VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT
Course Offerings
AP ART HISTORY 1-2 0155 - 0156
Recommended Prerequisite Honors Humanities, AP European History, or Studio Art
This course is offered to provide the same benefits to secondary students as those provided by the introductory college course in art history: an understanding and appreciation of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within historical and cultural contexts. Students who pass the Advanced Placement Exam in Art History may receive advanced placement and/or credit at many colleges and universities. This course is designed to meet college standards and requires A high degree of commitment to academic work. Due to mature content, this course is recommended for students in 11th and 12th grade. This course may be used to meet the UC "F" or “G” requirement and the PUSD Fine Arts requirement. UC approved for extra honors credit (A=5, B=4, C=3).
AP STUDIO ART: 2D DESIGN 1-2 (Photography) 0157 - 0158
Linked Course Studio Art
Recommended Courses Studio Art
Interest Interested in an assembly of art projects completed previously into a portfolio and submission for evaluation on rigorous standards.
Advanced Placement Studio Art: 2D Design provides instruction for the highly skilled exceptional students in two-dimensional design. The course assists these students in the preparation of a 2D Portfolio. It is designed to address a very broad interpretation of two-dimensional design issues. This type of design involves purposeful decision-making about how to use the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. The elements of design (line, shape, space, form, texture, value and color) are like a palette of possibilities that artists use to express themselves. The principles of design help guide artists in making decisions about how to organize the elements on a picture plane in order to communicate content. These principles include contrast, emphasis, balance, pattern, rhythm, movement and unity. The 2D portfolio also requires students to develop a “concentration” (i.e. a body of work investigating a strong underlying visual idea); this constitutes a significant portion of the artwork they will create in the class. Portfolio preparation involves a significant time commitment and is, therefore, intended for motivated students with advanced skills who are seriously dedicated to studying art. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
AP STUDIO ART: 3D DESIGN 1-2 (Ceramics & Des/Mix Media) 0159 - 0160
Linked Course Studio Art
Recommended Courses Studio
Interest Interested in an assembly of art projects completed previously into a portfolio and submission for evaluation on rigorous standards
Advanced Placement Studio Art: 3D Design provides instruction for the highly skilled exceptional students in 3D Design. The course assists these students in the preparation of a Three-Dimensional Design Portfolio. It is designed to address a very broad interpretation of sculpture issues in depth and space. These may include mass, volume, form, plane, light, and texture. Such elements and concepts can be articulated through additive, subtractive, and/or fabrication processes. Portfolio preparation involves a significant time commitment and is, therefore, intended for motivated students with advanced skills who are seriously dedicated to studying art. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
AP STUDIO ART: DRAWING & PAINTING 1-2 0151 - 0152
Linked Course Studio Art
Recommended Courses Studio
Interest Interested in an assembly of art projects completed previously into a portfolio and submission for evaluation on rigorous standards.
Advanced Placement Studio Art: Drawing provides instruction for the highly skilled exceptional students in drawing, painting, and three dimensional design. The course assists these students in the preparation of a portfolio for the Advance Placement program in Studio Art. Portfolio preparation involves a significant time commitment and is, therefore, intended for motivated students with advanced skills who are seriously dedicated to studying art. It may be repeated for credit. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
CERAMICS 1-2 0115 - 0116
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interested in understanding of and background to ceramics and clay techniques both free hand and the wheel.
In Ceramics 1- 2 a variety of projects will be completed using clay. Students will be introduced to art theory concepts and will construct projects using the methods of pinch, coil, slab, with an introduction to the wheel. Students will develop their ability to communicate visually with an emphasis on craftsmanship. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Art requirement.
CERAMICS 3-4 0117 - 0118
Recommended Courses Ceramics 1-2
Interest Interested in deepening understanding of and background ceramic techniques.
Ceramics 3-4 is designed for students who have mastered basic hand building and decorative techniques. This course will stress design, craftsmanship, and evaluation of ceramic art at an increased level of difficulty. Studio projects will involve construction in hand-built and wheelthrown methods. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement.
DESIGN & MIXED MEDIA 1-2 0125 - 0126
Recommended Prerequisite None
Students enrolled in Design and Mixed Media 1-2 will be introduced to the basic elements and principles of art through exploration in various art media, including sculpture, printmaking, drawing, painting, and mixed media. This course will provide opportunities for the student through guided experiences, discussion, and explorations that emphasize art criticism, art history and art philosophy, as well as art production. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
DESIGN & MIXED MEDIA 3-4 0127 - 0128
Recommended Prerequisite Design/Mixed Media 1-2
Students enrolled in Design and Mixed Media 3-4 will continue to use the elements and principles of art through exploration in various art media, including sculpture, printmaking, drawing, painting, and mixed media. This course will provide more advanced activities for the student through guided experiences, discussion, and explorations that emphasize art criticism, art history, and art philosophy, as well as art production. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION 1-2 0998-0999
Recommended Courses None
Interest Introduction to Video Editing and learning the basics of IMovie & Final Cut Pro
The course concentrates on developing competency across the breadth of film and video production positions, from script creation to presentation of the finished product. Students will focus on: writing, directing, acting, producing, storyboarding, scheduling, cinematography, audio engineering, and editing. Students will be challenged with group assignments that will give them hands-on-experience with all elements of the production process. This course may be eligible for college credit if the student enrolls at the appropriate college while attending the Westview class and receives a grade of A or B both quarters. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement, PUSD Fine Arts requirement or Practical Arts requirement, and the Computer Literacy requirement.
