The Foundation Studies Program is comprised of courses taken by BFA, BA in Art, and BA in Art Education degree-seeking students within the Fine Arts Department at Winthrop University. These courses typically occur during the student’s first year. Concepts explored in these courses serve to educate the beginning student on broad issues concerning art, in order to adequately prepare them for their area of focused study. Students are challenged to connect learning from different studio classes with one another, and with art history, as well as seeking links between art and other subject areas. This capacity to integrate knowledge from different areas, begun in the foundation year, is intended to expand and deepen throughout their years at Winthrop and beyond.
The Foundation Studies Program, as part of a professional degree program within Art Department, reflects the core ideology of a sound education through exposure to a breadth of art concepts and experiences related to interdisciplinary issues. By providing a common experience, the Foundation Studies Program also educates the student in less obvious yet vital ways, in skills that they will need for upper-level classes and beyond, for example; critiquing, oral communication skills and vocabulary acquisition, problem-solving, time management, the discovery and growth of one’s aptitudes and skills, and redirecting one’s mistakes into accomplishing a successful outcome and staying on task.
LEARN MORECourses in Foundation Drawing (ARTS120), Two-Dimensional Design (ARTS 101), and Three- Dimensional Design (ARTS 102) make up the 'core studio courses' in Foundations. There are three Media Studies courses; 3D Media Studies (ARTS 204), Photo Media Studies (ARTS 205), and 2D Media Studies (ARTS 206) that form the second semester Foundation courses. Students are required to take all three Media Studies courses for the BFA and BA in Art and Art Education degrees, as well as Digital Studio (ARTS 281), and Introduction to Fine Arts (ARTT 112).
Students may exempt some 100-level courses upon successful review of a portfolio, juried by the Fine Arts faculty.
During the Foundation Year, students are given the opportunity to work with a wide variety of media and skill-building techniques, addressing diverse subject matter, concepts and visual problems. Extensive study of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design is undertaken in all subjects in order to produce unified and effective composition. In the Foundation studio classes, a portion of time is dedicated to introducing students to current contemporary artists, concepts and image-making.
The Foundation Review is designed to measure the progress and level of competency of all Department of Fine Arts majors including BA in Art-Certification as Art Teacher (K-12), BA in Art, and BFA concentrations after the completion of foundations coursework. Students will present their work to Fine Arts faculty to demonstrate that they have met program standards and achieved the stated learning outcomes, as well as provide students a point for self-assessment. Fine Arts majors must pass this review prior to enrollment in ARTS courses numbered 399 and above. Required for all first year Fine Arts majors.
FINE ARTS HAS A VARIETY OF MINORS!
Seth Rouser
Foundations Coordinator, Associate Professor of Fine Arts
Office: 118 McLaurin
Phone: 803/323-4527
E-mail: rousers@winthrop.edu
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