Arts and Design Courses

3 semester credits. In the field of architectural design, the thought process and the method of expression are equally important. In this course, students will learn to communicate their design ideas through the use of instrumental and freehand drawings. The goal is to provide students with the tools and vocabulary to analyze, interpret, and discuss the built environment from environmental, social, historical, perceptual and technical aspects. Lectures based on the readings and assignments will introduce students to the elements of architecture from aesthetic, structural, functional and historical perspectives. The course will cover the production of orthographic, multiview, isometric, oblique, and perspective drawings. In addition, this class promotes hands-on experience: through the free exploration of the city, students will have the opportunity to create sketches and understand their architectural inclinations. Having acquired the basic vocabulary and practiced the primary elements, students will begin translating architectural ideas into images, and will later be able to apply their knowledge to all branches – e.g., house design, garden design, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, set design, and historic preservation.

3 semester credits. This course explores the principal architects and artists, monuments, and themes from the 1300s up to the 1500s in Italian art and architecture. Course topics include lectures and are supported by site visits in the city of Florence. A key emphasis will be on Renaissance architecture in Florence, and architectural developments in other Italian towns will also be analyzed. Special topics will include architectural theory, Medici and papal patronage, urban planning, and church and palace design. Architects such as Brunelleschi, Michelozzo, Alberti, and Michelangelo will provide important points of reflection and study while visiting a curated selection of Renaissance buildings and urban spaces in Florence. Prerequisites: One lower-level History, Art History, History of Architecture course, or equivalent.

3 semester credits. The course explores the secret facets of Florence from an artistic, historical, and social perspective through thematic walks and visits. Embracing the city as an unrestricted classroom, the course unveils artworks, parks, streets, and spaces such as workshops and laboratories that keep the earliest Florentine traditions alive. These traditions include carpentry, music, marble carving, papermaking, and gastronomy. Furthermore, walks and visits will investigate the changing aspects of the city from an architectural and socio-ethnic point of view. Course sessions start in the city center and transition to the areas beyond the ancient walls. This progression allows students to visualize, assess, and comprehend hidden spatial narratives of Florence from the well-known to less-frequented areas. As a result, students discover the significance of the city in its entirety, explore the relationship between the Florentine community and the arts, and develop a new way of “city-gazing” that generates knowledge through walking.

3 semester credits. Italian destination cities immediately conjure up images of the art, food, fashion, wine, and culture in which their fame lies: fashion shows and La Scala in Milan, Renaissance art in Florence, Brunello wine in Montalcino, the Biennale and Carnevale in Venice. This course will explore how creative advertising strategies have been produced and implemented, their effect on city branding, and the proliferation of creative areas in destination cities. Additionally, students will gain an understanding of media planning and buying, including target audience identification, media strategy development, and evaluation of media options. Case studies of both well-established metropolises and developing destinations will be examined to provide practical insights into successful advertising campaigns.

3 semester credits. In this course, students will work on pottery and/or ceramic sculpture projects. During the first portion of the course, emphasis will be on different clay hand-building techniques. The second portion, students will progress to a variety of surface decoration techniques and different methods of firing and coloring. Lecture content will provide students essential information about the nature of clay and glazes and the history of Mediterranean ceramics. Students will be introduced to local Tuscan artisan traditions and the work of contemporary ceramic artists during field learning activities.

3 semester credits. Using specific exercises and readings students will confront/tackle daily problems of “making art.” Observations are drawn from personal experiences that relate more to the need of the “artist”. Students will be engaged in the production and critique of images. There will be discussions and readings for each class. Both will help the student to describe, interpret, evaluate, and to synthesize technical information in order to correlate theory with practice. The coursework is a preparation for the Solo Exhibit and Publication of Solo Work course. Exercises and assignments will culminate into a final project. This course that requires students to thoughtfully examine their work and strive to refine an artistic vision, vocabulary, and voice This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. Prerequisites: Advanced Digital Photography or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course addresses the new professional shopper profile by examining both the customer-oriented features of the industry as well as the general business principles of the fashion industry. Topics analyze the profession of the personal shopper, understanding the nature of services provided, as well as the strategies advised to clients from wardrobe analysis and purchasing. During the course, students will discuss fashion both in relationship to fashion history and international trends as well as communication and protocol for special occasions such as events. The final part of the class will include career guidance and marketing and promotion principles to build a customer base.

