Fine Arts. College of. and Design

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1 Arts Fine Arts College of and Design

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3 Officers of the College Professor Hamid Al Naimiy Dr. Essam Nasr Administrative Support Staff Faramarz Tajlili Samira Saba Renji Mathews Mazen Al Saman Badria Abdo Noshad Bandy Kadavat Polite Mangoro Chancellor Acting Dean College of Fine Arts and Design Technical Tutor Admin. Coordinator Digital Media Lab Supervisor Lab Assistant Administrative Assistant Office Attendant Fashion Technician Contact Information College of Fine Arts and Design Building, M22 University City Sharjah, UAE Accreditation All programs of the College of Fine Arts and Design are accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). History The College of Fine Arts was founded in 2002 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qassimi UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah. College of Fine Arts $ Design The College started under supervision of the British Royal College of Art to reflect His Highness s vision of making it a leading art institution, to attract talented students who aspire to creativity, artistic sense and skills for the advancement of art in the country. In 2007 the name of the College changed to the College of Fine Art and Design after the following design programs were introduced: Interior Architecture and Design Graphic design and Multimedia Fashion design with textiles Jewelry design The first batch of the College of Fine Arts and Design graduates was in At the time, the number of graduates was 5, but the number has been steadily increasing since, reaching ninety six in Vision The College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) at the University of Sharjah aspires to become one of the leading academic institutions in the UAE, the Gulf, the Arab world, and internationally. 445

4 Situated at the cultural intersection between Asia and Africa, the College of Fine Arts and Design aims to be one of the centers of visual dialogues between the Middle East and the Western World. The College of FAD aspires to be an international center of excellence that possesses superior art facilities for teaching, research and creative discovery as well as for exhibiting artworks. Mission The mission of the CFAD is to provide students with scientific and professional experience of the highest standards and to provide comprehensive and specialized programs in the field of Fine Arts and Design. The CFAD is committed to contribute to the development of society in line with the values, heritage and culture of the Arab and Muslim community, while striving for the development of arts education and research in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE with regional and global outreach. It is expected that graduates of the CFAD to become leaders in their chosen fields. Students and faculty, in addition to their expertise and accomplishment, provide cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic stimulation for the campus, the Emirate of Sharjah and beyond. Goals The CFAD strives to achieve the following goals: 1. Provide students with educational knowledge in the field of Fine Arts and Design sciences, according to the highest levels of quality in Fine Art, Interior Architecture, Graphic and Multimedia and Fashion Design. 2. Prepare qualified fine arts and design professionals, who can play a part in different executive and professional careers in several arts institutions such as galleries, museums and art foundations 3. Develop art and design studies through research collaboration and cooperation with universities and academic institutions in the UAE and at the regional and international levels. 4. Contribute to the cultural and social progress of the community by responding to its needs through effective partnership with arts organizations, design departments, and the establishment of specialized research centers and scientific associations that aims to market the College s academic and research services for mutual benefits. 5. Preserve and emphasize the Arab and Islamic culture and community s ethics in all of the tasks undertaken by the College, whether at the level of teaching, scientific research or community service. 6. Raise the quality of art education by developing cooperation with other higher education institutions and the adoption of best practices in teaching and learning, and establishing cooperation agreements with Western distinguished universities in the field of Fine Arts and Design. 7. Develop the qualifications and skills of college graduates to keep abreast of developments in the local, regional and international levels by linking the college s programs with the market s needs and through programs of continuous education and training. Values Excellence. The pursuit of excellence in creative thought and achievement, artistic performance, applied pedagogies, and in service to the professional communities provides the foremost motivation for the students, faculty, and staff of the College of Fine Arts and Design. Partnership. Mutually beneficial collaborations with community organizations in the UAE will include sustained, synergistic relationships in the fine arts and design with closely related internships and collaborative projects to support teaching, research and service related initiatives. Diversity. The College values diversity in people, artistic production, research, teaching, and service. Integrity. The College acts with the highest moral principles and professional standards in teaching, research, creative production, and service. 446

