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Course Syllabus

ART 2756 Travel Seminar

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Visual Art
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 1; Lab: 0
  • Repeatable: Yes.
  • Semesters Offered: TBA
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2029
  • End Semester: Fall 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 5
  • Maximum Class Size: 15

Course Description

This course is designed to expose art majors to the variety and vastness of the art world through travel and first-hand experience. This one credit offering provides the opportunity to become immersed in the art and culture of major art centers both domestic and abroad. This course is repeatable for credit.

Justification

A good understanding of historical context and contemporary art trends is essential for art majors. These carefully designed tours provide art majors with the opportunity to study historically significant works and/or encounter what is happening in the art world today, specifically in major art centers in the United States and abroad. This valuable and exciting experience will further prepare students with a better knowledge base of historical and contemporary approaches in visual art. Seeing digital and printed reproductions of art is a valuable teaching method but seeing art first-hand, in person, is invaluable. Art-focused travel seminars are taught at other USHE institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Conceptual Principles: As students explore a variety of conceptual principles through different art mediums, collections, and display practices, they will be able identify how artists communicate complex concepts and ideas through artistic means.
  2. Historical Context: As students encounter historically significant artwork and/or contemporary artwork as it relates to the past, present, and future, they will be able to evaluate the context in which it was created and the sentiments that inspired and influenced the artwork.
  3. Critical Analysis: As students participate in group discussions and lectures prior to, during, and after the travel experience, they will be able to synthesize information and ideas relating to their experience, discern between various artistic mediums, processes, and styles, and evaluate venues and methods of display.

Course Content

This course will include travel, lectures, and class discussions as they apply to the following topics: directed art study in established museums and contemporary venues; experiencing the dynamic art culture in each city; written response to historical perspectives, interesting trends, subjective reactions and cultural experiences; and artistic response to the travel experience.