SYLLABUS
Winter Quarter 2010
Note: this syllabus applies to the Muesday Afternoon section only; Mr. Hobson's students are welcome to use the information contained herein, and on the site as a whole, but his requirements may differ in substance from mine.

Instructor: Candace Uhlmeyer [see Mr. Hobson's print syllabus for his contact information]
E-mail: cuhlmeyer@aii.edu
Website: http://www.owlfarmer.com
Telephone: 469-587-1378. Please note that my voice mailbox is checked only once a week, and all formal contact must be made in person, or in writing via e-mail or a signed and dated message left in the box outside my office.
Office Hours: Monday 12-1; Tuesday and Friday 12-1 and 5-6. I am not on campus Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Quarter Course Schedule: Monday: History of Art & Design II (room 426) 1-5; Tuesday: History of Art & Design I (room 426) 1-5 and 6-10; Friday: History of Art & Design I (room 448) 1-5; Pioneers of Modern Design (room 426) 6-10.

Course Description: This course continues the exploration of art and design in historical and philosophical context, with a focus on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century movements in the West and the influence of Asian and African art on the development of modernism.

Course Objectives: This course is designed to help students learn to

Examine the historical relationship between art and design.
Evaluate the impact of culture and technology on the development of art and design in different historical contexts.
Establish a cultural, philosophical, and historical framework for understanding artistic movements and their impact on later movements, and on the development of graphic design.
Demonstrate familiarity with theoretical and critical traditions in art and design history.
Write critically about aesthetic issues.
Develop creative responses to design problems based on historical works or movements.
Conduct research into specific art and design movements of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Instructional Methodology/Instructor's Expectations: The history of art and design is long, complex, and closely tied to the cultural and political contexts in which it has arisen. It is also highly dependent on technological development over time. In order to cover the necessary material, the class will combine slide lectures and discussion, and require students to participate in topical conversations and to complete exercises created to develop associative thinking skills. Exams require knowledge of the material covered and careful preparation of workbooks designed to help students learn without the need for excessive memorization.

The purpose of the course website is to augment this syllabus, support the lectures, and facilitate discussion. Students are expected to have completed assigned or suggested readings before each class. All worksheets, slide lists, lecture supplements, and image sources are linked to the appropriate week’s topic on the web version of the Weekly Schedule. Additional resources are linked to each week’s slide list to foster further research, and to help students recognize high-quality, authoritative, scholarly sources for answering and exploring questions that arise during class discussions and in their readings.

Graded assignments will be introduced in class, and detailed guidelines will be linked on the Schedule as well as to appropriate sections of the online version of the syllabus (the content of which is identical to this print copy). Familiarity with the website and its contents is vital to students’ success in this class.

Course Requirements: You must complete the following assignments in order to earn a passing grade in the course. Please note the changes that have been made from the printed syllabus.

Indicate mastery of course material by undertaking two exams: a midterm and a final for 15% each: 30%.
Maintain a workbook that reflects weekly interaction with course material, designed to be used in conjunction with exams.
Creatively solve a design problem based on a specific period in art and design history: 30%
Exhibit competence in writing and critical thinking skills by composing a concept essay to accompany the design problem.
Demonstrate college-level research skills by developing an annotated bibliography in conjunction with the design problem.
Participate in class discussions and workshops on a regular basis, and exhibit professionalism in all assignments (timely submission, attention to guidelines, technical competency). Points for participation are earned by submitting workshop results, attending class faithfully, and completing the research workshop related to the final design problem. 40%.

Grading Criteria: For a description of the criteria used to grade each assignment, see the course rubric (attached to your print syllabus). Point values correspond to letter grades according to the following:

In order to address differences in learning styles, extra credit opportunities include the following:

Complete a "scavenger hunt" at the Dallas Museum of Art for objects related to course topics (5 to 10 points).
Submit final design problem by week 9 (solutions must be complete and comply with all guidelines) for 5 points.

All assignments, topics, and preparatory materials are listed on the Weekly Schedule, and are linked to detailed criteria, guidelines, instructions, and resources.