3 semester credits. This course teaches students how to create and develop fashion collections for diverse markets by using appropriate research techniques, project development methods, sketching and rendering techniques. Collections will be structured and organized in a professional manner from customer research and trend forecasting to the creation of mood boards and the selection of materials and colors. Throughout the course students will be invited to develop and test communication skills in order to learn how to assertively communicate collections values. The ultimate goal of the course is to design, create, and prototype a final collection. Studies of fashion designers and design studios will stimulate the student’s creativity and are an essential part of the course. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. Prerequisites: Fashion Design Major Junior Standing or equivalent skills in sketching, sewing, and patternmaking.

3 semester credits. This course addresses the procedures involved in managing a fashion retail enterprise and the decision-making inherent in successful merchandising for smaller-scale stores. Knowledge will be acquired through lab practice gained by running a real enterprise in which students and professionals exchange their knowledge and propose successful solutions to be applied. Coursework includes site visits to well-known Italian luxury brands in Florence such as Ferragamo, Gucci, and Cavalli (companies may change according to availability), and special guest lectures from local prominent emerging designers.

3 semester credits. This course is designed to take full advantage of the student’s unique experiences living and studying in the city of Florence. With on-site inspiration channeled into artistic creativity, students will draw on location at sites of historical significance and visual interest, ranging from architectural masterpieces, landscape vistas, and medieval streets to formal gardens, street markets, and Renaissance fountains. Course topics will document the rich history of how Florence and its environs have attracted and inspired visiting artists over the centuries. Students will develop individual sketchbooks with the aim of building up source material for future projects. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course examines the city of Florence with themed walks offering a comprehensive approach to the city as an open-air cultural, historical, and artistic research site from its Roman foundation to its contemporary Zeitgeist. Students will learn the history of the city through its art: they will understand how buildings, streets, squares, and monuments can be mapped as living traces of multiple, overlapping layers of a complex past, and how to encode them in their personal appropriation of the city. Starting from learning how to decode the artistic environment of the city and to unveil its traces – both visible and invisible – the course aims at understanding the main social and cultural reasons underlying the existing shape of the city. The course explores traces and evidences from Roman times through Middle Ages, Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque, up to Art Nouveau and contemporary Florence. Students will be provided with a consistent theoretical background related to relevant historic-artistic landmarks and their social and cultural context and main characters (Guelphs vs. Ghibellines, the Florentine Guilds, Dante, the Medici family, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, Ammannati, Pontormo, etc.). Students will be encouraged to develop their own experiential tools and strategies to approach the city through guided field learning activities that assess research, on-site involvement, and academic outcome for each themed walk in Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course teaches beginning students the fundamental principles and techniques of black and white drawing with a focus on the media of pencil and charcoal. Through an in-depth exploration of the art form of still life, students will learn the skills for rendering a three dimensional subject on a two-dimensional surface. Value, line and proportions will be studied as a means of determining space, shape, volume and composition. Practical demonstrations and guided practice will alternate with lectures which provide students with the background and history of drawing done by great masters of the past and present. Students will be encouraged to rethink the way they see and observe a subject, to develop their own sense of creativity and artistic expression. During the course students are required to create a digital portfolio of their work.

3 semester credits. This course teaches beginning students the fundamental principles and techniques of painting with a focus on introductory painting techniques based on the so called dry and wet techniques such as colored pencils, markers, chalk, pastels, and acrylic paints, as well as the exploration of figurative subjects such as still life. Students will learn the build-up of form, tone, and color, shading and highlighting on a two-dimensional surface, using the principles of perspective and drawing to portray a convincing pictorial space. Emphasis will be given to the theories of colors, forms, and composition. Practical demonstrations will alternate with lectures.

3 semester credits. This course introduces students to all aspects related to the operations and management of an art gallery and its exhibited content. Students will be involved in curating and promoting art shows and art-related events through community and on-campus exhibitions. Course projects and activities will contribute with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of AUF’s campus press Ingorda.

3 semester credits. This course is dedicated to accessory design. Students will be exposed to a variety of design materials. Emphasis will be placed on three-dimensional sketching and on creative detail design for footwear, handbags, small leather goods, gloves, and belts. The course includes an historical overview of personal accessories from ancient Egypt to the present, allowing the evaluation of different materials and styles. During this course students will also receive basic guidelines on hand sewing techniques, on the use of patterns for simple leather accessories, and an overview of materials. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. This course examines the managerial role in the arts and the related competency required to bring artistic and cultural programs such as exhibitions, festivals, film screenings, and performing arts events to audiences. Course topics cover the business side of the arts, providing students with an overview of the careers in arts management and the current issues and trends affecting professionals in the field. Topics covered include the evolution of the field, the internal culture and structure, external influences, governance, planning, human resources, marketing, fundraising, financial management, economic impact, and other topics such as non-profit organizations in the arts. Students will be introduced to a wide range of organizations, administrative figures, and institutional models through coursework that also includes site visits and guest lectures.

