advanced metals art440, spring 2012, mark rooker, rookermd@jmu.edu, o.h. 9:45-10:45 m-th

course outline:
independent study in metals and jewelry

Students with appropriate preparatory skills may consider this course designation. One semester of Beginning Metals, at least one semester of Intermediate Metals, and a solid design & general art background are required. Some knowledge of chemistry, physics, and life experience with diverse sets of tools are encouraged. Students will be expected to present a detailed project proposal that outlines their activities to be accomplished during the semester. Students will be expected to exhibit strong self discipline, motivation, and time management in order to complete the course. For each unit of credit, 50 hours of work is required.

Course goals

When preparing your proposal, you should outline how you will accomplish the following...

• Students will increase competency and experiment with technical skills of metal fabrication and/or casting.
  
  
• Students will continue to develop their knowledge of metallurgy--kinds of metal, their properties, uses, and forms--by exploring metal as a medium of personal aesthetic expression.
  
  
• Students will expand their awareness of historical and contemporary movements in metal and the relationship of metal to other disciplines.
  
  
• Students will, through creative and technical experimentation, produce original works of art in metal by applying metal fabrication techniques, design methodology and visual organization skills.
  
  
• Students will cultivate commitment and professionalism through critiquing and evaluating their own artwork and the work of others and through exhibiting their artwork.

Grades:

Your semester grade will be determined by the following, and your proposal should reflect how you will fulfill these requirements:

75 points Projects
15 points Samples
10 points Final Exam

I'll be using the standards for grades as they are defined in the 2001-2002 Undergraduate Catalog.

"A" Superior
"B" Good
"C" Average
"D" Passing
"E" Failure

Out of the total of 100 points possible, the grading scale is as follows:

100 - 98 = A+	<98 - 93 = A	<93 - 90 = A-
<90 - 88= B+	<88 - 83 = B	<83 - 80 = B-
<80 - 78 = C+	<78 - 73 = C	<73 - 70 = C-
<70 - 68 = D+	<68 - 63 = D	<63 - 60 = D-
<60 and below = FAILING

Calendar:

Unless arranged by the instructor, the proposal the student will develop will include a detailed calendar for the semester which will include timelines and deadlines for all assignments, and regular meeting times with the instructor. These deadlines will be binding and a criterion for grading.

Extensions on projects are discouraged beyond the semester a student is enrolled. If you recieve an incomplete for the course, it must be made up before you will be allowed any overrides for further metals courses.

Attendance and work hours:

It is important to attend every class, be on time, and be prepared to work. Failure to attend class regularly and/or arriving late suggests poor motivation on the part of the student. Therefore, if more than one absence and/or three tardies are accumulated, it will be reflected in your final grade as follows: 1/3 of a letter grade penalty on your semester grade for each unexcused absence and for every three tardies beyond the two "free" absences and three tardies allowed.

You are responsible for any information missed during an absence. No make-up presentations will be given.

Aproximately one hour of work outside of class is expected for every hour spent in class. Open lab hours will be posted.

Deadlines:

Group and individual critiques rely on completed work and full student participation, so meeting deadlines is critical. A late penalty of 1 point per class will be assessed on any late assignment. Completed work is to be turned in at the beginning of class on the day it is due. If you are absent on the day the work is due, it must be handed in at the beginning of the next class period you attend. Lost or damaged work will be viewed as incomplete, so protect all completed work with great care.

Office Hours:

My office hours will be 9:30-10:30 Monday through Thursday in the Metals Classroom. Meetings can also be arranged by appointment. Feel free to come in during office hours for extra help, or to ask questions.

Other Policies:

Any art work not picked up by the beginning of the following semester will be disposed of.

If you recieve an incomplete for the course, it must be made up before you will be allowed any overrides for more advanced metals courses.

You and a a partner will be issued will assigned a drawer in the metals classroom. Personal items must be cleaned out of the drawers by the last day of finals. After that date, anything found in the drawers will be disposed of.

Only currently enrolled metals and jewelry students are allowed to use the studio and tools. "Public" tools may not be removed from the studio or stored in "personal" toolkits. Lost or stolen "public" tools will not be replaced during the semester.

Other University policies can be viewed at:

www.jmu.edu/syllabus

Access:

Currently enrolled students will have access to the Wine-Price building and the Metals Classroom 24/7 except while other classes are meeting. JACard readers are located at each interior classroom door and the southwest entrance of the building. Lab Hours can be viewed by clicking here.

 

 

mark rooker, james madison university