Corcoran Studio Arts (CSA)

CSA 1090. Fine Art Fundamentals I. 3 Credits.

Exploration of techniques in acrylic and oil painting through studio practice, personal development, and art historical contexts.

CSA 1091. Fine Art Fundamentals II. 3 Credits.

Foundational digital software and equipment, concepts, and techniques. Exploration of cultural and theoretical aspects of digital media: truth v. fiction, digital narratives, virtual boundaries, personae, and the social media landscape. Restricted to Students who have not taken CSA 1601.

CSA 1099. Variable Topics. 1-36 Credits.

Variable Topics Same As: FA 1099.

CSA 1101. Introduction to Handbuilt Ceramics. 3 Credits.

Introduction to working with clay as an art form; fundamental hand-building techniques such as pinch, coil, and slab; basic surface, glaze, and firing techniques. Introductory history of ceramics. Credit cannot be earned for this course and FA 1014.

CSA 1102. Introduction to Wheelthrown Ceramics. 3 Credits.

Introduction to wheelthrowing in ceramics; the potter’s wheel as a tool to make ceramic cylindrical, open forms, and vessels; slips, underglazes, and glazes; reduction and oxidation kiln firing; the role of wheel-thrown pottery in historic and contemporary cultures. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CCR 1253, FA 1015.

CSA 1201. Sculpture Fundamentals: Material Investigations. 3 Credits.

Beginning study of design and fabrication of sculpture. Introduction to sculptural techniques across multiple media, with a focus in hand-built processes including textile, wood, and found object techniques. Materials fee. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CFN 1091.

CSA 1301. Drawing Fundamentals. 3 Credits.

Fundamentals of line, shape, value, contrast, composition, and mark making. Emphasis on working directly from life. Traditional and contemporary strategies and skills for developing technique, process, and meaning. Conceptual issues. Materials fee. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CFN 1090, FA 1301.

CSA 1401. Painting: Visual Thinking. 3 Credits.

Development of technical and perceptual skills that are the foundation of visual expression. Introduction to the mechanics of paint handling, including how to begin a painting, apply paint, and model form. Value, line, color, and abstraction.

CSA 1501. Black and White Photography Fundamentals. 3 Credits.

Materials and processes of black and white chemical photography; camera operations, film processing, printing, and presentation methods; the visual language of photography: historical antecedents, contemporary practices, and strategies of critical interpretation.

CSA 1502. Introduction to Digital Color Photography. 3 Credits.

Materials and processes of digital color photography; color theory, exposure techniques, film scanning, digital color correcting, and printing; the use of color as a means of visual communication and creative expression, historical antecedents, contemporary practices, and strategies of critical interpretation.

CSA 1601. New Media Digital Art. 3 Credits.

Introduction to the tools and processes of digital, electronic, and time-based arts; development of technical skills necessary for using the computer as a creative tool.; the history and current role of digital representation and distribution in art, ideas, and relationships.

CSA 1702. Screenprinting. 3 Credits.

Fundamental techniques required to produce hand-pulled screen prints and their context within printmaking and contemporary art. History of screen printing and its role as a fine art, mass media, and commercial tool.

CSA 2000. Sophomore Colloquium. 3 Credits.

Sophomore colloquia are small, seminar-type classes that deeply engage CCAS second-year students in a discipline, focus on a narrow issue of high interest and impact, and require independent research projects. May be repeated provided topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to CCAS sophomores.

CSA 2090. Photography/Photojournalism Studio Documentary Modes and Constructed Realities. 3 Credits.

How photographic processes construct perception of truth and fiction; approaches to image making and interpretation, strategies for editing, and advancing technical skills while developing awareness of photographic traditions and contemporary practices, including photojournalism and documentary modes. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, or CSA 1502. (Same as CPJ 2090)

CSA 2092. Fine Art Studio Experimental Materiality. 3 Credits.

