The School of Foundation Studies offers students a transformative studio experience that balances formal and conceptual issues while emphasizing research, process and the skillful execution of ideas. The SCAD foundation studies curriculum teaches students how to see, think and develop the common abilities that all artists and designers need to succeed in their careers.
Foundations for success
Extensive support services, innovative teaching and professional opportunities complement one of the largest foundations curricula in the United States, with a wide variety of classes including 23 in drawing and 10 in design. SCAD's extensive foundations program gives first-year students the expertise to link what they learn in the studio to their creative goals.Foundation studies is offered in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah and online via eLearning.
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Accomplished faculty
In 2010-11:
- Foundation studies professors gave 31 presentations at 14 regional national and international conferences.
- Twenty-six foundation studies professors were featured in publications.
- Foundation studies professors exhibited their work in 82 regional, national and international exhibitions.
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Support services
- Drawing and Design Center workshops and tutoring
- Art First lecture series, featuring faculty members who discuss their work and current exhibitions
- Still Life Center
- Open model sessions
- Sketchbook Day
Class support
Tutoring
Tutors are available to assist students through the Drawing and Design Center. This assistance may include the explanation of basic concepts, assistance with techniques, or critical feedback of in-progress works. Students can book appointments from MySCAD in the Student Workspace in the Learning Resource Hive, Peer Tutor Connection.
Tutoring services will be available at the following times (hours may be added later in the quarter):
Drawing and Design Workshops
The Drawing and Design Center offers hands-on workshops each quarter. These are group learning sessions conducted by professors that provide lectures, demonstrations, drawing exercises and individual assistance. Look out for flyers with specific information about each workshop throughout the quarter in the buildings where you take classes. This information will also be available at the DDC blog as the dates of the workshops get closer.
Open Model Sessions
Email Lois Gruberger (Anderson Hall) (Wallin Hall) or call 912.525.6610.
The mission of the Open Model Sessions committee is to serve students by offering free and open time to draw from live models. The selection of poses are: long (1-3 hours), medium (20-30 minutes) and gesture (1-3 minutes). The purpose of the faculty facilitator is to ensure that the poses and times are accurately held; to record the number of students attending; to assure that the volume of people adheres to safe fire code numbers; and to create a climate that supports both artistic and academic growth. This service supports all majors and meets the needs for practice as well as assignments. Students from all majors frequently attend the open model sessions.
Open model sessions will be available at the following times:
Gesture Jam (sponsored by drawing minor)
The purpose of the Gesture Jam is to promote gestural approaches to drawing. Gesture drawing is a useful approach for concept sketching, rapid brainstorming and problem solving. The practice of gesture drawing is found in most design professions and includes thumbnail sketches in advertising, storyboards and illustration; schematics in architecture, industrial and product design; and "rough outs" in painting, fashion design and animation. The Gesture Jam includes all types of gestures-sustained, quick, mass, scribble and blind contour. Subject matter includes still life and figure. Contact Henry Dean for more information.
Dates of Fall 2011 Gesture Jams are:
Tutors are available to assist students through the Drawing and Design Center. This assistance may include the explanation of basic concepts, assistance with techniques, or critical feedback of in-progress works. Students can book appointments from MySCAD in the Student Workspace in the Learning Resource Hive, Peer Tutor Connection.
Tutoring services will be available at the following times (hours may be added later in the quarter):
- Mondays: 8-11 p.m. (Wallin Hall, first floor)
- Tuesdays: 8-10 p.m. (Anderson Hall, first floor)
- Wednesdays: 8-10 p.m. (Wallin Hall, first floor)
- Fridays: 3-8 p.m. (Anderson Hall, first floor)
- Saturdays: 2-4 p.m. (Anderson Hall, first floor); 5-8 p.m. (Wallin Hall first floor)
- Sundays: 1-4 p.m. (Anderson Hall, first floor); 6-9 p.m. (Wallin Hall, first floor)
Drawing and Design Workshops
The Drawing and Design Center offers hands-on workshops each quarter. These are group learning sessions conducted by professors that provide lectures, demonstrations, drawing exercises and individual assistance. Look out for flyers with specific information about each workshop throughout the quarter in the buildings where you take classes. This information will also be available at the DDC blog as the dates of the workshops get closer.
Open Model Sessions
Email Lois Gruberger (Anderson Hall) (Wallin Hall) or call 912.525.6610.
The mission of the Open Model Sessions committee is to serve students by offering free and open time to draw from live models. The selection of poses are: long (1-3 hours), medium (20-30 minutes) and gesture (1-3 minutes). The purpose of the faculty facilitator is to ensure that the poses and times are accurately held; to record the number of students attending; to assure that the volume of people adheres to safe fire code numbers; and to create a climate that supports both artistic and academic growth. This service supports all majors and meets the needs for practice as well as assignments. Students from all majors frequently attend the open model sessions.
