Delaware College of Art & Design
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Delaware College of Art & Design | |
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| Established: | 1997 |
| Type: | Private Art School |
| Director: | James P. Lecky |
| Faculty: | 47 |
| Undergraduates: | 185 |
| Location: | Wilmington, Delaware, USA |
| Campus: | Urban |
| Website: | http://dcad.edu/ http://myspace.com/d_c_a_d |
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Wilmington, DE 19801 302.622.8000 |
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The Delaware College of Art & Design (DCAD) is the culmination of two of America's oldest and most distinguished colleges of the visual arts, Pratt Institute and the Corcoran College of Art and Design. This important new institution shares the traditions and the extraordinary resources of professionalism, experience, and expertise that have made Pratt and the Corcoran world leaders in art and design education for over a century. Just as Pratt and Corcoran alumni have been prominent among those who have set our country's creative course throughout the 20th century, so the graduates of DCAD will join the future alumni in shaping the visual arts in America as we enter the third millennium. Pratt and the Corcoran share curriculum, faculty, and resources with the college, providing one of the richest educational opportunities available in American art education today. Graduates of this two-year associate degree program may choose to enter the art and design workforce or complete a four-year BFA degree by continuing their education at Pratt in New York, or at the Corcoran in Washington, D.C.
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[edit] Degree Programs
DCAD's associate degree program is offered in six disciplines:
It is a concise, comprehensive, and demanding program that provides the training and information necessary to compete successfully in today's art and design markets. The program serves highly motivated students who wish to pursue careers in the fields of art and design.
Through an engagement with studio activities, process, and environment, students develop both their skills and resourcefulness. The liberal arts curriculum instructs students in written and verbal expression, critical thinking, history and theories of art and design, and the humanities. Students enrolled in the associate degree program receive through preparation for entry-level or, where appropriate, middle-management employment, as well as a solid basis upon which to further their education. Completion of requirements for the associate degree may be accomplished through two years of full-time study.
The curriculum consists of 68 credits, composed of:
- 44 credits in studio courses
- 24 credits in academic courses
- 12 credits in art history
The associate degree program requires a core group of Foundation courses during the first year and includes a Foundation Seminar which provides a basic introduction into each area of concentration being offered. Beginning with their second year, students will take major-specific courses in addition to liberal arts courses. Students who successfully complete the curriculum can transfer directly from DCAD into the third-year curriculum at either Pratt or the Corocoran.
[edit] Foundation Program
The purpose of the Foundation experience is to develop visual literacy and provide basic studio techniques, an introduction to art history, and an understanding of the underlying concepts and principles of the visual arts. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms in their optical, technical, and symbolic natures are investigated. The Foundation Program is the same for all majors.
[edit] Academic Studies
A fundamental understanding of the history of art is essential for all aspiring artists and designers in order to situate their own work within a broader context and establish professional credibility; therefore, art history is the foundation of the Academic Studies curriculum. In a three-semester survey of world art, complemented by courses that focus on corresponding literature, students analyze visual and literary works selected to emphasize formal, topical, thematic, and contextual relationships across disciplines. In the fourth semester, students focus on an in-depth study of the art associated with their area of concentration. A carefully structured writing curriculum aimed at building skills incrementally is an integral part of all Academic Studies classes.
Objectives of the Academic Studies curriculum are:
- To train well-informed professionals who are prepared to undertake further study.
- To develop critical thinking and analytical writing skills.
- To develop familiarity with the methodologies of art history as a discipline.
- To build awareness of the history of world art and literature with particular emphasis on the history of practice in students' chosen fields.
[edit] Location
The city of Wilmington is perfectly located on the Eastern Seaboard, two hours from New York City and Washington DC, one hour from Baltimore, and just thirty minutes from Philadelphia. Historical and cultural attractions are plentiful in both the surrounding cities as well as in the immediate area, which is home to the Winterthur Museum, Longwood Gardens, and the internationally recognized Delaware Art Museum.
Wilmington is easy to navigate and is just minutes from rolling hills and beautiful countryside for those who wish to explore beyond city limits. Located less than two hours from Delaware area Jersey beaches and the Pocono Mountains, Wilmington's moderate climate enhances all the regional activities available throughout the year.
Wilmington's corporate community is also a vibrant and ready market for new art and design talent. The largest city in America's first state, Wilmington has long been home to some of our nation's oldest and most important corporations. Since the 1980s, Delaware's corporation-friendly environment has attracted many major companies to the area. DuPont, Bank One, MBNA, and Wilmington Trust Company are just a few of the corporations headquartered in downtown Wilmington.
[edit] Market Street Gallery
A large gallery with floor-to-ceiling windows on Sixth and Market Streets provides a dramatic first glimpse of DCAD for even the casual passerby. The gallery is DCAD's transparent and accessible interface with the community. At the same time, it gives students the opportunity to experience work that supplements and enriches their studio curriculum.
In addition to regular shows of student and faculty work, DCAD mounts curated exhibits featuring work of regional and national significance. The openings of the exhibitions are held in conjunction with the Wilmington Art Loop and are well-attended by students, faculty, and staff, as well as the public at large.