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION 2 (Advanced) 051000 - 051001
Recommended Prerequisite Digital Media Production 1-2
Interest Develop advanced skills in pre & post production
Advanced Digital Media Production will provide students an opportunity to continue developing their pre & post productions skills in film and video. Students will be challenged with advanced group assignments that will give them an opportunity to explore and showcase their ideas. Students will also study the impact of film and television on society from its social, economic, and political viewpoint. This course has been approved to meet the UC “F” requirement, PUSD Fine Arts requirement or Practical Arts requirement, and the Computer Literacy requirement.
DRAWING & PAINTING 1-2 0130 - 0131
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interested in an introduction to drawing and painting which can lead to 2-D, 3-D and electronic visual arts.
This course is designed for students to develop their drawing and painting skills. Students will have an opportunity to create and evaluate a wide variety of artworks in drawing and painting media. The class will explore design elements including line, color, form, space, and texture. Composition and technical skills will also be covered. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement.
DRAWING & PAINTING 3-4 0132 - 0133
Recommended Courses Drawing & Painting 1-2
Interest Interest in deepening understanding of and background to drawing and painting techniques.
This course is designed for students who have both the interest and talent to further develop their drawing and painting skills. Students will produce, view, discuss, and analyze a wide variety of drawings and paintings. These classes will be conducted in a studio environment which combines communication of ideas, symbols, moods, or feelings with originality. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement.
PHOTOGRAPHY 1-2 0872 - 0873
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interested in understanding of and background to photography
An introductory art course in which students learn the basics of both black and white and digital photography. This includes learning composition and design elements, operating manual cameras, traditional darkroom skills, and digital editing techniques. There is also an introduction to vocational possibilities in the field of photography. Students may receive Fine Arts or Practical Arts graduation credit for this class. This course may be eligible for college credit if the student enrolls at the appropriate college while attending the Westview class and receives a grade of A or B both quarters. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement.
PHOTOGRAPHY 3-4 0874 - 0875
Recommended Courses Photography 1-2
Interest Interested in deepening understanding of and background to photography
Photography 3-4 will continue fine tuning the skills learned in Photography 1-2 and will introduce advanced digital and darkroom skills to students. Students will learn to use photography as a way of communication and creative expression, imagination, emotion, and aesthetic perception, and will begin to develop their personal photographic style or direction. Students will be given the artistic freedom to choose between the mediums of digital or traditional black and white photography on many assignments. The critical evaluation of photographs through class critiques will also be emphasized throughout the course. Students may receive Fine Arts or Practical Arts graduation credit for this class. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement.
STUDIO ART 09150 - 0150
Linked Courses AP Studio Art
Recommended Courses Drawing and Painting 3-4 or Ceramics 3-4, Photography 3-4, Design & Mixed Media 3-4, Visual Communication 3-4
Interest Interested in an assembly of art projects completed previously into a portfolio
Studio Art is for those students who have advanced skills. The course is for students who have completed all other courses in one of the following areas or wish to pursue further study in that area: Drawing and Painting, Design and Mixed Media, Photography or Ceramics. Students will help determine the specific activities of the course by developing a written contract with the instructor. It may be repeated for credit. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION 1-2 0106 - 0107
Recommended Prerequisite Drawing & Painting 1-2, Photography 1-2
Interest Introduction to Graphic Design and learning the basics of Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
Visual Communications (VISCOM) 1-2 prepares students for a wide range of professional options in Graphic Design. Utilizing top industry software, such as Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, the class will focus on a variety of print media projects such as personal logos, product packaging, typography, & t-shirt design. By engaging in these individual & group projects student will not only gain software knowledge, but they will also gain valuable communication and intrapersonal skills needed to express their ideas in the work environment. This course may be eligible for college credit if the student enrolls at the appropriate college while attending the Westview class and receives a grade of A or B both quarters. This course meets the PUSD Fine Art or Practical Art requirement and fulfills the Computer Literacy requirement. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION 3-4 0108 - 0109
Recommended Prerequisite Visual Communications 1-2
Interest Interested in advanced skills in Graphic Design and knowledge of Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
Visual Communications (VISCOM) 3-4 is designed to provide students with opportunities to proceed into a more thorough development and understanding of graphic design. Creativity and experimentation to communicate ideas graphically are encouraged. Projects involving movie posters, web design, mini magazines, and digital illustration are utilized to illustrate the role of the commercial artist. The class will further explore the elements of art and principles of design. The program of study emphasizes both hand and computer generated graphic design products. This course may be used to meet the PUSD Fine Art requirement.