Investigation of materiality and investigation of the meanings and effects of material choices in creative practice. Focus on innovative and unusual materials along with experimental uses of traditional art materials. Restricted to students in the fine arts program or with the permission of the instructor. Prerequisites: At least two of the following courses: CFN 1090, CFN 1091, CFN 1092, CFN 1093.

CSA 2111. Ceramic Design in Handbuilt Forms. 3 Credits.

Further development of handbuilding techniques in ceramic sculpture; pinching, coiling, paddling, and hollowing; use of slabs and hump and press molds. Students produce clay and glazes and experiment with those materials in various reduction and oxidation firing ranges. Prerequisites: One of the following: CSA 1101, CSA, 2101, or FA 1101.

CSA 2112. Ceramic Wheelthrown Forms. 3 Credits.

Use of the wheel to create intricate elements and practices that accompany advanced functional and non-functional ceramic forms, including sculptural applications. Clay and glazes in various reduction and oxidation firing ranges; relationships between clay, surface, and fire. Prerequisites: One of the following: CSA 1102, CSA 2101, or FA 1102. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CCR 2253.

CSA 2113. Intermediate Sculpture in Clay. 3 Credits.

Methods of clay construction relating to sculptural form and aesthetic concerns of sculptural objects. Traditional hand building methods and innovative forming techniques; production of discreet objects and multiples; finishes and firing techniques. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 2126, CSA 1101, CSA 2101, or FA 1101. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CCR 2380.

CSA 2211. Intermediate Sculpture Fabrication. 3 Credits.

Intermediate to advanced fabrication techniques including woodworking, metal fabrication, mold-making, and textiles; developing safe and creative uses of more advanced sculptural techniques and tools in the development of a body of work. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 2214. Metals and Metalworking. 3 Credits.

Introduction to a variety of processes for working with metal alone or with other materials, including forming, cutting, joining, casting, and 3D printing, and their application to contemporary sculpture. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 2215. Mold Making and Casting. 3 Credits.

Introduction to a variety of mold making and casting techniques and materials, discussion of the possibilities of the multiple, and their application to contemporary art. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 2216. Form in Wood. 3 Credits.

Applications of wood as a material for art and design practice; expanded techniques for milling, joining, bending, and shaping; exploration of the physical, historical, and conceptual properties of wood as a living material. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 2311. Intermediate Drawing: Perception and Mark Making. 3 Credits.

Conventional and unconventional materials, techniques, and prepared surfaces; perceptual and conceptual development; observational practice of drawing; and exploration of historical and contemporary developments in drawing. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1090, CFA 1091, CFN 1090, CSA 1301, CSA 1401, or FA 1301. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CFA 2200.

CSA 2413. Intermediate Painting: Process and Materials Lab. 3 Credits.

Traditional and experimental contemporary materials, construction, and application processes used in fine art painting. Support structures, grounds, paints, application tools, and actions by the painter. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1091, CFA 2124, CSA 1401, CSA 2401, or FA 1401.

CSA 2502. Time-based Media Lab. 3 Credits.

Video and audio production with a focus on the skills needed to be a technically proficient and thoughtful media maker. Basic techniques in recording, editing, and production management and conceptual and technical analyses in pop culture, art history, and documentary studies. Restricted to students in the BFA in fine art photography and in photojournalism programs or with the permission of the instructor. Prerequisites: CPH 1091 or CSA 1052.

CSA 2511. Photography: Abstraction Versus Representation. 3 Credits.

Theory and practice of abstract and representational photography in historical and contemporary contexts; chemical and digital photographic processes. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, CSA 1502, or FA 1502.

CSA 2512. Photography: Altered Landscapes. 3 Credits.

Investigation of images of place in contrast to conventions of landscape photography; historical and contemporary contexts; chemical and digital photographic processes. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, CSA 1502, or FA 1502.

CSA 2513. Photography: From Photograms to Scanograms. 3 Credits.

Low-tech methods of producing analogue photographs and generating digital images. Working in both the chemical darkroom and digital lab. Analyzing examples of photography from the earliest practitioners to work being produced by contemporary artists. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, CSA 1502, or FA 1502.

