.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

This course is designed for students interested in exploring a variety of art media. It provides foundational training in art concepts and craftsmanship with 2-D and 3-D media such as drawing, painting, and felt, guiding students in their choices for future art courses in high school.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

This course is open to students who are serious about learning to draw from observation. Theories of perception, fundamentals of visual thinking, and skill-building are covered through still life set-ups, the study of linear perspective, value studies, and figure drawing.   

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Drawing

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.

This course will build on the concepts and technical skills introduced in Drawing. Students will develop greater craftmanship skills and work with more challenging compositions using a variety of drawing media such as charcoal, pastel, and ink.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

This course is for students interested in learning how to use watercolor, oil paint, or acrylic paint to express their ideas. Students will expand their knowledge of art concepts and techniques while creating paintings in a variety of genres such as still life, landscape, portraiture, and free choice subjects. 

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Painting

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.

This course offers the opportunity to continue the study of painting in any or all of four painting media: oil paint, watercolor, acrylic, and digital painting. Emphasis is on interpretation and developing one’s own style and voice with paint. Students will further develop their craftsmanship skills and have more freedom to explore personally expressive works. 

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

This is a course for students who want to explore printmaking to produce fine art prints in media such as intaglio, relief, screen printing, and experimental processes. By the end of the semester, students will have created a portfolio of prints. 

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Printmaking

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.

This course is a continuation of Printmaking with instruction of more challenging techniques and an introduction to additional printmaking media. Students will further develop their craftsmanship skills and have more freedom to explore personally expressive works.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Advanced Drawing or Advanced Painting; portfolio review and teacher recommendation are also required

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.

This course offers the most serious art students the opportunity for advanced study, creative thought, and in-depth pursuit of their personal artistic interest. Students will have the option to use their choice of a variety of drawing and painting media. Emphasis will be placed on student’s production of a portfolio for use in the pursuit of post-secondary experiences in art. 

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S2

Prerequisite: Any advanced- or honors-level art course, plus teacher recommendation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM (if the student has a digital media arts focus)

Conceptual Artmaking Honors is an immersive art class designed to lead students in their making, where emphasis is placed not on technical perfection, but on the ideas, materials, and processes that give art its meaning. In this course, students will use their preferred mediums—whether digital, photography, traditional, or sculptural—to create art that communicates strong concepts.

Throughout the class, students will explore how traditional and unconventional materials can influence the interpretation of their work. They’ll also examine how the creation process itself becomes a part of the artwork's meaning. A series of experimental, themed projects will encourage students to develop and document ideas, take creative risks, and embrace new ways of thinking. By the end of the semester, students will create their own inquiry question and produce a connected series of artworks, building a small, cohesive body of work.

This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete projects. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on preparing students to take AP Art and Design and or to prep students who may want to continue on to art schools beyond high school. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios.

1.0 credit                 Grades 11, 12                      Full-Year

Prerequisite:

●      Approval through a departmental review of the student’s portfolio

●      Minimum of four semesters of art courses, including:

• Conceptual Artmaking Honors or teacher and department coordinator approval

• Digital Design Honors (Motion or Print), Photography Honors, Studio Portfolio Honors, Advanced Ceramics, Advanced Pottery, or Advanced Printmaking

• One additional art course (note: it is strongly recommended that students have two semesters in media other than their honors art course)

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM (if the student has a digital media arts focus)

The AP Art and Design program consists of three different courses and AP Portfolio exams; AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. Students may choose to submit any of the AP Portfolio exams. Students will curate a collection of 15 works to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of processes and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios submitted include works of art, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions.

This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete the work. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on sustained investigation and discovery while satisfying the AP requirements. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios. Please see the College Board website for additional information.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Explore the art of ceramics in this hands-on course combining hand-building and pottery techniques. Develop foundational skills in pinch pots, coil construction, and slab building, fostering individual expression and craftmanship. Then, dive into the intricacies of wheel throwing, learning techniques from centering to glazing to create functional vessels. Gain insight into surface decoration and firing processes, witnessing the transformative journey from raw clay to finished ceramic art.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clay

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: Rising 12th grade students who took Studio Art Foundations in the 2023-24 school year may enroll in Ceramics without taking Introduction to Clay.

This is a course designed for students interested in learning about hand building techniques such as making pinch pots, slab building, and working with clay coils. Glazing and decorating techniques will be explored.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Ceramics

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.