5 College Overview The College of Fine Arts and Design currently offers five undergraduate programs: Fine Arts, Fashion Design with Textiles, Graphic Design and Multimedia, Interior Architecture and Design and Jewelry design. All Five programs share a common first year with the following three years being program specific with units of cultural studies being common to all. The programs are annual, cohort-based and teaching follows a unit system of ten, fifteen or twenty weeks. All components of each program are taught in English. Each program has a dedicated faculty for studio teaching; however, the cultural studies faculty provides the teaching on art history and cultural studies units for all programs. Studio space is organized according to each program s needs, whilst workshops and computer labs are open to all students (as scheduled or by prior arrangement). Technical support staff maintain workshop equipment, facilitate student project work and ensure health and safety regulations are met. Each program has a coordinator that reports to the Dean and oversees the timetabling, administrative work and structures curriculum development plans with the rest of the faculty team. Academic Programs The College of Fine Arts and Design offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in: 1. Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts 2. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design with Textiles 3. Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Multimedia 4. Bachelor of Arts in Jewelry Design. 5. Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture and Design Admission Requirements Applicants to the College of Fine Arts and Design should refer to the University Section on Admissions in this Bulletin for details on the admission requirements to the University. In addition to fulfilling the University admission requirements, the College of Fine Arts and Design requires students to sit in for a personal interview before final admission decision is made. College of Fine Arts $ Design Program Structure and Organization All the degree programs follow a four-year full time mode of study and share a common first year Foundation in Art and Design. Foundation Year The first stage Foundation in Art and Design is an intensive year of study designed as an introduction to conceptual thinking and to the creative production methods, materials and knowledge of all the art and design subject areas offered by the College. It is designed to enable students to explore the complex inter-relationships between ways of seeing, ways of thinking and ways of making, and is conceived as a series of topics for research, practical workshops and guided visual study. Specialization program On successful completion of the Foundation year, students select the subject area in which they wish to specialize for the next three years of study. Programs are based on practical studio and workshop-based projects, where students have the opportunity to study the specialized areas of practice related to their chosen subject area. Throughout all stages of studies, courses in the history and theory of art and design and cultural studies help develop a critical and analytical approach to studio practice. Students also have the opportunity to work with established artists, designers, businesses and organizations on live projects that will provide professional awareness and experience in preparation for working within the expanding fields of the creative industries. 447

6 Each program takes its own direction and is distributed across three broad areas of learning, referred to as themes. Each theme consists of a series of units that run throughout and across program s three stages - stages two, three and four: Theme I: Design Practice Theme II: Contextual and Cultural Studies Theme III: Personal and Professional Development The units for each program are detailed in the program descriptions. Graduation Requirements Each degree program comprises university requirements (UR), college requirements (CR) and program requirements (PR). The university and college requirements are common to all programs in the College of Fine Arts and Design. Each program has its own required and elective courses. The credit hours allocations for each program are shown in the following table: B.A. in Fine Arts (122 Credit Hours) UR CR PR Total Mandatory Credits Elective Credits Total Course Coding Courses offered in the College of Fine Arts and Design are designated numbers of the form 07XYABC where: XY A B C Program level Course level Specialized field Serial No. I. University Requirements Every student working for a BA degree in the College of Fine Arts and Design is required to take 24 credit hours of general education courses distributed over six domains. 12 mandatory credit hours are selected from Domains 1, 2, and 3, and 12 elective credit hours selected from domains 4, 5 and 6 as indicated below. Domain 1: Islamic Studies, History and Culture (3 Credits) Islamic Culture 3 Domain 2: Languages (6 Credits) Arabic Language, Literature and Culture: Take one of the following courses Arabic Language (for Arabic Speakers) Arabic Language (for non-arabic Speakers) 3 English Language, Literature and Culture: Take one of the following courses 448

7 Basic English English for Academic Purposes 3 Domain 3: IT or Mathematics (3 Credits) Calculus 1 for Engineering 3 Domain 4: Literature and Humanities (3 Credits) Islamic Civilization Human Rights in Islam and International Declarations Introduction to Arabic Literature History of the Sciences among Muslims History of the Arabian Gulf History of Medical and Health Sciences Arts and Medicine 3 Domain 5: Applied Sciences, 3 Credits Astronomy and Space Sciences Man and the Environment* Health Awareness and Nutrition 3 Domain 6: Social Sciences and Education (3 Credits) Fundamentals of Islamic Education UAE society Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Economics ( for non B)* Introduction to Business Media in Modern Societies Personal Finance* Analytical Biography of the Prophet 3 * Not for students in the College of Business Administration College of Fine Arts $ Design Domain 7: one 3-credit hour course from Domain 4, 5, or 6 449