3 semester credits. This course introduces contemporary technologies for producing photographic images. Approaching the medium in its current complex and pluralistic state, students explore a variety of photographic concepts and techniques. The fundamentals of using a digital camera including manual exposure and lighting are stressed. The course also introduces seeing, thinking, and creating with a critical mind and eye in a foreign environment (Italy) to provide understanding of the construction and manipulation of photographic form and meaning. During the first half of the course assignments, lectures, readings progressively build on each other to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of camera functions (manual mode) and processing techniques. The second half of the course will focus on weaving the techniques with specific photographic concepts via assignments. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. NOTE: This course is for beginners. The first half of the course will be devoted to understanding camera functions. During this period assignments will emphasize basic camera functions in manual mode.

3 semester credits. This course is an introduction to marketing and merchandising concepts in the fashion industry. Emphasis is placed on the apparel and accessory industry in Italy. Students learn terminologies specific to the field. Topics include the meaning of the ‘brand’ in today’s consumer market, how to forecast trends, the product supply chain, the vertical business model and outsourcing, visual merchandising, advertising, different forms of in store and non-store retail, consumer behavior and profiles, and store location and design. On-site visits to fashion retailers in Florence are an integral part of this course with suggested field trips to local designers as well as to fashion museums such as the Gucci Museum. Other topics include: Product development cycle of the fashion industry: the initial forecast, consumer analysis, marketing plans, sourcing and presenting the product. The importance of retail marketing and ‘experience shopping’ – visual merchandising through analysis of store layout. The course will also cover market research and target customer identification, visual merchandising, direct marketing, internet and social media, and traditional advertising, and will focus on how to generate media attention through public relations (press relations, press kit releases, sponsorships, events, etc.).

3 semester credits. This course involves theoretical and practical aspects related to film photography. In addition to lectures, coursework will take place both outdoors in the city of Florence and in the darkroom. Students will learn how to use the camera correctly, how to expose film, and the basic principles of black and white photography and composition. In addition, students will be given a broad overview of the history of photography. Students will work on two projects and a final portfolio.

3 semester credits. Through a series of walks and visits through art and design this course intends to show famous and hidden fashion paths in Florence. A journey through time and space to discover the place that marked the birth of Italian fashion and opened the doors to Made in Italy. Back in 1954 Florence was the star of the fashion system, anticipating trends and steeling the exclusive scene from Paris. Italy embraced the “new” in fashion through the talent and genius of Giovanni Battista Giorgini, who staged the first ever Italian fashion shows in Florence. Students will discover a city of exquisite taste, tradition and artistic craftsmanship. Starting from the location of the first Italian cat walk held in the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti, they will learn how to map the fashion environment of the city. From Renaissance to modern day inspiration, fashion is kept alive in the products that were designed here and that grace the beautiful city today. Designers, such as Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, Stefano Ricci, Ermanno Scervino, and Roberto Cavalli, have all developed and changed through the years and they have all surely blossomed here in Florence. The course is intended to provide academic knowledge through guided field learning activities that include research, on-site involvement, and topic assessment for each fashion themed walk in Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course delves into contemporary photographic practices and technologies. By examining the multi-layered nature of photography today, students will develop a strong foundation in both technical and conceptual aspects of the medium. Core camera skills, including manual exposure and working with available light, are emphasized alongside critical thinking and visual literacy. The course also integrates writing exercises to enhance students’ ability to articulate their visual ideas, analyze the work of others, and engage in critical discourse. The first part of the course focuses on building technical camera proficiency through hands-on practice, lectures, and readings. Students will learn camera functions and image processing techniques. In the second half, these skills will be applied to explore diverse photographic concepts and approaches, towards a culminating project, Tiny Florence, challenges students to create images of the city and fostering creative intimate expression and public engagement. Through writing, students will develop their ability to connect their technical skills with their conceptual understanding and develop a more nuanced and sophisticated approach to photography. NOTE: This course is for beginners. The first half of the course will be devoted to understanding camera functions and basic printing. During this period, assignments will emphasize basic camera functions in manual mode. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management.

