National University

This course covers the fundamentals of visual and applied arts from a global perspective. It focuses on the art of India, China, Japan, pre-Columbian Central and South America, Native North America, Oceania and Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Students will also explore the accelerated changes in world art since 1945 as well as diversity issues related to art. Course Goals: This course is designed to develop a broad knowledge of world art. Students develop a global perspective in learning and appreciating why and how art is produced, as well as learn a global language of visual communication use this language in making critical evaluations. Students recognize parallels in global art and social conditions and how world art is an expression of traditions, conditions, and philosophies. The course promotes critical thinking skills of analysis and synthesis.

• Identify the artistic traditions of non-Western cultures around the world.
• Explain the influence of religion on cultural expression in non-Western cultures.
• Recognize and explain fundamental concepts in the history of world art.
• Relate cultural and historical issues to artistic expression.
• Analyze and critique works of world art on aesthetic and cultural grounds.
• Grasp aesthetic values, power relationships, and diversity issues as they relate to the field of art history and criticism.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the specific artistic styles of the various Asian, African, Oceanic, and North, Central and South American, cultural expression.

Main Course Content Areas:

1. Indian Art
2. Chinese Art
3. Japanese Art
4. African Art
5. Oceanic and Australian Art
6. Native Central American Art
7. Native South American Art
8. Native North American Art

Course Preparedness:
ART 329 is an upper-division art course. It assumes the mastery of prerequisite college-level skills in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, and essay writing. This course provides instruction in world art; 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 329 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 required at 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). For the eight-week online version of this course, students can expect to devote a minimum of three hours per day (with about one day off per week) 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.

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.

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.