Course listing

As a liberal arts college, we facilitate close interaction between faculty and students while grounding our curricula in the liberal arts disciplines: humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and visual and performing arts.

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wdt_ID Course prefix Course number Course level Course title Credit hour(s) Course description Term(s) General education
1 ART 115 100 Art: Context and Meaning I 4 Presents a thematic introduction of world architecture and art from prehistoric times to the Gothic period. Draws from a variety of academic disciplines and is designed to increase appreciation and understanding of art as related to its cultural context. Develops critical thinking and analytical skills in response to visual experience. D-I
2 ART 116 100 Art: Context and Meaning II 4 Presents an introduction of world architecture and art from the Renaissance to the present. Draws from a variety of academic disciplines and is designed to increase appreciation and understanding of art as it relates to its cultural context. Develops critical thinking and analytical skills in response to visual experience. Also listed as MUSE 116. D-I
3 ART 210 200 History of Craft 4 An examination of the history of craft from ancient times to the present. Explores indigenous craft and contemporary craft theory as related to the fine arts. (Offered alternative years.) D-I
4 ART 211 200 20th Century Art 4 A broad survey that begins by setting the groundwork for art of the 20th century with a discussion of the late 19th century artistic movements of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and the forces that lured artists away from the confines of academic painting. Explores the social and political forces, as well as the theoretical discourses that frame the major modern and post-modern art movements of the 20th century. Includes Fauvism, Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. (Offered alternative years.)
5 ART 213 200 19th Century Art 4 This global survey of nineteenth-century visual culture will examine canonical European movements (Impressionism, Aestheticism, etc.) and alternative modernisms from the Americas, Asia and Africa. Students will learn how to analyze visual media and situate artworks within a wider social field, considering how industrialization, colonization, science and politics shaped artistic practice. D-I
6 ART 250 200 Making Art: Content, Form and Expression 4 Introduction to the context and content of contemporary art making, formal elements of visual arts, including composition, color and design. Emphasis is placed on articulating ideas and critiquing works of art. Intended for Art majors who should take this class during the Sophomore year.
7 ART 333 300 History of Photography 4 Presents the history and interpretation of photography — as a scientific discovery and as an art form — from its beginnings in Western Europe in 1839 to present-day practice around the world. The course is designed to increase appreciation and understanding of photographic art as it relates to its cultural context and to develop critical thinking and analytical skills in response to visual experience. Attention will be given to geographic areas traditionally ignored in photography survey courses, such as the development of photography on the African and Asian continents. Prerequisite: ART 115, ART 116, ART 211, ART/JNLM 235 or the consent of the instructor.
8 ART 382 300 Special Topics 4 Selected topics determined by the instructor for upper-level study. Recent topics include: Art Since 1967; Matisse, Picasso and Early Modernism, and Renaissance & Baroque seminar. Prerequisite: At least one other Art History course or consent of the instructor.
9 ART 402 400 Curatorial Practicum 4 The student will gain experience in many facets of museum practice including art handling, documentation, research, writing and presentation Working one-on-one with the Curator of the Earlham Art Collection, each student will select a group of works from the Collection to study. The course will culminate in an exhibit in Ronald Gallery or the Landrum Bolling Center. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Also listed as MUSE 402. RCH
10 ART 200 200 Ceramics I 4 An introduction to idea development and the forming of clay objects using ceramic processes and techniques that include hand building and wheel work along with surface treatment development and kiln firing methods. The course explores contemporary approaches to ceramics taught through a series of projects that incorporate research along with technical problems, readings, discussions, demonstrations and group critiques.
11 ART 202 200 Fiber Arts I 4 An introduction to dyeing techniques such as batik and shibori, along with fabric piecing and embellishment. Studio work will include extensive experimentation with techniques as well as individual projects to develop both technical and aesthetic skills. Students also participate in lectures and discussions, and the course will be enriched by explorations into multicultural history and traditions of fabric art.
12 ART 205 200 Drawing I 4 Introduces students to the drawing process. Students work from observation and from imagination in creating works in a variety of media and methods that express an understanding of light, form and space. An excellent point of departure for those interested in painting. Students without any prior experience should take Drawing I before Painting I.
13 ART 206 200 Drawing I Workshop 4 Intensive three-week introduction to the drawing process. Students work from observation and from imagination in creating works in a variety of media and methods that express an understanding of light, form and space. This course is an excellent point of departure for those interested in painting. Not an exact equivalent for the full semester course, ART 205, but similar in range and content.
14 ART 220 200 Introduction to Metal and 3D Fabrication 4 Introduction to major aspects of metalworking, jewelry, and analog 3D Fabrication. Develop design skills and technical competency, while learning about craftsmanship and hand fabrication to explore aspects of metalsmithing to create functional and conceptual objects.
