Mail Code: 94305-2250
Email: artsinstitute@stanford.edu
Web Site: http://arts.stanford.edu/arts-institute/
The Stanford Arts Institute offers interdisciplinary arts curricula and research programs, drawing on the wide-ranging intellectual resources of Stanford University. The Institute forges arts connections across the University; presents arts events; incubates new arts projects; and supports artists and cultural groups across campus. Since its founding in 2006, the Stanford Arts Institute has been a catalyst helping the Stanford arts community to grow, experiment, and advance art thinking and making.
Courses offered by the Stanford Arts Institute are listed under the subject code ARTSINST on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site.
Honors in the Arts
Web site: https://arts.stanford.edu/for-students/academics/honors-in-the-arts/
Information concerning the 2021-22 program will be available on February 15, 2021.
The Stanford Arts Institute offers an interdisciplinary Honors in the Arts program, for interested undergraduates in any major. The program supports collaborative or individual projects that combine the critical and creative imaginations. Projects must be completed in one year. All students will work with mentors and also participate in a weekly workshop.
Honors in the Arts can be completed in addition to honors work in a student's home department or alongside another capstone program, such as the Senior Reflection in Biology.
Admission
Students must have an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher. Students with demonstrated strengths relevant to the program may petition the GPA requirement at the time of application.
To qualify for admission, students must identify three courses, at least two of which must be completed by the end of the third year, that have provided the necessary foundation for the capstone project. The Creativity Course Guide and the Interdisciplinary Course Guide include courses that provide an introduction to the study of the arts disciplines as well as incorporating the arts in an interdisciplinary context.
Students interested in pursuing Honors in the Arts apply in the spring of their junior year. Students should visit the Honors in the Arts website or contact the program manager for more information.
How to Apply
Admission to the program is competitive. Students apply for entry into the program during the Spring Quarter of their junior year.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Stanford senior during the academic year following the Spring Quarter application.
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.4 is normally required. However, applicants can submit a GPA petition if needed.
- Completion of previous courses and/or creative projects that have prepared the student to execute an interdisciplinary capstone project.
Application materials include:
- Honors project proposal which addresses the following:
- the concept for the interdisciplinary capstone project or research
- a description of the student's background in the disciplines to be drawn upon for the project
- why the project cannot be completed in your major department
- a statement of the relevance of Honors in the Arts to the student's education both at Stanford and beyond
- Unofficial transcript
- A completed Faculty Reference Form (provided in the application)
- Portfolio of relevant work. The details for the portfolio vary depending on a student's main medium of expression. If the following limits present a significant obstacle, please contact Devin Garnick (dgarnick@stanford.edu):
- Creative writers should submit work that best exemplifies their strengths as a writer. Most writers submit about 12 pages of prose, 5-7 poems, or a short scene from a play, depending on the proposed project.
- Artists working in visual, audio, or other forms of visual or digital media should submit work that most exemplifies their strengths in the relevant form. The committee accepts the following: up to 5 images (compiled in a single pdf file), 5 minutes of video or audio, pdfs, and linked external media (such as YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud).
See the Honors in the Arts website for additional information on applying to the program.
Preparation for Honors in the Arts
To qualify for admission, students must identify three courses, at least two of which must be completed by the end of the third year, that have provided the necessary foundation for the capstone project. The Creativity Course Guide and the Interdisciplinary Course Guide include courses that provide an introduction to the study of the arts disciplines as well as incorporating the arts in an interdisciplinary context.