Introduction to Digital Media (Digital Art & Design I) is an introductory digital media course that teaches 21^st century skills in digital communication, digital technologies, Adobe software and design thinking. This course introduces four main aspects of digital media; image manipulation and design, motion graphics, Augmented Reality and 3D design (CAD). During the term students learn the basics concepts of graphic design & image editing through the use of Adobe Photoshop software. Students will create motion graphics utilizing Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Premiere and design 3D models using Tinkercad and Vectary.

Students learn how images are created through the use of composition and subject matter, and how context affects a viewer’s understanding of an image. The class considers Ai’s impact on digital media and design.

Students will explore how images affect viewers, truth vs perception and the creation of reality. Practical considerations include creating visual media for “real world” clients, and building a database of source imagery for use in future graphic design and art projects. Digital imagery, video, the web and social media are important devices for communication across all disciplines. The information obtained in this course will be invaluable for anyone who wishes to present information in a digital format. This course is a pre-req for all upper level digital art & design courses.

Studio Art fee USD$100 (USD$25 per credit)

Through this studio course students are introduced to both photography and printmaking processes while exploring the work of historical and contemporary imagemakers. “Other”  voices references the unique perspectives of artists who inhabit marginalized communities such as women of color or members of the LGBTQ community. A research project resulting in a short paper and a PowerPoint presentation will assist class members to understand historical trends and contemporary issues of art, as well as to define some of the unique aspects of the “democratic” mediums of printmaking and photography and how gender and cultural factors affect art-making. Photographic artists include Carrie Mae Weems, whose influential work comments on the African-American experience, and Mariette Pathy Allen who is unofficially referred to as the “official photographer of the transgender community.”  Printmakers include Cuban collographer Belkis Ayón and Native American art educator /political activist Jaune Quick–to–See Smith. Students will produce portfolios of their own images influenced by their research and new understanding. Sketchbook-journal assignments are included. Students will use their own digital point-and-shoot cameras or cell phone cameras. “Toy” plastic 120 film cameras will be on loan from the department of art and art history. Following successful completion of this introductory course, students are prepared to move on to certain level II photography or printmaking courses. EL LAiP designation. WGS (Women and Gender Studies) credit also possible.

Additional Course Fees: USD$100 lab fee.

This course explores the social interplay between popular music and American society, emphasizing how musical trends reflect and influence broader social shifts. From the rise of jazz and rock to the cultural impact of hip-hop and electronic music, students will examine how music shapes and is shaped by issues of class, race, gender, and identity. Topics include the commodification of music, the evolution of music marketing, and the political and cultural movements intertwined with musical expression. Practically, students will study music’s production, consumption, and societal role through listening sessions, song discussions, and by completing our own mini-research project.

In satisfaction of GEOs 2 & 5, the course will also address how data has been processed, analyzed, and distributed in the past and present. We will examine contemporary transformations in music brought about by artificial intelligence and big data. Students will learn how these technologies are reshaping how music is created, distributed, and experienced, and consider their implications for the future of both music and society.

3 semester credits. This course offers a solid foundation in the fundamentals of basic construction, draping, alterations, and fitting techniques for apparel. The emphasis of the course is on the importance of proper fit and craftsmanship for the overall quality of garments. Students develop and construct design concepts in muslin and soft fabric in the dress form.

3 semester credits. This course explores the principal architects and artists, monuments, and themes from the 1300s up to the 1500s in Italian art and architecture. Course topics include lectures and are supported by site visits in the city of Florence. A key emphasis will be on Renaissance architecture in Florence, and architectural developments in other Italian towns will also be analyzed. Special topics will include architectural theory, Medici and papal patronage, urban planning, and church and palace design. Architects such as Brunelleschi, Michelozzo, Alberti, and Michelangelo will provide important points of reflection and study while visiting a curated selection of Renaissance buildings and urban spaces in Florence. Prerequisites: One lower-level History, Art History, History of Architecture course, or equivalent.

3 semester credits. The course explores the secret facets of Florence from an artistic, historical, and social perspective through thematic walks and visits. Embracing the city as an unrestricted classroom, the course unveils artworks, parks, streets, and spaces such as workshops and laboratories that keep the earliest Florentine traditions alive. These traditions include carpentry, music, marble carving, papermaking, and gastronomy. Furthermore, walks and visits will investigate the changing aspects of the city from an architectural and socio-ethnic point of view. Course sessions start in the city center and transition to the areas beyond the ancient walls. This progression allows students to visualize, assess, and comprehend hidden spatial narratives of Florence from the well-known to less-frequented areas. As a result, students discover the significance of the city in its entirety, explore the relationship between the Florentine community and the arts, and develop a new way of “city-gazing” that generates knowledge through walking.