15 ART 225 200 Painting I 4 Introduction to oil painting covering all elements of the process from preparing a canvas to mixing paint. Includes contemporary and traditional genres with an emphasis placed personal research. Familiarity with drawing recommended.
16 ART 235 200 Photography I 4 Students learn camera operation, experimenting with the ways different shutter speeds and apertures change a photograph; and how to develop film and print their own photographs in a chemical darkroom, while exploring the aesthetic results of their choices. Introduces the history of photography and fundamentals of art criticism. Explores the creative use of photography as a means of personal expression through a variety of projects. This is not a digital photography class, but everything in the course will make you a better digital photographer. Many opportunities to address the class about students' own photographs and to participate in lively group discussions on the work of others.
17 ART 245 200 Weaving I 4 An introduction to the structure and design of weaves, fiber dyeing, the production of woven items in a variety of fibers, and the history and traditions of weaving in both western and non-western cultures. Students design and weave a series of required and individual projects to develop both technical and aesthetic textile skills. Students also participate in lectures, discussions and research.
18 ART 246 200 Weaving I Workshop 4 Intensive three-week introduction to the structure and design of weaves, fiber dyeing, the production of woven items in a variety of fibers, and the history and traditions of weaving in both western and non-western cultures. Students design and weave a series of required and individual projects to develop both technical and aesthetic textile skills. Students also participate in lectures, discussions and research. May Term.
19 ART 300 300 Ceramics II 4 An intermediate level experience in ceramics that builds upon information and skills acquired in Ceramics I that requires students to continue to research contemporary approaches to ceramic processes while defining a personal vocabulary. Wheel work and/or hand forming techniques will be employed. Class activities include: readings, lectures, demonstrations, and discussions covering technical issues, loading and firing kilns, slip and glaze testing, researching contemporary craft, history and aesthetics of ceramics with frequent group critiques. Prerequisite: ART 200 or 201.
20 ART 301 300 Ceramics II Workshop 4 Intensive three-week experience in ceramics, meeting all day each day. Studio work for students at the intermediate or advanced level, pursuing largely individualized directions and research. May Term. Prerequisite: ART 200 or 201. May be repeated for credit.
21 ART 302 300 Ceramics II Workshop 4 Intensive three-week experience in ceramics, meeting all day each day. Studio work for students at the intermediate or advanced level, pursuing largely individualized directions and research. May Term. Prerequisite: ART 200 or 201. May be repeated for credit.
22 ART 303 300 Fiber Arts II 4 Students in this course will continue their exploration of cloth and fiber as a medium for artistic expression. Advanced work in dyeing, embellishment and piecing, as well as the making of 3-dimensional forms. Particular attention will be paid to the work of contemporary fiber artists.
23 ART 305 300 Drawing II 4 Life Drawing. Builds upon an understanding of light, form and space as students work to develop facility, through the study and expression of the human form. While the primary medium is charcoal, students are introduced to a variety of materials from which a portfolio is produced. Prerequisite: ART 205.
24 ART 320 300 Advanced 3D Fabrication/Metals 4 This course will provide advanced metalsmithing techniques as well as exploration of 3D computer fabrication. This course will help students continue exploring metal and jewelry as a media for their personal aesthetic expression. Students will learn continued development of craftsmanship, tool skill, conceptualization and design quality. Prerequisite: ART 220.
25 ART 325 300 Painting II 4 Continues the exploration of the personal and historical nature of painting while investigating other media (e.g., encaustic), skills (e.g., hand-made stretchers and frames), community engagement, and preparing a cohesive body of work for a final critique. Prerequisite: ART 225.
26 ART 335 300 Photography II 4 Advances skills gained in Photography I, with an increased emphasis on conceptual issues and aesthetic content, art theory and art criticism, and how one enters "the art world." Students experiment with toning photos or learn an historic, non-silver process by coating their own paper to make blue and white cyanotypes or Van Dyke browns. Prerequisite: ART 235.
27 ART 339 300 Landscape Photography Workshop 4 Intended for students who have learned the basics of operating a camera, developing their own black and white film and printing photographs, and who are ready to improve both their technical skills and the artistic content of their work. Intensive three-week exploration of one of the medium's oldest genres: the landscape. Course's primary activity is the taking of photographs out-of-doors and the review and discussion of them through group critiques. Explores examples of landscape photographs by various photographers and discusses the genre's progression from Pictorialism and the Photo Secessionist movement to Modernism and Postmodernism. May Term. Prerequisite: ART 235. (Offered in alternative years.)
28 ART 340 300 Advanced Photography Workshop 4 Intended for students who have learned the basics of operating a camera, developing their own black and white film, and printing photographs, and who are ready to improve both their technical skills and the artistic content of their work. This intensive three-week workshop meets all day, every weekday, as students pursue variety of photographic projects in the studio, lab and outdoors. Individual work supplemented with lectures, slide shows and group critiques. May Term. Prerequisite: ART 235. (Offered in alternative years.)
