Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 0.5 

This foundation course is an overview of basic art principles, methods, and media. Basic techniques of drawing, painting, design, and mixed media are areas of exploration. Course content covers a survey of the elements and principles of art as well as art techniques, art historical context, and art related concepts. The projects will incorporate activities and assignments that will allow students to explore a variety of concepts to inform their own work. Projects emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, mindful observation, and reflection. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 0.5 

This course focuses on creative problem solving utilizing art principles, methods, and media. Projects focus on visual communication and further skill development in sketching, drawing, painting, and mixed media techniques. Process and experimentation will be encouraged. Art history, critique, reflection, and discussion are integrated into the curriculum and expose students to a range of art concepts and processes. Student projects focus on practicing art as the expressive communication of experience and ideas, with increasing attention on the conceptual rather than the perceptual. 

Credit Status: Elective

Prerequisite: Art I 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

Students in this course will engage with a deeper exploration of their personal voice and visual style by engaging with more alternative techniques and contemporary art concepts. Students will be instructed in a variety of unconventional techniques and approaches to traditional themes, while entering into a regular discussion about art theory and criticism. Projects will encourage in-depth exploration of concepts often stemming from art history, contemporary art practices, and other creative disciplines such as dance, architecture, and music. 

Credit Status: Elective

Prerequisite: Art II 

Grade Level: 11-12 

Credit: 0.5 

Students in this course will contract with the instructor to produce more extensive and varied projects in each grading period. As in Art III, students work independently and are subject to direct instruction, supervision, and constructive criticism. There will also be an emphasis on aesthetics, art history, art career potentials, public displays of their work, and portfolio development. Projects will encourage in-depth exploration of concepts often stemming from art history, contemporary art practices, and other creative disciplines such as dance, architecture, and music. Emphasis on in-depth analysis, revision, persistence, craftsmanship, writing, and self-critique will serve to prepare students to develop work for public display, portfolio work, and college applications. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Art III 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

This semester-long Art History seminar course is an exploration of the art produced throughout the course of human history. During the semester, students will be exposed to works of art that speak to the historical, cultural, or religious endeavors of the human experience. We will discuss various cultural approaches to art making and the importance of the arts to these specific cultures. We will investigate the rise, and the evolution, or devolution of various societies in history–providing a deeper understanding of activities and actions which caused these societies to change. This course will also bring to life the creativity and imagination of the past; exploring the materials and processes while expanding students’ knowledge of art by producing their own personal and group works in association with the cultures being studied. Along the way, we will seek out historical and contemporary artists whose work reflect thought-provoking approaches to creative expression that will inform the students’ own personal vision. This is a unique art history class where the student will discuss, critique and make things to better understand the complexities of our developing world, and through these discussions and art making experiences we might possibly entertain or create solutions to current challenges that we all face as human beings on a global scale. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Art II 

Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 0.5 

This course introduces the student to ceramic techniques and materials. Throwing on the potter’s wheel, handbuilding in clay, and introduction to sculpture are explored. Basic surface decoration and glazing techniques are covered. Students participate in stacking, firing, and the understanding of how a kiln operates. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 0.5 

In this course, serious ceramic students will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge in three major areas: throwing on the wheel, hand-building, and sculpture. The student will explore various artistic concepts, themes, and ideas to expand and develop in conjunction with the instructor. Working in conjunction with the teacher, the student will pick approximately three themes to explore and expand. Public exhibition of work is recommended. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Ceramics I 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

Students in this course will engage with a deeper exploration of their personal voice and visual style by engaging with more advanced ceramic construction techniques and contemporary art concepts. Students will be instructed in a variety of advanced techniques and approaches to traditional themes, while entering into a regular discussion about ceramic art theory and criticism. Projects will encourage in-depth exploration of concepts often stemming from a variety of creative disciplines. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Ceramics II 

Grade Level: 11-12 

Credit: 0.5 

Students in this course will contract with the instructor to produce more extensive and varied projects in each grading period. As in Ceramics III, students work independently and are subject to direct instruction, supervision, and constructive criticism. There will also be an emphasis on aesthetics, art history, art career potentials, public displays of their work, and portfolio development. Projects will encourage in-depth exploration of concepts often stemming from personal creative influences. Emphasis on in-depth analysis, revision, persistence, craftsmanship, writing, and self-critique will serve to prepare students to develop work for public display, portfolio work, and college applications. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Ceramics III 

Grade Level: 11-12 

Credit: 1.0 

Students in this course will engage with a deeper exploration of their personal voice and visual style by engaging with more advanced ceramic construction techniques and contemporary art concepts. Students will be instructed in a variety of advanced techniques and approaches to traditional themes, while entering into a regular discussion about ceramic art theory and criticism. Projects will encourage in-depth exploration of concepts often stemming from a variety of creative disciplines. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Ceramics III or IV or Teacher Recommendation, application 

Grade Level: 9-12 Credit: 0.5 This basic photography class will teach students about the creation and practice of fine art photography. Throughout the course, students will receive detailed instruction on the manual functions of digital, single-lens reflex cameras. Along with camera control, students will gain experience using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC to correct, enhance, and construct unique photographic images. In addition to technical instruction, there will be an emphasis on design principles providing a strong basis for students’ creative exploration and growth. Credit Status: Elective Recommended: Digital camera with at least 18 megapixels with manual control of the aperture and shutter, camera instruction manual, and USB cable or card reader. It is highly recommended that students take Digital photography I and II consecutively for continuity and to complete the 1.0 art credit. 

Grade Level: 9-12 

Credit: 0.5 

Students will continue to build on techniques covered in the introductory course, but will drastically expand their creative horizons by digging deeper to image making and contemporary art. Technical foundations will be revisited both in-camera and in Adobe Photoshop CC, and extensive time will be spent exploring the meaning of photographs and how we convey that as artists. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Digital Photography I 

Requirement: Digital camera with at least 18 megapixels with manual control of the aperture and shutter (DSLR preferred), camera instruction manual, and USB cable or card reader. 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

In this advanced course, students will be given more freedom to develop unique projects that are even more in line with their personal interests than previous classes. Direct instruction with more complex technical and conceptual prompts will continue, but extra emphasis will be placed on the development of long term, cohesive projects that are student-led.

 Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Digital Photography II 

Recommended: A personal DSLR camera with 18 megapixels 

Grade Level: 10-12 

Credit: 0.5 

As in Digital photography III, students will be given more freedom to develop unique projects that are even more in line with their personal interests than previous classes. Emphasis will be placed on developing a portfolio and artistic vision to carry the student beyond high school and into college. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Digital Photography III 

Recommended: A personal DSLR camera with 18 megapixels 

Grade Level: 11-12 

Credit: 1.0 

This is the highest level visual arts course offered and is designed to prepare the most serious arts students by helping them develop an in-depth portfolio showcasing the breadth and depth of knowledge in their self-selected area of interest. Students are encouraged to explore their own area of proficiency in 2-D media, including (but not limited to): graphic design, photography, drawing/painting, collage, fashion design, printmaking, etc. There is no preferred or unacceptable style or content. The 2-D Design course is portfoliobased and addresses two-dimensional design issues and involves decision-making about how to use the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. Students’ portfolios will demonstrate skills and ideas developed, refined, and applied throughout the course to produce visual compositions. Students may choose to submit any or all of the portfolios. Portfolios are evaluated based on standardized scoring descriptors aligned with skills and understanding developed in college foundation courses. 

Credit Status: Elective 

Prerequisite: Digital Photography III or Art III/IV or teacher recommendation, application 

Recommended: A personal DSLR camera with 18 megapixels for advanced photography students