The Art & Technology program at the University of Oregon encourages students to combine new media practice and visual art theory, with strong technical sophistication, a rich sense of visual design, and an ability to articulate themselves as artists. The UO program in digital arts emphasizes creative thinking, experimentation, visual communication delivery systems, and intense research. The clear and honest visual communication of an idea requires a fluent understanding of the visual language and the ability to articulate it.

It is our philosophy that by understanding the vast range of media at our disposal, employing experimentation, and nurturing engaged discourse, any artist-designer can work at any point along the circle that identifies creative production as either art or design. No matter the point on that circle, we seek to help the artist-designer find the voice and confidence to pursue a solution with integrity.

We are not a traditional design area, nor are we a traditional art discipline. We are, however, an undergraduate major within an active and progressive art department. Our approach embraces a spirit of intermedia. We care about the artist having the independent drive to learn and de­velop, and we’re committed to the availability of those opportunities.

Degree Requirements

All majors are required to complete the University of Oregon general degree requirements for either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in addition to the departmental major requirements listed below.

BA / BS in Art & Technology

72 CREDITS

• 4 credits Surface, Space & Time - ART 115
• 4 credits Core Interdisciplinary Laboratory - ART 116
• 4 credits Drawing - ART 233
• 4 credits Print Media Digital Arts - ARTD 250
• 4 credits Time Based Digital Arts - ARTD 251
• 4 credits Interactive Digital Arts - ARTD 252
• 3 courses History of Art and Architecture
• 36 credits Digital Arts Studio - ARTD 300/400 level (up to 12 credits can be 300/400 level Fine Arts studio)

Restrictions

Only 6 credits of ARTD 404 ‘Internship’ and 12 credits of ARTD 406 ‘Special Problems’ will count toward the Digital Arts Studio requirement.

Courses

250 Print Media Digital Arts (4R) Examines application of print media in contemporary visual culture; explores its use in a fine art context. Introduces digital drawing, digital photo editing, and typographic layout to visually communicate expressive concepts. Laboratories, lectures.

251 Time-Based Digital Arts (4R) Explores the notion of time as a medium in relation to contemporary art through which concepts of sequence, narration, scoring, and motion are expressed. Laboratories, lectures.

252 Interactive Digital Arts (4R) Introduces resources that the computer offers the artist. Concentrates on animation, interaction, and the web as expressive mediums. Laboratories, lectures.

256 Introduction to Production (4) Traditional camera, sound, and lighting techniques in production; nonlinear editing; and key theoretical, historical, and aesthetic approaches to video art.

350 Digital Drawing (4R) Applies technology as a drawing medium to communicate concepts visually. The entire creative process is researched in an experimental studio environment. Prereq: ART 115, 116, 233, ARTD 250, 251, 252.

360 Digital Imaging (4R) Intermediate-level focus on the proper preparation and presentation of digital images for use in print and on screen. Covers color theory. Prereq: ARTD 250, 251, 252. R once for maximum of 8 credits.

361 Introduction to Animation (4) Introduction to principles of animation, timing, sequence; key frames, in-betweens, and metamorphosis. Uses various methods to record and edit animation tests. Prereq: ART 115, 116, 233, ARTD 250, 251, 252.

362 Digital Letterform (4R) Concepts in the history, use, and appreciation of digital typography. Considers issues in communicative power of type and situations where it functions as message. Prereq: ART 115, 116, 233, ARTD 250, 251, 252, 360. R once for a maximum of 8 credits.

378 Multimedia Design I (5R) Introduces multimedia design and authoring; use of motion, duration, and time-based interaction as a means of artistic expression. Students build navigational structures and explore stochastic principles in developing an individual approach to interactivity. Sequence with ARTD 478/578. Prereq: ARTD 350.

379 Introduction to Video Art (4R) Intermediate video-audio production and nonlinear editing, including camera, sound, and lighting techniques. Key theoretical, historical, and aesthetic approaches to time-based art in video and sound are surveyed. Prereq: ART 115, 116, 233; ARTD 250, 251, 252, 350, 360.

411/511 Web Art (5) Involves study and creation of Internet-based artwork. Students engage with conceptual systems of interactivity, scripting, hypermedia in current and developing forms; discussions, short readings. Prereq: ARTD 350.

412/512 Experimental Animation (5) Intermediate to advanced students explore personal creative practice and experiment with film, video, and computer animation techniques. Integrates readings, screening, and discussion with production. Prereq: ARTD 361, 379.

413/513 Emerging Technologies (5) Explores use of emerging technologies in art. Create works using emerging technologies and techniques and explore contemporary artworks, philosophies, and cultural trends. Prereq: ARTD 378 or 416.

415/515 Video Art: Experimental Film (4) Video and sound art practices, from conceptual deconstructions of the film-video apparatus to self-reflexive socio-political and/or cultural critique, are examined through short format and video installation. Prereq: ARTD 379.

416/516 Programming for Artists (4R) Introduces students to the basics of computer programming within an art context. Topics include interaction design, web development, and physical computing programming. Prereq: ART 115, 116, 233; ARTD 250, 251, 252.

463/563 Communication Design (4R) Explores the communication of ideas and information through visual means. Introduces design process and principles, visual language, and the art of problem solving in visual communication. Prereq: ARTD 350, 362. R once for maximum of 8 credits.

471/571 3-D Computer Imaging (5R) Introduces 3-D computer graphic arts: 3-D digital space and form, model building, scene composition, surface properties, lighting, and rendering 3-D images. Prereq: ARTD 350 or 361. R once for maximum of 10 credits.

472/572 3-D Computer Animation (5R) Introduces 3-D computer animation arts. Includes time and space in the digital 3-D environment, animation concepts and techniques in 3-D space, production techniques for various multimedia applications. Prereq: ARTD 471/571. R thrice for maximum of 20 credits.

478/578 Multimedia Design II (5R) Intermediate and advanced multimedia design and authoring. Emphasizes creation of larger, student-directed multimedia projects. Prereq: ARTD 378. R once for maximum of 10 credits.

490 Issues and Practices in Digital Arts (1–5R) Intensive critique, discussion, readings, and presentations. BFA or MFA standing required.

494/594 Advanced Design I (5) Theory, problems, and projects in language, meaning and communication, identity and signification, conceptual invention and creativity, critical analysis. Lectures, projects, critique. Prereq: ARTD 463/563.