Undergraduate Studies Committee
October 5, 2011
Minutes
Present: Bem Cayco, Cary Feria, Deepika Goyal, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Jaehne, Ravisha Mathur (Chair), Lori Salazar,
Weider Yu
Guests: Stephen Branz (UGS), Gloria Edwards (UGS), Shannon Wright (Art and Art History)
I.
Review and approval of September 21, 2011 Minutes
The September 21, 2011 minutes were approved with corrections. There were 2 abstentions.
II. BFA, Concentration in Art, Technology and Media (Shannon Wright)
The proposed merger between Spatial Art and Digital Media Art (DMA) is the result of almost three years of
discussion by faculty about the overlap of these two areas and the demand that each area's students have for the
knowledge the other area offers. Spatial faculty have served year after year on DMA graduate committees, just
as DMA faculty have served on Spatial Art graduate committees. The two areas have made one another's classes
requirements in their respective undergraduate majors. Spatial Art students have traditionally suffered a
noticeable lack of contemporary skills involving computers and electronics–– how to build websites, how to make
interactive or robotic projects, and how to use computer programs that would expand the range of their fabrication
abilities with Computer Numerically Controlled equipment. And, DMA students have in recent years shown a real
desire for acquiring 'making' skills. Many have been producing sculpture (much of it viewer-interactive or robotic)
without access to the Spatial Art program's extensive fabrication facilities or the technical and design knowledge
of Spatial Art instructors. Others have been producing digital projects whose physical presence could be improved
with input from faculty who work in tangible materials.
The merger represents an opportunity to establish a critical art practice informed by experimental
methods and technologies, research and contemporary theory. Combining the core expertise, facilities
and capacities of (DMA) and Spatial Art is an opportunity to be responsive to the ubiquity of computing
technology in all aspects of contemporary life while focusing on emerging new art forms and functions. In
addition to teaching digital skills, the program will hone students' manual skills and instill a respect for
craftsmanship by introducing students to high-tech and traditional fabrication techniques. SJSU would be
the first program in the US to create such a platform for students.
The faculty have built into the program the ability for students to become experts in a given medium or to further
expand on the interdisciplinary foundation with which they have been provided. That is, a student can still become
an adept glassblower or coder. However, the glassblower will now understand what it means to work glass in the
21st century, and how to use glass to communicate to a contemporary audience with contemporary attention
spans. Likewise, the programmer will be able to build a compelling physical environment for an interactive project
inspired by video games, and will be able to better contextualize video-game art within modern art history. Finally,
the student who wants to use a little of everything to realize specific ideas––as many of the studio art faculty
already do–– will acquire the necessary skills to be fluent as a generalist.
In informal discussions with students, they have expressed support for the merger. For those students
who do not want the new degree, the program is not eliminating any classes and students will still be able
to get a degree in either Digital Media or Spatial Art. Because this merger is more of a repackaging of the
current offerings, the department does not expect there to be any resource issues.
There was some discussion in the meeting about Art and Engineering collaborating on some coursework
in the future.
Discussion centered on the portfolio review process in the department and how the concentration fits in
within the department.
Unfortunately, the packet of materials sent to the Committee was an old version of the proposal that still
had errors.
Action Item: The Committee will receive the updated BFA, Art, concentration in Art, Technology and Media
packet and continue the discussion at the next meeting, October 19, 2011. UGS will follow up with the department
regarding the portfolio review process.
III. Minor, Architectural Studies
A minor in Architectural Studies would generally give students the space to explore the possibility of an
architectural career without the stronger commitment and limitations imposed by the professional programs. More
importantly, perhaps, such programs engage students who might never have thought about an architecture
career. Since most universities, including San Jose State University, do not offer professional undergraduate
degrees in architecture, the numerous pre-architecture programs become one of the most significant opportunities
for undergraduates to encounter and explore the field. The minor in Architectural Studies would, effectively,
prepare them for graduate studies in architecture.
Since architecture is inherently interdisciplinary, it crosses into numerous areas of study. However, the disciplines
that have most traditionally been combined with architecture are: Art History, Fine Arts, Design, Civil Engineering,
and Urban Planning. Long before architecture became a modern licensed profession, it was considered one of
the major fine arts alongside sculpture and painting. Architecture has frequently been viewed as a discipline that
is taught from the building blocks other disciplines.
The pre-architecture program at San José State University would have three major goals:
1. To prepare students for professional graduate study in architecture and to develop a strong record of
placing students in the top-ranked programs.
2. To sufficiently expose students to the content and practice of architecture, such that they can make an
informed decision as to whether or not to pursue architecture as a career.
3. To provide an intellectually coherent course of study of a topic in depth that will serve each student well,
whether or not he or she ultimately decides to apply to professional schools of architecture. Hence, the
program would be coordinated with already established majors at San Jose State University but also
provide a common, pre-professional core.
Based upon the proposal, the Committee had the following questions:

The Minor gives students a choice of MATH 19 or MATH 30P. Since most Architectural programs require
calculus, MATH 19 (3 units) is precalculus and MATH 30P (5 units) is Calculus with Precalculus, students
may need to take a precalculus course to qualify for MATH 30P.

The Minor also gives students the choice of PHYS 1 (3 units) or PHYS 2A (4 units). It is recommended
that students complete the physics lab along with the course (PHYS 1L).

There is a discrepancy in the units indicated in the proposal and the catalog copy.

On page 8 there is a reference of ‘5 tracks.’ The Committee is not sure to what this refers.
Because this degree requires Interior Design courses, the Committee would like to have a letter of support from
the Department of Design before approving the Minor.
Action Item: Steve Branz will work with Dr. Raynsford to resolve the course issues and the Minor will be
discussed at the October 19th meeting.
IV. Pending
BFA, Art, concentration in Art, Technology, Media
Minor, Architectural Studies
BA, Humanities with various concentrations
Grading schema for 180 (Individual Studies) courses (Dennis Jaehne)
RSV policy
Role of Undergraduate Studies in:
 General Education
 Assessment
 Program Planning
 Curricular development
 Academic Scheduling

Student petitions
Meeting adjourned: 1:00pm
Gloria Edwards