ART II 

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Art I or Teacher Recommendation

Art II builds on the knowledge and experience gained from completing Art I with a more in-depth exploration of aesthetic awareness, art critique, art history, and art appreciation. Through this course, students will be encouraged to explore their own individual art styles. Units of study include advanced drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, 3- dimensional art, and mixed media projects. Students will also learn about and begin development of a college-level portfolio.

ART III HONORS

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Art I and Art II or both Drawing & Painting and Sculpture

Art III Honors is designed for students wishing to prepare portfolios for art schools or colleges and for those students who seek a more intensive art experience. The class consists of studio work as well as independent work in the areas of 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional art. Field trips, guest speakers, studio work and the study of art history are components of the honors curriculum.

DIGITAL FILMMAKING I

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite(s): None

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. This course provides students with the foundations for creative and expressive art-making by introducing video art as a medium of contemporary art. Instruction includes the history of film, video art, and filmmakers along with the technical, creative, and experimental aspects associated with creating and editing video. Students will explore a variety of techniques associated with video including video camera operations, lighting, audio, and acting. Students will create original videos based on pre-production, production and post-production techniques including scriptwriting, storyboards and digital editing.

DIGITAL FILMMAKING II

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite(s): Digital Filmmaking I

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. Filmmaking II provides students the opportunity to further develop their understanding of the history, craft, and development of short story filmmaking. Students will analyze and discuss the work of contemporary video artists and compare video art to other art forms. Students will refine their skills in the pre-production, production and post-production techniques of video making and continue to develop their editing techniques utilizing digital editing technology. This course continues to build on prior knowledge of video making including scriptwriting, storyboarding and digital editing techniques to create an original portfolio of their work.

DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION & ANIMATION

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite(s): Art 1

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. This visual and media arts course is designed to introduce students to the experience of creating drawings, paintings, graphic design, and animations on an iPad. Students who are early in their artistic journey will be introduced to the tools of the programs as well as artistic techniques and terms that can translate easily into more traditional practices.  Experienced artists will expand their toolbox of techniques and continue to hone their knowledge of drawing and design skills.

DRAWING & PAINTING

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Art I

Drawing is the basis for most creative expression. The development of both aesthetic and technical skills will be emphasized through a range of drawing assignments and various media. Painting exploration and the study of color will evolve from this foundation. Students will have an opportunity to focus on the elements of composition as they express themselves in tempera, watercolor and acrylic paints.

GRAPHIC DESIGN I

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. 

This hands-on course introduces students to the exciting world of visual communication by unlocking their creativity. This foundational class will explore the principles of design, color theory, typography, and composition, providing students with the skills to create fun visual content!

Throughout the course, students will engage in a variety of projects using industry-standard software, specifically Adobe Photoshop on state of the art iMacs. From designing digital self-portraits to creating colorful illustrations, students will learn how to transform ideas into impactful designs.

In addition to technical skills, the course will emphasize the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving in the design process. Students will analyze not only their own designs, but that of their peers, fostering growth, encouraging collaboration, and enhancing understanding of artistic concepts.

GRAPHIC DESIGN II

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Graphic Design I

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. 

Designed for students who have completed Graphic Design 1, this class will delve deeper into advanced design principles, exploring complex projects and real-world applications. Throughout the course, students will continue to experience the design process and collaborative nature of peer feedback.

Focusing on Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, students will enhance their technical understanding of these editing programs while incorporating their own aesthetic into the work. Students will engage in hands-on projects that challenge their understanding of branding, layout design, and digital media. 

PHOTOGRAPHY I

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. Photography 1 is a semester-length course designed to introduce students to the world of photography, concentrating on the technical and creative aspects of the art form in film and digital. Students will learn to use manual mode on all cameras to achieve correct exposure, focus, and composition. They will also learn how to process images, use a professional lighting studio, and edit with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Students will gain confidence in expressing their creativity and skills to create several original projects. Through critiques and discussions, students will further articulate their ideas and learn how to use their artwork to communicate with the world around them. 