8 II. College Requirements College requirements constitute Stage One of all programs offered by the College of Fine Arts and Design. They consist of the foundation and skill courses required for all FAD students. The following table has the complete list of College requirements and the subsequent section includes the description of these courses. Course # Course Title Theme UK Credit Rating US Credit Rating Foundation Unit 1: Exploration I Foundation Unit 2: Discipline Choices I Foundation Unit 3: Confirmation of Discipline I Foundation Unit 4: History of World Arts 1 II Foundation Unit 5: History of World Arts 2 II 15 3 Total Descriptions of the College of Fine Arts required courses are given below : Unit 1 - Exploration This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of drawing, color, 2D and 3D, materials, and related skills. The unit provides a broad-based introduction and experience in visual language and forms of expression in art and design. Drawing is a core focus and is taught from a variety of perspectives including observational and analytical drawing skills, drawing systems and visual research. Students learn 2D and 3D basic design methodologies in technical workshops : Unit 2- Discipline Choices This unit allows students to experience a number of designated art and design pathways from the range of programs offered by the college. The purpose is to allow students to make informed decisions about their area of specialization. Projects emphasize the progressive development of problem solving skills as these relating to art and design practice. The unit also covers creative and interpretative abilities and technical and manipulative skills specific to each discipline. Faculty members monitor student progression through individual, class and group tutorials and reflective journals, to advise students on their choice of specialization to be pursued at degree level : Unit 3 - Conformation of Discipline The outcomes of the unit support progression from Stage One to discipline specific choices in Stage Two. In this unit students undertake supervised skills-based workshops, portfolio assembly, and a major final project in their chosen discipline. After completion of their portfolio, students have tutorials to discuss their work in Foundation Stage One to assist them with their choice of discipline. Following on from individual tutorials with respective faculty, students select a final project in a particular discipline to confirm their choice : History of World Arts (1) This introductory unit is lecture-based and offers a survey on the history of visual arts from the prehistoric times to 1,500 CE (925 AH). It is designed for students with no previous knowledge of art or art history and is intended to demonstrate how to interpret important artworks of painting, sculpture, printmaking and architecture in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. The unit aims to promote a familiarity with a range of traditions and developments in art and visual culture and to develop the ability to observe and engage critically in their interpretation. It explores the dialogue between art and design through a historical overview relevant to the students studio practice. A study skills component enables the students to acquire and develop fundamental skills, understanding and approaches to learning that underpin and support their studies. 450

9 : History of World Arts (2) This introductory unit is lecture based and offers a survey on the history of visual arts from 1,500 CE (925 AH) to the present. It is designed for students with no previous knowledge of art or art history and is intended to demonstrate how to interpret important artworks of painting, sculpture, printmaking and architecture in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. The unit aims to promote a familiarity with a range of traditions and developments in art and visual culture and to develop the ability to observe and engage critically in their interpretation. It explores the dialogue between art and design through a historical overview relevant to the students studio practice. A study skills component enables the students to acquire and develop fundamental skills, understanding and approaches to learning that underpin and support their studies. III. Program Requirements College of Fine Arts $ Design Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in degree is program-specific. They encompass three categories: Major specific core courses, major specific elective courses, and courses chosen from outside the major. The program requirements for the bachelor degrees in the different Science majors are given hereafter. Details and titles of relevant courses are included in the Student s Study Plan (SSP) that is availed to every Science student.

10 FINE ARTS This program leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. Goals The primary goal of the Fine Arts program is to facilitate the creation of an environment that promotes high academic standards through the acquisition of the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes in Fine Arts, demonstrated with outcomes of student studio work, spoken and written word. The program supports the development of the necessary personal attributes and the mastery of essential skills that will equip and prepare students for continuing creative and personal development. Through the delivery of a dynamic and innovative approach to teaching and learning the Fine Arts program strives to provide an environment where academic freedom, creativity, scholarship and initiative can flourish, fostering a culture where the student is prepared to enter the professional world of contemporary art practice or to continue postgraduate study. The specific program goals are to: 1. Provide a specialist education in Fine Arts that equips students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop individual creative studio practice. 2. Produce professional fine arts practitioners who have the expertise to undertake professional research, and meet entry level standards for further study. 3. Enable the integration of theory into practice, synthesizing knowledge, conceptualization, critical thinking and research skills in the creation of art work and scholarly writing. 4. Provide students with exemplary technical mastery to produce artwork within a context of research and intellectual pursuit. 5. Enable students with confidence, self-direction and independent learning skills relevant to research, studio practice, analysis, problem solving and professional attitudes. 6. Provide students with a creative, stimulating study environment to promote critical thinking that encompasses cultural understanding, ethical appreciation and valid judgment. 7. Provide students with knowledge about the culture and history of art and design with an awareness of the cultural issues and contexts of contemporary art and how the art of our time relates to the art of the past Learning Outcomes The Fine Arts Program Learning Outcomes are based on the three main domains of learning activities: Cognitive: Knowledge, Psycho motor, Skill, Affective: Attitudes. Upon successful completion of the BA Fine Arts Program graduates will be able to: 1. Demonstrate critical awareness of art and design practices in the diverse fine arts studio areas, and the knowledge of a range of historical, and contemporary contexts, works of art, artists, and the evolution of art and design. 2. Analyze the contextual setting of a subject through critical inquiry and cultural studies. 3. Demonstrate proficiency in the appropriate use of a range of technical skills, media, technologies, ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies), resources, materials, methods and processes, health and safety procedures, to produce work. 4. Proficiently employ the principles of visual organization and conceptual thinking, in relation to two-and threedimensional visual form, content, context; and represent them in ideas, sketches and artworks. 5. Demonstrate independent and creative thinking, conceptual ability, creative risk, experimentation and problem solving in the development of a focused studio research and practice. 6. Integrate capabilities of conceptualization, technical facility and research to analyze, discuss, communicate content and create meaning, structure, and artwork. 452

