Foundations Program

All first year students begin their study in the
Foundations program. Foundations is the basis for
building increasingly sophisticated skills, techniques,
and ideas. A primary objective of the program is to
encourage students to challenge themselves beyond
comfortable levels of achievement through a course
of study that stretches boundaries and builds
self-confidence. An intense, six-credit studio Core
class begins fall semester. The Core curriculum is
designed to emphasize a flow between 2D and 3D
design concepts and solutions with an emphasis on
process.Students are asked to examine their thinking
and decision-making processes, working towards
visual solutions they cannot immediately imagine.
A distinctive feature of Core is the team-teaching
approach where faculty from two different disciplines
conduct class together. Their different points of view
show students a variety of solutions to problems and
encourage collaboration and risk-taking.

Based on the experience of Core, the following three
semesters intensively investigate a variety of media
and prepare students to make an informed choice
of emphasis. The well-rounded experience of the first
two years gives the student the knowledge to then
focus on their emphasis during their third and
fourth years.