CSA 2570. Studio and Location Lighting. 3 Credits.

Introduction to studio and location lighting. Strobe and continuous lighting equipment; light modifiers and grip equipment; mixed sources light; and aesthetic approaches using artificial and ambient light. Prerequisites: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, CSA 1502, FA 1501, or FA 1502.

CSA 2611. Video Art. 3 Credits.

The skills needed to be a technically proficient and thoughtful video maker. History of video art since 1965; avant-garde moving image languages; and theoretical and social contexts that have informed the development and use of the medium. Prerequisites: CFN 1092, FA 1502, or FA 1601.

CSA 2701. Printmaking Medium and Materials Workshop. 3 Credits.

Introduction to printmaking media and their use in historic and contemporary artistic practice; multi-faceted relationships of printmaking with photography, sculpture, painting, and other media. Materials fee. Recommended background: CFN 1090, CSA 1301, or FA 1301.

CSA 2703. Wood Block Print. 3 Credits.

Traditional and contemporary methods of wood block printing; techniques for incorporating wood block and other media in the creation of individual and multiple prints and objects; uses of woodblock printing in historical contexts and in contemporary art. Materials fee.

CSA 2705. Collagraph and Mixed-Media Printmaking. 3 Credits.

Production of multiple print editions using collaged and mixed-media printmaking techniques, including including, sandrographs for the Vandercook press, silk organza, traditional collaged plates and paper prints; historical and contemporary examples and development of critical language for analyzing print media. Materials fee.

CSA 2706. Lithography. 3 Credits.

Introduction to lithographic printmaking as a versatile tool for manipulating photographic images and as an expressive drawing medium. Materials fee. Recommended background: CFN 1090 or CSA 1301 or FA 1301.

CSA 2760. Book Arts: Concept and Content. 3 Credits.

Fundamentals of developing book art structures and artist's books; construction and bindings, text and image-making techniques, and utilizing design, photography, and writing as source materials for book projects. Materials fee.

CSA 3020W. Topics in Photography and Photojournalism. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPJ 2090, CPH 2090, CSA 2090, or CSA 2091.

CSA 3021W. Topics in Fine Art Seminar. 3 Credits.

Theoretical, historical, material, political, and poetic context of topics in contemporary art and culture. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement. Restricted to junior and seniors in the BA in fine arts program; in the BFA in fine art, graphic design, interaction design, and photojournalism programs; or with the permission of the instructor.

CSA 3092. Fine Art Studio Critical Practices in Making. 3 Credits.

Students create work in response to conceptually oriented questions in media with focus on the structure and rhythm of their creative practice, consideration of the lives and politics of objects, and processes of individual and collective action. Emphasis on technical, conceptual, and aesthetic development. Materials fee. Restricted to BFA in fine art majors; BA in fine arts majors with the permission of the instructor. Prerequisites: CFA 2090 and CSA 2092. Recommended background: Prior completion of CSA 2093.

CSA 3099. Variable Topics. 36 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for additional information.

CSA 3101. Special Topics: Ceramics. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 2126, CSA 1101, CSA 2101, or FA 1101.

CSA 3201. Special Topics: Sculpture. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 3202. Sculpture Digital Forms. 3 Credits.

Applications of digital fabrication to a multi-media contemporary art practice. The intersection between digital and physical methods of fabrication. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201. Credit cannot be earned for this course and FA 2213.

CSA 3240. Wear, Strut, Occupy. 3 Credits.

Costume, adornment and the relationship between individual, material, and context, including wearable sculpture, fashion, performance, and wearer/performer identity. Practical experience with clothing design and interpretation through a variety of costume design projects. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 3241. Installation Art. 3 Credits.

Installation and sculpture through the lens of site specificity, architecture, media, and landscape. Theoretical dialogue of context and material as well as the practical issues of fabrication and implementation. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1092, CFN 1091, CSA 1201, or FA 1201.

CSA 3301. Special Topics: Drawing. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1090, CFA 1091, CFN 1090, CSA 1301, CSA 1401, or FA 1301.

CSA 3401. Special Topics: Painting. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: One of the following: CFA 1091, CFA 2124, CSA 1401, CSA 2401, or FA 1401.

CSA 3501. Special Topics in Photography. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Prerequisites: One of the following: FA 1501, FA 1502, CPH 1091, CSA 1502, or CSA 1501.

CSA 3510. Pre-Digital Alternative Process. 3 Credits.

Investigation of alternative photographic processes such as albumen, salted paper, gum bichromate, platinum/ palladium, and mordançage, leading to a fully realized portfolio, book, or other independent project. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, or FA 1501. Recommended background: prior completion of CPH 2090 or CSA 2090. Same As: CPJ 6450, CSA 6510.

CSA 3535. Advanced Digital Photography. 3 Credits.

Enhancement of digital camera, editing, and printing techniques through advanced approaches. Connecting process with content of the image and intentions of the image-maker. Development of individual image-making abilities and personal approach. Prerequisites: CPH 2100 or CSA 1502. Recommended background: Prior completion of CSA 2090.

CSA 3536. Making Meaning in the Photography Book. 3 Credits.

Methods of developing narrative and non-narrative photo books, including assembly of individual photographs and texts into sequential form. Historical and contemporary strategies of making meaning. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, CSA 1502, FA 1501, or FA 1502. Recommended background: CSA 2091.

CSA 3540. Advanced Lens-Based Commissions Project. 3 Credits.

Through a real-world collaborative project students learn the aspects of commission and exhibition work including research, project management, and production. Advanced lighting and interviewing skills, problems in historical and contemporary portraiture. Commissions vary by semester. Prerequisites: CSA 2570 or SMPA 2113. Credit cannot be earned for this course and CPH 3640.

CSA 3601. Special Topics: Time-Based and Electronic Media. 3 Credits.

Issues in contemporary time-based and electronic media. Topics vary by semester. May be repeated provided the topic differs. See the schedule of classes for more details. Prerequisites: CDE 1091, CSA 1502, CSA 1601, or SMPA 2012.

CSA 3606. Performative Media. 3 Credits.

Development and production of performance-based art works. Elements of performance (text, movement, sound, video, ritual, social practice). Narrative and theoretical approaches to performance art and works for stage, video, or installation.

CSA 3612. Video: Remixing the Archive. 3 Credits.

Use of existing moving image and sound in video, live remix or sources for performance in arts and documentary contexts. Narrative and theoretical approaches to mediated memory. Introduces students to the substantial archival resources in Washington, DC, and online collections. Prerequisites: CSA 2502, CSA 2601 and SMPA 2112 or related coursework with the permission of the instructor.

CSA 3613. Site and Sound. 3 Credits.

Contemporary sonic art practice and audio production; audio storytelling, spatialized sound, and site-based sonic artwork; critical perspectives on sound and audio practice. Prerequisites: CFN 1093 or CSA 1502 or CSA 1601 or SMPA 2112.

CSA 3701. Special Topics in Print Media. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. See program for more details. Permission of the instructor may substitute for prerequisites. Prerequisites: CFA 2125, CPR 2300, CPR 2423, CPR 2403, CSA 1701, CSA 1702, CSA 2703, CSA 2705, CSA 2708 and CSA 2760.

CSA 3710. Special Topics in Print Media. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. See program for more details. Permission of the instructor may substitute for prerequisites. Prerequisites: CFA 2125, CPR 2300, CPR 2423, CPR 2403, CSA 2701, CSA 2702, CSA 2703, CSA 2705, CSA 2708 and CSA 2760.

CSA 3712. Letterpress From the 1400s to the Digital Age. 3 Credits.

Traditional and contemporary letterpress and relief printing applications; typesetting; presswork, inking, editioning, and Vandercook press operation; black and white relief printing, reduction printing; and experimental collagraph techniques. Materials fee.

CSA 3716. Advanced Printmaking: Screenprinting and Woodblock. 3 Credits.

Exploration of woodblock as discrete practice and in combination with screenprinting, painting, sculpture, and photography. Historical examples examined. Contemporary artists introduced through site visits and field research. Recommended background: CSA 1701, CSA 1702, and CSA 1703.

CSA 3901. Special Topics: Cross-Disciplinary Studio Arts. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Recommended background: Prior coursework in the media or topics covered.

CSA 3912. The Cinematic in Contemporary Art. 3 Credits.

The influence of cinema on contemporary art in historical, conceptual, and aesthetic contexts. Students employ cinematic strategies through projects that explore setting, sequencing, camera angle, point of view, tracking, lighting, performance, narrative, and sound. Prerequisites: CFN 1092 or CSA 1502 or CSA 2502 or CSA 2601.

CSA 3913. Painting Off the Wall. 3 Credits.

Nontraditional approaches to painting, including manipulation of its structural aspects. Painting combined with other creative fields such as architecture, sculpture, social practice, performance, and film/video. Prerequisites: One of the following: CSA 2401, CSA 1401, TRDA 4338, FA 1401, CFA 2124, or CFA 1091.

CSA 3914. Art Outside the Gallery. 3 Credits.

Site-specific art practices emphasizing a variety of forms of public art, artist-run spaces, and practices that engage places and audiences outside of formal art spaces. Prerequisites: CFN 1093, CSA 2201 and CFA 2123.

CSA 3915. Public Spectacle in Socially Engaged Art. 3 Credits.

Ethical, cultural, and political implications of using art in the public sphere and the philosophical, theoretical, and historical background of these practices. Students create collaborative artworks that address real-life problems and seek solutions in actual and virtual communities, from inventing a persona to creating a social movement. May be repeated for credit. Recommended background: Prior completion of any two 2000-level courses in one or more of the subject areas CDE, CGD, CDM, CMUS, CPJ, CSA, and CTAD.

CSA 3951. Creative Photovoltaics. 3 Credits.

The fabrication process of solar devices and the parameters of solar cells in design and art applications. Students build a small solar device and conceptualize innovative proposals for new solar technology solutions. Prerequisites: CSA 1201 or CFN 1093.

CSA 4020W. Photography and Photojournalism Studio Seminar. 3 Credits.

Critical issues in contemporary photography, photojournalism, and lens-based media including photographic voice, precedent, impact in the art and publishing worlds. Research and writing supports development of thesis and independent projects. Prerequisites: CPJ 3020 or CSA 3020. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement.

CSA 4021W. Fine Art Studio Seminar. 3 Credits.

Critical issues in the production, contextualization, presentation, documentation, and distribution of contemporary art works. Research and writing in support of the development of thesis/capstone projects in contemporary art. Restricted to juniors and seniors. Includes a significant engagement in writing as a form of critical inquiry and scholarly expression to satisfy the WID requirement.

CSA 4085. Directed Studies: Studio Arts. 1-3 Credits.

Directed research and study in a specific area of studio art practice to be approved and supervised by a faculty member. Students must have their plan of study approved by the faculty supervisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to enrollment. Restricted to fine art photography, fine art, and photojournalism majors.

CSA 4092. Fine Art Thesis I. 3 Credits.

The development of a senior thesis project and accompanying research. Individual and group critiques, readings and discussions. Planning and execution of a body of work that extends visual language and conceptual development. Restricted to students in the BFA in fine art program and those in the BA in fine arts program with the permission of the instructor.

CSA 4093. Fine Art Thesis II. 3 Credits.

Completion and exhibition of a senior thesis project and accompanying research. Individual and group critiques, readings and discussions. Planning and execution of a body of work that extends visual language and conceptual development. Restricted to students in the BFA in fine art program; BA in fine arts students with the permission of the instructor.

CSA 4095. Critical Practices. 3 Credits.

Development and execution of an independent body of work; connecting project ideas with choices of material, action, and site. Technical, conceptual, and aesthetic development emphasized; supported by study of theory and criticism and individual and group critiques. Restricted to students in the BA in fine art program or with the permission of the instructor based on portfolio review. Prerequisites: One of the following: CSA 2001, CSA 2092, or FA 2001.