11 7. Synthesize theory into practice with knowledge of diverse aesthetic formal and conceptual issues, to establish an independent, coherent line of intellectual and practical inquiry in fine arts. 8. Conduct research and formulate a dynamic generative process in studio practice to create imaginative and innovative artworks. 9. Articulate research, ideas and artwork in visual as well as verbal/ written presentations with skill in display methodologies and exhibition. 10.Apply research skills in the production of scholarly written texts. 11. Demonstrate coherent communication skills and self-confidence with awareness of professional ethics. 12.Demonstrate a collaborative attitude in professional relationships. The Fine Arts program is designed to prepare graduates for a fast growing culture-based sector. Opportunities in the rapidly expanding gallery districts, national and private art foundations, museums, education programs and a world class art market, offer numerous career choices to graduates in addition to becoming professional artists. The Fine Arts program has partnerships with many art organizations and international universities to advance its mission. The program is based both on theoretical and practical instruction, offering many transferable skills as well as academic expertise. This combined knowledge has proven to contribute the multitude of professions related to art and culture, such as: studio artist, fine art printer, instructor, technician, teacher, curator, art dealer, art handler, graphic artist, book artist, craftsperson in a variety of mediums, museum preparator, museum administrator, outreach and community facilitator, photographer, creative advisor, critic and studio manager to name a few career paths available upon completion of the degree in Fine Arts. The program also prepares students for full range of postgraduate studies. College of Fine Arts $ Design Career Opportunities

12 Program Overview The BA Fine Arts program emphasizes support of creative development with a dynamic and contemporary approach to fine arts, preparing students to become innovative professional artists. The Fine Arts program fosters a distinctive experiential learning process providing key knowledge, skills and attitudes in the field of fine arts. Introductory core fine arts studio workshops equip students with the fundamental proficiencies in sculpture, painting, photography, print making, art histories and theories. In the intermediate stage students acquire knowledge of fine arts concepts and contemporary fine arts practice, gaining the ability to produce meaningful works of art and contextualizing their studio work within contemporary fine arts discourse. Students are encouraged to reflect and focus their research towards a self-directed studio research project supported by abilities in core fine art areas, choosing to work in one medium, or to combine media forming an interdisciplinary practice. In the advanced stage students further develop and consolidate a coherent line of intellectual inquiry to develop an area of fine arts research which integrates studio with concepts, theories, and professionalism. Course # Course Title Theme UK Credit Rating US Credit Rating Stage Two Unit 1: Fine Arts: Introduction to Workshops 1 I Unit 2 : Personal and Professional Development - Emirates III 10 2 Project Unit 3 : Fine Arts : Introduction to Workshops 2 I Unit 4 : Cultural Studies II Unit 5 : Fine Arts : Projects I 30 6 Total Stage Three Unit 6 : Fine Arts : Studio Practice I Unit 7 : Cultural Studies Elective II Unit 8 : Fine Arts : Context I Unit 9 : Cultural Studies Research Project II Unit 10 : Fine Arts : Studio Research Project I Unit 11A : Personal and Professional Development III 10 2 Total Internship Unit 11B : Internship (Internship counts for 3 credits towards Stage Four) III 15 3 Stage Four Unit 12 : Cultural Studies Dissertation II Unit 13 : Fine Arts : Major Project : Theory and Practice I Unit 14 : Fine Arts : Final Exhibition Project I 45 9 Total

