Instructor: Mary Catherine Wilbur

Email: wilburmc@lamarpa.edu

Phone: (409)984-6547

Office Hours: MWF 10am-12pm / TR 12:15pm-2:15pm

Additional Contact Information:

A general introduction to the visual arts designed to create an appreciation of the vocabulary, media, techniques, and purposes of the creative process. Students will critically interpret and evaluate works of art within formal, cultural, and historical contexts

Living with Art by Mark Getlein, 13th Edition

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

May be print, e-book, or summoned via ritual. The first few chapters may be read by clicking ‘Seahawks Book Bundle’ on your Blackboard.

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Additional readings will be available in class and via Blackboard.

None

By the end of this semester, students will be able to:

Apply art terminology as it specifically relates to works of art.

Demonstrate knowledge of art elements and principles of design.

Differentiate between the processes and materials used in the production of various works of art.

Critically interpret and evaluate works of art.

Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of arts on culture.

By the end of this semester, students will be able to:

Apply art terminology as it specifically relates to works of art.

Demonstrate knowledge of art elements and principles of design.

Differentiate between the processes and materials used in the production of various works of art.

Critically interpret and evaluate works of art.

Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of arts on culture.

See topics outline

December 8th 8:00-9:15

Exams:

You will take 1 major exam in this course. The exam will cover class lectures, the textbook, powerpoints, and discussion material. It will be multiple choice and short answers. 

Quizzes:

 Weekly quizzes will cover class lectures, the textbook, powerpoints, and discussion material for the week. It will be multiple choice and short answers.

Discussions:

Most weeks will have some form of activity or discussion on Fridays (MWF class) or the second half of Thursdays (TR class). Topics range from personal opinion, discussion of readings, or group activities. You will receive a batch of new readings every 4-5 weeks and may have a written component. Students are expected to have read any assigned reading before the discussion day. Students are expected to participate, provide meaningful feedback, and respond respectfully to their peers. Your grade will be impacted if you are not prepared and do not participate. 

Art Projects:

 We will have 3 art projects this semester. Students will present their work to the class for critique on the due date. Both you and students responding to your work will be evaluated on your participation, etiquette, engagement and use of vocabulary we have learned in class. When presenting work, I want to hear about your decision-making, design choices, and inspiration. You should showcase that you are knowledgeable about the artist, movement, genre, medium, etc that you are pulling from.

Most students in our class are not artists, but they are creative. I grade based on the effort, presentation and creativity of the piece, not the technical skill. 

Most projects will have a small written component.

Late Work 

I do not do quiz make-ups. Instead, the student’s lowest quiz grade will be duplicated for up to (1) one missed quiz. All other missed quizzes will receive automatic zeros. 

It is very difficult to keep track of who was and was not in class to do an assignment. Some homework assignments will be given out in class, not Blackboard. It is up to the student to talk to their peers and catch up if they miss a class. 

For every day a worksheet, discussion, or other assignment is late, 10% will be subtracted from the grade. Up to 4 days late, then the assignment will receive a zero. 

The final exam cannot be taken late. 

Email

You are required to put the class and section number in the subject line of the email. I will respond promptly in 24-48 hrs. I am available during business hours, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. I do not respond to emails in the evening or the weekend.

Please use your lamarpa email to communicate with me as emails from Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, etc. may end up in a clutter folder and I will not see it, and therefore, not respond. Most questions can be answered by reading the class syllabus, assignment sheet, or other directions available to you in Blackboard. Students should always be aware of the tone and structure of their correspondence. 

RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR AND CLASSROOM CIVILITY POLICY 

To foster a productive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment, all students are expected to demonstrate respectful behavior toward their peers, the instructor, and the learning process. Disruptive behaviors that impede the learning and civility of the class will not be tolerated.

Expectations for Classroom Behavior

Arriving on Time: Please make every effort to arrive promptly. Late arrivals disrupt the flow of the class and the concentration of others.

Staying in Class: If you anticipate needing to leave early, inform me in advance and sit near the door to minimize disruption.

Engaging Fully: Participate in class activities with focus and commitment. Use laptops, tablets, and other devices only for class-related purposes.

Using Technology Responsibly: Silence phones and refrain from texting, taking calls, or using devices for non-academic purposes during class.

Respecting the Learning Space: Avoid behaviors such as whispering, chatting, or wearing headphones during class, as these can distract others.