3 semester credits. This course offers students a combination of two original approaches to Bernardo Buontalenti: discovering the artistic contribution of a genius in Florence’s 16th century intellectual scene, and learning the cultural, political and scientific background that led to the creation of modern ice cream (gelato). The lessons will range from Buontalenti’s childhood at the Medici court to his artistic training spanning the analysis of his Florentine works (ephemeral installations for spectacular events, theatrical sets, and costumes), masterpieces of sculpture, architecture, and monumental gardens. Buontalenti’s eclectic genius also involved the creation of the first ice cream machine. Students will learn about the various production techniques and genesis of sorbet, granita, and gelato from both a historical and technical point of view. Coursework will be organized through a series of practical workshops on various types of frozen desserts, lectures focusing on the artistic works of Buontalenti, and guided visits of major works by Buontalenti in Florence. Visits will include specialized tastings at select artisanal laboratories in Florence. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. The object of this course is the encounter between fashion – one of the oldest but ever-changing mode of communication – and contemporary tools for influencing other people’s decisions – digital social networks. The two are strictly intertwined: fashion needs social media influencers as much as social media influencers need fashion. Digital media has completely reconfigured the fashion world: bloggers have usurped famous magazine editors at fashion shows, the retail industry is shifting to online shopping, platforms such as Instagram create new forms of social status and power. Yet, while digital media creates new jobs, it brings forth also unexpected negative consequences and issues. This course examines how interconnected fashion and influencers are, and guides students to master the potential of social networks regarding the fashion world. Topics will range from an overview of the evolution of fashion trends to the digital tools needed to succeed as a social media influencer. Students will be able to understand the evolution of fashion, its intrinsic relation with the notion of influence, as well as new trends of digital marketing through social networks. To provide students with a hands-on approach, there will be visits to local museums and/or shops as well as an encounter with a Florentine-based influencer. This course encourages independent explorations in Florence, including those for research and content collection for course projects. Students will also analyze high-impact Case Studies related to the course topic. Successful completion of the course requires regular visits and interaction with the FLY CEMI: students will interact with an Instagram Fashion Account for applying concepts related to merchandising and promotion.

3 semester credits. This course addresses the procedures involved in managing a fashion retail enterprise and the decision-making inherent in successful merchandising for smaller-scale stores. Knowledge will be acquired through lab practice gained by running a real enterprise in which students and professionals exchange their knowledge and propose successful solutions to be applied. Coursework includes site visits to well-known Italian luxury brands in Florence such as Ferragamo, Gucci, and Cavalli (companies may change according to availability), and special guest lectures from local prominent emerging designers.

3 semester credits. This course examines the context in which the Italian fashion system was born. Topics begin from the evolution of fashion from the post-WWII period to the present and address the role and influence of media and culture on factors such as economic and social status, the arts, and other issues that influenced fashion. Students explore fashion’s connection to identity, body, politics, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and how fashion and media are interrelated with these aspects of culture. Course projects and activities will contribute with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of AUF’s campus press Ingorda.

3 semester credits. This course is designed to take full advantage of the student’s unique experiences living and studying in the city of Florence. With on-site inspiration channeled into artistic creativity, students will draw on location at sites of historical significance and visual interest, ranging from architectural masterpieces, landscape vistas, and medieval streets to formal gardens, street markets, and Renaissance fountains. Course topics will document the rich history of how Florence and its environs have attracted and inspired visiting artists over the centuries. Students will develop individual sketchbooks with the aim of building up source material for future projects. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course examines the city of Florence with themed walks offering a comprehensive approach to the city as an open-air cultural, historical, and artistic research site from its Roman foundation to its contemporary Zeitgeist. Students will learn the history of the city through its art: they will understand how buildings, streets, squares, and monuments can be mapped as living traces of multiple, overlapping layers of a complex past, and how to encode them in their personal appropriation of the city. Starting from learning how to decode the artistic environment of the city and to unveil its traces – both visible and invisible – the course aims at understanding the main social and cultural reasons underlying the existing shape of the city. The course explores traces and evidences from Roman times through Middle Ages, Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque, up to Art Nouveau and contemporary Florence. Students will be provided with a consistent theoretical background related to relevant historic-artistic landmarks and their social and cultural context and main characters (Guelphs vs. Ghibellines, the Florentine Guilds, Dante, the Medici family, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, Ammannati, Pontormo, etc.). Students will be encouraged to develop their own experiential tools and strategies to approach the city through guided field learning activities that assess research, on-site involvement, and academic outcome for each themed walk in Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course introduces students to all aspects related to the operations and management of an art gallery and its exhibited content. Students will be involved in curating and promoting art shows and art-related events through community and on-campus exhibitions. Course projects and activities will contribute with the journalism activities of Blending, the magazine of AUF’s campus press Ingorda.