PHOTOGRAPHY II

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Photography I

This course may count toward either the Visual & Performing Arts or 21st Century Life & Careers requirement for graduation. Photography II is a semester-long course designed to offer students a more advanced education in photographic technique and experimentation. Through conscious control of the camera and alternate processes in the darkroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Lightroom, students will explore new ways to create fine and commercial-style photography. Students will dedicate time to learning from past innovators in the art form and to creating their innovations in both digital and film. Each student will develop and print a portfolio that will highlight their skills and original themes for the work, yet continues to build off of a foundation of good technique, dynamic design, and professionalism. 

PHOTOGRAPHY III

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Photography I & II

Photography III is a semester course designed for advanced photography students to engage in a more independently driven experience in the study and creation of images. Students will engage in a curriculum shaped by and for their interests. Further development of technical skills will be supported alongside engagement in fulfilling each student's vision for their work and considering who the intended audience is. Past and contemporary innovators in photography will be a source of inspiration alongside each student's personal experiences, cultures, beliefs, and aesthetic preferences. Experimentation and professionalism in the art form will be encouraged  as each develops a portfolio to prepare for continued work in photography. 

SCULPTURE

Semester | 2.5 credits | Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None

This semester course promotes a further understanding of the design and fabrication of art in 3-Dimensional mediums. Students will be given an opportunity to explore areas such as clay, book art, papier-mâché and assemblage. Students will learn to work with various materials and textiles throughout the semester. Art elements of form, shape, and texture will be stressed as well as the technical use and applications of appropriate tools.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): Photography I, II & III; Requirement(s): Students are required to complete the portfolio for the AP exam

AP Photography is a full-year 2-D Design studio course dedicated to offering advanced high school photography students a collegiate-level experience in the study and creation of photographic works. The course will give students a place to continue their photographic education on a level that matches the understanding required for future study or careers in the art form. Students will become more conscious of methods of technique, creative risk-taking, and developing dynamic compositions, ideation, and original themes for the work as they produce a portfolio. The class will educate students on the content, technique, and drive of past innovators of photography as they pursue a confident understanding of the subject. Students will be expected to fulfill the parameters set by the College Board for students enrolled in the Photography track of AP 2D Studio Art. The student’s portfolio will be reviewed for AP credit at the end of the course. 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 11, 12 

Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or higher in Art III Honors + Teacher Recommendation; Requirement(s): Students are required to complete the portfolio for the AP exam

AP Studio Art is intended for highly motivated students who are seriously interested in the study of art. This course is not based on a written exam; instead, students submit portfolios to the College Board for evaluation in one of the 3-course areas offered within the AP Studio Art program: 2-Dimensional design, 3-Dimensional design, or drawing. AP Studio Art sets a national standard for performance in the visual arts that contributes to the significant role the arts play in academic environments. This course strives for quality, concentration, and breadth of production and experience in the investigation of artistic styles, techniques, and reflection of historical influences. Students will be required to have 40 - 60 minutes of sketchbook assignments completed on a regular basis and will also have periodic research assignments. Many colleges will grant credit and/or appropriate advanced placement to students who score well on the AP Portfolio requirement.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART HISTORY

Full Year | 5 credits | Grade Level: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite(s): None; Requirement(s): Students are required to take the AP exam

AP Art History is designed to provide the same benefits to secondary school students as those provided by a college course in art history. In this course, students examine major forms of artistic expression, from the ancient world to the present, and from a variety of cultures. They learn to analyze works of art within their historical context, and to articulate what they see or experience in a meaningful way, framing an understanding that relates how and why works of art communicate visual meaning. Assessment will be based on the student’s ability to apply fundamental art and art historical terminology, and an analysis of works of art in context, to historical evidence and interpretation. The students will examine such issues as politics, religion, patronage, gender, and ethnicity as it applies to art. Students are expected to complete extensive readings, including interpretation and analysis of complex information, and are tested on that knowledge through weekly quizzes and examinations. The writing process will be an emphasis throughout the course, as it will apply to both assessment of the material and understanding of the context. The student will also participate in a variety of museum visits based on the curriculum material. 

Dual Enrollment Opportunity: For this course, students have the option to register for the Bergen Community College dual enrollment program. The tuition is approximately $200.00 for three college credits through Bergen Community College.  Dual credit is awarded to those students who successfully complete the course.