2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Author: Watson Peacock

  • AHV-221 HISTORY OF INTERIOR DESIGN

    This course is a comprehensive survey of the,historical development of interior design with,emphasis on furniture and the decorative arts.,The course explores the designs and materials of,Egypt, the Classical Mediterranean, the Medieval,World and Tudor-Elizabethan England. Students,examine the influence of Islam on Spanish design,and that of the French monarchy on Baroque,,Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. The course,concludes with the technological developments and,their impact on designs of the late 19th and 20th,centuries. Lectures and on-site study of museum,collections provide direct experience of the,decorative arts. The history of interior design,and furniture encompasses numerous styles,,movements, and individual artistic contributions.,It also reflects the influence of cultural,,political, and social developments

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites:

  • CDS-412 DESIGN THEORY

    In this final senior year course, students analyze,design theories that focus on their definition of,design practices. The course strengthens skills in,design writing, advanced research methods, and,critical thinking. Students explore design theory,and practice, delving into design history,,methodologies, processes, practices, materials,,and specific topics to inspire the development of,their capstone thesis projects. Projects allow,students to demonstrate their unique application,of design languages and explore the role of,personal voice. Throughout the course, students,create a research bibliography, write a thesis,statement, study case benchmarks, manage,timelines, create presentations, and develop their,final project with the guidance and support of,faculty.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: CDS 311, CDS 312 and CDS 317*,*Formely DGD 311, DGD 312 and DGD 317

  • CDS-418 PROFESSIONAL STUDIO PRACTICES II

    The final required course builds on the first,,Professional Studio Practice I, and expands on,concepts of contemporary design practice within,the Communication Design and Strategy field. In,this course, students’ understanding of various,forms of their professional life can be,envisioned, from independent contracts to,junior/senior positions, and studio ownership.,Students and faculty critically curate their,graduating portfolio to align with the,professional goals they have established. Students,integrate contemporary tools and media platforms,relative to best practices within the design,industry. Differentiating the role of resumes,,websites, social media, and interview,presentations to create a kit that prepares,students for their post-CCS careers. This course,includes on-site/remote visits that include BIPOC,studio practitioners as guest critics to provide,additional insights as they transition to the,professional design industry.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: CDS 312, CDS 317*,*Formely DGD 312 and DGD 317

  • CDS-475 COMMUNICATION DESIGN STRATEGY INTERNSHI

    Participation in an internship experience allows,students to use classroom-learned skills in a,related employment experience. Students must work,a minimum of 135 hours over the course of the,entire semester. To participate students must be,of junior or senior status with completion of,freshman and sophomore studios. Students must,have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8. Seniors may,not be eligible to participate in an internship,during their final semester. Transfer students,must have attended one semester at CCS in addition,to meeting the other eligibility criteria.

    Credits: 6

    Prerequisites:

  • AHV-336 ART & ARCHAEOLOGY OF ANCIENT EGYPT

    This course examines the visual and material,culture of ancient Egypt-its multifarious art,forms, architecture, artifacts-through ancient,Egyptians’ everyday experiences, religious,practices, social hierarchies, political,(in)stability, cross-cultural trade with far-flung,empires, and war (against the Hyksos, Hittites,,Persians, Greeks, Romans, etc.). The,archaeological record will be read and analyzed,with three primary lenses in mind: (1) divine,kingship, (2) mythology, (3) the afterlife.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

  • AHV-307 20TH CENTURY ART IN EUROPE

    This course focuses on artists’ response to the,sweeping social, philosophical and political,changes that began in the late nineteenth century,,including Expressionism, Cubism and Futurism.,Students explore the work of modernists who,affronted their audiences in order to bring about,changes in perception, including the artists of,the Dada movement, who mocked art and society, and,the Surrealists, who explored the unconscious as a,resource for art. Artists studied include Henri,Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Pablo,Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali and Max,Ernst.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education,Elective) subject.

  • AHV-306 INTRODUCTION TO FILM

    This course is designed to give students an,introduction to film as an art worthy of critical,attention. Students develop the ability to think,,discuss and write about film in an academic,context.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

  • AHV-302 IMAGINED WORLDS: UTOPIAS & DYSTOPIAS

    This course uses an interdisciplinary approach,that requires students to apply methodologies,learned in Visual Culture, Critical Thought, and,Literary and Film Studies, as well as a number of,studio based disciplines, to analyze the,utopian/dystopian genre. The class will examine,Western utopian and dystopian philosophies and,how they are manifested in the visual mediums of,literature, architecture, film, fine art, video,games and the internet community.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: WRT 102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

  • AHV-285B SPECIAL PROJECT 285

    The Special Project class is offered on an,occasional basis, with course content specific to,the area being explored.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites:

  • AHV-285A SPECIAL PROJECT 285

    The Special Project class is offered on an,occasional basis, with course content specific to,the area being explored.,

    ,FALL 2026,

    ,WOMEN IN VIDEO & PERFORMANCE,,

    ,This course provides an in-depth exploration of,the intersections between art, media, and gender,theory, combining both creative practice and,critical analysis. Focusing on the pivotal role of,women in video and performance art, students will,examine how these mediums have been used to,challenge and subvert traditional gender,representations. Through a combination of,screenings, readings, discussions, analysis,writing, and hands on projects, the course,investigates how visual culture shapes societal,understandings of gender and identity. Special,attention will be given to feminist art movements,and the innovative ways in which women artists,have utilized video and performance to critique,,disrupt, and transform dominant cultural,narratives about femininity. Students will engage,with key feminist texts and artworks that,interrogate the relationship between the gaze, the,body, and the visual, while exploring how these,practices offer new ways of seeing and,understanding gender. By integrating theory with,creative assignments, students will gain a nuanced,understanding of feminist art practices and the,ongoing relevance of these approaches in,contemporary visual culture.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites: