More Digital Arts Please?

Leah C.

March 21, 2010 - 6:00 PM

There are a lot of great things that the University of Oregon art department has to offer. Quality teachers, gallery space, an outstanding architecture program, computer labs and studios for students. Really, I love it here, but where are all the digital art classes? I'm in my last term as a junior this year and I've taken all the prerequisite courses for my major. I've gotten to learn just about everything that is related in digital arts, from basic programing, animation, illustration, web design, film and photo editing. Now, Isn't it time for me to focus more and expand on the things that I am most interested in? Upper division classes in graphic design, more illustration, maybe a full course in web design. I've taken all the 300 level courses related to graphics and image work but are there anymore?!

Registration was about a month ago, and the list of classes available in the digital arts category was quite disappointing. Classes were either full or focused on things that were outside of my interest. I have heard many other digital art students who have found the lack of classes frustrating as well.

My argument: Digital art students need more classes!!!!

For me, I can understand that students with senior statuses have first pick in the course registration. This explains why some of the classes fill up fast, but why are there still many seniors who are in the last years of the program, unable to register? Why, can't the university open up another class, when professors are faced with a double digit waiting list? Digital art classes are mostly studio based. A typical digital art class consists of 18 students and usually lasts for 3 hours. I just don't understand. Class sizes are small, so shouldn't there be more classes to accommodate those who are interested in taking them?

I spoke with one of the digital art professors on the last day of our class. The major problem seems to be staffing. Well, if the number of professors is the problem, can the digital arts department just hire more? There are students in product design (a new major started last year) who are taking digital art courses to learn how to use programs such as illustrator. With an increase of students, and majors relating to digital arts, does this not justify the need for more classes?

Another thing that I realized is that some of the professors at the university also teach at the White Stag for a term. The White Stag is another home for the University of Oregon's Art Department, but are the Digital Arts program replacing those teachers who are temporally working up in Portland? When I registered for my spring term classes, I see many that are available at the White Stag, but the problem is that I'll be in Eugene, and the class that I am interested in is a 2 hour drive out of town.

Seriously!?

There is an example guideline in the art department office that maps out what courses a digital student should take over the course of their four years at the University of Oregon. The problem is that classes are sometimes not offered, students have time conflicts with other courses, or the class is full. How can we follow a guideline that does not fit every student?

Registering for classes is like a game. I find whatever (interesting) upper division course that is open, and I click it before it becomes full. I was one of the earlier juniors that got to register for classes and was able to snag the last spot in "Intro to Animation." I am also taking a videos effects class in the term, a skill that does not exactly fit my career focus..... It should be interesting, but if I had any other option available, I would have not chosen this class.

The department needs to reevaluate what their students want and need as far as courses offered through their program. I've heard students repeating the same class to fulfill their upper division requirements. Another example is a student, who is interested in working in animation for a career, but ended up having to wait until fall term (of his senior year) to take the intro class. This is the double digit class I was referring to earlier. The worst thing that can come out of all this, and I know a few seniors who are already in this situation, is the need to stay an additional 5th year in college to finish their digital arts degree. I wouldn't mind staying an extra year for my undergrad studies, but the cost is a lot for everyone, and we students only have so much time and money to spend.