Waiting for Dismissal: Packing up before the end of class signals disengagement and distracts others. Please wait until class is dismissed.

Prohibited Behaviors

Persistent chatting, talking, or whispering that interrupts the class or distracts others.

Use of electronic devices for non-academic purposes. Phones and laptops may be restricted during written assignments. 

Wearing headphones or taking phone calls during class.

Antagonistic behavior toward the instructor or other students.

Behavior that undermines the instructor’s ability to teach or students’ ability to learn.

Consequences for Disruptive Behavior

First Occurrence: A verbal warning will be issued, and the behavior will be documented.

Second Occurrence: You may be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the session.

Repeated Occurrences: Continued disruptive behavior may result in further disciplinary action in accordance with university policies, including removal from the course.

NOTETAKING IS REQUIRED

Taking notes during class is a vital skill that enhances your ability to learn, retain, and apply the material we cover. Effective note-taking is not just about writing down what you hear; it’s about actively engaging with the content, making connections, and preparing yourself for deeper understanding and future success. If notes aren’t your style, draw. 

Syllabus Change Policy

I reserve the right to adjust this syllabus, assignments, and due dates as needed. Any changes will be announced in class and sent as an announcement through the Blackboard system. You should check your email daily for any announcements about the course.

Academic Integrity - Plagiarism and AI

Academic integrity is fundamental to meaningful learning and personal growth. Students are expected to submit their own original work and to complete assignments using only the resources permitted. Doing so ensures that you are fully engaging with the material and gaining the knowledge and skills this course is designed to develop.

The use of article-rewriting tools, ChatGPT, or other AI-generated content is not permitted for course assignments or assessments (quizzes / exams) and will result in a grade of zero for the assignment.

Quizzes are open book/open note. You may not look up answers to questions via an online search. The use of an AI overlay or agent, or any program that takes your quizzes for you is prohibited. 

If there are concerns regarding the authenticity of an assignment, students may be asked to complete a written or verbal assessment to demonstrate their understanding.

When academic dishonesty or AI use is suspected, the instructor reserves the right to review and reassess previously submitted work for consistency and integrity. Cases of plagiarism or other violations-particularly those that are flagrant or repeated - may result in failure of the course, in accordance with institutional policies. Determinations regarding the severity and repetition of violations rest with the instructor.

Attendance:

Roll will be taken at the beginning of class. 5 minutes late will be counted as late. 10 minutes will mark you absent. You must attend every assigned class day according to LSCPA policy. Attendance is expected. Life, partying too hard, and breakups all happen. You have 3 unexcused absences before you drop a letter grade. Use them wisely. Excessive absences and tardiness will have a detrimental effect on your overall performance in class. 

3 Lates = 1 Absence for Class 

4 Unexcused Absences = 1 Letter Drop for Class

5 Unexcused Absences = 2 Letter Drops for Class

Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures for this course. If a student is late or absent from class, they must inform the instructor via email (wilburmc@lamarpa.edu).  

Failure to attend class may result in a student failing this course. If a student accumulates over 5(TR)/7(MWF) unexcused absences in this course, they will automatically fail the course. 

An absence is only considered excused if it is unavoidable (illness with a doctor’s note, bereavement, injury or accident en route to class).  

A planned appointment will not be excused by the instructor. Do not schedule appointments or meetings during this class meeting time. 

Uploading Assignments

All assignments must be uploaded in the required format. If submitting Google Doc or Outlook links, the version history must be turned on. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have submitted your assignment as directed in the instructions. If I cannot open your assignment, I will not grade it.  

Unless otherwise requested by the assignment, I will not accept Google Drive/Outlook links to docs. Any assignment submitting a link without request will get an automatic zero with no opportunity to make-up. 

Additionally, if you have difficulty uploading your assignment due to Blackboard or other technical issues, you should email me a copy of the assignment immediately – not the next day. It will be considered late if I do not have an email copy of the assignment by the due date. You should then contact Blackboard technical support to address the problem and work to get the assignment uploaded into Blackboard. 

When you submit an assignment, Blackboard sends you a confirmation email with an individual submission number. Please make sure that you receive, and save, this confirmation. If there are issues regarding the submission of your assignment, I may ask to see the submission confirmation. 

Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.

Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.

This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.

As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.

LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.

For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.