Visual Arts High School
The curriculum from CIVA Charter High School in Colorado Springs places an importance on the fine arts simply because history, art and music have all been instrumental in communicating history, beliefs and cultural ideals. The study of visual arts in high school allows students to understand and appreciate the quality and implications of the visual fine arts across various periods of time with various types of styles. This class structure provides students a foundation upon which to create and critically evaluate photography, art, and video production. There’s a reason why our artistic academic program at our Colorado Springs art-forward school is so highly regarded by our students.
Here at CIVA, all students are required to take some sort of visual arts high school course. We feel exposing their young minds to such visual brilliance only provides them with a wider spectrum of artistic abilities. They are then able to expand their reach and talents in any art major of their choosing. Athletes cross train, students of the arts cross study. All grades have the opportunity to enroll in basic or advanced visual courses as electives.
The skills of our art instructors and art students have won countless awards in the local Colorado Springs city and state of Colorado. You can see just how brilliant of artists our instructors are here at our charter high school in Colorado Springs by reviewing some of their work. Not only do our instructors produce masterpieces, but our local visual arts high school students have been known to produce equally amazing works of art as well.
Not sure what visual art courses you should enroll your student in? Take a look at the list of elective options below and learn more about their prerequisite requirements and other course details.
VISUAL ARTS ELECTIVES
VIDEO PRODUCTION 1, 2
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Practical Arts or Elective)
Video Production is an introductory survey course that explores film history, the mechanics of film, and traces the process of filmmaking through the pre-production, production and post-production process. In this visual arts high school course, we will explore film through reading, writing, watching films and learning by hands-on experience.
ADVANCED VIDEO PRODUCTION 1, 2
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: Video Production,
(Practical Arts or Elective)
Advanced Video Production is an advanced course that explores film history, the mechanics of film, and traces the process of filmmaking through the pre-production, production and post-production process. We will explore film through reading, writing, watching films and learning by hands-on experience. Offered at our charter high school in Colorado Springs, this course places an emphasis on creating digital shorts and the non-linear editing process.
VISUAL ARTS
CERAMICS 1, 2
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
Ceramics is a high school visual arts course designed to offer students introductory experiences in hand-building and various coil and other clay techniques. Attention will be given to developing awareness of the aesthetic and utilitarian roles of clay as a design material. The elements and principles of design will be emphasized in planning and creating ceramic forms which utilize the techniques, processes, and materials of ceramics design. The cultural and appreciative aspects of art are incorporated into the course through various instructional resources and art production.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 1, 2
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
With the invention of the camera phone, a world of photographers was born. But what is photography? What is its history? Why are there such diverse reactions to similar pictures? We will find the answers to these questions, and more, through an exploration of the history of photography, and hands-on learning opportunities provided in our visual arts high school course. High school students will work with a textbook and Adobe Photoshop to acquire the abilities to create inspiring images.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 3, 4
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: Digital Photography 1, 2
(Humanities or Elective)
Digital Photography II builds on what we learned in Digital Photography I and adds the aspect of photojournalism. Students in this visual arts high school class offered at our charter high school in Colorado Springs will learn about ethics in reporting and capturing images by studying real-world cases. We will also study media law, and how it applies to digital security, social media, sports, food, fashion, publication, and copyright. Finally, each student will go out of the classroom to find newsworthy stories and report on them. All participants will showcase their best work at our in-house Arts Festival.
DRAWING 1, 2
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester 2.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
Drawing is a course designed to offer students opportunities to create images from both observed and imaginary forms. Students will learn the appropriate use of drawing tools and techniques to achieve the desired effects. Classroom activities will concentrate upon contour, gesture, and perspective drawings from life as well as the imagination. The art appreciation and the cultural aspects of art are incorporated into the course through various instructional resources and art production experiences.
GENERAL ART 1, 2
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
During each semester, students will explore the elements of design. Learning techniques and processes related to a particular medium such as drawing or painting will be emphasized in this high school visual arts course. That medium will be related to the particular element being investigated. Media used to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional work will include, but not be limited to, drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. The cultural and appreciative aspects of art will be incorporated into the course through various instructional resources and art production experiences. At CIVA Charter High School in Colorado Springs, art courses become more advanced as the student progresses through the series.
PAINTING 1, 2
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
Painting explores various painting techniques, elements of composition, and color concepts. Materials used in this visual arts high school course for painting representational, expressive or abstracted images include, but are not limited to, tempera, watercolor, and acrylic. Fundamentals of composition, color, theory, and developmental skills will be emphasized. Art history will be incorporated into the course through aesthetics and criticism utilizing varied instructional media and resources.
SCULPTURE 1, 2
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 3.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
In this entry level course, the elements of art and principles of design are studied as they apply to 3D forms. Additive methods (modeling and construction) and subtractive methods (carving and chiseling) of sculpting will be explored using a variety of tools and materials.
ART HISTORY 1
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: None
(Humanities or Elective)
Art History 1 is a course designed to provide opportunities for the study of art history, its relationship to other disciplines, art criticism, & theory. The content is aimed at developing & understanding the value of art in relation to man’s existence, the aesthetic merits of artworks, & the historical significance of art forms & symbols from prehistoric to classical periods in art history.
ART HISTORY 2
Course Length: 1 Semester Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 2.0 Prerequisite: Art History 1
(Humanities or Elective)
Art History 2 builds upon the concepts & ideas presented in Art History 1. The course content is designed to increase the awareness of other cultures through their art forms & symbols from medieval to contemporary periods in art history.