Requirements
Students admitted to the program are required to take the following sequence of courses (6-15 units total) during their senior year:
- Autumn Quarter, Senior Year: ARTSINST 200A Honors in the Arts Workshop (2-5 units)
- Winter Quarter, Senior Year: ARTSINST 200B Honors in the Arts Workshop (2-5 units)
- Spring Quarter, Senior Year: ARTSINST 200C Honors in the Arts Workshop (2-5 units)
In addition to the above courses, students admitted to the program are required to take the following courses or actions prior to their senior year:
- Prior to Spring Quarter, junior year: Two preparatory courses for interdisciplinary study (4-8 units)
- Prior to Spring Quarter, junior year, or concurrent with Autumn Quarter of senior year: One further preparatory course for interdisciplinary study (2-4 units)
- Spring Quarter, junior year: Apply for admission to Honors in the Arts
- Spring Quarter, junior year: Confirm preparatory courses with honors program director
Each Spring, students present their honors projects during a public symposium.
To receive Honors in the Arts, students must fulfill all the requirements and receive an 'A-' or higher on their capstone project.
Requirements and further information can be found on the Honors in the Arts website.
Honors Projects
All accepted projects are eligible for modest financial support for materials needed to complete the project.
Through a yearlong process, students develop a capstone project that goes beyond the traditional boundaries of their major.
- Honors projects are typically creative projects involving an arts practice element. Honors projects may also be scholarly research projects involving a multidisciplinary approach.
- Students can apply with an individual or team-based project. For team-based projects (2-5 students per team), applicants must delineate what expertise each student brings to the project.
- Students must receive at least an 'A-' on the capstone project. Students who receive a grade of less than an 'A-' but greater than 'NP' receive credit for the workshops but do not receive honors.
- Mentors: Each student works closely with a graduate student mentor or a lecturer to develop and shape the capstone project. Students in the program are responsible for setting up regular meetings with their mentor throughout the academic year. The workshop class also allows for weekly progress reports and strategies for advancing the work.
Requirements and further information can be found here on the Honors in the Arts website.
COVID-19 Policies
On July 30, the Academic Senate adopted grading policies effective for all undergraduate and graduate programs, excepting the professional Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and the School of Medicine M.D. Program. For a complete list of those and other academic policies relating to the pandemic, see the "COVID-19 and Academic Continuity" section of this bulletin.
The Senate decided that all undergraduate and graduate courses offered for a letter grade must also offer students the option of taking the course for a “credit” or “no credit” grade and recommended that deans, departments, and programs consider adopting local policies to count courses taken for a “credit” or “satisfactory” grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and/or alter program requirements as appropriate.
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Grading
The Stanford Arts Institute counts all courses taken in academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of undergraduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade. The Stanford Arts Institute recommends all Honors in the Arts students in the Honors in the Arts program enroll for a letter grade, as this provides clear feedback to students on their work.
Other Undergraduate Policies
For the 2020-21 academic year, the Honors in the Arts program requires students to enroll in all three (3) workshops offered (ARTSINST 200A, ARTSINST 200B, ARTSINST 200C). Exceptions can be made for students who take a leave of absence for one or two quarters in the 2020-21 academic year. In this case, students will need to get explicit permission from the program director and the course lecturer before the start of the school year. Students who are granted this exception must enroll in at least one (1) of the three (3) workshops offered.
All Arts Immersion trips have been cancelled during the 2020-21 academic year due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19. Please visit the Arts Immersion website for updates.
Arts Immersions
New York City Arts Immersion
The Stanford Arts Institute offers an Arts Immersion trip to New York City during Spring Break.
Students travel with Stanford faculty and Arts Institute staff for a week-long engagement with the arts, meeting institutional leaders, policy makers, and arts practitioners. On past trips, students have visited museums, galleries, concert halls; they have seen dance rehearsals, opera, and a Broadway show; and they have had the chance to meet with alumni in the arts. In the Spring Quarter class ARTSINST 11Q Art in the Metropolis, students revisit their immersion experience by reading critical literature and participating in rigorous discussion.
See the Arts Immersion website and subscribe to the Arts Update for more information and updates.
Admission
Applications are welcomed from all undergraduate class years. Before applying, students should be aware that they must enroll in and attend the Spring Quarter course: ARTSINST 11Q/TAPS 11Q Art in the Metropolis.
| Units | ||
|---|---|---|
| ARTSINST/TAPS 11Q | Art in the Metropolis (required) | 3 |
Visit the Arts Immersion website to submit a complete application.
