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College adds
new academic programs
In line with its mission, the Savannah College of Art and Design has announced the addition of three new academic programs and one new academic dean. New advertising design department The work of the college’s Curriculum Council this past fall included approval of a proposal by the graphic design department to introduce a new major in advertising design. According to Dean of Communication Arts Andy Fulp, the advertising design department will emphasize both business and design, resulting in graduates who will have skills appropriate for the industry. “Not only will they understand how to design, they will know why to design,” he said. Graphic design professor David Foote is encouraged by the options an advertising design department will make available for students. “There are very few degree opportunities … that specialize in advertising,” Foote said. “There have been several successful ‘certificate’ programs … where students could go to specialize in advertising but would not graduate with a degree. SCAD has the opportunity to provide students with an education in all the components of creating professional advertising such as photography, illustration, as well as film and video. In the end, each student should have a professionally produced portfolio as well as a degree that will rival the certificate schools.” Although advertising design necessarily overlaps with graphic design, Foote was quick to point out the fundamental differences between the two departments. “Students tend to think that graphic design is a degree that will get you into advertising, but graphic design and advertising require very different areas of creative talent.” New courses in advertising design will include art direction, case studies, alternative media and nonprofit advertising. New graduate programs in sound design Another addition to the SCAD curriculum is the graduate degree in sound design, created with the benefits of the students in mind. “Although there are a few other schools offering graduate degrees in sound design, there are no other programs like this one,” said Matthew Akers, chair of the sound design department. “The fundamental concept of this program is to build upon the academic structure provided by our B.F.A. program, which allows students to explore a wide survey of the varied applications of sound in art and design.” According to Akers, the proposed graduate program will allow students to build upon an undergraduate experience through intense specialization and personally motivated exploration. “ Students participating in the proposed graduate curriculum will be able to develop specialization and a unique aesthetic through sequential studio courses demanding personal motivation and growth in creativity, technical expertise and analytical skills,” he said. Akers expects approximately 10 students to apply to the graduate department as soon as the option is made officially available. Taking his optimism from the success of the undergraduate program, Akers said he anticipates a healthy increase in the number of sound design graduate students as word about the program spreads throughout the country. exposes them to a dizzying amount of information and techniques. We introduce the undergraduates to some dozen specific skills and possible professional directions. This program will give students an opportunity to really focus on a particular area of interest — to really hone their skills and ability. The M.A. program will also be really attractive to professionals who’ve been in the industry for a while and want to catch up on the latest digital technology and to have a chance to experiment with the great gear that we have waiting for them.” New dean for film and digital media Peter Weishar has assumed his position as the new dean of the school of film and digital media — which encompasses sound design, film and television, interactive design and game development, animation, broadcast design and visual effects. “ I hope to be here for a long time, and change is the cornerstone for any institution that wishes to stay current and valid,” Weishar said. “With that said, I see a good part of my responsibility building on what was already started here. Increasing the numbers of students in each program over the next few years will enable us to offer a wider variety of electives and continually upgrade and expand our facilities.” Weishar, who worked for 10 years as a professor at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, acknowledged his excitement at being involved with so many departments he believes have the potential to become “the premier academic programs” in their fields. “Many of these majors are not only new to SCAD, but are relatively unique to academia. We will have the challenge of identifying, purchasing, building and hiring resources that are specific to each department’s needs. At the same time we will also work together cross-departmentally so that SCAD students can take advantage of the best resources each department offers while concentrating on their specific major.” New minor in new media arts Vice President for Academic Services Darrell Naylor-Johnson announced the addition of new minor in new media arts. The minor will consist of art history courses that articulate the history, theory and practice of media arts. According to a co-authored description of the minor by art history chair Celina Jeffery, Ph.D., and art history department professor Adrian Parr, Ph.D., “The program offers art history majors directed study opportunities that address contemporary issues. Given that a substantial number of our students are involved in the practice of media arts, a lecture-based minor exploring the history and theory of the subject will provide an exceptional opportunity for those students to develop their creative and intellectual capabilities.” |
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