Liberal Arts

Explores the classic philosophical questions regarding the nature and our experience of the four dimensions of space and time and their representation in fiction, games, and film.

A survey of significant interior environments from the ancient world to the present. Examines formative and historical relationship between architecture, interior spaces, and furnishings, and cultures/societies that produce them.

This course explores the important facets of genre filmmaking: What is the nature of formulaic filmmaking; how does it work; what does it mean; and why does it continue to appeal to audiences. By focusing on one or two genres, such as Horror, Sci-Fi, Film Noir, etc., students will learn the answers to these questions in addition to exploring the history and evolution of a specific genre, its connections to other art forms, its reflection of the society that produced it, and its continued influence.

Introduces students to approaches for analyzing cinema as a tool of directorial expression. These approaches are linked to eras of film history that may include Classical Hollywood, (1910s- 1950s), International Post-War (1945 - 1970s), New American Cinema (1960s -1980s), and Contemporary Cinema (1990s - present).  Five directors are chosen who reflect diversity and inclusion. 

Introduces students to the history of Native Americans in cinema. Includes the portrayal of Native Americans from the silent era into modern cinema, plus how Indigenous Nations now use cinema to depict their own stories. Also unveils formal techniques of film as an art form, revealing how film works as a storytelling medium and cultural barometer. 

Introduces the major periods and styles of architecture around the world from the beginnings of architectural production to the year 1400; each lecture attempts to answer the question: “Why do the buildings look like that?” Examines the technological, aesthetic, political and social forces shaping the built environment.

Introduces the major periods and styles of architecture around the world between 1400 and 1900; each lecture attempts to answer the question: “Why do the buildings look like that?” Examines the technological, aesthetic, political and social forces that shape the built environment.

Survey of Latin American art from colonial times to the present. Examination of: the art of indigenous cultures; history of Spanish contact; synthesis between native art and that of Spain and Western Europe; appropriations of past cultures in modern and contemporary art.

Introduction to history and theory of garment and textile design from the ancient world to contemporary. Analyzes cultural and aesthetic significance of clothing and materials.

Addresses the ways in which gender has affected the history of artistic practice, patronage and viewing during the Renaissance; explores gender and sexuality as social constructs, and investigates the ways these ideas are reflected in and created by works of art and architecture from the years 1400-1600.

Study of recent architectural history from the Industrial Revolution to the present. Introduces significant works of modern architectural design and their architects. Examines the development of modern architecture within the framework of: architectural theory and criticism; advances in building technologies; stylistic evolution; changes in architectural practice. Considers political, environmental, and mobility issues where relevant.

Examination and analysis of historical precedent as a framework for understanding design, including significant movements, traditions and theories. Explores how historic principles inform contemporary theories and aesthetic concepts, influencing the design of the built environment. Exposure to historical, social, political, and physical influences affecting design.

Examines relationships of advertising with correlating trends such as society, culture, history, and the economy. Using theories about visual communications, branding, and cultural history, we explore the meaning and legacies of print advertisements and branding campaigns from roughly 1880 through the majority of the 20th century in America and will cover a wide range of topics, such as the origins of advertising, the creation of ads, the interpretation of ads, as well as the depiction of race, class, gender, and sexuality in advertising and how those themes change over time.

Survey of drawing in Western culture, from earliest examples to current work. Considers the evolution of drawing within historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts.

Explores the visual arts of Islamic cultures across the globe. Considers Islamic art within the context of both traditional and modern Islamic cultures. Topics include: relationship of religion and art; importance of the written word; aesthetics of manuscript illuminations; architectural types; mathematical basis of Islamic design.

Explores the body as a medium throughout the history of the world, focusing on hair; tattooing; scarification; and adornment. Examines several contexts in which body art is produced and used: identity; status and power; cultural importance; and appropriation.

Introduction to the history, visual arts, and personalities associated with Buddhism. Topics include: early Indian roots of Buddhism through transformation in the Himalayas; South and East Asian manifestations; Buddhist-influenced Beat Generation poetry; contemporary American art.

Survey of visual arts in America. Considers the historical, cultural, and intellectual contexts that inform the making of American art.

Survey of major movements in painting and sculpture from the mid-19th century to the first quarter of the 20th century. Examines concepts and issues that informed artistic creation. Presents techniques for identifying artist’s work through style and movement.

Survey of major movements in painting and sculpture from the first quarter of the 20th century to the present. Examines concepts and issues that informed artistic creation. Presents techniques for identifying artist’s work through style and movement.

Study of art and architecture from postmodernism (c. 1960) and the present from an international perspective. Thematic study through web sites, studio visits, films, and research in contemporary journals.

Explores issues surrounding body art and dress in Africa as pertains to cultural and national identity, power, and fashion. Covers traditional and contemporary styles of adornment, as well as its role in the cannon of art and its display in museums. Provides an understanding of the context in which adornment functions in Africa; a working knowledge of how these objects are created and seen; and an overall idea of the current issues and theories within the field.