CSA 4098. Studio Arts Internship. 3 Credits.

Open to students pursuing an internship directly relevant to their major themes and goals. Permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies required prior to enrollment. Graded exclusively on a Pass/No Pass basis. Restricted to students in the fine art photography, fine art, and photojournalism programs. Credit cannot be earned for this course and FA 4199.

CSA 4170. Professional Practices for Artists. 3 Credits.

Infrastructure of the art world through analysis of various sustainable models of contemporary art practice for young artists. Establishing practical modes of criticism, promotion, fundraising and entrepreneurship in relation to exhibiting one’s work, seeking venues, conducting studio visits, managing budgets, and writing grants, press releases, and artist statements. Restricted to juniors and seniors in the BFA and BA in fine arts programs. Prerequisites: CSA 2001 and CSA 3092.

CSA 6010. Social Practice Workshop. 4 Credits.

Core studio for students in the MFA in social practice program. Intensive studio critique supported by an equally rigorous investigation of the interdisciplinary tools, strategies, cultural and technological innovations for socially engaged creative practice. Restricted to students in the MFA in social practice program.

CSA 6015. History and Theory of Art in the Public Realm. 3 Credits.

Contemporary and historical theories of social relations and public space and foundational questions relevant to a creative practice in the public sphere. Topics vary by semester. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students in Corcoran School programs.

CSA 6016. Field and Research Methodologies for Artists. 3 Credits.

Research and other professional methodologies for artists working on cross-disciplinary projects in the public realm. Theoretical and practical tools for developing hybridized models for inquiry. Restricted to students in the MFA in social practice and public policy program.

CSA 6080. Social Practice Field Studio. 3 Credits.

Socially engaged practice lab with a focus on social, environmental, and community impact. Students collaborate with a local partner to identify and respond to local challenges. Restricted to students in the MFA in social practice and public policy program.

CSA 6085. Directed Studies. 1-3 Credits.

Directed research and study in a specific area of studio art practice to be supervised by a faculty member. Students must have a written plan of study proposal approved by the supervising faculty member and Director of Graduate Studies prior to enrollment. Restricted to students in the MFA in fine arts and MA in new media photojournalism programs.

CSA 6091. Contemporary Art and Theory for Artists I. 3 Credits.

Thematic history of contemporary art since the late 1960s. Key theoretical ideas shaping contemporary philosophy, art practices, and art history. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6092. Contemporary Art and Theory for Artists II. 3 Credits.

Continuation of CSA 6091. Thematic history of contemporary art since the late 1960s. Key theoretical ideas shaping contemporary philosophy, art practices, and art history. Restricted to graduate students. Recommended background: CSA 6091.

CSA 6093. Professional Practices. 3 Credits.

Infrastructure of the art world through analysis of various sustainable models of contemporary art practice for young artists. Establishing practical modes of criticism, promotion, fundraising and entrepreneurship in relation to exhibiting one’s work; seeking venues; conducting studio visits; managing budgets; and writing grants, press releases, and artist statements. Restricted to students in the MFA in fine arts program.

CSA 6094. Writing in Practice. 3 Credits.

Key artists' writings and the ways in which artists incorporate writing into their overall artistic practices. Questions of intention, the reciprocity of an artwork, agency and locational identity, defining a public/audience, and perceptions of care and engagement. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6095. Critical Practices. 3-9 Credits.

Interdisciplinary studio that supports the production and analysis of creative work. Critiques and discussions challenge students to develop and articulate their creative practice. Emphasis on conceptual, aesthetic, and theoretical development. Restricted to students in the MFA in fine arts program.

CSA 6096. Studio Visits. 3 Credits.

Ongoing critical discourse about each student’s creative work through regular studio visits with the instructor, as well as one-time visits by international, national, and regional artists. Restricted to students in the MFA in fine arts program and other Corcoran students with the permission of the instructor.

CSA 6097. Topics in Public Strategies. 2 Credits.