Required materials: Please purchase a loose-leaf, 3-ring binder (at least 1.5-inch) to house weekly materials (including completed slide lists). I will submit handouts pre-punched, and any additional information or materials you locate yourself (such as copies of assigned readings that you download from the internet, relevant magazine articles, etc.) should also be kept in the binder. Blank slide lists are now available online in two formats: .rtf (Word) and .pdf (Adobe). A set of dividers (a package of 12) will help you sort things efficiently. Professional organization and tidiness will enhance the possibility of earning a respectable score on midterm and final exams; students who do not follow basic workbook guidelines will not be allowed to use them on exams.

There are two required textbooks for this class: Art History (Portable Edition) by Marilyn Stokstad and A History of Graphic Design (4th edition) by Philip Meggs (required for graphic design and advertising design BFA students; strongly suggested for web designers). Some copies of both books are available in the Supply Store, or through various online book vendors and local books stores, and are supported by companion websites. Stokstad and Meggs are also available on reserve in the Kelley Library.

Although art and design history books tend to be expensive, these will be used again for History of Art and Design II, and Art and Design Since 1945, required in some BFA programs. Remember that this course is concerned with the history of your craft; these textbooks have been carefully selected to help you build a solid foundation for further study, and I have located the best survey textbooks available. Several exam questions will be based on readings in Stokstad and other assigned materials, so your performance in this class depends on your familiarity with all assignments--not just the slide lists. Students who buy the books not only show professionalism and commitment to their program goals, but also perform significantly better on exams.

Art Institute of Dallas Policies on Class Assignments and Projects

The Art Institute places considerable emphasis on simulated work situations in which the student is assigned projects with scheduled completion dates. In a professional environment, there are no acceptable excuses for missing project deadlines; therefore, it is extremely important that students develop similar professional discipline in their general studies classes.

General Studies Classroom Policies

The Department of General Studies emphasizes both the academic and professional skills students need for success. The following policies are designed to promote scholastic excellence and successful learning.

Deadlines: Many assignments have scheduled due dates, and some class time is set aside for required projects. Additional time outside of class hours is also expected, however, in order to fulfill requirements and meet deadlines. The Department of General Studies does not accept late work for any reason in any class.

Attendance: Regular class attendance is expected and required. In courses meeting once per week, if a student misses three or more classes during the quarter, or accrues the equivalent of three absences through tardiness, he or she may be dropped for lack of attendance at the discretion of the faculty member. The satisfactory explanation of an absence does not relieve the student from responsibility for the course work assigned and/or due during his or her absences. Students who fail to attend all classes on their schedules for two consecutive weeks of the quarter will be automatically terminated from the school by the Registrar's Office.

Participation expectations: Students must be proactive. If something occurs to inhibit your academic performance or attendance, contact the instructor immediately via email. Students must also be engaged. During the class period, students must devote their attention exclusively to classroom operations, and avoid being distracted by unrelated activities.

Disruptive or Disorderly Conduct : The instructor is the final arbiter of questions concerning classroom conduct. Engaging in behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor’s ability to teach or fellow students’ ability to learn may result in a conduct referral to the Dean of Student Affairs.

Personal Technologies: All computers and personal communication devices must be turned off during lectures. Only those with special accommodations from the Office of Academic Disability Services may use laptops for note-taking.

Classroom Etiquette: In order to facilitate effective teaching and learning, please be familiar with the general rules of civil behavior and communication protocols outlined on the Etiquette page.

Americans with Disabilities Compliance: It is the policy of the Art Institute of Dallas to accommodate the needs of disabled students. This institution will adhere to all applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact affected faculty members and the office of Academic Disability Services at 469-587-1239 in a timely manner in order to make appropriate arrangements.

Academic Ethics and Scholastic Dishonesty: The Art Institute of Dallas will not tolerate any act of dishonesty or plagiarism. Dishonesty in the classroom, including securing, passing, receiving a test prior to the test date, or cheating on examinations is subject to a failing grade and possible suspension or termination from the Art Institute. The same rule applies to detected plagiarism within the classroom. Plagiarism includes any unattributed use of materials from any source—including books, periodicals, CD-ROMs, videos, and the World Wide Web, as well as artworks or projects from other students or professionals. All quotations, paraphrases, or other adaptations of others’ work must be properly cited and documented. All acts of dishonesty are to be brought to the attention of the Academic School Director and the Vice-President of Academic Affairs.

The above syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor due to unpredictable and/or uncomfortable situations (weather conditions, Art Institute and/or local, regional, state, or national criteria).

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12.29.09