National University

Course:	ART200 - Visual Arts
Last revised:	Date: June 11, 2007
Textbook:	For the correct edition of the textbook assigned to a specific class, go to: http://www.nutextdirect.com
Course Description: Fundamentals of visual and applied arts presented through painting, photography, video, or other media. Emphasis is determined by instructor. Students develop an awareness of aesthetic values, learn how to handle materials and develop an understanding of formal, technical and conceptual issues. Students supply some laboratory materials. This course is designed to provide students with the vocabulary and skills to identify and explain styles of visual arts from a variety of times, places, and cultures. Students learn to make judgments based on the elements of art, such as line, color, composition, value, space, texture, shape, and form. Students complete original art projects in order to reinforce the concepts they are learning and to practice developing, creating, reflecting on, and revising their own work.
Learning Outcomes: When this course is over students will be able to: Define "art" and "work of art". Identify the principal media of the visual arts and describe the typical methods and materials appropriate to each medium. Analyze the elements and principles of design employed in the formal structure of selected artworks. Compare and contrast the style characteristics of selected works. Debate the relevance and applicability of realistic representation, aesthetic appeal ("beauty"), and meaningful communication as criteria for evaluating art. Discuss artworks in the light of their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Employ the language, concepts and methods of interpretive criticism as applicable to various art media. Discuss visual art as a key to understanding human values and experiences from a variety of perspectives, including those of the world's various cultures, women, men, minority cultures, etc.
Course Requirements: Course Preparedness: ART 200 is a college-level art course. It assumes the mastery of prerequisite college-level skills in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, and essay writing. This course provides instruction in visual arts; it does not address remedial writing issues at the sentence, paragraph, or essay level. The California Department of Education "English-Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools" offers context for understanding the standard for writing at the college level. Students who do not meet the standards outlined in the"English-Language Arts Content Standards" will not pass this course. In short, ART 200 assumes that students already "write with a command of standard English conventions, write coherent and focused texts that convey a well-defined perspective and tightly reasoned argument, and use clear research questions and creative and critical research strategies"(Standards, Grades Nine and Ten). This course requires college-level writing skills that exceed those of the secondary level. Course Workload: Given the rapid pace of the course, it is necessary for students to keep on track and on task with the readings and assignments. In accordance with accreditation standards, National University requires approximately two hours of outside work for every contact hour (NU Catalog). For a 4.5-quarter unit course, there are 45 contact hours, plus a minimum of 90 hours outside work. Therefore, for the four-week onsite version of this course, students can expect to devote a minimum of four and one-half hours per day in order to complete the coursework. (Note: Depending on the initial skill level of the student, the number of hours needed may be much higher). Of course, the time may be spent in all sorts of ways--many hours over the weekend, for example, with fewer during the week, or whatever schedule works best for the student given the deadlines in the course. Students are also reminded that all work must be generated independently and solely for this course. Any act of plagiarism (intentional or unintentional borrowing of another writer's published or unpublished material without proper attribution, use of an editor, or any other attempt to defraud the academic process) will meet with reprimand and possible dismissal from the course without credit (see the NU Catalog for other potential penalties). To avoid plagiarism, students should do their own work and submit work that is original to this course. Some assignments for this course will not be submitted to the instructor but completed independently. Although it may appear that this work is optional, students are required to do the work as assigned in order to learn the related concepts. Note that while these assignments are not factored into grades formally, students will be assessed for their understanding of the concepts covered.

Recommended Course Grading (expressed as percentages):

A	96-100	B+	87-89	C+	77-79	D+	67-69
A-	90-95	B	84-86	C	74-76	D	64-66
		B-	80-83	C-	70-73	D-	60-63

Grading Factors:
Each instructor is responsible for identifying several specific grading components and the weight to be assigned to each component. The following are examples only, and are not meant to be all inclusive:

• Weekly quizzes
• Midterm exam(s)
• Homework assignments
• Participation in classroom or chatroom discussions
• Participation in threaded discussions (online only)
• Short papers, term papers, and the like
• Individual and/or group projects (written and possibly oral presentation)
• Case study analysis and discussion
• Field experience report
• Final exam (comprehensive)

Definition of Grades:

Undergraduate Courses
A	Outstanding Achievement	Significantly exceeds standards
B	Commendable Achievement	Exceeds standards
C	Acceptable Achievement	Meets standards
D	Marginal Achievement	Below standards
F	Failing *

Graduate Courses
A	Outstanding Achievement
B	Commendable Achievement
C	Marginal Achievement
D	Unsatisfactory *
F	Failing *

* Students receiving this grade in a course that is required for his/her degree program must repeat the course.

