Art & Design Foundations

Students entering the Department of Art & Design program receive a Pre Art classification. Pre Art students receive priority registration in visual art courses. Pre Art classification changes to Art (for BFA studio majors), Art BA, or Pre Art Ed after the student completes 30 credits with at least a 2.5 grade point average. The 30 credits include 18 Foundations credits plus 12 academic credits. Students must also meet the university English and Math requirements.

The Pre-Art Foundations courses Pre Art students take in their first two semesters include: Basic Drawing I and II, 2-D Concepts, 3-D Concepts, Digital Arts: Culture, Theory, Practice, and Art Survey, a lecture course. These core classes will prepare students for an intensive college-level study of the visual arts.

All Foundations studio courses meet for five hours per week of intensive hands-on work, one-on-one instruction and critiques in small studio communities of 16-24 students. Foundations coursework is project-based. Students respond to assignments which are designed to highlight specific concepts and skills. Early projects tend to be simple, isolating one or two skills or concepts; later project become more and more complex as students build their knowledge.

Our Pre-Art Foundations instructors guide beginning students toward an understanding of the language used to see, to talk about, and to make art. The foundations year is a time of growth, both intellectually and artistically, as students begin to choose their areas of concentration and see themselves as visual artists.

For further information:

Josie Osborne, Director of Foundations

414.229.4200, Main Art Office
osbornem@uwm.edu

Required Foundations Courses

Students must complete the following Required Freshman Pre-Art Foundations courses (18 credits). Due to increased enrollment, the availability of Foundations courses is limited. Register early and consult your advisor regularly.

The remaining 12 credits must be in academic subjects, including the English and math requirements.

Once you have fulfilled all of the requirements outlined above, you may officially declare an area of concentration within the Art degree. Students must complete the pre-art forundations requirements before enrolling in 200 level introductory courses.

The remaining 12 credits must be in academic subjects, including the English and math requirements. Once you have fulfilled all of the requirements outlined above, you may officially declare an area of concentration within the Art degree. Students must complete the pre-art forundations requirements before enrolling in 200 level introductory courses.

Foundations Curriculum

Students are expected to complete their Foundations courses (18 Art credits) and 12 academic credits in their freshman year.

After final grades are available at the end of each semester, you will receive a letter from the Peck School of the Arts Advising Office describing your progress in the Pre-Art program.

Foundations Course Descriptions

Click here for foundations course descriptions.

Opportunities

Art-a-thon
2nd Friday in October
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Mitchell Hall 323

Pre-Registration for Spring Art Classes
Mid-Fall Semester

Studio Tours
Late February
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Mainstage Theatre Lobby

Freshman Foundations Exhibition
Late Spring Semester

Freshman Scholarships
Outstanding Student Achievement Awards are presented at the Foundations Exhibition Opening Reception; recipients are nominated by instructors based on artwork and performance in the pre art classes.