This course is for students who want to continue exploring clay hand building and explore more advanced techniques. Students should be able to work independently.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clay

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: Rising 12th grade students who took Studio Art Foundations in the 2023-24 school year may enroll in Pottery without taking Introduction to Clay.

This is a course where students will learn to create symmetrical forms and sculptures on the wheel. A strong emphasis on form and function will guide the creation of the projects. Excellence in both the technical and aesthetic realms of clay expression will be stressed. Beginning glazing techniques will be employed to create beautiful and functional pottery. Hand-building techniques will also be introduced to enhance original pottery designs.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Pottery                                                                                                                                                    

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts or Open Humanities

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.

Advanced Pottery offers students an opportunity to further develop technical skills associated with throwing on the wheel and surface decoration. Emphasis will be placed on the study of aesthetics and critical thought to help students develop a unique artistic vision. Students should be able to work independently and understand the key concepts of how to work on the wheel, trim, and glaze.   

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S2

Prerequisite: Any advanced- or honors-level art course, plus teacher recommendation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM (if the student has a digital media arts focus)

Conceptual Artmaking Honors is an immersive art class designed to lead students in their making, where emphasis is placed not on technical perfection, but on the ideas, materials, and processes that give art its meaning. In this course, students will use their preferred mediums—whether digital, photography, traditional, or sculptural—to create art that communicates strong concepts.

Throughout the class, students will explore how traditional and unconventional materials can influence the interpretation of their work. They’ll also examine how the creation process itself becomes a part of the artwork's meaning. A series of experimental, themed projects will encourage students to develop and document ideas, take creative risks, and embrace new ways of thinking. By the end of the semester, students will create their own inquiry question and produce a connected series of artworks, building a small, cohesive body of work.

This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete projects. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on preparing students to take AP Art and Design and or to prep students who may want to continue on to art schools beyond high school. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios.

1.0 credit                 Grades 11, 12                      Full-Year

Prerequisite:

●      Approval through a departmental review of the student’s portfolio

●      Minimum of four semesters of art courses, including:

• Conceptual Artmaking Honors or teacher and department coordinator approval

• Digital Design Honors (Motion or Print), Photography Honors, Studio Portfolio Honors, Advanced Ceramics, Advanced Pottery, or Advanced Printmaking

• One additional art course (note: it is strongly recommended that students have two semesters in media other than their honors art course)

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM (if the student has a digital media arts focus)

The AP Art and Design program consists of three different courses and AP Portfolio exams: AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. Students may choose to submit any of the AP Portfolio exams. Students will curate a collection of 15 works to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of processes and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios submitted include works of art, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions.

Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on sustained investigation and discovery while satisfying the AP requirements. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios. Please see the College Board website for additional information.

This course requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete the work. For 3-D pottery/ceramic/sculpture, this may be achieved by working during a free period, in a local studio, or investing in a home wheel/ceramic work space. 

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

This introductory Animation course focuses on traditional beginner techniques. Students are instructed through an in-depth step-by-step process of character design, storyboarding, in-betweens, thumbnails, and traditional pen and ink techniques. During the course, students will also be introduced to significant animation artists, genres, and styles popularized throughout the last century as well explore and create early animation inventions such as thaumatropes and flipbooks.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Animation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.                                                                                                        

Advanced Animation introduces students to a variety of motion software while reinforcing the foundational principles of animation and movement. Throughout the course, students will practice techniques related to topics such as character design, rotoscoping, and stop-motion animation. Through the use of modern technologies, students will expand their skill sets to bring their creative ideas to life. This course will also explore the history of animation alongside contemporary topics, providing a comprehensive overview throughout the semester.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

This is an introductory course for students interested in digital art and graphic design. Students will obtain a strong foundation in the elements of art, principles of design, typography, and composition in regard to the field of graphic design, branding, and illustration. Students will become proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Emphasis is on the process of creating and design thinking. The work of famous designers of the past as well as current designers will be introduced and used as the inspiration for some assignments.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Graphic Design

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

This is a course for students interested in digital art and graphic design to continue their investigation of the medium. Students will continue to develop their skills in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as well as other Adobe software. Emphasis is on the creative process and design thinking. Each semester, there is an opportunity for students to create design work for a "real world" client.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: None

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

This is an introductory course on photography, cameras, and editing skills. Students will gain an understanding of how to creatively capture images using the DSLR cameras provided in class. Emphasis is placed on compositional awareness, creative camera controls, and personal expression. Photographs will be managed digitally. Editing techniques such as color correction, black and white conversion, and multi-layer compositing will be explored through the use of software including Adobe Photoshop. Celebrated works by past and present photographers will be examined to help develop a personal aesthetic sense and concept of theme-based imagery.