3 semester credits. This course introduces contemporary technologies for producing photographic images. Approaching the medium in its current complex and pluralistic state, students explore a variety of photographic concepts and techniques. The fundamentals of using a digital camera including manual exposure and lighting are stressed. The course also introduces seeing, thinking, and creating with a critical mind and eye in a foreign environment (Italy) to provide understanding of the construction and manipulation of photographic form and meaning. During the first half of the course assignments, lectures, readings progressively build on each other to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of camera functions (manual mode) and processing techniques. The second half of the course will focus on weaving the techniques with specific photographic concepts via assignments. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. NOTE: This course is for beginners. The first half of the course will be devoted to understanding camera functions. During this period assignments will emphasize basic camera functions in manual mode.

3 semester credits. This is an introductory course on the planning and furnishing of interiors. Students will be introduced to the basic vocabulary, skills /techniques, practices and context of interior design through the vehicle of a series of small abstract projects. The course introduces students to basic interior design principles, theory and conceptual processes. The emphasis is on creating small-scale environments based on the interaction of the individual with the environment. Human scale, movement, circulation and fundamental form making will be explored.

3 semester credits. This course introduces students to photography with a particular focus on reportage and travel photography perspectives of this medium, offering a chance to explore the world through a camera viewfinder. Key course topics include learning to express a sense of place, capturing mood/feeling, and shooting a variety of subjects ranging from daily life to landscapes, urban settings, cultural portraits, festivals, and rituals. The course will be divided between outdoor field practice and learning introductory digital techniques. This course is recommended for students majoring in Communications, Journalism, and Tourism. Basic photography experience and knowledge will be helpful but not necessary. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. NOTE: The first half of the course will be devoted to understanding camera functions. During this period, assignments will emphasize basic camera functions in manual mode. In the second half of the course, the learned techniques will be employed in the assignments. In this introductory course, students will not use the print lab to print their assignments or final portfolio. Assignments and final portfolio delivery can only be done through the universities dedicated electronic storage system. Access is only available within the media lab classroom.

3 semester credits. This course explores the principal architects, monuments and themes of fifteenth and sixteenth century Italian architecture. The course includes site visits in the city of Florence. Emphasis will be on Renaissance architecture in Florence, but will also include architectural developments in Rome, Urbino, Mantua, Verona and Vicenza. Special topics will include: architectural theory, Medici and papal patronage, urban planning, and church and palace design. A special focus will be dedicated to architects: Brunelleschi, Alberti, Michelozzo, Giuliano Sangallo, Bramante, Antonio Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, Giulio Romano and Palladio. Visits to key Renaissance buildings and urban spaces in Florence are included.

3 Semester Credits. In this foundational open-air painting course, students will explore and familiarize with the pleasures and challenges of painting outdoors. The students will acquire skills in the techniques of Plein Air painting with watercolor pencils and develop critical skills to evaluate paintings executed in this style. This course will also provide students with a look at the various materials and products for outdoor painting using wet techniques. Students will be introduced to the history and tradition of this genre; the “conceptual” in landscape painting will be emphasized with a specific focus on the Italian context. Sessions will be held at different outdoor venues in and around Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This hands-on course will develop the fundamental skills and techniques of sewing and garment construction. Course topics feature the approach to mechanized and manually-processed techniques involved in the creation of simple cotton garments. An understanding of the use of basic patterns, cutting techniques, seams and finishings will allow students to approach simple prototyping projects. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. The fundamental aspects of accessory design allow students to learn drawing and rendering techniques, which illustrate materials and textures for handbags, belts, gloves, shoes, and hats. Starting from sketches and basic technical drawing techniques, students develop skills that enable them to apply diverse drawing methodologies.

