SYLLABUS
Course: DEGREE PROJECT - undergraduate and graduate levels
Numbers/Title: ART 703 (F3434-015): Folio Preparation and Graduating Exhibition (1CR) ART 490 (F0194-015): Degree Project (1 CR)
Offered: Fall Semester, 1998; Fridays: 10:00-10:50 AM; CFA 175
Instructor: Dennis Navrat, Professor of Art
Office: CFA 170A; Telephone: (605) 677-5462; Email: dnavrat@sunbird.usd.edu
Office Hours: M-W, 8:30-10 AM; T-Th, 1-2PM, or by appointment
DESCRIPTION
ART 490: This course provides senior art majors with a point of synthesis for their undergraduate education while preparing for their graduating exhibition. It explores career options, professional concerns, and prepares the art student to realize specific career goals after graduation. Enrollment in the course is required of senior BFA art majors approaching graduation.
Note: Art 490 is usually taken within three semesters of graduation. IT IS OFFERED FALL SEMESTERS ONLY. STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO PRESENT THEIR BFA EXHIBITION AND GRADUATE IN THE FALL, SPRING, or FOLLOWING SUMMER TERM MUST ENROLL IN THIS COURSE THE FALL SEMESTER PRECEDING THEIR PLANNED EXHIBITION.
ART 703: This course provides graduate students with a point of synthesis for their graduate education while preparing for their graduating exhibition. It explores career options, professional concerns, and prepares the graduate student to realize specific career goals after graduation.
Concurrent with this course, the student’s major professor will advise the student on a specific schedule for the proper organization, preparation, and documentation of the graduating exhibition and for the final orals examination by the candidate’s graduate advisory committee. Enrollment in the course is required of MFA candidates approaching graduation.
Note: Art 703 is usually taken within three semesters of graduation. IT IS OFFERED FALL SEMESTERS ONLY. STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO PRESENT THEIR MFA EXHIBITION, COMPLETE THEIR FINAL ORALS EXAMINATION, AND PLAN TO GRADUATE IN THE FALL OR FOLLOWING SPRING TERM MUST ENROLL IN THIS COURSE THE FALL SEMESTER PRECEDING THEIR PLANNED EXHIBITION.
PURPOSE
ART 703 presents to MFA degree candidates, and ART 490 presents to advanced BFA students important information concerning a professional career as an artist after graduation, provides them with guidance and recommendations concerning preparations for their MFA or BFA exhibition, and serves as a final checkpoint to organize, schedule, present, and successfully pass their thesis exhibition and all other requirements of the Art Department, including the Art Theory and History Exit Exam.
Both the undergraduate course and the graduate course present identical information directed toward a professional career in art. It is expected that graduate students’ assignments will reflect their extended and advanced experience in the study and practice of art. Each student should consider the preparations required of this course as an extension of their studio emphasis area toward their personal career goals and perspective of art. The career preparations for some students that begin with this course, will continue to be professionally relevant throughout a lifetime as a practicing artist. Such professional documents as a personal resume and artist’s statement require alterations and upgrading every few months.
SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
To prepare for a BFA or MFA exhibition and to prepare for a career in art following graduation, the class meetings will provide pertinent information, discussions, presentations, and/or supplemental handouts to address the following topics for which assignments must be completed by each student:
September 5: Review of all department procedures for the BFA or MFA exhibition, Exit Testing, and the course requirements and checklist for ART 490 or ART 703.
Survey of students regarding projected date of BFA or MFA exhibitions.
Introduction to writing an Artist's Statement.
Assignment: outline and rough draft, Artist's Statement.
September 12: Guest presentation: John Day, Director, UAG: Review of policy and procedures concerning scheduling, publicity, posters, and press releases for exhibitions.
Finalize the fall semester BFA and MFA exhibition schedule for the
University Art Galleries and indicate the spring exhibition schedule.
September 19: Visit to the USD Career Development Center (class will meet there for a presentation by a staff member of the Center); Registration for development of your professional credentials at the Center is optional at this time
Outline and Rough draft, Artist’s Statement due.
September 26: Review of Graduate School Programs and Standards; Seeking a Graduate Assistantship; Seeking a Fellowship;
In-class discussion of the first drafts of artist’s statements;
Assignment: First draft, artist’s statement;
Discussion: Exhibition design and gallery installation.
October 3: Discussion: Resume Preparation (choosing from among various outlines);
Assignment: Rough draft, personal resume, including exhibition record
First draft, Artist’s Statement due.
October 10: Rough draft, Resume due.
Resume preparation: in-class discussion of rough drafts
Assignment: first draft, resume
October 17: Photographing and documenting artwork, guest presentation;
First draft, Resume due
October 24: Portfolio preparation and development; Portfolio/Presentation of Artwork; Artist's Rights; Copyrights; Commissions, Contracts, and Gallery Contracts.
Assignments: Second draft, Artist’s Statement and Second draft, Resume
October 31: Building an Exhibition Record; Grant Writing
Assignment: Write a grant application for a personal project.
Second draft, Resume due.
November 7: Writing a Press Release; Designing Self-Promotional Materials and Marketing Your Art
Second draft, Artist’s Statement due.
November 14: Career Possibilities and Options; Job Application and Interviewing;
Rough draft, Grant Application due.
November 21: Overview and Discussion, Art Theory and History Exit Exam
Assignment: Final draft, Grant Application
November 28: Thanksgiving Recess
December 5: Final draft, Grant Application due.
Discussion of the grant applications.
