FOUNDATIONS

An image depicting work at the School of Art + Design.
Before you even apply for a specific major within the School of Art + Design, you and your peers will spend a year in the Foundation program, a broad curriculum allowing you explore the range of ideas, personalities, resources, and artistic mediums that populate our corner of campus.

At the School of Art + Design, we're dedicated to the development of well-rounded artists who are skilled and knowledgeable in a range of artistic mediums. An interdisciplinary emphasis lies at the heart of the Art + Design experience.

Your immersion in broad, interdisciplinary training begins with the Foundation program, a one-year general curriculum program that all Art + Design majors must complete. The Foundation program provides you a base of training in basic drawing, design, art history, and contemporary issues in the world of art. During this year, you will build a conceptual foundation in visual and verbal language that is universal to all artistic disciplines. You will also have the chance to explore the many options available in the School of Art + Design before applying for a specific major.

Foundation courses offer learning in many forms:

  • Lectures

  • Readings

  • Demonstrations

  • Hands-on activities

  • Journal writing

  • Guided critiques

  • Field trips to galleries, museums, and occasionally international expositions

After completing one year of foundation courses, you will apply for admission to a specialized Art + Design curriculum. As part of the application process, you'll need to submit a portfolio of your work and interview with faculty members in the appropriate programs. This means that you should view your year of foundation studies as an opportunity to strengthen your portfolio and get a sense of which faculty members you'd most benefit from working with. Your success in the foundation courses affects your admission to your program of choice.