The Department of Art and Design in the College of Arts and Sciences combines the traditional disciplines of painting and drawing, art history, theories of aesthetics, design and the execution of works of art, together with the disciplines of photography, video, multimedia, computer modeling and animation. This combination of grounding in the basic fields of art with the skills of the technologist provides students with the ability to be practicing artists in a wide variety of media and to pursue a lifetime of artistic growth.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Art and Design is to provide the skills to enable students to make informed and intelligent decisions about their future career path.
This mission is accomplished by
offering a solid foundation of technical skills from the creative art and design disciplines which will enable them to work successfully as leaders in the world of art and design, pursue postgraduate studies, and/or establish themselves as committed artists;
facilitating the successful employment of graduates in art, design and performance fields in the U.A.E.;
promoting the exhibition of student and alumni work in appropriate professional venues throughout the U.A.E. and the international community;
serving as an academic center for the arts in the community by tracking the development and growth of the cultural identity of the country through documentation and research;
providing a nexus of exchange for interested parties through the facilitation of international conferences, exhibitions and lecture series; and,
contributing to the improvement of art education at all levels in the U.A.E.
Academic Program
Zayed University is the first institution of higher education in the United Arab Emirates to offer a degree in Art and Design. Providing for this unique opportunity is a major responsibility of the Art and Design program, as well as contributing to the Colloquy on Integrated Learning.
The Learning Outcomes of the Art and Design major are common to the international standards for art studies and relate to all of the concentrations. Graduates in Art and Design will achieve a level of proficiency with the following learning outcomes:
MALO 1:Theory and History of Art and Design
Students successfully utilize theories & ideas regarding contemporary issues in their artwork.
Students are able to complete historical and conceptual analysis of social or medium-specific case studies in design traditions.
Students are knowledgeable of the historical progression of art, including the comprehension of art and design as a cultural system.
MALO 2:Effective Art and Design Practice
Students are able to apply design fundamentals to the ethical making of art as a vehicle for self expression, as well as for professional results.
Students are proficient in practical application of art and design skills, as well as in professional business practice of skill set.
Students possess a thorough understanding of the principles of design as an effective and informed tool of communication.
MALO 3:Critical Thinking
Students are able to define and analyze a problem, as well as evaluate and judge potential solutions.
Students can develop a project and defend the outcome to an informed audience.
Students understand the criteria for critical discussion of the arts and the relationship to the creative process.
MALO 4:Visual Literacy
Students can demonstrate the formulation of complex visual and spatial problems as well as responsive development of innovative solutions.
Students are able to engage in analysis and interpretation of visual culture.
Students possess an understanding of design principles: color, line, mass, balance, symmetry, perspective, form, shape, space, volume, value, and visual hierarchy.
MALO 5:Information Technology
Students can demonstrate proficiency in the use of a number of software applications.
Students display an integrated approach utilizing multiple design technologies in their professional portfolio.
Students understand the limitations of different software by choosing appropriate media for design projects.
Assessment Protocols
Assessment of student work in the Art and Design major is continuous from entry into the major through graduation via projects, peer and faculty critiques, project implementation and the completion of a comprehensive body of work that demonstrates technical and conceptual growth. Students are required to express themselves not only visually, but also through the written word as a means of clarifying the awareness, analysis and critical reflection of the relationship between the student’s work and contemporary art theory. Students receive continuous feedback from instructors in the process of instruction and project development and through critiques of completed projects.
