Northern Illinois University
School of Art and Design
College of Visual and Performing Arts

ART 100 Drawing Foundation
Introduction to drawing. Emphasis on object representation through descriptive and expressive means. Control of line, value, and spatial illusion with variety of media.(3 credits)

ART 102 2D Foundation
Comprehensive study of design elements and principles through the study of two-dimensional space. Emphasis on inventiveness in the use of various media. Studio and lecture. (3 credits)

ART 103 3D Foundation
Intensive study of form and structure in three-dimensional space. Studio and lecture. (3 credits)

ART 105 Exploring Visual Professions
Exploration of the theory and practice of art education, art history, design, and fine arts through field trips, guest speakers and lectures. (1 credit)

ART 465 Introduction to Museum Studies
Survey of the history and philosophy of museums and museum typology. Overview of the purposes, structure, and operations of museums with attention to current issues and practices relating to ethics, collections, exhibitions, and education. Lectures, discussion, museum field trips, museum practicum. (3 credits)

ARTD 313 Beginning Photography
Designed to provide basic skills in technical processes of photography for the art student and to equip the student to use photography as an art medium. (3 credits)

ARTD 475 Time Arts: Special Topics
Concentrated study in time arts and electronic media. Topics announced. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Need Successful completion of portfolio review in Time Arts and instructor permission. (3 credits)

ARTE 109 Strategic Visual Thinking
Investigation of the role of visual design in the presentation of quantitative information in order to promote vigorous dialogue around the interactions of complex data streams, fostering robust decision-making. Introduction to social science research through data collection, quantitative analysis, and interpretation as students complete their own original survey research. (3 credits)

ARTS 321 Water-based Painting
Painting in various water-soluble media. (3 credits)

ARTS 323 Introduction to Painting
Development of the student’s ability in painting with emphasis on ideas and materials. (3 credits)

ARTS 330 Introduction to Printmaking
Overview and introduction to basic principles and fine art studio applications of the primary printmaking media – intaglio, relief, lithography, and serigraphy. Idea and imagery development and print history. (3 credits)

ARTS 341 Beginning Ceramics
Introduction to ceramics using basic hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques for the exploration of form, texture, and glaze applications. Studio and lecture. (3 credits)

ARTS 351 Beginning Metalwork and Jewelry
Introduction to jewelry with emphasis on basic fabrication techniques. Studio and lecture. (3 credits)

ARTS 361 Beginning Sculpture
Exploration of theory, context, and methods of object making. Technique covered as appropriate to an assignment or a student’s work. Studio, lecture, and readings. (3 credits)

ARTS 368 Introduction to Fiber: Papermaking
Exploration of papermaking technique including sheet forming (Western and Eastern traditions), embossing, embedding, lamination, watermarking, and casting. Discussion of various fibers suitable for making paper. Studio, lecture, readings, and discussion of the meaning/context of materials. (3 credits)

ARTS 371 2D/3D Woven Construction
Exploration of a range of techniques for making 2- and 3-dimensional work. Technical information includes pattern and pictorial weaving, textile dyeing/printing/painting, and 3-D woven construction processes. Experimentation with traditional and experimental materials. Exploration of unique conceptual principles of textiles: sculptural potential of fabric construction, meaning and metaphors of material, narrative capacity of cloth. (3 credits)

ARTS 372 Introduction to Fiber: Print Dye Paint Stitch
Exploration of techniques to alter, transform, and manipulate the two- dimensional surface of fabric. Emphasis on cloth as an expressive medium. Dyeing, resists, printing, surface embellishment, stitching, devore, and cloque. Studio, lecture, readings, and discussion of the meaning/context of cloth. (3 credits)

ARTS 374 Installation and Fiber Sculpture
Exploration of materials and processes for creating installation work and three- dimensional forms in the fiber tradition. Wrapping, coiling, knotting, looping, and sculptural fabric techniques will be explored. The concept of installation includes relationships of objects and site-specific work, and will examine a range of spaces. Concepts are developed through research, readings, material investigations, and developments of three-dimensional studies. When taught in the spring semester, the class will focus on object construction; in fall semester, the focus is directed to installation concepts and working in a range of public and private spaces. (3 credits)

ARTH 282 Introduction to World Art
A global survey of practices in the visual arts from ancient times to the modern era. Art majors must take ARTH 282A. (3 credits)

• On-campus. Available for art majors and non majors.
• Not available for art majors.

ARTH 292 Art and Design Since 1900
Modern and contemporary art and design. Art majors must take ARTH 282A. (3 credits)

• On-campus. Available for art majors and non majors.
• Not available for art majors.

ARTH 294 Art History Survey: Arts of Asia
Arts of the Middle East, Far East, and Southeast Asia. (3 credits)

ARTH 310 Studies in Ancient and Middle-Eastern Art
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of ancient and Middle Eastern art. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• Egypt
• Mesopotamia
• Aegean Art
• Archaic and Classical Art
• Hellenistic Art
• Etruscan and Early Roman Art
• Roman Imperial Art
• Islamic Art
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 320 Studies in Medieval Art
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of ancient and Middle Eastern art. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• Early Christian and Early Byzantine Art: 330-843
• Middle and Late Byzantine Art: ca. 843-1543
• Early Medieval Art: ca. 500-1000
• Romanesque and Gothic Art: ca. 1000-1400
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 330 Studies in Early Modern European Art
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of early modern art. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• Early Italian Renaissance Art
• Early Northern Renaissance Art
• 16th Century Italian Art
• 16th Century Northern European Art
• 17th and 18th Century European Art
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 331 Art, Nature and Technology 1400 to 1800
Examination of mathematical and scientific principles used by artist-scientists to create art and architecture from 1400 to 1800. Exploration of the ancient roots of these principles and their continuing currency in artist-scientists’ achievements today. (3 credits)

ARTH 340 Studies in Modern and American Art
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of modern and American art. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• American Art before 1945
• Modernism in European and American Art
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 350 Studies in Contemporary Art
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of contemporary art. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• 1960-1980
• 1980-present
• 1960-present
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 360 Studies in Design
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of design from the 19th century to the present. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• Modern and Postmodern Architecture
• From Print Culture to New Media
• From Craft to Industry
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 361 History of Sustainable Design
History, theory, and criticism of sustainable design from the 18th century to the present. (3 credits)

ARTH 370 Studies in Asian Art
History, theory, and criticism of various aspects of Asian art. May be repeated with different subjects to a maximum of 12 semester hours. Multiple enrollments with different subjects are allowed in the same semester. (3 credits)

• Chinese Art
• Japanese Art
• South and Southeast Asian Art
• Southeast Asian Art
• Islamic Art
• Buddhist Art
• Thematic Subjects

ARTH 380 Art History Survey: Arts of Asia
Studies in African, Oceanian, Native American, Pre-Columbian Art, and Latin-American Art. (3 credits)

• Art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas
• African Art
• Pre-Columbian Art
• Latin American Art
• Thematic Subjects