Department of Art and Design | Jacksonville State University Catalogs

Department Head: Bryce Lafferty, blafferty@jsu.edu

MFA Program Coordinator: Jamie Runnells, jrunnells@jsu.edu

The Department of Art and Design offers courses leading to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree with a major in Visual Communication Design and supporting courses for the Master of Arts (MA) degree with a major in Integrated Studies. The Department of Art and Design is accredited with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and is a member of the College Art Association (CAA).

Visual Communication Design includes graphic design for print and web, typography, art direction, motion and interactive design, illustration, photomedia, and other specializations. Designers analyze, plan, and create visual solutions to communication problems.

Visual Communication Design (Master of Fine Arts)

ART 590 Independent Study (3)

Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department head.

Students may take this course to obtain competencies in industry standard software, practices, and vocabulary necessary for MFA course sequence. Course does not count toward MFA degree requirements. Course may be repeated for a maximum of nine (9) hours.

ART 602 Visiting Designer Artist Project (3)

Design studio with visiting designer/artist. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of twelve hours, with permission of the instructor and Graduate Coordinator.

ART 605 Graduate History of Graphic Design (3)

In depth study of major works, movements and artists associated with the history of graphic design. Course should be taken in the second semester of enrollment. Offered in the Spring semester. This course may be taken as part of the Faster Master's program.

ART 606 Design Education Pedagogy Andragogy (3)

History, practice and theory of graphic design education.

ART 619 Design Studio (3)

Prerequisite(s): May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

Graduate design studio work. Author/designer focused project with interpretation of complex materials at multiple levels.

ART 620 Advanced Design Studio (3)

Prerequisite(s): ART 619.

Continuation and application of Design Studio Graduate design studio work. Students will author advanced designer-focused projects with interpretation of complex media and materials at multiple levels using both traditional and modern techniques. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

ART 621 Graduate Interactive Design Studio (3)

Graduate design studio work focusing on the theory and application of interactive design problems. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with instructor permission.

ART 622 Graduate Screen Printing Design Studio (3)

Graduate design studio work focusing on screenprinting theory and application. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor.

ART 623 History of Graphic Design I (3)

Study of major works, themes, movements, and theories relating to visual communication and design before the Industrial Revolution.

ART 624 History of Graphic Design II (3)

Study of major works, themes, movements and theories relating to visual communication and design from the Industrial Revolution to the present.

ART 625 Design Research Readings and Seminar (3)

Presentation, analysis, and discussion of readings in visual communication and design theory and criticism. Should be taken in the first semester of enrollment. Offered in the Fall semester.

ART 626 Contemporary Visual Studies (3)

Prerequisite(s): May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

Study of major works, themes, movements and theories in contemporary art and design.

ART 636 Design Research, Readings and Seminar (3)

Prerequisite(s): May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

Presentation, analysis, and discussion of readings in visual communication and design theory and criticism.

ART 638 Special Topics in Graphic Design (3)

Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

An in-depth independent investigation of topics and techniques in the field of graphic design such as: exhibition design, time-based media, advanced motion studies, experience design, etc. May be duplicated for credit up to 9 hours.

ART 639 Special Topics in Photomedia (3)

Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

An in-depth investigation of topics and techniques in the field of visual communications relating to photomedia. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours.

ART 640 Contemporary Media Communication Studio (3)

Design studio in new media. Students will utilize time-based and digital techniques to create modern projects for interactive, time-based, web, and app based media. Course should be taken in the first semester of enrollment. Offered in the Fall semester. This course may be taken as part of the Faster Master's program.

ART 641 Traditional Communication Studio (3)

Design studio in traditional graphic design print media. Course should be taken in the second semester of enrollment. Offered in the Spring semester. This course may be taken as part of the Faster Master's program.

ART 642 Design Studio (3)

Prerequisite(s): May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

Graduate design studio work. Students will author designer-focused projects with interpretation of complex media and materials at multiple levels using both traditional and modern techniques.

ART 643 Design Studio Exhibition Research (3)

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Candidacy Review and Thesis Exhibition Proposal approval.

Students in this course will begin the planning and research for the MFA Thesis Exhibition and Paper.

ART 644 Design Studio Exhibition Research II (3)

Prerequisite(s): ART 643, successful completion of Candidacy Review and Thesis Exhibition Proposal approval.

Students in this course will prepare, produce and complete the MFA Thesis Exhibition and Paper. Students will be assigned a grade of Pass or Fail only.

ART 645 Advanced Design Studio (3)

Prerequisite(s): ART 462.

Continuation and application of Design Studio Graduate design studio work. Students will author advanced designer-focused projects with interpretation of complex media and materials at multiple levels using both traditional and modern techniques. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

ART 647 Graduate Typography Design Studio (3)

Graduate design studio work focusing on typographic design, theory, and application. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor.

ART 648 Design Studio (3)

Graduate design studio work. Students will author designer-focused projects with interpretation of complex media and materials at multiple levels using both traditional and modern techniques. May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of eighteen hours, with permission of the instructor and department head. This course may be taken as part of the Faster Master's program.

ART 650 Art Theory (3)

Prerequisite(s): May be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

An investigation of the theoretical background associated with artistic production.

ART 660 Advanced Contemporary Media/Communication Studio (3)

Prerequisite(s): ART 640.

Building on Contemporary Media/Communication Design studio in new media. Students will utilize time-based and digital techniques to create modern projects for interactive, time-based, web, and app based media.

ART 677 Seminar in Art History (3)

Prerequisite(s): 6 hours of 300+ AH courses and/or permission of instructor.

A course for students to investigate special topics in Art History in a seminar format which focuses on independent research and presentation. Topics may include such things as: Post-Impressionism, Far Eastern Art, The History of Photography, American Printmaking, etc. Course may be repeated for credit up to 6 hours.

ART 679 Independent Study in Art History (3)

Prerequisite(s): May be repeated for credit; up to a maximum of six hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

Intensive independent study in art history.

ART 680 Graduate Seminar in Art History (3)

Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

Intensive seminar and research course to explore many varied aspects of design and/or art history. May be duplicated for credit for a total of 9 semester hours.

ART 681 Graduate Internship in Visual Communication Design (3)

Prerequisite(s): Permission of MFA Coordinator.

The graduate internship course is an opportunity for the student to gain advanced professional competency, through an on-the-job work experience - particularly in specific areas of visual communication not offered by the MFA at JSU, and/or areas of practice outside of the purview of the student's previous degree or professional experience. The course may be taken for credit once by permission of the MFA Coordinator.

ART 690 Graduate Independent Study (3)

Prerequisite(s): Each course may be repeated for credit, up to a maximum of twelve hours, with permission of the instructor and department head.

Intensive graduate independent studies coordinated and approved by a faculty advisor.