I

Incomplete A grade given at the discretion of the instructor when a student who has completed at least two-thirds of the course class sessions and is unable to complete the requirements of the course because of uncontrollable and unforeseen circumstances. The student must convey these circumstances (preferably in writing) to the instructor prior to the final day of the course. If an instructor decides that an "Incomplete" is warranted, the instructor must convey the conditions for removal of the "Incomplete" to the student in writing. A copy must also be placed on file with the Office of the Registrar until the "Incomplete" is removed or the time limit for removal has passed. An "Incomplete" is not assigned when the only way the student could make up the work would be to attend a major portion of the class when next offered. An "I" that is not removed within the stipulated time becomes an "F." No grade points are assigned. The "F" is calculated in the grade point average.

W

Withdrawal Signifies that a student has withdrawn from a course after beginning the third class session. Students who wish to withdraw must notify their admissions advisor before the beginning of the sixth class session in the case of graduate courses, or before the seventh class session in the case of undergraduate courses. Instructors are not authorized to issue a "W" grade.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas or work as one's own. Students must give credit for any information that is not either the result of original research or common knowledge. If a student borrows ideas or information from another author, he/she must acknowledge the author in the body of the text and on the reference page. Students found plagiarizing are subject to the penalties outlined in the Policies and Procedures section of the University Catalog, which may include a failing grade for the work in question or for the entire course. The following is one of many websites that provide helpful information concerning plagiarism for both students and faculty: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Ethics:
Ethical behavior in the classroom is required of every student. The course will identify ethical policies and practices relevant to course topics.

Technology:
Students are expected to be competent in using current technology appropriate for this discipline. Such technology may include word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Use of the internet and e-mail may also be required.

Diversity:
Learning to work with and value diversity is essential in every class. Students are expected to exhibit an appreciation for multinational and gender diversity in the classroom.

Civility:
As a diverse community of learners, students must strive to work together in a setting of civility, tolerance, and respect for each other and for the instructor. Rules of classroom behavior (which apply to online as well as onsite courses) include but are not limited to the following:

• Conflicting opinions among members of a class are to be respected and responded to in a professional manner.
• Side conversations or other distracting behaviors are not to be engaged in during lectures, class discussions or presentations
• There are to be no offensive comments, language, or gestures

Students with Disabilities:
Students seeking special accommodations due to a disability must submit an application with supporting documentation, as explained under this subject heading in the General Catalog. Instructors are required to provide such accommodations if they receive written notification from the University.

Writing Across the Curriculum:
Students are expected to demonstrate writing skills in describing, analyzing and evaluating ideas and experiences. Written reports and research papers must follow specific standards regarding citations of an author's work within the text and references at the end of the paper. Students are encouraged to use the services of the University's Writing Center when preparing materials.

The following website provides information on APA, MLA, and other writing and citation styles that may be required for term papers and the like: http://www.nu.edu/LIBRARY/ReferenceTools/citations.html

National University Library:
National University Library supports academic rigor and student academic success by providing access to scholarly books and journals both electronically and in hard copy. Print materials may be accessed at the Library in San Diego or through document delivery for online and regional students. Librarians are available to provide training, reference assistance, and mentoring at the San Diego Library and virtually for online or regional students. Please take advantage of Library resources:

URL: http://www.nu.edu/library.

Contact the Library:

• RefDesk@nu.edu
• (858) 541-7900 (direct line)
• 1-866-NU ACCESS x7900 (toll free)

Use the Library Training Tools (on the Library Homepage) for additional help

• Recorded class presentations
• Tutorials & Guides (APA/MLA, Peer-Review, and more)