13 Description The BA Fine Arts program framework comprises a four-year full time mode of study including the common Foundation year (college requirement) in Art and Design during the first stage of the program together with 24 credit hours to fulfill general University requirements and electives. Stage One: Stage I is structured around three core units in Art and Design studio practice and two units in Cultural Studies comprising lectures and seminars as described in the College Requirement section above. Stages Two, Three and Four: After successful completion of Stage One - Foundation in Art and Design, the program is distributed across three broad learning areas, referred to as Themes, which run throughout and across Stages Two, Three and Four of the program. The themes are: Theme I. Design and Fine Arts Practice Theme II. Contextual and Cultural Studies Theme III. Personal and Professional Development Description of those follows. THEME I: Design Fine Arts Practice Theme I involves Fine Arts Practice and encompasses the stages and units summarized in the following table. Stage Two Units 1, 3, and 5 Stage Three Units 6, 8, and 10 Stage Four Units 13 and 14 Theme I units are described below. Theme I - Design Fine Arts Practice : Unit 1 - Introduction to Workshops 1 This unit is an introduction to the core studio areas of Fine Arts practice (which include sculpture, photography, painting, and printmaking) through studio work, lectures, workshops, discussions and consultations with respective studio faculty. Introduction to Workshops 1 develops the skills and working practices of the two mediums: sculpture, photography that underpin fine arts practice. Students acquire abilities through the process of producing studio projects. You will also undertake health and safety inductions to ensure safe working practice in the various studio areas. College of Fine Arts $ Design Sculpture: Workshop in Sculptures is an introduction to the process of making 3 dimensional forms. This workshop explores diverse material and methodologies to create form and volume. Working with materials such as wood, plaster, clay, wire you will learn processes in mold making and casting. Students will utilize and further develop drawing skills in association with sculpture. Lectures include history, concepts and theories on space, site, weight, light in relation to sculpture. Photography: Workshop in Photography is an introduction to the process of making 2 dimensional forms with the process of photography and media. This workshop explores diverse photographic techniques materials and methodologies. Students develop core skills such as the photographic camera and the lens, light, exposure and film, developing the negative and printing the positive, analog and digital processes. Assignments develop your skills such as framing, depth of field, shutter speed, editing the print, composition and representation focusing on technical abilities. Lectures include history, concepts and theories, form and content, space, light, in relation to photography. 455

14 070620: Unit 3 - Introduction to Workshops2 This unit is an introduction to the core studio areas of fine arts practice (which include sculpture, photography, painting, and printmaking) through studio work, lectures, workshops, discussions and consultations with respective studio faculty. Introduction to Workshops 1 develops the skills and working practices of the two mediums: Sculpture, Photography that underpin Fine Arts practice. Students acquire abilities through the process of producing studio projects. Students also undertake health and safety inductions to ensure safe working practice in the various studio areas. Painting: Workshop in Painting is an introduction to the process of making two- dimensional forms by the application of painting materials on surface. Students utilize and further develop drawing skills in association with painting. This workshop explores diverse painting materials and methodologies such as oil, acrylic, mixed media on canvas. Assignments develop their skills in visual organization, composition and representation focusing on technical abilities. Lectures include history, concepts and theories on surface, form and content, space, light, in relation to painting. Printmaking: Workshop in Printmaking is an introduction to the process of making 2 dimensional forms with the printmaking processes such as relief, silkscreen, intaglio, lithography. Students utilize and further develop drawing skills in association with printmaking. You will acquire core skills in the use of printmaking tools, methods and techniques. Assignments develop students skills in visual organization, composition and representation focusing on technical abilities. Lectures include history, concepts and theories on form and content in relation to printmaking : Unit 5 - Projects In this unit students undertake assigned projects, which will provide them with a focused and in-depth skill building experience in sculpture, photography, painting, and printmaking. Building and extending on the skills students acquired in Unit 1, and Unit 3 the projects are designed to further extend their abilities in the processes and techniques of the fine arts studio areas. Fine arts projects challenges students imagination to apply their technical skills and reinforce their formal abilities Unit 6: Studio Practice This unit emphasizes fine arts studio practice refining students technical and conceptual sensitivity to develop and realize projects. Through exploration of studio methods and materials students will engage in analysis and reflection to broaden their knowledge in studio practice and further their individual development. Students work on conceptually led project assignments designed to challenge their imagination in the investigation of forms, methods, materials and processes in the development and realization of projects. Topics: Method, Material, Process, Manipulating Forms : Unit 8 - Context This unit builds progressively on knowledge and skills in fine arts studio practice reflecting on and applying technical and conceptual ability to produce meaningful works of art. Emphasis is placed on the exploratory process of art making which includes the construction and analysis of art objects/images and spatial practice in the assembly and the placement of art objects/images. It includes opportunities to explore installation practice and undertake site-specific projects. Through a conceptually led project assignment students further develop their art making with an awareness of art contexts. Topics: Context and Process, Art object/image analysis, Spatial Practice : Unit 10 - Studio Research Project This Unit will enable students to define and analyze areas of interest within studio research, reflecting their individual development. In consultation with faculty, students initiate and develop a focused self-directed studio research project, articulating their ideas through one medium, or forming an interdisciplinary approach. The development of studio research requires independent and creative thinking, applied experimentation, reflection and a methodological inquiry towards possible resolutions. Students apply critical thinking in conducting their research and assessing the work of their peers in relation to construction of meaning and contemporary art. Topics: Concepts in Art, Conceptualization and Research, Thinking and making 456

