First-Year Colloquium

3 units

This seminar serves as a primer for graduate study in contemporary art. It introduces MFA in Visual Art students to one another; to the MFA-VA program, the Sam Fox School, the Kemper Art Museum, and the university; and to the city of St. Louis. Through weekly meetings that include guest lectures, readings, discussions, and short writing assignments, the course acts as a platform for critically engaging with a wide range of artistic practices and their role in contemporary culture. These activities support students in identifying their particular interests and evolving artistic positions in relation to their studio practice. The course includes field trips and introductions to local institutions, and it builds pathways for crossdisciplinary work. Each year, the current recipient of the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Teaching Fellowship teaches a portion of the seminar.