The Foundation program consists of a series of prerequisite courses taken primarily during the freshman year. The Foundation program is designed to be an indispensable base for the entire educational program of the School of Art and is not intended to prepare students specifically for any one particular discipline. Through exposure to a variety of two and three-dimensional projects, students are given a general introduction to the peculiarities of visual and spatial phenomena as well as to concepts, principles and techniques of the visual arts. The specific disciplines of concentration are drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
Courses are also available in film, video and calligraphy.
Following the completion of the Foundation program, students may follow a generalist approach selecting from these various areas, while observing the prerequisite system in making their choices. Alternatively, students may choose to concentrate in one or two areas of specialization .