Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Introduction to Visual Arts (Synchronous Remote)

ART 1010-31R

Course: ART 1010-31R
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: ARTD
CRN: 20017

Course Description

An art orientation. A study of the principles and ideas underlying visual art expressions and a survey of major periods, styles, and artists. Illustrated lectures. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Fine Arts

Required Texts

Recommended text, and other course-related materials: The recommended text for this course is Margaret Lazzari and Dona Schlesier's Exploring Art. The 3rd (2009), 4th (2011) or 5th edition (2015) are all acceptable. 

Learning Outcomes

The curriculum for art history and visual-art studies at SUU maintains objectives that teach students to engage with the discipline by using established research methods which help not only to develop a mastery of the required writing and presentation components of a given course, but also to build students’ command of their analytical, investigative and communicative skills.  The following information provides a summary of the guidelines in place for art history, presented here as an example of research-oriented disciplines. The art history program’s mission is to satisfy the following student learning objectives: a.) acquisition of a breadth and depth of knowledge in art history and, upon successful completion of this General Education Humanities requirement, demonstration of a developing competency in at least two and as many as all five of these areas, as defined by the essential learning outcomes for the designation in R470 Appendix:

Essential Learning Outcome No. 1 (SUU Essential Learning Outcome 2.2.1 – Humanities):  Examine how humanities artifacts (such as oral narratives, literature, philosophy, media, and artworks) express the human condition;  
 
Essential Learning Outcome No. 2 (SUU Essential Learning Outcome 2.1.1 – Arts):  Apply artistic concepts and ideas drawn from traditions of artistic creation and theory to better engage with, analyze and understand a creative work; 
 
Essential Learning Outcome No. 3 (SUU Essential Learning Outcome 2.1.3 – Arts):  Examine connections between art and society and articulate how the arts are a historical and cultural phenomenon. 
 
Essential Learning Outcome No. 4 (SUU Essential Learning Outcome 6.1.2): Knowledge of Human Cultures – engagement with "big questions" – both contemporary and enduring – in the sciences, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts.


More specifically, at the completion of ARTH 1010: Introduction to Visual Art, students will have a developing ability to – 

1. Identify key works of art by artist, title, date, historical period, and geographic region; 

2. Explain art historical terms and concepts and use these terms to determine the significance of works of art from various periods and geographic regions; 

3. Analyze and articulate the formal and iconographic elements of selected artworks from the prehistoric art through the Late Renaissance; 

4. Convey critical thinking skills to analyze works of art and the socio-historical context surrounding their production; and to 

5. Learn about the material processes in the creation of artworks from prehistoric art through to our time.


Course Requirements

There will be 10 Module Quizzes, some of them objective in format, others discussion-based. In addition there will be an objective Midterm Test, and a similar Final Test.  Students will also be required to submit a Creative Assignment, instructions for which will be provided at the midpoint of the course. Finally, students will have two extra-credit opportunities.

Course Outline

Following a syllabus review and an introduction to the history of definitions of art, the course will address the so-called Elements and Principles of Art and Design – a group of terms given particular meaning within the context of art analysis. The remainder of the course, filling Modules 3 through 10, covers the history of art with emphasis on Western art traditions. Beginning with prehistory and early antiquity, the course will introduce students to the principles of classicism developed in Ancient Greece; Hellenistic aesthetics and the art and architecture of Ancient Rome; Byzantine and medieval European ways of seeing; the Northern and Southern Renaissance; the Baroque era; and the rise of the Realist movement in mid-19th-century Europe and America. The course will conclude with a brief survey of the advent of Modernism in Western art history, looking at the Impressionist, Expressionist, Cubist, and non-objective movements of Europe and the United States, and concluding with the beginnings of conceptual art in the early 20th century. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

The course is taught both synchronously (that is, on the specific time schedule set by SUU for a 3-credit-hour lecture-based course) and asynchronously (which means that all class presentations and course materials will be made accessible to students for a significant period of time following their initial availability). In most cases six full days will transpire between the completion of a course module and the due date for submission of answers to the relevant module quiz or test. Likewise, the required Creative Assignment will also be introduced many days in advance of the due date. Because of these very flexible deadlines, make-up quizzes and tests will usually not be allowed, and re-takes will not be permitted.

Attendance Policy

"Attendance" is not required, in the traditional sense, because the course is taught online. Students will not be required to log in at a specific time or on a specific day, nor will they be obligated to respond actively during class hours. Students are, however, expected to participate in class discussions on a regular basis and to engage with the course material in a serious and sustained way. Failure to do so – and to demonstrate such participation and engagement through quiz and test performance – will be noticed, and may seriously affect the student's grade in the course.

Course Fees

As part of SUU's ART program, a fee of $19 per credit-hour ($57 in total) for ART 1010: Introduction to Visual Art may be assessed. This is not a course fee, per se, but a program fee. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.