15 Unit 13: Major Project - Theory and Practice Developing a focused and effective practice in studio work and research students are required to produce a major body of studio work that synthesizes theory into practice. Examining discourses in contemporary art through selected readings and writing critically will enable students to develop a coherent line of intellectual inquiry in fine arts practice. Students are required to initiate, plan, develop, research, realize and present a major body of studio work. Students will formulate a written project proposal, which will guide their research, studio work and time management, over fifteen weeks. At this stage students should exemplify individual growth and independent thinking in research and in the making of art. Topics: Methodology of art research, Contemporary art practices in perspective : Unit 14 - Final Exhibition Project This Unit serves as the framework for producing an exhibition, which prepares students for the challenges of professional fine arts and exhibition practice. Students are required to initiate, plan, develop, research, realize and present a major body of studio work in the form of a Final Exhibition Project. They will engage in the realization of studio work for an exhibition, curatorial planning and organization with the particular characteristics of the exhibition space and the dynamics of a large group exhibition. The final exhibition projects should exemplify students ability to work confidently as fine arts practitioners. Topics: Rhetoric of display, Art and visual culture in contemporary society. THEME II: Contextual and Cultural Studies Theme II involves Contextual and Cultural Studies and encompasses the stages and units summarized in the following table. Stage Two Units 4 Stage Three Units 7, 9 Stage Four 12 Theme II Units are described below. Theme II: Contextual and Cultural Studies : Unit 4 - Fine Arts: Cultural Studies In this Unit students are introduced to a range of cultural themes, including Program-specific options and broader aspects of popular culture, art and design. It offers the opportunity to encounter students from other Programs within the College of Fine Arts and Design and to engage in discussion of cultural issues. It will allow the student to test and develop discussion, research and writing skills learnt in Unit Two and the Foundation Stage. Students will learn to use theoretical models and concepts in discussion and written assignments, applying them in the interpretation and analysis of art and design through the examination of subjects which include art and designing the modern age, the avant-garde, postmodernism, the rise of popular media, and the digital revolution. Studying culture in this way can help the student understand how the practice of art and design in the studio area relates to a wider context. It also provides the student with source material for his/her studio work and introduces methods with which the student can develop and interpret both his/her own work, and the work of other artists and designers. College of Fine Arts $ Design : Unit 7 - Cultural Studies Elective The cultural studies elective is a unit that gives students the opportunity to complement and underpin their main area of study. It is situated at the start of Stage Three in order to build upon the program specific contextual studies in Stage Two and help prepare students for the critical interrogation and positioning of their practice in Stage Four. Students have the opportunity to engage with students from other programs and to engage in debate and discussion of the cultural issues. The unit 7 elective subjects enable students to develop in depth awareness in one chosen area. Each elective option offers opportunities for the acquisition of a range of conceptual tools in the analysis of cultural products, whether arts, design, or popular culture. 457