December 12: Last class meeting before final exams.
Portfolio, sample artwork, sample slides due;
Best drafts, Artist’s Statement and Resume due.
*****This schedule is subject to minor change due to scheduling conflicts.
REQUIREMENTS
Each BFA art major must enroll in and satisfactorily complete all requirements set forth in ART 490 prior to graduation. Each MFA candidate must enroll in and satisfactorily complete all requirements set forth in ART 703 prior to graduation.
Assignment deadlines for the course are outlined above. A further revision of the Artist's Statement and the
Resume (relative to artistic growth over time) is required at the time of the MFA or BFA exhibition. The final revisions of each must be submitted to the Art Office at that time. Twenty, labeled, 35mm slides of the exhibition artworks must also be submitted to the Art Office prior to graduation.
Class attendance is mandatory, as well as the completion of all assignments outlined above.. The subsequent presentation of a successful MFA or BFA exhibition, approved by a majority of the art department faculty, the successful completion of the Art Theory and History Exit Exam taken during the final semester prior to graduation, and submission of documentary slides of the graduating exhibition usually fulfills graduation
requirements.
NO STUDENT WILL GRADUATE UNTIL THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE SATISFIED.
Attached is a checklist outlining the required components of ART 490 and of ART 703: Artist's Statement; Resume, including Exhibition Record; Portfolio; Grant Writing; Exhibition Scheduling; Exhibition Publicity; Art Theory and History Exit Exam; Slides. Registration at the USD Career Development Center is optional.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The class meetings will involve lectures/presentations, guest presenters and discussions. The preparations for the class meetings will involve research, writing, exhibiting your artwork, organizing your life, organizing your graduating exhibition, and personal preparation for a professional career in art.
MEASURES OF ACHIEVEMENT
Each student will receive a grade of "Incomplete" until all course and graduation requirements have been met, at which time a letter grade for the course will be designated.
ART 703 and ART 490 DEGREE PROJECT - REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST
NOTE: In order to fulfill all graduation requirements of the Art Department it is essential that you refer to the respective degree program guidebook of the Art Department. A copy of either the MFA Degree Program Guide or the BFA Art Student Handbook is available in the Art Office.
1. EXHIBITION SCHEDULING:
Emphasis Area Professor's Approval: Submit signed Request for Exhibition Form to Art Office
Tentative Semester: Fall Spring Year______
Dates of the exhibition: Reception date and time:
2. ARTIST'S STATEMENT:
Outline
Rough Draft
First Draft
Second Draft
Final Draft for Course
Final Draft to be posted at Graduation Exhibition; a copy must be submitted to the Art Office
3. RESUME:
Outline including Exhibition Record
First Draft
Second Draft
Final Draft at Graduation; a copy must be submitted to the Art Office
4. SLIDES OF CURRENT ARTWORKS
Samples, properly labeled, due December 12, 1997
Final set of twenty slides from your exhibit must be submitted to the Art Office prior to graduation
5. PORTFOLIO;
Samples due December 12, 1997
Final portfolio check at Graduation
6. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM ART FACULTY and EMPLOYERS
Recommendations from art faculty and recent employers
OPTIONAL REGISTRATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Burr House, Corner of Cherry St. and Ratingen Strasse; 677-5307; FAX 677-5150
7. ART THEORY AND HISTORY EXIT EXAM:
Date of Orientation:
Date of Exam:
8. GRADUATING EXHIBITION: (you must work with your emphasis area professor to finalize your exhibition)
__Request for MFA Exhibition Form: Date of Approval by Major Professor: ______________
__Request for BFA Exhibition Form: Date of Approval by Major Professor: ______________
__Dates of Exhibition: ______________
9. GRADUATING EXHIBITION PUBLICITY
Rough Draft
Final News Release including black and white photo (also to be submitted to the Dean’s Office)
Printed Poster (your poster design must be approved by the Chair and the Gallery Director)
10. SELECTION OF WORK FROM GRADUATING EXHIBITION FOR USD COLLECTION:
Date of meeting with emphasis area professor and gallery director:
ART 703/ ART 490 DEGREE PROJECT
CAREER SYNTHESIS / CAREER POSSIBILITIES AND OPTIONS / PERSONAL TEST
Name:
Write your answers to the following questions.
1. What do you plan to do after graduation? If you plan to seek another degree, which one and where will you study?
Will you apply for an assistantship or fellowship?
2. What is the first job or position you want after graduation?
3. How much money do you want to make each year?
4. How important will your art be in relation to the job or position you want? Describe how much time you will devote to your art, and when you will make it.
5. What are your goals for success?
6. Your "permanent address" (at which you can be contacted after graduation):
street address
city, state, zip
telephone AC( )
Email address
University of South DakotaArt Department
REQUEST FOR GRADUATING EXHIBITION FORM
___ BFA Exhibition
___ MFA Exhibition
Name Date
Title of Degree Program and Emphasis Area
Proposed Graduation Semester and Year
Proposed Exhibition Dates
Proposed Reception Date and Time
Proposed Location of Exhibition
Proposed Co-Exhibitors
Primary Emphasis Faculty Advisor
I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the policy statements governing Graduating Exhibitions contained in the respective Art Department "Degree Program Guidebook" for undergraduate or graduate students.
Student’s Signature Date
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Departmental Action
The above request has been approved as submitted.
The above request has been approved with the following revisions:
Signature, Faculty Emphasis Area Advisor Signature, Gallery Director
Signature, Art Department Chairperson Date of Departmental Action