.5 credit                   Grades 9, 10, 11, 12             S1, S2

Prerequisite: Photography

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

This course offers an opportunity to further refine technical camera skills while continuing to foster aesthetic thought through the exploration of digital art as a mode for personal expression and communication. Students conceptualize ideas and generate unique series of images using sophisticated methods of image manipulation including HDR photography, camera RAW processing, and various Photoshop techniques. Students should be able to work independently.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Advanced Photography and course instructor’s recommendation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

Note: This course can be taken multiple times.                                                                                                        

This is an advanced level course that encourages discussion of photographic processes within the context of art history, traditional darkroom photography, and digital media. Alternative photographic processes and advanced digital editing will be explored. This course will emphasize the steps involved in generating a portfolio of images, a coherent body of work based upon a theme, concept, or selected subject matter.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Graphic Design; plus either Animation, Advanced Graphic Design, or Photography; plus course instructor’s recommendation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

In this course, students will engage with a variety of real-world, media-based projects where the focus is on identifying new ways to share and communicate information visually. Students will build on their understanding of art and design formal concepts and have the opportunity to further their software and digital media skills with an emphasis on creative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Students will explore a variety of motion graphics, video, and animation media throughout the course. Homework utilizes Adobe Creative Suite software and will be assigned weekly. Students will have access to the computer lab space in the Art Department and Library Media Center.

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S1, S2

Prerequisite: Graphic Design; plus either Advanced Graphic Design or Photography; plus course instructor’s recommendation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM

In this course, students will engage with a variety of real-world, media-based projects where the focus is on identifying new ways to share and communicate information visually. Students will build on their understanding of art and design formal concepts and have the opportunity to further their software and digital media skills with an emphasis on creative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Students will explore a variety of print media throughout the course. Homework utilizes Adobe Creative Suite software and will be assigned weekly. Students will have access to the computer lab space in the Art Department and Library Media Center. 

.5 credit                   Grades 10, 11, 12                 S2

Prerequisite: Any advanced- or honors-level art course, plus teacher recommendation

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM (if student focus is digital media arts)

Conceptual Artmaking Honors is an immersive art class designed to lead students in their making, where emphasis is placed not on technical perfection, but on the ideas, materials, and processes that give art its meaning. In this course, students will use their preferred mediums—whether digital, photography, traditional, or sculptural—to create art that communicates strong concepts.

Throughout the class, students will explore how traditional and unconventional materials can influence the interpretation of their work. They’ll also examine how the creation process itself becomes a part of the artwork's meaning. A series of experimental, themed projects will encourage students to develop and document ideas, take creative risks, and embrace new ways of thinking. By the end of the semester, students will create their own inquiry question and produce a connected series of artworks, building a small, cohesive body of work.

This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete projects. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on preparing students to take AP Art and Design and or to prep students who may want to continue on to art schools beyond high school. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios.

1.0 credit                 Grades 11, 12                      Full-Year

Prerequisite:

●      Approval through a departmental review of the student’s portfolio

●      Minimum of four semesters of art courses, including:

• Conceptual Artmaking Honors or teacher and department coordinator approval

• Digital Design Honors (Motion or Print), Photography Honors, Studio Portfolio Honors, Advanced Ceramics, Advanced Pottery, or Advanced Printmaking

• One additional art course (note: it is strongly recommended that students have two semesters in media other than their honors art course)

Graduation Requirement Areas: Visual & Performing Arts, Open Humanities, or Open STEAM (if student focus is digital media arts)

The AP Art and Design program consists of three different courses and AP Portfolio exams; AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. Students may choose to submit any of the AP Portfolio exams. Students will curate a collection of 15 works to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of processes and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios submitted include works of art, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions.

This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete the work. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media as this class is not based on skill-development, but rather on sustained investigation and discovery while satisfying the AP requirements. This course is not for students looking to prepare college portfolios. Please see the College Board website for additional information.