Thematic study of women artists from the Middle Ages to the present. Artists from diverse cultures represented. Introduction to gender theory within the visual arts.

Examines diverse approaches to landscape art in a global context. Issues include: personal and political appropriations of landscape; landscape as vehicle for poetic and spiritual content; the sublime, the real, and the ideal landscape.

Art History seminar. Topic determined on a per semester basis.

Advanced Art History seminar. Topic determined on a per semester basis. Considers relevant art criticism and research methodology.

Survey of Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture of Italy and Northern Europe. Examines artistic developments during the 14th- through the 16th centuries.

Survey of Chinese art from pre-historic through contemporary periods. Emphasis on the development of workshop arts, calligraphy and painting. Considers exchange of artistic ideas with foreign cultures.

Survey of Japanese art from prehistoric through contemporary periods. Emphasis on the development of artistic conventions and the exchange of artistic ideas with foreign cultures.

Examines best practices and behaviors of professional writers in various genres and industries through practice of writing, revision, and research.

Introduces the practice of writing for digital media. Develops strategies for the creation of digital content and the analysis of writing contexts. Includes script development and treatment, navigation, layout, collaborative/interactive and multimedia products. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Introduces major forms of creative writing. Discussion-based class with both creative and analytical writing assignments. Considers examples of successful contemporary and canonical texts in various genres. Provides strategies for reading texts with a focus on writing craft.

Introduction to creating stories in a variety of media. Examines a range of contemporary and canonical story examples that can include video games, film, TV, comics, board games, and new media. Teaches effective story-making techniques and strategies. This course is closed to CRWR majors. It is available to CRWR minors or others to fulfill a writing requirement.

Reviewing and editing submissions for digital and/or print media. Roles and responsibilities with the course will align with positions within the industry such as managing editor, production manager, and copy editor. Overview of publishing industry standards. Can be taken up to three times for credit.

Surveys the field of interactive writing for video games; explores the fundamentals of good storytelling for game media. Enhances critical thinking skills. Offers hands-on experience in writing for and about the most prevalent forms of interactive video game writing. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Introduces intermediate-level craft concerns of short story construction. Emphasis on narrative craft elements such as dialogue, point of view, structure, image, and conflict particular to short stories. Includes critiquing of peer writing. Investigates contemporary and canonical texts to serve as professional models. Briefly considers the habits of professional writers as well as the business of writing.

Introduction to writing creative nonfiction, such as personal essays, lyric essays, memoir, and literary journalism. How to blend fact-based events, situations, or incidents with elements of traditional fiction to create dynamic, engaging writing. Focus on developing ideas, themes, and writing descriptive prose that utilize devices of fiction, screenwriting, and poetry: scene setting; dialogue; strong characterizations; narrative structure; imagistic language. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Explores methods and best practices for integrating creative writing elements with tabletop games by studying, modifying, and adding to existing game systems. Students will analyze existing games and write and revise content for worlds of their own creation.

Focuses on the craft of short- and long-form digital and print journalism. Emphasis on appropriate interviewing, researching, outlining, and writing/revising techniques. Includes discussion on pitches and queries. Exposure to reporters, critics, and editors from various local media. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Provides an advanced understanding of storytelling through work on shared worlds. Exposure to a range of real-world examples. Examines the importance of multimedia production in society. Provides an understanding of storytelling through work on multimedia products. Exposure to a range of examples such as Star Wars, Welcome to Night Vale, and Marvel and DC comic book universes. Examines the importance of writing in multimedia story production.

Investigates the theory, history, aesthetics, art, and/or creation of creative writing. Exposure to contemporary topics/trends in the world of creative writing.

Covers fundamental writing skills necessary to create successful scripts. Examines various formats such as ten-minute plays, one-act plays, full-length plays, TV sitcoms, TV series, documentaries, and feature-length films. Provides brief overview of the scriptwriting business. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Explores the formal elements of poetry through analyzing models and composing original poems. Investigates the intersection(s) of text, visual art, and design. Includes peer review and presentations. Identifies opportunities for publication and performance. 

Creative writing for sequential art (comics and graphic narratives). Develop original projects through peer workshop and the revision process.