16 : Unit 9 - Cultural Studies Research Project This unit offers an opportunity for students to carry out an extended body of research on a topic of their choice in negotiation with faculty. Students identify a research problem and apply research instruments and methodologies in the development of self-directed research project. Students develop a proposal relevant to fine arts and/or design that defines research problem and produce a preliminary structure that informs the final dissertation (Stage Four, Unit Twelve). This unit provides students within understanding of what research entails and examines a range of research methods, primary/secondary sources and writing styles. Building on previous Cultural Studies units, students chosen topics are discussed and debated in a peer learning environment. This encourages students to think critically and develop their own ideas from an informed, well-researched position. The work in this unit requires students to further refine previously acquired knowledge in academic protocols through written assignments : Unit 12 - Cultural Studies Dissertation Following on from Unit Nine where students complete an initial body of research and identify key research questions, this unit facilitates the development of the major research dissertation. Students are expected to refine their research questions and to develop a coherent and reasoned argument of cultural, social or historical relevance to fine arts and/ or design. The dissertation project is significant body of self-directed research, presented in an appropriate style, supported by a bibliography and correct citation of sources. The dissertation can be supported by visual material. In this unit students apply their understanding of research and research methodologies in the development of the dissertation. The emphasis is on writing a well-structured and coherent outcome, involving critical analysis. This unit consolidates the development of students as thinking practitioners and prepares them to undertake studies at postgraduate level. THEME III: Personal and Professional Development Theme III focuses on Personal and Professional Development and encompasses the stages and units summarized in the following table. Theme III: Personal and Professional Development Stage Two Units 2, 11A and 11B Theme III Units are described below : Unit 2 - Personal and Professional Development-Emirates Project In Unit Two students are introduced to a wide range of venues, practitioners, organizations and other resources that facilitate research, personal development and professional opportunities existing in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. Students are introduced to topics, workshops and writing exercises dealing with the relevant local cultural resources, media and publicity, heritage and contemporary art/design appreciation. Students acquire and improve basic skills and approaches to learning that include teamwork, professional ethics, communication and resourcefulness strengthening and supporting their studies throughout Stage Two and their program as awhile. Stage Three: : Unit 11 A - Personal and Professional Development This Personal and Professional Development Unit (PPD) compliments students design studies across the programs. This unit is split into two sections with the first section focusing on particular aspects of subject based professional practice(s), career development and life-long learning. The second part is structured in across disciplinary way and involves teamwork (mixed discipline) to generate conceptual development to a common brief. The purpose is to provide students with an opportunity to prepare for a professional environment and to reflect on their current skills and abilities, including collaboration, time management, team skills, presentation skills, and communication. The objective of the Unit is to facilitate knowledge and skills that can support student career paths in the future. 458

17 : Unit 11B - Internship College of Fine Arts $ Design The internship of the fine arts program gives students an opportunity to apply in a professional environment the knowledge and skills gained through the rest of the curriculum. This component provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in a professional art environment which informs their career decisions and plans for further learning. This internship provides an experience of professionalism, code of ethics, and teamwork, as well as opportunities for learning methods and techniques commonly used in professional practice. The experience will vary depending on the individual student but could involve apposition in a fine art studios, museums, art galleries, art events management or communications.

18 GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MULTIMEDIA This program leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Multimedia. Goals The primary goal of this Program is to facilitate the acquisition of the appropriate knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes that will allow graduates to become Graphic and Multimedia Designers. The Program supports the development of the necessary personal attributes, and mastery of essential skills that will equip and prepare students for continuing creative and personal development in both further studies and related professional practice. The program goals are to: 1. Provide students with a specialist Graphic Design and Multimedia education that involves appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes and ethics, and is relevant and applicable to professional practices in related industries and workplaces. 2. Provide students with a creative, stimulating and well-resourced study environment that supports their educational progression, including creativity, innovation, critical analysis, inquiry, self-direction and independent learning. 3. Provide students with curricula and teaching and learning experiences that support their educational progression, including creativity, innovation, critical analysis, inquiry, self-direction and independent learning. 4. Enable students to synthesize and integrate their proficiencies- knowledge, skills, attitudes, ethics and transfer and apply them in diverse communities of practice. 5. Provide students with confidence, knowledge, skills and attitudes required for further study, research, or professional development in program related areas. Learning Outcomes The program competencies and learning outcomes are based on the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) guidebook. Those competencies are: 1. Ability to solve communication problems, including the skills of problem identification, research and information gathering, analysis, generation of alternative solutions, prototyping and user testing, and evaluation or outcomes. 2. Ability to describe and respond tithe audiences and contexts which design/communication solutions must address, including recognition of the physical, cognitive, cultural and social human factors that shape design decisions. 3. Ability to create and develop visual form in response to communication problems, including an understanding of principles of visual organization/composition, information hierarchy, symbolic representation, typography, aesthetics, and the construction of meaningful images. 4. Understanding of tools and technology, including their roles in the creation, production, and distribution of visual messages. Relevant tools and technologies include, but are not limited to printing, time-based and interactive media. 5. Understanding of design history, theory, and criticism from a variety of perspectives, including those of art history, communication and information theory, technology, and the social and cultural use of design objects. 6. Understanding of basic business practices, including the ability to organize design projects and to work productively as a member of teams. 7. Ability to form and defend value judgments about design and to communicate design ideas, concepts, and requirements to professionals and laypersons related to the practice of the field. 8. Graduates are able to work collaboratively as appropriate to the area(s) of specialization. 460

