Art-425: Senior Seminar
::::: Course Syllabus ::::::

Posted by: Ping

Art 425_Senior Seminar
Classroom: Magruder Hall 2001
Instructor:  Ping Xu
Office:  Ophelia Parrish (OP) 1231
Phone:  234-5558
Email: pingxu@truman.edu

Class Meets: W / 5:30 pm – 7:20 pm
(Normally meet on Wednesday but please keep Monday open)
Date Range: Aug 26 – Dec 13, 2013
Classroom: Magruder Hall 2001
Course Credit: 1 Credit Hour

Office hours:
MWF: 3:20 pm – 5:20 pm ;
TR: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm ;
TR: 4:20 pm – 5:20 pm ;
Other times by appointment

Course Description

This course is designed to be part of the Capstone Experience for the art major.  Students pursuing the BA Liberal Arts, BA Art History, BFA Studio Concentration, and the BFA Visual Communications Concentration will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of issues in art incorporating their liberal studies.  The course serves as the culmination of both the Art and University Assessment Programs and preparation for the Senior Test in Art.

Prerequisite
Senior Status in an Art major

Expanded Course Description

Senior Seminar is a course collectively designed by the Art Faculty to serve in tandem with the Art Capstone Experience to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your growth in your major and in your liberal studies. More specifically, Senior Seminar is the point at which you reflect on and demonstrate the knowledge and skills that you’ve developed especially in your non-major courses; such as formal and extemporaneous speaking and writing, the ability to collaborate to solve problems, and critical thinking.
The emphasis on verbal and critical thinking is an important part of the Art programs at Truman, and also the Liberal Studies Program that all students complete.

By serving as a point for students to collectively reflect on their learning both in and outside their major, the Art Faculty believe that not only can your individual accomplishment be better measured, but also that they can assess the Art curriculum and how it is best supported by Art students’ participation in the Liberal Studies Program (LSP). The Art Faculty is also sensitive to your efforts in participating in the Art and University Assessment Programs, and designed this seminar to provide you with time – and credit – for those efforts.

Special Note for Students with Disabilities

The University has guidelines and policies for meeting the needs of students with disabilities and Truman follows all applicable federal laws.  If you have a disability for which you need accommodation in this class, please talk with me so that we can make appropriate arrangements for your learning and success in this course.  You should have already contacted our Disability Services Director who can help you and me in making accommodations for you.  Contact information for Truman’s Disability Services can be found at: http://disabilityservices.truman.edu/contact_information.asp

Course Objectives

Through participation in this course you will:

  • Demonstrate your growth and accomplishment in your major and your liberal studies through discussions, reflection on readings, and collaborative work
  • Be provided with opportunities to make and reflect on connections among your art studies and those in the liberal arts
  • Compile, create and submit your University Portfolio
  • Examine a topic and through collaboration present an informed reaction to the topic
  • Work as a team member to analyze information and summarize and synthesize the results in an electronic presentation
  • Prepare for your culminating Art Assessment test and register to take the test

Student Expectations

As a member of this class, I expect you to participate fully. Specifically, my expectations for you are that you:

  • Attend all scheduled class meetings and that you arrive on time and stay until the designated end of class
  • Participate in class discussions and collaborative projects in ways that will demonstrate your skills and knowledge
  • Complete all assigned work on time
  • Come to class prepared
  • Create and submit your University Portfolio
  • Schedule your BA or BFA exhibition (if applicable)
  • Always act in ways that are respectful of and open to other members of class and their ideas

Attendance Policy

Since a significant part of your evaluation focuses on your verbal and collaborative work skills, attendance is critical. I expect you to attend all scheduled class meetings. If you must miss class for a University sanctioned event(s) — for example your participation in a band or ensemble trip, a University-sponsored research conference, athletic event, etc. — you will be excused from attendance but not from the responsibility for any assignments or other class work.  You must communicate with me and receive prior approval from me for missing class because of your participation in a University sponsored event.  Failure to do so will result in counting your absence as unexcused.

If you are sick and might be contagious to others, do not attend class; but do notify me of your illness so that we can work out a plan for any work you may miss and so that I will not count your absence as unexcused.

Any unexcused absence** will result in the lowering of your final grade by one letter.

(** Please refer to the guidelines on seeking an excused absence posted on our Blackboard site under “Excused Absence Guidelines.”)

Grading

I will calculate your final grade in the following manner:

  • Collaborative Project                                                                     150 points
  • Presentation of Your Work                                                             200 points
  • Resume Design                                                                               50 points
  • Participation / Attendance / Registration for Senior Test                100 points
  • Creation and Submission of University Portfolio                             100 points

• Acts of Academic Dishonesty (see below) will not be tolerated. If you commit such an act your grade on the assignment/activity will be counted as an “F” or zero credit grade.

Academic Dishonesty

Below is an excerpt from Truman’s Student Conduct Code on Academic Misconduct/Dishonesty. You should read and understand the implications of the entire code. Please review the following related to class policy on Academic Integrity:

1. Acts of academic misconduct/dishonesty, including, but not limited to the following:

1.1. Cheating: Defined as using or attempting to use unauthorized (a) materials, (b) information, or (c) study aids in any academic exercise.

1.2. Fabrication: Defined as unauthorized (a) falsification or (b) invention of any information (including research data) or citation in an academic exercise.

1.3. Facilitating academic dishonesty: Defined as (a) assisting or (b) attempting to assist another to commit an act of academic dishonesty, whether or not that action is associated with any particular course.

1.4. Plagiarism: Intentional representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise. The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, (a) the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work or sections of a work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement; (b) the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials, including material taken from or ordered through the Internet; and/or (c) the unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.

1.5. Sabotage: Defined as, but is not limited to, the unauthorized interference with, modification of, or destruction of the work or intellectual property of another member of the University community.

• It is your responsibility to review the course syllabus prior to the beginning of the course.