Frequently Asked Questions
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| How do I select courses for my first semester? |
| You will automatically be enrolled in two of your required studio courses as well as in a section of WRT 105, a required writing course. You may choose between enrolling in ART 111: Twentieth to Twenty-first Century Art in Context, or in ART 113: Twentieth to Twenty-first Century Design in Context. You must take one or the other.You may also choose a studio elective and/or an academic elective. A list of the studio electives to choose from will be sent to you in the summer. |
| What is the difference between a required course and an elective course? |
Simply stated, required courses are courses that must be taken in order for students to be able to proceed to their sophomore year. Elective courses are courses that are chosen by students, based on their interests, goals, and/or curiosities. All freshmen in the School of Art and Design are required to take certain courses. The required studio courses are as follows - students are automatically enrolled in two each semester: In addition to these required courses, freshmen may enroll in 6 -12 credits of elective courses during their first year. These can be either studio courses or academic courses, or a combination of both. Studio electives for freshmen are offered in the foundation department as well as in other departments. As stated above, a list of these studio courses will be sent to you over the summer. Academic electives can be chosen from courses offered throughout the University. |
| How should I choose my elective courses? |
The inclusion of elective courses in the curriculum of the Department of Foundation is based on the recognition that our students have different goals and interests. We feel that the ability to take electives in your first year is a very important component of your educational experience. There are several things you might consider as you decide which elective courses to take. We know that some of you are excited about pursuing your anticipated major area of study and there are specific studio electives designed to introduce you to certain major areas of study. In choosing electives during your first year, however, you might consider these courses as an opportunity to explore areas you may not have considered before, or may not have had the opportunity to become familiar with before. You may discover talents and interests that you will want to continue to explore throughout your years at Syracuse University. You may even discover a new major area of study that you are interested in pursuing in your sophomore year. In addition, you may consider pursuing a concentration in a secondary field of interest. For example, you may wish to follow a "pathway" in sculpture or drawing during your undergraduate education. If this is the case, you might consider taking a foundation dimensional arts elective or a foundation drawing elective in your first and/or second semester. |
| How do I decide whether to take a studio elective or an academic elective? |
| While this is fundamentally a personal decision for each student, there are some things to consider that may help direct this decision. For example, would you like to explore a completely new area of interest? Would you like to further build upon an already existent area of interest? These kinds of considerations may aid in choosing both academic and studio electives. There is no right or wrong decision; it all depends on your goals, curiosities, and/or interests. |
| What is an academic advisor? |
| Each freshman will be assigned an academic advisor. Your advisor will likely be one of your studio course professors. Your advisor is there to help answer all kinds of questions, or to at least direct you to the appropriate people who can be of assistance. Your advisor will help you register for spring semester courses, and can also be approached with any questions and/or concerns regarding your academic present and/or future. You will be told who your advisor is very soon after you arrive to campus. Your advisor will remain your advisor until you declare your major in March of your freshman year, after which you will have a new advisor from your major area of study to assist you in registering for your sophomore year classes. However, many times the rapport between freshmen and their initial advisors lasts well beyond the freshman year. |
| What is a course fee? |
| A course fee is used for all of the supplies that are provided for you in each of your studio classes. For example, wood, plaster, clay, and a wide assortment of other materials and tools which you will use in your dimensional arts studio course are all supplied by your course fee for that course. |
| What kind of computer should I have? |
Students in the School of Art and Design will use a computer to varying degrees dependent upon courses. During the freshmen year students in the School will be using computers for the course FND 111: Time Arts, in which students will be using the Macintosh platform, with imaging, video, audio and multimedia applications. Currently, most art and design courses employ Apple Macintosh computers, although several courses use Windows based computers. These include interior design and surface pattern design. Although a computer is not recquired, and you will have access to computers for those courses which use them, it is recommended that students in art and design purchase a computer with the following minimum features: An Apple Macintosh system (however, many applications are cross-platform); a fast processor (800MHz or faster), at least 512 MB RAM, a large hard drive (80 GB), CD-RW drive, USB and Firewire ports. |
What supplies should I bring? |
| A list of supplies suggested for certain studio courses will be sent to you during the summer. |