Connection of artists, designers, organizers, researchers, and policy makers whose work expands the role of creative practice in the public sphere. Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students in Corcoran School programs.

CSA 6098. Studio Arts Internship. 3 Credits.

Open to graduate students pursuing an internship directly relevant to their studio arts program themes and goals. Permission of the Director of Graduate Studies is required prior to enrollment. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to students in the MFA in fine arts and MA in new media photojournalism programs.

CSA 6101. Special Topics: Ceramics. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6111. Ceramic Design in Handbuilt Forms. 3 Credits.

Further development of handbuilding techniques in ceramic sculpture; pinching, coiling, paddling, and hollowing; use of slabs and hump and press molds. Students produce clay and glazes and experiment with those materials in various reduction and oxidation firing ranges. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6113. Sculpture in Clay. 3 Credits.

Methods of clay construction relating to sculptural form and the aesthetic concerns of the sculptural object. Traditional hand building methods and innovative forming techniques; production of discreet objects, multiples, and issues dealing with the installation of each; and finishes and firing techniques to connect ceramic surface and form. Restricted to graduate students. Same As: CCR 5380. Credit cannot be earned for this course and FA 6113.

CSA 6201. Special Topics: Sculpture. 3 Credits.

Rotating issues in contemporary sculptural practices. Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6202. Sculpture Digital Forms. 3 Credits.

Applications of digital fabrication to a multi-media contemporary art practice. The intersection between digital and physical methods of fabrication. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6214. Metals and Metalworking. 3 Credits.

Introduction to a variety of processes for working with metal alone or with other materials, including forming, cutting, joining, casting, and 3D printing, and their application to contemporary sculpture. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6240. Wear, Strut, Occupy. 3 Credits.

Costume and adornment as a vehicle to explore the relationship between individual, material, and environment, including costuming, fashion, sculpture, performance, and wearer/performer identity. Hands-on experience with clothing design and interpretation through a variety of costume design projects. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6241. Installation Art. 3 Credits.

Installation and sculpture through the lens of site specificity, architecture, media, and landscape. Emphasis on theoretical dialogue of context and material and the practical issues of fabrication and implementation. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6301. Special Topics: Drawing. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6401. Special Topics in Painting. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6501. Special Topics in Photography. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6510. Pre-Digital Alternative Process. 3 Credits.

Investigation of alternative photographic processes such as albumen, salted paper, gum bichromate, platinum/ palladium, and mordançage, leading to a fully realized portfolio, book, or other independent project. Prerequisites: One of the following: CPH 1091, CSA 1501, or FA 1501. Recommended background: prior completion of CPH 2090 or CSA 2090. Same As: CPJ 6450, CSA 3510.

CSA 6511. Photography: Abstraction Versus Representation. 3 Credits.

Theory and practice of abstract and representational photography in historical and contemporary contexts. Chemical and digital photographic processes. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6512. Photography: Altered Landscapes. 3 Credits.

Investigation of images of place in contrast to conventions of landscape photography; historical and contemporary contexts; chemical and digital photographic processes. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6513. Photography: From Photograms to Scanograms. 3 Credits.

Low-tech means of producing analogue photographs and generating digital images; moving between the chemical darkroom to the digital lab. Review of images captured by the earliest practitioners to work being produced by contemporary artists. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6540. Advanced Lens-based Commissions Project. 3 Credits.

Through a real-world collaborative project students learn the aspects of commission and exhibition work, including research, project management, and production. Advanced lighting and interviewing skills, problems in historical and contemporary portraiture. Commission varies by semester. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to students in the MA in new media photojournalism program. (Same as CSA 3540)

CSA 6570. Studio and Location Lighting. 3 Credits.

Introduction to studio and location lighting for photography and lens-based media. Strobe and continuous lighting equipment, light modifiers and grip equipment, mixed sources light, and aesthetic approaches using artificial and ambient light. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6601. Special Topics: Time-Based and Electronic Media. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6606. Performative Media. 3 Credits.

