Undergraduate and Graduate Program
Students in the Metal Design program in The School of Art and Design can earn BFA, BFA in Art Education, BA, and MFA degrees. The MFA graduate program includes 60 hours in studio, art history and elective courses, and usually requires 3 years of study. The four metals faculty have diverse strengths and work well together with all of the undergraduate and graduate students, offering a supportive environment and encouraging technical experimentation, individual research and conceptual development according to each students particular interests. Students earning a BA or BFA are required to create a body of work for a “Senior Exhibition” before they graduate. Students earning an MFA will work during their last year on an MFA thesis exhibition with a supporting written report, and an oral review by a faculty committee.
Courses Offered:
After the introductory class undergraduate students take beginning and advanced jewelry design classes that include fabrication and casting, beginning and advanced metalsmithing (forging and forming) classes, beginning and advanced enameling classes and a class in innovative and experimental techniques. During the senior year students work independently with faculty supervision, exploring their own personal direction to create a body of work for exhibition.
The ECU Metals Guild, a student organization, sponsors visiting artist workshops and symposiums as well as field trips and sales of student artwork. The metals program typically brings in at least 2 visiting artists each year to supplement the curriculum. Field trips to Penland, ACC shows, Museums and galleries offer opportunities for expanding awareness of the contemporary field.
2300. Metal Design Survey (3) (F,S,SS) P: ART 1015, 1030. Metal as medium in solving visual problems. Historical and technical aspects of designer craftsman using metal.
2301. Metal Design Studio I (Jewelry) (3) (S) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Design and production of jewelry.
2311. Metal Design Studio II (Enameling) (3) (F,S) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Advanced enameling techniques employed in individually designed products.
2321. Metal Design Studio III (Raising, Spinning, Chasing, Repousse, Forging) (3) (F,S) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Techniques of metal forming used by artist craftsman to produce individually styled objects.
3301. Metal Design Studio IV (3) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Advanced jewelry and metal design. Basic methods of casting.
3311. Metal Design Studio V (3) (S) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Advanced application of metal-forming techniques. Influence of traditional techniques on individually designed products.
3321. Metal Enameling Studio II (3) (F,S) P: ART 2311 or consent of instructor. Further development of design sensitivity and technical skills required to produce enameled objects of art.
4301. Metal Design Studio VI (3) (F,S) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Production of individually designed products through application of casting and metal construction techniques.
4311. Metal Design Studio VII (3) P: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Design problems in contemporary materials and techniques.
5301. Metal Design Studio VIII (3) P for undergraduate students: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Original research in metal design.
5311. Metal Design Studio IX (3) P for undergraduate students: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Original research in metal design.
Graduate Level Courses
5301. Metal Design Studio VIII (3) P for undergraduate students: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Original research in metal design.
5311. Metal Design Studio IX (3) P for undergraduate students: ART 2300 or consent of instructor. Original research in metal design.
6301, 6311, 6321, 6331, 6341, 6351, 6361, 6371. Problems in Metal Design (3 each) To be taken in sequence.