29 ART 345 300 Weaving II 4 Further experience in weaving, dyeing and textile design. Students pursue individual directions in their work. Includes readings, discussions, research on contemporary weaving, the role of the handmade in the 21st century, and frequent group critiques of student work. Prerequisite: ART 245.
30 ART 400 400 Ceramics III 4 An advanced level studio experience intended for students who have completed at least two semesters of work in ceramics. It parallels Ceramics II, with students investigating pursuits at a more advanced level by researching and defining individualized studio projects. Prerequisite: ART 300.
31 ART 401 400 Ceramics IV 4 Students advance skills gained in ART 400. Prerequisite: ART 400.
32 ART 405 400 Drawing III 4 Life Drawing. Builds upon an understanding of light, form and space as students work to develop facility through the study and expression of the human form. While the primary medium is charcoal, students are introduced to a variety of materials from which a portfolio is produced. Prerequisite: ART 305.
33 ART 406 400 Drawing IV 4 Students advance skills gained in ART 405. Prerequisite: ART 405.
34 ART 420 400 Metals III 4 An advanced course in Metals for those wishing to explore more challenging problems in both historical and contemporary techniques. At this level, students are assigned projects in areas of their highest interest and promise. Prerequisite: ART 320.
35 ART 421 400 Metals IV 4 Students advance skills gained in ART 420. Prerequisite: ART 420.
36 ART 425 400 Painting III 4 Continues the exploration of the personal and historical nature of painting while investigating other media (e.g., tempera), skills (e.g., presenting and writing about the work), and preparing a cohesive body of work for a final critique. Prerequisite: ART 325.
37 ART 426 400 Painting IV 4 Students advance skills gained in ART 425. Prerequisite: ART 425.
38 ART 435 400 Photography III 4 Builds upon skills gained in Photography II and may be taught in conjunction with that course, with students pursuing similar work on a more advanced level. Prerequisite: ART 335.
39 ART 445 400 Weaving III 4 Advanced work in weaving, dyeing and textile design. Parallels the Weaving II class, with students pursuing similar work on a more advanced level and defining individualized studio projects and subjects for research. Prerequisite: ART 345.
40 ART 446 400 Weaving IV 4 Students advance skills gained in ART 445. Prerequisite: ART 445.
41 ART 447 400 Photography IV 4 May be taught in conjunction with Photography II and III. Emphasizes the further development of the student's self-expression through the creation of a cohesive portfolio of exhibition-quality art work. Prerequisite: ART 435.
42 ART 475 400 Individual Studio Experience 1, 2, 3 Advanced, intensive studio work, proposed to and planned with a member of the art faculty.
43 ART 481 400 Internship 1, 2, 3
44 ART 482 400 Special Topics 3 Selected topics determined by the instructor for upper-level study. Recent topics include: Art Since 1967; Matisse, Picasso and Early Modernism, and Renaissance & Baroque seminar. Prerequisite: At least one other Art History course or consent of the instructor.
45 ART 484 400 Ford/Knight Project 1, 2, 3, 4 Collaborative research with faculty funded by the Ford/Knight Program. Recent topics include: Ceremonial Maces, Quaker Art, Kiln Design, Meetinghouse Photography, West African Textiles and Kilim Weaving.
46 ART 485 400 Independent Study 1, 2, 3 Investigation of a specific topic conceived and planned by the student in consultation with a faculty adviser in studio art or art history.
47 ART 487 400 Senior Project 1 Art majors are strongly encouraged to register for this course during the Fall Semester of their senior year in preparation for their Senior Capstone Experience. Departmental approval required.
48 ART 488 400 Senior Capstone Experience 3 Students should register for Senior Capstone Experience during the Spring Semester of their final year. Departmental approval required.
49 ART 204 200 American Cultures of Memory: Monuments, Memorials, Souvenirs 4 This course explores the role of memory, monuments, and commemoration in American civic life throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Examining a number of key sites, events, and individuals that have been the subject of commemoration, we consider the role of visual culture in the establishment of historical narrative and the construction of national identity. Objects of study will include statues, battlefields, gathering places, national parks, photos, paintings, and souvenirs. Cross-listed in MUSE. D-D, RCH
50 ART 347 300 The Body in Modern and Contemporary Art 4 This course examines the use of human bodies as subject matter, canvas, artistic material, and creative agent across the modern and contemporary eras. Using theoretical approaches from critical race studies, disability studies, queer theory, and feminist theory, we will consider how concepts of the body influence ideas of artistic agency and museum display. Objects of study will include painting, sculpture, photography, performance, installation, video, and participatory art. Cross-listed in MUSE and WGSS. WI

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EARLHAM ALERT:
We continue to monitor the effects of an industrial fire 1.1 miles from campus.
EARLHAM ALERT:
We continue to monitor the effects of an industrial fire 1.1 miles from campus.