Standards for Arts Courses

MavEd Expectations: All MavEd courses must address the transferable learning outcomes and assess the transferable student learning outcomes using a common MavEd rubric embedded in Canvas, available for download into individual courses. In addition to these shared outcomes, courses approved in the Arts category must demonstrate the disciplinary expectations outlined below. These expectations provide guidance for course development and establish the minimum standards used by the Arts Subcommittee when reviewing proposals for MavEd approval.

MavEd Framework Requirement (p. 7-12)::

Breadth of knowledge courses are centered on the methodology of a given area (e.g., social sciences, humanities) while simultaneously reinforcing skills from at least one fundamental skills area (e.g., writing). Courses satisfying Arts should reinforce writing and/or oral communication.

• Writing. Students will focus on writing skills through an iterative process that includes drafting, receiving feedback, and revising their work. This process will constitute a significant portion of their overall effort and grade in the course, emphasizing the importance of continuous development and refinement in written communication.
• Oral Communication. Courses must include a minimum of two structured speaking assignments such as oral presentations, debates, or group projects with speaking components in which the speaking components represent significant effort and point total. Students must be given feedback and instruction related to the presentation of material. Mechanisms to ensure students reflect on their engagement with the fundamental skill must be included in the course.

Arts (3 credits). Students will explore creative expression, aesthetics, and artistic practices across various disciplines with a focus on cultivating skills, knowledge, and appreciation for artistic forms, techniques, and traditions.

Attributes of an Arts Course

An Arts course will:

• Engage students in the study, creation, performance, interpretation, or evaluation of artistic expression.
• Examine artistic forms, techniques, traditions, aesthetic principles, or creative processes.

• Artistic Expression and Creativity: Applying artistic skills, techniques, processes, or creative practices to produce, perform, or communicate artistic ideas.
• Analysis and Interpretation of Artistic Works: Examining, interpreting, and evaluating artistic works, performances, or creative practices using discipline specific concepts and approaches.
• Arts in Cultural and/or Historical Contexts: Understanding how artistic works, traditions, and movements reflect and shape cultural, historical, and/or societal experiences.
• Aesthetic Awareness and Appreciation: Developing informed engagement with artistic expression through observation, reflection, critique, and evaluation of artistic forms and experiences.

Arts Methods & Approaches

• Creative Practice and Production: Creating, performing, designing, composing, or otherwise producing artistic work through the application of artistic techniques, processes, and materials.
• Formal Analysis: Examining the elements, structures, techniques, and aesthetic qualities of artistic works and performances.
• Interpretation and Critique: Analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and responding to artistic works using appropriate artistic, cultural, historical, and/or theoretical frameworks.
• Historical and Cultural Analysis: Examining artistic traditions, movements, practices, and works within their historical, social, cultural, and/or global contexts.
• Performance and Embodied Practice: Developing understanding through artistic performance, rehearsal, movement, presentation, and/or other forms of embodied artistic expression.
• Theoretical and Aesthetic Inquiry: Exploring questions related to artistic meaning, aesthetics, creativity, artistic expression, and the role of the arts in society.