19 The program competencies also correlate to the following 21st Century Group of Skills and Competencies: 1. Using tools interactively, which include the ability to use language, symbols and text interactively. This group of competencies is essential for participating in an effective dialogue with others, and terms such as communication competence or literacies, are compassed in this category. It includes the ability to use knowledge and information by critically reflecting on the nature of information itself, such as its social, cultural, and even ideological context and impact. This category contains the ability to use (ICTs) beyond the basic skills needed to simply use the internet, send s and so on. It requires an awareness of new ways in which individuals can use (ICTs) in their daily lives to take advantage of the possibilities embedded in technological tools. 2. The second category involves interacting in heterogeneous groups, and includes competencies associated with terms such as social competencies, social skills, intercultural competencies or soft skills. It places emphasis on emotional intelligence, and assumes that individuals are able to respect and appreciate the values, beliefs, and cultures of others. An integral part of this category is the ability to cooperate effectively with others, the ability to present ideas and listen to those of others, the ability to negotiate, and the ability to make decisions that allow for different shades of opinion. 3. The last category encompasses the notion of acting autonomously, and the significance for individuals to create a personal identify in order to give their lives meaning, to define how they fit in the workplace when there are fewer stable, lifelong occupations. It includes the ability to translate needs and wants into acts of will, and the ability to form and pursue life plans and personal development projects. Career Opportunities The Graphic Design and Multimedia graduate can work in design firms, advertising agencies, publishing houses, inhouse design department in governmental bodies or companies as a graphic designer, multimedia designer, art director, creative director, typographer, film-maker, or web designer. Program Overview This program focuses on graphic design with multimedia as a complementary component reflecting the realities of contemporary practices in the creative industries. More specifically, the program covers topics such as visual communication, typography, print and digital media, web design, interface design, branding, corporate identity and the design of linear and interactive narratives. This program normally leads to a variety of professional design destinations, related to the study experience and content, such as working for a design studio across print and digital media. The learning and teaching methods enhance creative and imaginative thinking, with graduating designers able to move into other related areas such as marketing, advertising, and promotions. The program enhances the continuing personal and professional development of students in the workplace, and the pursuit of further studies. It offers the skills and competencies needed for graduates to succeed as graphic and multimedia designers in the global economy and the ever changing workplace environment. The program adopts creative processes from conception to dissemination that employ a range of tools and principles for application of the visual language across a number of media (print and digital); knowledge of time dimension, narrative, sound and interactivity are essential components of this process. It provides students with learning and teaching experiences that support creativity, innovation, critical analysis, inquiry, self-direction and independent learning, and is complemented with a well-resourced study environment. The program in informed by the most recent standards (October 2009)set out by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).Consistent with NASAD guidelines, the primary and secondary areas of focus (graphic design and multimedia design) cover more than sixty-five percent of the course, with the remaining consisting of art and design history and contextual studies, plus compulsory general studies units some of them in the form of electives offered by the University of Sharjah to all undergraduate programs. The overview of each stage below, describes the scaffolding approach adopted in structuring the teaching and learning experience, leading in the latter stages towards more independent learning and refinement of professional practice. College of Fine Arts $ Design 461

20 Course # Course Title Theme Stage Two Unit 1A: Fine Arts: Introduction to Graphic Design Unit 1B : Typography for Print and Digital Media Unit 2 : Information Design Unit 3 : Visual Identity Unit 4 : Contextual and Cultural Studies Unit 5 : Integrated Project 1 4 Stage Three Unit 6A : Web Design Unit 6B : Design for Packaging Unit 7 : Cultural Studies Elective Unit 8 : Audio Visual Practices Unit 9 : Cultural Studies Research Project Unit 10 : Multimedia Design and Authoring Unit 11A : Integrated Project 2 4 Internship Unit 11B : Internship (Internship counts for 3 credits towards Stage Four) 3 Stage Four Unit 12 : Cultural Studies Dissertation Unit 13A : Online Portfolio Unit 13B : Professional Development and Practice Unit 14A : Major Project Proposal Unit 14B : Major Project 6 UK Credit Rating US Credit Rating Program Description The BA Graphic Design and Multimedia program framework comprises a four-year full time mode of study including a common Foundation year in Art and Design during the first stage of the program together with 30 credit hours to fulfill general University requirements and electives. Stage One: Stage I is structured around three core units in Art and Design studio practice and two units in Cultural Studies comprising lectures and seminars as described in the College Requirement section above. Stages Two, Three and Four: After successful completion of Stage One - Foundation in Art and Design, the program is distributed across three broad learning areas: Stage 2: The Underlying Design Principles, Concepts and Tools Stage 3: The Application of Design Principles and Concepts Stage 4: Independent Thinking and Professional Practice Those stages encompasses the units summarized in the following table. 462