload documents to print. We will use Canvas for grading and project submissions. We will use Microsoft Teams for meetings, sharing files, and for class chats. Be sure to download Teams to your computer-it is free to ECU students.

Academic Integrity

East Carolina University is committed to fostering a vibrant community of scholars. Academic integrity is a fundamental component of achieving this goal. All ECU students are expected to complete their academic work honestly, avoiding falsification, multiple submissions, attempting or assisting with an academic integrity violation. If I become aware of a potential academic integrity violation, I will meet with you following the procedures outlined in the Academic Integrity policy.

Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive academic behavior is any behavior likely to substantially or repeatedly interfere with the normal conduct of instructional activities, including meetings with instructors outside of class. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, making loud or distracting noises; using cell phones and other electronic devices without prior approval; repeatedly speaking without being recognized; frequently arriving late or leaving early from class; and making threats or personal insults.

A student who does not follow reasonable standards of academic decorum will first receive a private verbal warning from the instructor. The instructor will describe the behavior of concern to the student, explain that it is inappropriate, and ask the student to stop the behavior. If the behavior continues, the instructor will give the student a written warning indicating that the student will be removed from the course if the behavior does not cease. If the behavior persists, the instructor will discuss the situation with his/her department chair. If it is decided to remove the student from the course then the instructor will schedule a meeting with his/her department chair and the student to inform the student that s/he is being removed from the course. This decision will be communicated in writing to the student with a copy promptly forwarded to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The department chair will promptly communicate the decision in writing to the Office of the Registrar so that the student’s schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Instructors must keep written documentation of all actions taken during this process.

Emergency Notification System

The University has established an Emergency Notification System called ECU Alert. In the event of a campus emergency that disrupts academic activities, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages are subject to change. If we are not able to meet face-to-face, students should log onto Canvas and read any announcements and/or access alternative assignments.

Disability Services

East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. To take advantage of available accommodations, students must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services located in Mendenhall 109, 252-737-1016. Provide this link for students to file with the Department for Disability Support Services.

Technology Support

If you have any questions about Canvas, contact Canvas 24/7 support using Live Chat Help with Canvas Support or by calling 252.347.0015. ECU IT help desk offers phone and online support.

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