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| Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences, Humanities) |
| ARTS-1010 Media Studio: Video/Audio This class is an introduction to the technical and conceptual foundations of video and audio media art forms. Students learn basic recording and editing techniques and develop critical listening and viewing skills. Individual and group projects are created and critiqued in class with a final public presentation of work at the end of the semester. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-1020 Media Studio: Imaging An introductory course exploring digital photography, Web design, and interactive multimedia in making art. Students broaden their understanding of the media and expand visual awareness and design skills. Inquiry and experimentation are encouraged, leading towards the development of the skills and techniques needed to create visual art with electronic media. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-1200 Basic Drawing An introductory course in drawing designed to develop seeing ability and means of expressing visual ideas through graphic skills. The course consists of exercises in drawing from observation and studies from the history of art. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-1400 Music Fundamentals A creative approach for students with no previous experience to the concepts of music theory (rhythm, scales, keys, intervals, chords, etc.) and elementary harmony. Also an introduction to some of the monuments of Western repertory through listening, reading, and discussion. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2010 Intermediate Video This course explores contemporary video practice, concentrating on creating, presenting, and analyzing video art. It is an introduction to the Arts Department production facilities and equipment, and a prerequisite for 4000-level video classes. Prerequisite: ARTS-1010 or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2020 Computer Music Music composition taught in the context of modern computerized production methods. Technical topics include basic principles of computer sound generation, digital sound sampling, and the use of small computers for musical control of electronic instruments. Musical topics include a study of important musical works and compositional techniques of the 20th century. Student projects involve hands-on work on a variety of computer instruments and software. This course is a prerequisite for further creative work with Rensselaer’s computer music facilities. Prerequisite: ARTS-1010 or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2030 Net Art Net Art is a hands-on studio course that uses the examination of the historical and theoretical aspects of Web-based art and virtual social spaces as a launching pad for individual student work. Considerable work at the conceptual level and a survey of Web-oriented software and programming enable students to create new works in net-based art. Prerequisite: ARTS-1020 or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2040 Intermediate Digital Imaging Intermediate Digital Imaging is a hands-on studio course exploring the use of computer technologies in making visual art. A study of contemporary issues in digital media and photography facilitates individual innovation and experimentation. Digital imaging and input/output techniques are employed in terms of giving visual form to ideas and personal expression in private and public settings. Prerequisite: ARTS-1020 or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2100 Television and Culture This lecture course will examine selected topics of historical and contemporary television, alternative TV, interactive experiments, and video art. The class consists of video screenings, readings, and discussion. Prerequisite: First year studies or permission of instructor. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2210 Sculpture I A beginning sculpture course combining hands-on studio work sessions with lectures on the history and theory of sculpture practice. The studio component involves explorations of materials and techniques as tools for the enhancing of visual sensitivity and creative expression. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2220 Fundamentals of 2-D Design An introductory course which will present basic concepts about composition, line, pictorial space, light, and color in the visual arts in order to help students develop the means for expressing visual ideas effectively. Weekly homework design projects, using both traditional and electronic media, will be complemented by in-class slide lectures, video tapes, and critiques. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2300 Orchestra: Performance Studies Readings, rehearsals, and performances of works from the standard repertoire for orchestra from the Baroque through the 20th century. Prerequisite: demonstration of adequate skill in playing an orchestral instrument through audition. Fall and spring terms annually. 2 credit hours |
| ARTS-2310 Chorale: Performance Studies Readings, rehearsals, and performances of works from the standard choral repertoire, from the Renaissance through the 20th century. Attendance is mandatory and preparation expected. Fall and spring terms annually. 2 credit hours |
| ARTS-2330 Ghanaian Drumming This course uses traditional Ghanaian drumming to explore the intricate and complex rhythms which permeate Ghanaian history and culture. Classes consist of lecture, demonstrations, discussions, and practical application of technique, individually and in groups. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2400 Music Theory I A course that explores the fundamental concepts of music theory, for the students with at least some musical background. Rhythm, scales, keys, intervals, chords, and elementary harmony will be covered as well as an introduction to counterpoint and analysis. Correlative studies in ear-training and keyboard skills. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2500 History of Western Music The objective of this course is for students to be able to recognize and appreciate the stylistic elements of the major periods and composers from the earliest known music to the present. The influences on music by broad cultural and historical forces will also be explored. Beginning with the Greeks, we will progress chronologically from the polyphonic religious music of the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and modern periods. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2510 History of Jazz Using rare film and video footage as well as records, CDs, texts, and live musicians, this course traces the development of jazz over its century of existence. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2540 The Multimedia Century This course will survey the history and theory of diverse artistic practice of the twentieth century in relation to the development of the mass media and new technologies. Topics will include the Bauhaus, Surrealism, Pop Art, and Postmodernism and will span a spectrum of media from the more traditional, such as painting and photography, to electronic and new media, such as video and digital arts. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2560 The American Musical This course surveys the American Musical, introducing students to its basic components and concepts. Since the musical integrates different media, it is studied through the contribution of major artists as well as in historical, social, and cultural contexts. The course also analyzes music and musical theater genres, which influenced the musical, including European opera and operetta; American blues, ragtime, and jazz; and Latin-American rhythms. No prerequisites. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2600 Acting I This course introduces students to the principles of acting. Students participate in theatre games and improvisations; explore the stage environment; study dramatic conflict and transformation into different characters; and learn stage terminology and blocking. The emphasis is on individual and group projects that develop students’ creativity and imagination. The culmination of the course is the presentation of monologues and scenes from international plays. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2940 Studies in the Arts Projects adapted to the needs of individual students. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-2960 Topics in the Arts Experimental courses offered for one or two terms as the general program requires. 2 to 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4010 Interactive Arts Programming IAP will examine theoretical concepts of interactive media as well as develop the practical skills needed to implement these concepts using the facilities of the iEAR studios. Working with high-level development tools such as MAX/MSP, Macromedia Director/ Lingo, Pure Data, GEM, Big EYE, and others, we will build installations and projects which control live performance interactions with graphics, video, and sound. Prerequisites: Computer Music or Video Art and Installation or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4020 Advanced Digital 3-D Projects Advanced Digital 3-D Projects is a studio/seminar in the arts concentrating on individual student projects in advanced digital 3-D research. Topics covered include issues in virtual environment creation, human interface to 3-D data, digital sculpture, advanced animation research, and others. Newly emerging issues in digital 3-D as they apply to art theory and practice will be addressed. Prerequisites: ARTS-2030, or ARTS-4060, ARTS-4070, or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4030 Virtual Environments/3-D Web An upper level studio arts course exploring the visualization and creation of interactive three-dimensional simulated environments for the Web and for art installation. The course addresses newly emerging issues in virtual simulation as they apply to art theory and practice. Prerequisite: ARTS-1020 or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4050 Arts Practicum Arts Practicum provides professional training and experience for graduates and upper-level undergraduates by involving them in the production of a significant artistic project from start to finish. Projects often involve assisting or collaborating with prominent artists in residence at the iEAR studios. Prerequisites: graduate standing, or two 2000-level electronic arts courses, or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4060 Animation I An introduction to the techniques and principles of computer animation with a concentration on modeling, texturing, and rendering. Students use advanced software to develop directed creative 3-D animations in a hands-on studio. Lectures, discussion, and exposure to contemporary work enable students to develop skills in this rapidly evolving field. Prerequisite: 2000-level electronic arts course or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4070 Animation II An intermediate hands-on studio course in 3-D computer animation in basic character animation, advanced modeling and particle animation, scene description and story building. Prerequisite: 2000-level electronic arts course or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4100 Electronic Arts Theory Seminar This course will be devoted to the investigation of diverse topics of electronic arts history, theory, and practice. Prerequisite: 2000-level Arts course or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4120 Radio: Theory and Practice This course is an investigation of radio as a unique artistic form. To provide a context for student’s own production work (which will be aired over WRPI) the class incorporates readings on aesthetics, culture, history, politics, and economics of the world’s first electronic broadcast technology. Prerequisite: ARTS-1010, COMM-1510. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4200 Advanced Drawing Advanced Drawing is designed to help students who have mastered basic drawing skills to enhance those skills and utilize them to explore visual ideas. Emphasis is placed on individual development of skills and subject matter to help students express themselves visually. Examples and studies are used from master drawings of the past to learn about the history of art and to stimulate ideas for the students’ own work. Prerequisite: ARTS-1200 or permission of instructor. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4210 Sculpture 2 An advanced studio course in sculpture for students who have taken Sculpture I. Students are encouraged to explore personal areas of interest and are required to develop a familiarity with the history of sculpture as well as mastering fabrication techniques. Prerequisite: ARTS-2210. Offered on availability of instructor. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4220 Painting A painting course in water media with emphasis on color interaction, composition, and pictorial design. Using sources from observation and the history of painting, students are taught to see and convey effects of color on/in 2-D pictorial space and to develop critical skills in looking at paintings. Prerequisite: ARTS-1200. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4400 Music Theory II A continuation of studies in harmony, analysis, and ear-training. With an introduction to orchestration and 20th century techniques, the course will culminate with an original composition. Prerequisite: ARTS-2400. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4620 Theatre Performance This course gives students a practical background in the field of theatre, introducing them to all aspects of a theatre production. Students rehearse a play in the classroom and then give performances on the RPI campus. Students also participate in directing, stage managing, writing press releases, and designing set, costumes, lighting, and sound for the show. Auditions take place on the first day of class. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4710 Technical Production and Documentation This course teaches the skills needed to produce and document professional electronic arts events, including live concerts, installations, and multimedia presentations. It is an intensive, hands-on course designed to give students direct experience with sound, video, and lighting equipment in live performance environments. Students will learn technical and creative skills essential for artistic practice in the field of electronic arts. Prerequisite: limited to upper class B.S. EARTS, EMAC, IT ARTS students, MFA students, or by permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4910 EMAC Capstone Design EMAC Capstone Design is a two-semester sequence offered in fall and spring and is required for graduating seniors majoring in EMAC. Through a series of production and writing assignments, breakout seminars, group critiques, and public exhibition, the goal is to develop a work-in-progress in the fall semester and a final version in the Spring semester of the capstone project and senior thesis paper. Both Arts and Communications sections are team-taught by faculty from the Arts and LL&C Departments. (This course is cross listed with COMM-4910. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and COMM-4910.) Fall and spring terms annually. 2 credit hours |
| ARTS-4940 Studies in the Arts 1 to 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-4960 Topics in the Arts 3 to 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-6010 Computer Music Studio An introduction to the history, theory, techniques, and practice of computer music composition with an emphasis on hands-on creative work. This course functions as an orientation for incoming MFA students to the musical resources of the iEAR studios. Students use the studio facilities to produce directed creative projects. Prerequisite: limited to MFA students or permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-6020 Video Art Studio An introduction to techniques and principles of video art preproduction, production, and post-production, with an emphasis on hands-on creative work in the iEAR Studios. Studies include historical and theoretical analysis of important works and techniques of video art, practical technical instruction, performance, and directed creative projects. Prerequisite: enrollment in the MFA program or permission of instructor. Studio course. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ARTS-6030 Digital Imaging Studio This graduate studio course embarks on the exploration of the computer as an agent to augment and expand conceptualization and expression in art-making. The techniques and principals of digital imaging are developed with an emphasis on conceptual, aesthetic, and critical issues relating to content. Prerequisite: limited to MFA students or permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 3 credit hours |
| ARTS-6080 Electronic Arts Practice Development and completion of individual creative projects in electronic arts with discussions and critiques of student work in a seminar format. Projects may use any of the studios and combinations of media available in the iEAR Studios. All projects will be presented or performed in public concerts, exhibitions, and installations. Prerequisite: limited to MFA students in electronic arts. Fall and spring terms annually. 3 credit hours each |
| ARTS-6110 Electronic Arts Overview This seminar will deal with the history, theory, and creation of art, popular culture, and mass media from a contemporary perspective. Theoretical and historical texts and a spectrum of electronic arts and media will be investigated. This course is to be taken in conjunction with Creative Seminar I. It will support the students’ development and articulation of the aesthetic, cultural, and theoretical underpinnings of their artistic work produced in ARTS-6080 and in other studio courses. Prerequisite: limited to MFA students or permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 3 credit hours each |
| ARTS-6940 Studies in Electronic Arts Individual and collaborative projects and readings adapted to the needs of individual students at the advanced level. Prerequisites: ARTS-6090 or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 4 to 8 credit hours |
| ARTS-6960 Topics in Electronic Arts 3 to 6 credit hours |
| ARTS-6990 Master’s Thesis Active participation in research, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a master’s thesis. Grades of IP are assigned until the thesis has been approved by the faculty adviser and accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in a standard format in the library. Grades will then be listed as S. 1 to 9 credit hours |
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180. (518) 276-6000 Please direct questions regarding this site to catalog@rpi.edu. |