Courses
ARTSINST 11Q. Art in the Metropolis. 3 Units.
This seminar is offered in conjunction with the annual "Arts Immersion" trip to New York that takes place over the spring break and is organized by the Stanford Arts Institute (SAI). Participation in the trip is a requirement for taking part in the seminar (and vice versa). The trip is designed to provide a group of students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the cultural life of New York City guided by faculty and SAI staff. Students will experience a broad range and variety of art forms (visual arts, theater, opera, dance, etc.) and will meet with prominent arts administrators and practitioners, some of whom are Stanford alumni. For further details and updates about the trip, see https://arts.stanford.edu/for-students/academics/arts-immersion/new-york/.
Same as: ENGLISH 11Q, MUSIC 11Q, TAPS 11Q
ARTSINST 100. The Questions of Clay: Craft, Creativity and Scientific Process. 5 Units.
Students will create individual studio portfolios of ceramic work and pursue technical investigations of clay properties and the firing process using modern scientific equipment. Emphasis on development of creative process; parallels between science and traditional craft; integration of creative expression with scientific method and analysis. Prior ceramics experience desirable but not necessary. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: any level of background in physics, Instructor permission.
Same as: APPPHYS 100
ARTSINST 100B. The Questions of Cloth: Weaving, Pattern Complexity and Structures of Fabric. 4 Units.
Students will learn to weave on a table loom while examining textile structures from historic, artistic and scientific perspectives. Emphasis on analyzing patterns and structures generated by weaving, with elementary introductions to information-scientific notions of algorithmic complexity, image compression, and source coding. This class is primarily intended for non-STEM majors with little or no prior experience in working with textiles. Limited enrollment. Prerequisites: Instructor permission.
Same as: APPPHYS 100B
ARTSINST 141. Network Performance Practice. 2-4 Units.
JackTrip software, developed at Stanford, provides the means for ultra-low-latency, uncompressed sound transmission for live music-making. Remote ensemble rehearsals, coaching, music lessons, jamming and concert broadcasting during the COVID-19 pandemic are making use of the technology. The open-source project has developed rapidly in the past 6 months, especially in its ability to support large ensembles of home-to-home connections. The course will cover recent features, history and theory of JackTrip and engage in a series of practical, participatory performance sessions. Students will learn the software and related network and audio principles with a focus on intuition building and ear training. Course participants will work from home and be able to use CCRMA facilities remotely. The course can be audited or coordinated with another course.
Same as: MUSIC 153A
ARTSINST 141B. Internet Ensemble Tech Force. 1 Unit.
This course inaugurates an Internet Ensemble Tech Force which is needed urgently worldwide and locally to support music ensembles going online. Calling it urgent is not an exaggeration. We can provide a valuable service and that's the purpose of the course. Course participants will quickly come up to speed on low-latency audio collaboration technology and will then pair with ensembles interested in using it. Ensemble rehearsals, coaching and concert broadcasting are planned for the quarter. 153B participants will work from home and be able to use CCRMA facilities remotely. The course can be audited or coordinated with another course. Let's help make group playing possible during this public health challenge.
Same as: MUSIC 153B
ARTSINST 142. Drawing with Code. 4 Units.
This studio course will engage coding practices as drawing tools. What makes a good algorithmic composition? How do we craft rule-sets and parameters to shape an interesting work? What changes if we conceive of still outputs, ongoing processes, or interactive processes as the "finished" work? We will look at the history of algorithmic drawing, including analog precedents like Sol LeWitt and other conceptual artists, along with current pioneers like John Simon Jr., Casey Reas, and LIA. Outputs will involve prints as well as screen-based works. Some basic coding experience is helpful, but not required. Assignments are based on conceptual principals that students can engage with at different coding skill levels. This is a good way for non CS students to explore coding practices as well as for CS students to hone their skills. We will work primarily in the free Processing software for our explorations.