Introduces the basics of writing effective horror stories. Considers major themes such as madness, death, monsters, obsession, secret sins, and the supernatural. Exposure to contemporary and canonical horror texts. Briefly overviews the history of horror. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Introduces the basics of writing effective fantasy stories. Includes discussion on world building. Considers major elements such as magic, quests, medievalism, dragons, chosen ones, and good vs. evil. Exposure to contemporary and canonical fantasy texts. Briefly overviews the history of fantasy. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Introduces the basics of writing effective science fiction stories. Includes discussion on world building. Considers major ideas such as alternate histories, space colonization, eugenics, singularity, Al, planetary engineering, dystopias, and utopias. Exposure to contemporary and canonical science fiction texts. Briefly overviews the history of science fiction. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Instruction in writing picture books and magazine pieces through examination of children’s literature, study of the publishing business, introduction to child development, and writing workshops. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Practices the fundamentals of screenwriting, such as character, dialogue, plot, and conflict. Explores basic formatting, structure, and style for standard Hollywood feature films. Examines feature-length screenplays from concept to completion. Includes pitching and peer review. Briefly considers the business of screenwriting. 

Develops game writing and development experience; uses advanced game design and writing techniques to create a complete, original video or tabletop game.

Advanced examination of best practices and behaviors of professional writers in various genres and industries through practice of writing, revision, and research. Includes pitching, presenting, and career planning.

Focuses on the craft of transferring stories from one medium to another. Includes pitching, peer review, and discussion of industry-specific best practices. 

Introduces how to design and write interactive narrative experiences. Emphasis on creating audience-driven experiences and stories with participatory elements in video games, tabletop games, and immersive experiences. Includes pitching, presenting, and peer review.

Focuses on the craft of playwriting. Investigates the theory, history, aesthetics, and trends of live theater. Includes pitching, peer review, and discussion of industry-specific best practices.

Focuses on the craft of audio storytelling. Investigates the theory, history, aesthetics, and trends of podcasting. Includes pitching, peer review, and discussion of industry-specific best practices.

Builds upon the fundamentals of narrative learning throughout the major. Emphasis on self-directed writing, editing, and research. Includes individualized reading plan and periodic creative, critical, and reflective writings. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Continues to build upon the fundamentals of narrative learning throughout the major. Emphasis on self-directed writing, editing, and research. Includes individualized reading plan and periodic creative, critical, and reflective writings. Includes a short public presentation. Includes critiquing of peer writing.

Introduces multilingual students to academic skills. There will be an emphasis on listening/reading comprehension, speaking/pronunciation, collaborative work, understanding and using campus resources, and professionalism among students, faculty, and staff.

Considers the role of artists and designers in communication of environmental and social issues to wider constituencies. Students learn to translate scientific facts and visualization into evocative communications that effectively explain to the viewer his or her role in environmental systems.

Examines a range of history documentaries as vehicles for interpreting and communicating history, applying history to contemporary issues, and investigating historical mysteries; evaluates examples of the history documentary genre for effectiveness in engaging audiences educationally and for entertainment purposes.

Survey of the concepts and applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Students will learn about the ethical implications of AI on society and the importance of responsible AI use. Students will explore various AI tools, including generative text, image, audio, video, and other applications.  This course is designed to equip students with a broad understanding of AI and its potential to transform various artistic fields.

Interdisciplinary study of consumer culture and behavior. Examines the dynamics of social persuasion and market leadership, provides a critical analysis of consumer behavior and influencer branding considering gender and other social identities. Provides a critical perspective on ethical and responsible marketing practices. 

Applies sociological methods, principles, and theories relating to serial murder and its various categories, including mass murderers, sexual predators, male versus female murderers, team killers, and their respective victims. Examines the production of discourses related to spectacularization and commodification of celebrity and violence in popular culture, profiles serial killers as a concern for the criminal justice system and reinvestigates iconic cold cases.

Instructs students in styles of writing commonly used in the art and design world, including artist statements, website content, cover letters, pitch letters, resumes, freelance proposals, letters of agreement, grant proposals, marketing and business plans, exhibition/catalog copy, adjournal articles and reviews, business emails, press releases, critical reviews for online and print media, and social media/promotional platform writing. Emphasizes considerations of audience and purpose, and the production of clear, cogent, thoughtful writing that adheres to the grammatical rules of Standard American English.

Introduction to academic and professional writing. Emphasis on: rhetorical knowledge; critical thinking, reading and writing processes and conventions. Analysis and evaluation of multiple reading strategies; composition; use of research tools; development of research process; documentation techniques and incorporation of sources; peer review; editing and proofreading strategies.

Provides a foundation for reading and writing art criticism. Styles of criticism range from theory to journalism to poetic interpretations from artists and writers. Students will read and discuss leading critics, past and present, especially those on today's art blogs, and learn to write contemporary criticism in the industry's most influential forms. 

Examination of methods of organizing research toward a substantial creative project
emphasizing research and writing skills. Survey of research tools and resources in and
out of Goldstein Library. Topics include: creating, mapping and writing research plans
and timelines; writing research goals and outcomes; identifying tools, resources, and
experts in the field. 

Introductory course in oral and written communication skills with a focus on public presentation skills. Instruction in: principles of communication; styles and types of presentation; effective use of traditional and multimedia tools. Emphasis on ability to deliver messages to a wide variety of audiences.