Open model sessions will be available at the following times:
- Fridays: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Norris Hall-gestures); 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Montgomery Hall-gestures); 1-4 p.m. (Anderson Hall-gestures, 20-minute, and long pose); 4:30-7:30 p.m. (Wallin Hall-gestures, 20-minute, and long pose)
- Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Alexander Hall, CR3-long pose) Sept. 23, Oct. 1, Oct. 8, Nov. 5, Nov. 12
Gesture Jam (sponsored by drawing minor)
The purpose of the Gesture Jam is to promote gestural approaches to drawing. Gesture drawing is a useful approach for concept sketching, rapid brainstorming and problem solving. The practice of gesture drawing is found in most design professions and includes thumbnail sketches in advertising, storyboards and illustration; schematics in architecture, industrial and product design; and "rough outs" in painting, fashion design and animation. The Gesture Jam includes all types of gestures-sustained, quick, mass, scribble and blind contour. Subject matter includes still life and figure. Contact Henry Dean for more information.
Dates of Fall 2011 Gesture Jams are:
- Friday, Oct. 7, noon to 2:30 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 28, noon to 2:30 p.m.
Exhibition opportunities
- Scope of Drawing Oct. 10-22. This show will feature work by drawing minor students representing diverse approaches to drawing. Contact Henry Dean for more information.
- Foundation Portfolio Award Competition (winter). Contact Jeffrey Hicks for more information.
- Foundations Honor Show (spring). Contact Patrick McKinnon for more information.
- Faculty Drawing Show (winter). Contact Jason Zimmer for more information.
- "Drawing Works: Ideation, Exploration, Expression" (March 2012). Contact Stephen Gardner for more information on how to highlight the strength of drawing throughout the university. This exhibition is open to all undergraduate majors and first-year students.
- Sand Arts Festival (spring). Contact Chris Nitsche for more information.
Building resources
Still Life Center (Anderson Hall)
The Still Life Center exists to assist students enrolled in foundation studies classes to improve their in-class performance; to provide additional technical information applicable to still life drawing rendering techniques and media; and to assist students in the development of technical fluency.
Boundary Hall Woodshop
Shop safety guidelines
Fall/Winter/Spring Hours
Summer Hours
Shop is CLOSED during academic breaks.
Students currently enrolled in Design II: 3D Design Form and Space are offered access to shop facilities, including hand tools and hand held power tools. Students currently enrolled in one of several sculpture classes have training and access to stationary woodworking equipment including band saws, table saws, joiners, planers and routers as well as metal fabrication equipment. This includes, steel rollers, brakes, plasma cutters and MIG welders.
Design Station (Wallin Hall)
The design station provides a space for students to prepare their work for presentation or for exhibition.
Computer Labs (Anderson Hall and Wallin Hall)
These facilities include a 20-station computer lab.
The Still Life Center exists to assist students enrolled in foundation studies classes to improve their in-class performance; to provide additional technical information applicable to still life drawing rendering techniques and media; and to assist students in the development of technical fluency.
Boundary Hall Woodshop
Shop safety guidelines
Fall/Winter/Spring Hours
- Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
Summer Hours
- Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Shop is CLOSED during academic breaks.
Students currently enrolled in Design II: 3D Design Form and Space are offered access to shop facilities, including hand tools and hand held power tools. Students currently enrolled in one of several sculpture classes have training and access to stationary woodworking equipment including band saws, table saws, joiners, planers and routers as well as metal fabrication equipment. This includes, steel rollers, brakes, plasma cutters and MIG welders.
Design Station (Wallin Hall)
The design station provides a space for students to prepare their work for presentation or for exhibition.
Computer Labs (Anderson Hall and Wallin Hall)
These facilities include a 20-station computer lab.
Lectures and discussions
Art First
Art First is a quarterly event that introduces faculty and students to visual interests and artworks by other professors, visiting artists and designers. Art First provides professors and visiting artists the opportunity to show and discuss art and design issues with colleagues.
TADTad: The Art and Design of Teaching (art and design)
The Art and Design of Teaching (art and design) workshops exist to bring together graduate students and professors from across the university to discuss the best pedagogical practices behind intelligent, sensitive and creative teaching. This year-long series of workshops provides a forum for formal presentations and discussions, highlighting successful strategies, providing inspiration, and creating a forum to share passionate tales of the noble profession of teaching. All professors and graduate students interested in or preparing for teaching internships are encouraged to attend. For more information, email Sam Norgard.
Talk About Teaching (Faculty)
Talk about Teaching is a forum for sharing teaching strategies for all levels and addressing challenges of teaching first-year students. The department invites both nationally known speakers and lecturers from throughout the university to inspire professors and create a dialogue about teaching. The event is quarterly. Contact Karen Davies for more information.
Art First is a quarterly event that introduces faculty and students to visual interests and artworks by other professors, visiting artists and designers. Art First provides professors and visiting artists the opportunity to show and discuss art and design issues with colleagues.
TADTad: The Art and Design of Teaching (art and design)
The Art and Design of Teaching (art and design) workshops exist to bring together graduate students and professors from across the university to discuss the best pedagogical practices behind intelligent, sensitive and creative teaching. This year-long series of workshops provides a forum for formal presentations and discussions, highlighting successful strategies, providing inspiration, and creating a forum to share passionate tales of the noble profession of teaching. All professors and graduate students interested in or preparing for teaching internships are encouraged to attend. For more information, email Sam Norgard.
Talk About Teaching (Faculty)
Talk about Teaching is a forum for sharing teaching strategies for all levels and addressing challenges of teaching first-year students. The department invites both nationally known speakers and lecturers from throughout the university to inspire professors and create a dialogue about teaching. The event is quarterly. Contact Karen Davies for more information.