Same as: ARTSTUDI 163
ARTSINST 150. The Changing World of Popular Music. 2 Units.
This course will cover changes in the business, economics, and practices of the popular music industry. It will provide a brief historical overview of the industry and its business models. The majority of the course will focus on the industry as it works today and on forces that are causing it to change rapidly. The course will feature guest artists and executives with current experience in the field, as well as project-based assignments designed to give students hands-on experience. Topics will include: economics and business models of commercial music business, music production, music distribution, marketing, leadership in the music industry and artist management.
Same as: MUSIC 150P
ARTSINST 150G. Performing Race, Gender, and Sexuality. 4 Units.
In this theory and practice-based course, students will examine performances by and scholarly texts about artists who critically and mindfully engage race, gender, and sexuality. Students will cultivate their skills as artist-scholars through written assignments and the creation of performances in response to the assigned material. Attendance and written reflection about a live performance event on campus are required. Students will also learn various meditation practices as tools for making and critiquing performance, in both our seminar discussions and performance workshops. We will approach mindfulness as method and theory in our own practice, as well as in relation to the works studied. We will also consider the ethics and current debates concerning the mindfulness industry. Examples of artists studied include James Luna, Nao Bustamante, Renee Cox, William Pope.L, Cassils, boychild, Curious, Adrian Piper, Xandra Ibarra, Valérie Reding, Guillermo Gomez-Peña, and Ana Mendieta.
Same as: CSRE 150G, CSRE 350G, FEMGEN 150G, LIFE 150G, TAPS 150G
ARTSINST 197. Industry Immersion: Film and Media. 1 Unit.
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exciting and ever-changing TV and Film industries. The entertainment industry as a whole is facing issues and trends surrounding inclusivity and equity, the democratization of content development, and evolving revenue and distribution models. This course will introduce and explore these topics via readings, lectures, workshops and projects. Eight weeks of the course will include visits to our class by influential industry professionals who will share information about their company and current role, and their perspectives on one or more of the topics above. In addition to the lecture, each class will include a workshop element drawn from everyday efforts to address these issues. Guest lecturers will have a range of experience and viewpoints of the changing landscape of the industry. The course will be 10 weeks long. Priority will be given to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors interested in careers in TV and Film. Credit will be based on attendance, class participation, assignments and a final presentation.
ARTSINST 197B. Industry Immersion: Fashion. 2 Units.
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the expanding and evolving fashion industry. Currently the three most relevant issues and trends impacting the fashion industry are designing for diverse audiences, sustainable practices, and the impact of technology. nnThis course will introduce and explore these topics via readings, lectures, workshops and projects. Six weeks of the course will include visits to our class by influential industry professionals who will share information about their company and current role, and their perspectives on one or more of the topics above. In addition to the lecture, each class will include a workshop element drawn from everyday efforts to address these issues. Guest lecturers will have a range of experience and viewpoints of the changing landscape. Credit will be based on attendance, class participation, assignments and a final presentation.
ARTSINST 199. Independent Study. 1-5 Unit.
May be repeated for credit.
ARTSINST 200A. Honors in the Arts Workshop. 2-5 Units.
First in a three-quarter series required of all Honors in the Arts participants. Students initiate and develop interdisciplinary creative projects with the support of peers and mentors in a small, workshop format. Required enrollment in 200 A,B,C.
ARTSINST 200B. Honors in the Arts Workshop. 2-5 Units.
Second in a three-quarter series required of all Honors in the Arts participants. Students initiate and develop interdisciplinary creative projects with the support of peers and mentors in a small, workshop format. Required enrollment in 200 A,B,C.
ARTSINST 200C. Honors in the Arts Workshop. 2-5 Units.
Third in a three-quarter series required of all Honors in the Arts participants. Students initiate and develop interdisciplinary creative projects with the support of peers and mentors in a small, workshop format. Required enrollment in 200 A,B,C.
