Course Descriptions
The letter “S” preceding a course number indicates a studio course, for which a studio fee will be assessed. See “Tuition and Fees” in the Suffolk University Academic Catalog for further information.
Please note: For graduate students, Foundation course numbers will begin with a “5” rather
than a “1”. For example, Foundation Drawing I (ADF S101) should be listed as ADF S501, Color as ADF S543, etc. Undergraduate students should use the course numbers below.
ART 01 Jumpstart Art
A 10-week introduction to basic studio skills and concepts for non-art majors and undecided majors who lack exposure to the fundamentals of art and design. This course is designed to support these students and to ensure their success in the studio. Non-art majors and undecided majors must take ART 01 concurrently with first semester Foundation studio courses (or must have completed two years of high school art prior to registering for Foundation studio courses).
Offered every semester (10 weeks/20 class meetings); non-credit/tuition free for matriculated students.
ADF S101 Foundation Drawing I
Since learning to draw involves learning to see, Foundation Drawing I stresses the development of this essential visual skill. Observational and conceptual exercises explore the use of a broad vocabulary of materials, techniques and treatments of the drawn image.
Normally offered each semester; 3 credits
ADF S102 Foundation Drawing II
This course will build upon and refine the basic skills developed in Foundation Drawing I (ADF S101). More intensive work with the human figure will provide exposure to gesture and anatomy, while color materials such as pastels will expand technical possibilities. Issues of expression and interpretation will be introduced as students begin to develop a more sophisticated and personal approach to drawing images and style.
Prerequisite: ADF S101, Normally offered each semester; 3 credits
ADF S123 Painting
This introductory painting course will familiarize students with the materials and methods basic to acrylic and oil painting. Through a series of in-class exercises and outside assignments students will learn to convey form and space working both from observation and the imagination. Both realistic and abstract painting approaches will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on the development of disciplined technical skills as well as the exploration of painting’s potential as a medium of creative visual expression.
Prerequisite: ADF S143, Normally offered spring semester; 3 credits
ADF S143 Color
The study of color is supportive of all studio disciplines and is vital to our understanding of all visual media. This course features a hands-on approach to color study as students create, modify, and master color’s hues, values, and strengths through the direct mixing and application of paint. Also explored will be issues of color harmony, chromatic light and space, assimilation, and color psychology, as well as past and present views of the use of color in art and design. This extensive focus on the specific issues of color gives NESADSU students experience with and flexibility in the use of color in their work.
Normally offered each semester; 3 credits. Intended for majors only.
ADF S151 2-Dimensional Design
The goal of this course is to develop proficiency in the logic and structure of two-dimensional organization. Emphasis will be placed on the essential elements of visual language: line, shape, value, texture, rhythm, and scale. Students will learn to develop dynamic approaches to effective visual communication by combining these divergent elements into a unified whole.
Normally offered each semester; 3 credits
ADF S152 3-Dimensional Design
Good design, from architecture and urban spaces to the smallest utilitarian object, makes our world livable by enriching it visually. This course focuses on developing students’ vocabulary in the elements and principles of 3-dimensional form. Volume, mass, and plane will be explored as students learn to see and think in the round. We will look at the role of scale, light, texture, negative space, proportion, thematic and structural relationships in the creation of forms which activate space and engage the viewer.
Prerequisite: ADF S151, Normally offered fall and spring semesters; 3 credits
ADF S154 Design: Issues & Process
This course involves comprehensive design projects which concern more advanced visual issues, executed in a wide variety of media. Decision-making in the creative process and the development of strong design concepts will be emphasized. Areas of study will include an investigation of the “real world” concerns of fine artists and designers, non-Western imagery and culture, and visual social engagement.
Prerequisite: ADF S151, Spring semester; 3 credits
ADF S156 Imaging
This Foundation studio is required of Fine Arts and Graphic Design majors. The course focuses on the techniques and technologies of image capture, manipulation and output, and on how these methods of visual image generation will be used by artists and designers of the 21st century. Black and white photography, the copy, scanning, and an introduction to Adobe Photoshop will be covered in weekly and longer-length assignments.
Prerequisites: ADF S101, ADF S151, Normally offered fall and spring semesters; 3 credits
ADF 181, 182 Ideas of Western Art I & II
This is a two-semester lecture course designed to acquaint students with the major concepts and concerns of Western art, from prehistoric to contemporary art. The objective of this one-year survey course is to provide a path by which the student may take the ideas and lessons extracted from the study of art history and turn those ideas into meaningful insights to be utilized in the studio.
Fall and spring semesters; 4 credits per semester