Development and production of performance-based art works. Elements of performance (text, movement, sound, video, ritual, social practice). Narrative and theoretical approaches to performance art and works for stage, video, or installation. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6612. Video: Remixing the Archive. 3 Credits.

Use of existing moving image and sound in video, live remix or sources for performance in arts and documentary contexts. Narrative and theoretical approaches to mediated memory. Introduces students to the substantial archival resources in Washington, DC, and online collections. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6613. Site and Sound. 3 Credits.

Overview of contemporary sonic art practice and audio production. Audio storytelling, spatialized sound, and site-based sonic artwork. Critical perspectives on sound and audio practice. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6701. Special Topics in Print Media. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6702. Screenprinting. 3 Credits.

Production of hand-pulled screen prints and their context within printmaking and contemporary art. History of screen printing and its role as a fine art, mass media, and commercial tool. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6703. Wood Block Print. 3 Credits.

Traditional and contemporary methods of wood block printing; techniques for incorporating wood block and other media in the creation of individual and multiple prints and objects; uses of woodblock printing in historical contexts and in contemporary art. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6705. Collagraph and Mixed-Media Printmaking. 3 Credits.

Production of multiple print editions using collaged and mixed-media printmaking techniques. Exploration of historical and contemporary examples of collagraph prints and development of critical language for analyzing print media.

CSA 6706. Lithography. 3 Credits.

Lithographic printmaking as a versatile tool for manipulating photographic images and as an expressive drawing medium. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6712. Letterpress From the 1400's to the Digital Age. 3 Credits.

Traditional and contemporary letterpress and relief printing applications; typesetting; presswork, inking, editioning, and Vandercook press operation; black and white relief printing, reduction printing; and experimental collagraph techniques. May be repeated for credit.

CSA 6716. Advanced Printmaking: Screenprint/Woodblock. 3 Credits.

Traditional methods of wood block printing. Contemporary artists working in this medium are introduced through site visits and field research. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6760. Book Arts Concept and Content. 3 Credits.

Development and construction of artist’s books. Emphasizes structures and bindings, text and image-making techniques, and utilizing design, photography, and writing as source materials for book projects. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6901. Special Topics in Cross-Disciplinary Studio Arts. 3 Credits.

Topics vary by semester. May be repeated for credit provided the topic differs. Consult the Schedule of Classes for more details. Restricted to graduate students. Recommended background: Prior completion of coursework in the media or topics covered. (Same as CSA 3901)

CSA 6912. The Cinematic in Contemporary Art. 3 Credits.

The influence of cinema on contemporary art in historical, conceptual, and aesthetic contexts. Students employ cinematic strategies through projects that explore setting, sequencing, camera angle, point of view, tracking, lighting, performance, narrative, and sound. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6913. Painting Off the Wall. 3 Credits.

Nontraditional approaches to painting, including manipulation of the structural aspects of paintings; painting combined with other creative fields such as architecture, sculpture, social practice, performance, and film/video. Restricted to graduate students. Prerequisite: . Credit cannot be earned for this course and FA 6913.

CSA 6914. Art Outside the Gallery. 3 Credits.

Site-specific art practices emphasizing a variety of forms of public art, artist-run spaces, and practices that engage places and audiences outside of formal art spaces. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6915. Public Spectacle in Socially Engaged Art. 3 Credits.

Ethical, cultural, and political implications of using art in the public sphere; the philosophical, theoretical, and historical background of these practices. Students create collaborative artworks that address real-life problems and seek solutions in actual and virtual communities, from inventing a persona to creating a social movement. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students.

CSA 6951. Creative Photovoltaics. 3 Credits.

The fabrication process of solar devices and the parameters of solar cells in design and art applications. Students build a small solar device and conceptualize innovative proposals for new solar technology solutions. May be repeated for credit. Restricted to graduate students. (Same as CSA 3951)

CSA 6999. Thesis Research. 3,6 Credits.

Development of a thesis project and accompanying research. Permission of the Director of Graduate Studies required prior to enrollment. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only. Restricted to students in the master of fine arts program.