The course teaches first-year students fundamental skills in art and design that is interdisciplinary and thematic. Interdisciplinary skills are developed by working in non-medium-specific creative practice. The major theme addressed in the course is DEIG-J for diversity, equity, inclusion, globalization, and justice, while monthly sub-themes of identity, community, and universality are considered with guest lecturers who set the tone of each theme of inquiry. The course will cultivate the artistic voice through ideation derived from topical themes while incorporating art and design making processes that are independent, collaborative, and project-based.

The course teaches first-year students fundamental skills in research, media exploration, and art production. Interdisciplinary faculty help guide students step by step through professional practices for art making. While emphasizing the complex nature of art and design, Forum II focuses students on goal setting, self-determination, experimentation, transformation, and integration. Guest lectures will be shared by the entire cohort or within separate areas to support early exposure to related contemporary art and design practices. The course will continue to cultivate an artistic voice that is independent, collaborative, and project-based. The areas of focus are illuminated by specialized faculty who are mentors and guides to this advanced production work. This course offers an engaged and integrated education for enriching the first-year learning experience.

The course teaches first-year students fundamental skills related to 2D color and design to explore design principles with color theory. Design principles include visual organization such as composition and pattern and all visual elements, including text, that work together in a piece of art or design. Color theory includes additive (RGB) and subtractive (CMY) color differentiation and application in physical and digital forms, color contrasts, optical illusions, and physio-psychological effects of color. The combined skills of learning design and color help students explore 2D art and design with digital and mixed media for creating work with intention, meaning, and narrative while considering the cultural impact of design and color.

The course teaches first-year students fundamental fabrication skills related to 3D art and design for creating objects in space and the relationship to the body, technology, and the material environment. The 3D art and design fabrication processes are introduced for material exploration and spatial literacy that extends to multi-dimensional forms with digital media. Fabrication is supported by conceptual framing and iterative making processes. Making 3D work involves selecting appropriate materials, learning tools and shop safety, and considerations of environmental sustainability.

The course teaches first-year students fundamental digital skills related to data literacy, lens-based, and time-based media for students to explore new media production. Data literacy includes mapping, infographics, designing information, and media communication. Lens-based includes scanning, camera, screen-based and capturing images from the real world. Time-based media includes video, audio, animation, motion graphics using various software applications. The combined skills help students use information and create multimedia art and design work for various digital and physical outputs with conceptual and ethical framing related to our media-saturated world.

Can art be a force of social and political change? This class will introduce students to “social practice,” an emerging type of participatory art activism, which seeks to bring about positive change within specific communities. Through the interdisciplinary lens and research-based methodology of social practice, students will develop an ethical framework to think critically and responsibly about their role as artists and designers within social, political, and economic systems of power. By tracing the lineage of social practice along with key case studies of the field, we will explore the risks, strategies, and impacts of socially engaged modes of working. Students will make work with consideration for urban issues such as race relations, economic forces, livability, privilege, power, education, sustainability, poverty, urban planning, history and access. The course will include field trips and guest lectures with local leaders and experts in Baltimore, with consideration for MICA’s relationship to the city.

The course introduces first-year students to how technology is used as a tool for social justice and socially engaged art and design. In this class, students will learn the ways that immersive digital media such as augmented reality, virtual reality, projection art, and other emerging media technologies are used to create socially engaged projects as a form of resistance while building on empathy and community. From case studies, students will further understand how mass media, social media, and media culture respond to systems of power and oppression. Students will gain a basic understanding of the tools and skills used to create emerging media projects and work to create both personal and collaborative public projects within online and Baltimore communities beyond MICA.

The course teaches first-year students fundamental drawing skills related to traditions, innovation, and contemporary practices. Traditional drawing includes drawing from observation and using perspective and other drawing techniques with physical materials. Innovative drawing extends from the traditional approach with contemporary practices of drawing. It includes mixed-media, digital media, and conceptual inquiry. Drawing is used for storytelling, artistic expression, and design work reflective of the time in which we live.