3 semester credits. Through a series of walks and visits through art and design this course intends to show famous and hidden fashion paths in Florence. A journey through time and space to discover the place that marked the birth of Italian fashion and opened the doors to Made in Italy. Back in 1954 Florence was the star of the fashion system, anticipating trends and steeling the exclusive scene from Paris. Italy embraced the “new” in fashion through the talent and genius of Giovanni Battista Giorgini, who staged the first ever Italian fashion shows in Florence. Students will discover a city of exquisite taste, tradition and artistic craftsmanship. Starting from the location of the first Italian cat walk held in the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti, they will learn how to map the fashion environment of the city. From Renaissance to modern day inspiration, fashion is kept alive in the products that were designed here and that grace the beautiful city today. Designers, such as Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, Stefano Ricci, Ermanno Scervino, and Roberto Cavalli, have all developed and changed through the years and they have all surely blossomed here in Florence. The course is intended to provide academic knowledge through guided field learning activities that include research, on-site involvement, and topic assessment for each fashion themed walk in Florence. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course delves into contemporary photographic practices and technologies. By examining the multi-layered nature of photography today, students will develop a strong foundation in both technical and conceptual aspects of the medium. Core camera skills, including manual exposure and working with available light, are emphasized alongside critical thinking and visual literacy. The course also integrates writing exercises to enhance students’ ability to articulate their visual ideas, analyze the work of others, and engage in critical discourse. The first part of the course focuses on building technical camera proficiency through hands-on practice, lectures, and readings. Students will learn camera functions and image processing techniques. In the second half, these skills will be applied to explore diverse photographic concepts and approaches, towards a culminating project, Tiny Florence, challenges students to create images of the city and fostering creative intimate expression and public engagement. Through writing, students will develop their ability to connect their technical skills with their conceptual understanding and develop a more nuanced and sophisticated approach to photography. NOTE: This course is for beginners. The first half of the course will be devoted to understanding camera functions and basic printing. During this period, assignments will emphasize basic camera functions in manual mode. This course includes experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management.

3 semester credits. iPhoneography is a photography concept that involves the professional use of the iPhone camera. Various iPhone apps and constant connection to the internet (either via wi-fi or cellular data) can turn an iPhone camera into a powerful, self-sustained, hand-held camera and darkroom ready to release information globally in the constantly changing digital market. Students will learn to use the iPhone camera to produce photojournalism essays, portraits, landscape, and fashion images using different iPhone applications and professional post-processing tools. The final images will be published in a dedicated class website. The approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students’ academic and personal enrichment.

This module is an introduction to the visual culture of London, including painting, architecture, photography and contemporary media. Students will visit the major art galleries to examine how art works, exhibitions and cultural organisations can be understood within wider social contexts. The sessions also include museums and historical sites. The classes will explore how these institutions reveal the complex cultural identity and history of London.

Site visits: typical visits include the British Museum, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of London, National Portrait Gallery, Wallace Collection, Tate Britain, Whitechapel Gallery, Serpentine Galleries, Wellcome Collection. Note: these visits are subject to change.

Projects in acting for television, video, and film.

Pre-requisite: course 1A.

Drawing as both independent expressive medium and as means of visualization.

Exploration of techniques, methods, and process of music production and larger issues in art of making music. Students learn how to foster and capture performance and emotion in music through variety of methods and tools, including artistic direction in studio and choices made in sound, arrangement, and application of technology.

Beginning-level study of ballet as movement practice.

Beginning-level study of variable movement practices.

Introduction to ceramic materials and processes, with emphasis on personal and cultural expression in ceramic media. Discussion of ceramics in contemporary artistic practice and social history of ceramic art.

For drawing, exploration of relationship between concept and image creation while fostering development of sound drawing and observation skills. For color, exploration of development of fundamental skills in mixing and applying pigments with brush on watercolor paper, as well as use of computer as tool for working with colors. Combination of painting and software to be predominant way of exploring and presenting ideas regarding color.

Introduction to concept of interactivity and field of media art that follows history of computer as media for artistic exploration in relation to print, animation, and interactivity. Discussion of potential and ideas related to interactivity, with focus on required skills for creating interactive work. Development of programming skills in service of creating examples of media art. Concepts and skills taught enhance student ability to excel in future courses about Internet, animation, interactive media, and game design. Discussion and readings on four themes–form/programming, motion, interactivity/programming, and interface.

Learning and employment of craft of songwriting. Examination, analysis, and implementation of song structure, lyric and melody writing, arranging, orchestrating, and recording techniques. Evolution of songwriting in modern society since advent of phonograph player/radio; how songs and society affect and reflect one another; how this has informed songs and songwriters.

Introduction to current music industry. Overview of career paths, monetization strategies, organizational behavior, and entrepreneurial thinking. Designed to serve as gateway for music industry degree programs. Students familiarize themselves with basic functions of industry that are covered in greater detail in upper-division coursework.

Exploration of issues in the business side of design media arts careers–as a freelancer, full-time staffer, or one’s own studio practice. Topics include understanding common studio structures and roles, developing studio credentials, billing and booking practices, proposal and contract writing, pricing models, and copyright and other legal matters. Consideration also of shifting studio processes, interviewing tips, negotiating, and other workplace issues. Features occasional guest panelists.

Songwriting workshop and guided-research practice that offers structure for collaborative development of new compositions designed to offer enhanced therapeutic benefit to listeners and participants. Study is rooted in transdisciplinary scholarship, orienting itself toward archives, research, and literature that study healing strategies drawn from diverse range of music-based creative and therapeutic practices. Open to students from all fields related to human health including dance, education, music, music therapy, neuroscience, psychology, public health, and other allied disciplines.

Pre-requisite: course 101 or 104.

Selected topics in design and media arts explored through variety of approaches that may include projects, readings, discussion, research papers, and oral presentations. Topics announced in advance.

Pre-requisite: course 101 or 104.

Introduction to theories of three-dimensional form, spatial design, and lighting, using three-dimensional visualization and video tools. Tools originally designed for motion to be used to construct form. Use of aspects of time, such as speed and duration, to contemplate form and interaction. Exploration of virtual versus real form.

Focus on three typographic basics: letter, text, and grid. Introduction to fundamentals of typography. Assignments designed to develop understanding of form, scale, and shape of letters as single elements and as texture in layout. Emphasis on grid (structure and layout) and information hierarchy to create successful typographic messages.

Voice instruction for singers at beginning to intermediate level. Exploration of fundamentals of vocal technique, including overview of basics of proper breath control, resonance, care of voice, diction, and interpretation. Beginning vocal repertoire used as vehicle for understanding these concepts.

Pre-requisites: courses 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, and 101 or 104.

Online interaction today focuses on information through living, social platforms. Study goes beyond an average user’s perspective to critically examine the web through historical, political, and social lenses. Students are encouraged to holistically approach the web and its constituent code as a living kit of parts to be harnessed in novel and innovative ways. Examination of leading concepts of people-centered interactive design. User interface (UI) designers are focused on the design of the tool, while user interface (UX) designers are focused on a person’s experience of that tool. As digital technology industries rapidly alter ways of doing and thinking, design can amplify, shift, comment on, and/or criticize these changes. The role of designers today is to style and shape content, extracting information from abstract datasets, writing scenarios, and creating systems, all with a critical eye. Students are trained to research, analyze, prototype, and develop design concepts for digital media for distinct social and cultural contexts.

Pre-requisites: courses 21, 22, 25, and 101 or 104.

Focus on relationship of type to content, image, and materials. Acquisition of knowledge of and sensitivity to typography in context of complex communication problems in print and digital media. Research, concept and content development, and articulation of methodology for visualization.

Pre-requisite: English Composition 3 or 3H or English as a Second Language 36.

Emphasis on learning specific skills, incorporating technical description, historical contextualization, subjective reaction, and certain stylistic conventions necessary in writing about music. Satisfies Writing II requirement.

Beginning-level study of yoga.

Let’s be honest. You probably aren’t going to read this whole article. But what if it was read to you out loud while driving to work, working out at the gym, or completing chores around the house? Better yet, imagine listening to a smooth, relaxing voice like Morgan Freeman’s. You’d be hanging on to every word, and ready for the next episode immediately after…Welcome to the world of Podcasting.

This module will give you an insight into developing, proposing, pitching and producing audio content to be distributed as podcasts. In this module, we will work on creating a short factual podcast using the power of your voice, soundscapes that transport the listener and seamlessly blended music to create that moment. We will guide you on scripting, voice technique and narrative construction so that your podcast has an impact on your audience.

From the hills covered in purple heather to the glorious light at sunrise, almost every vista is an invitation to the enthusiastic visual journalist. This module will enable you to appreciate the environment and enjoy the natural beauty of Scotland, while learning and developing your skills at landscape photography. You will learn the practice of landscape photography, and also the theory and principles. This module will run as a condensed module with classes running weeks 2-4 of Block 2.

Note: This course is TBC due to unforeseen circumstances. Please check back for updates at a later date. 

Post-production is the phase in the film production process where stories come together. Images and sound are combined to build the narrative and craft what the viewer will experience. Editing involves technical skills, but crucially it is a creative process, in which each decision will impact the style and substance of the completed film.

In this module, you will learn both the creative and technical aspects of editing. You will be taught by an experienced industry professional, who will guide you through the art of post-production. You will be taught in a small group, using industry standard software and equipment, and working with material both from broadcast shows and award-winning student work. By the end of the module, you will have a confident grasp of technical skills, the techniques of visual storytelling and how sound and pictures come together to create an impact for a viewing audience.