Studio Art - BFA - Second Year Advisory Review
Beginning in the fall of 2022, any student pursuing a B.F.A. degree in Studio Art in the Department of Visual and Media Arts at GVSU must participate in the 2nd Year Advisory Review. Upon completion of this review, the students will make a final declaration of their emphasis area, choosing among one of the eight emphasis areas offered (ceramics, graphic design, illustration, jewelry/metalsmithing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, visual studies).
What is It?
The 2nd Year Advisory Review is your moment to pause and reflect on two years of exploration in the studio art major and at GVSU. It is your chance to develop your confidence, practices, and awareness about your work. It is part of your professional development as an artist and prepares you for the upcoming milestones — junior and senior reviews.
DETAILS
- The review is an in-person discussion of your work to date in the program with studio art faculty, supported by samples of your work in digital or physical form.
- You will present your work to a panel of 2 studio art faculty.
- For students who entered as first-year students, you will present your work in early March of their sophomore year
- The review may happen earlier for transfer students.
Is It Required?
Yes. Successful completion of the second-year advisory review is REQUIRED for your degree and for your junior review eligibility. Your completion of the 2nd Year Review will be noted in your myPath report the semester after you complete the review.
The review is advisory. But remember that these reviews are a significant milestone in your studies. The successful reviews will:
- Show the evolution of your ideas, processes, and materials.
- Show your exploration, intention, critical thinking, and inventiveness.
- Show your ability to develop work that is conceptually and formally sound.
Coursework Requirements
You must be on your way to completing the following coursework during your review semester:
- All foundations coursework (ART 150, 151, 153, 155)
- 3D studio elective course (course in ceramics, jewelry/metalsmithing, or sculpture)
- Film and Video production/photography course
- Five other studio courses, including:
- Two courses in your intended emphasis
- Three studio elective courses in three different emphasis areas
Transfer students must have their transfer equivalencies resolved prior to the second-year review. Please initiate the transfer equivalency process as soon as you start at GVSU.
Preparing for the 2nd Year Advisory Review
Your preparation for the review should begin in your first semester at GVSU. Plan ahead and the process should be a very smooth one for you.
Meeting with Your Advisor
You must complete the following series of meetings with an advisor prior to the review. Keep in mind that the timeline may be accelerated for transfer students. Your evidence of meeting with your advisors may be documented on your Navigate profile and may be checked upon registration for your review.
|
What Meeting? |
When Should You Meet? |
Who Should You Meet? |
Meeting Agenda |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Preliminary Meeting |
1st Semester |
CLAS Advisor |
Discuss Review Requirements Review Coursework for Year 1 |
|
Check-in Meeting |
2nd semester |
CLAS or faculty Advisor |
Review Coursework for year 2 Discuss Preparation for the Review |
|
Planning Meeting |
3rd semester |
Faculty Advisor |
Curate work and presentation Review Registration |
Caring for and Protecting Your Work
You must save your work in all required review courses.
- As much as possible, keep physical evidence of your work. If you cannot keep your physical work for a long time, take appropriate images of your works before discarding them.
- Learn to take photographs of large-scale pieces or installations. You can schedule a time at the Visual Resources Center to document your work in a professional way.
- Some of the work may be “in progress” at the time of the review. This is expected and acceptable. Still, proper documentation is expected.
- It is your responsibility to maintain non-corrupted versions of any digital files applicable to your projects.
Documenting Your Work
Effective work documentation will make it simpler for you to assess your progress and show what you can do. The documentation will also be helpful when applying for art/design-related jobs, or establishing your website.
The Review Process
The review is an in-person discussion of your work to date in the program with studio art faculty, where you will put up your work samples. Two studio art faculty will sit down with you for 30 minutes to review your work. For students who entered as first-year students, you will present your work in early March in their sophomore year. The review may happen earlier for transfer students.
Review Registration
In the second week of your review semester, you should receive an email with a link to register for the review. That link will be available for two weeks. Failure to register in a timely manner can affect your ability to be reviewed in that same semester.
Curating Your Portfolio
You are the one who will curate the works in your review. You will need:
|
Category |
Quantity of Assignments |
Submission Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
|
Foundations Coursework (ART 150, 151, 153, 155) |
2 projects from each course |
1 project must be presented physically.
|
|
3D Studio Elective Course (Ceramics, Jewelry/ Metalsmithing, Sculpture) |
2 projects from the course |
At least one project must be presented physically. The remaining projects can be presented digitally in a PowerPoint-style presentation
|
|
Film and Video Production/ Photography Course |
2 projects from the course |
All projects can be presented digitally on your computer. For photographs, you can present them in a PowerPoint-style presentation. For moving images, you can present them as a Quicktime/.mp4 movie.
|
|
Elective Studio Courses |
2 projects from each course |
1 project from each course must be presented physically. The remaining projects can be presented digitally in a PowerPoint-style presentation
|
|
Emphasis Studio Courses |
Up to 2 projects from each course |
All projects must be submitted in their intended form. If physical, it must be physically present. If the work is inherently digital, a digital presentation is required.
(If you are pursuing a double-emphasis, you should present coursework from at least one course in each emphasis. Consult your advisor on the details.) |
Preparing for Your In-Progress Discussion
You must also prepare notes on a self-evaluation conversation that addresses your studio art experience. Try to answer questions as honestly as possible. Examples of questions may include:
- How much progress have you made since your first studio art course?
- Which educational experiences sparked your interest?
- Where have you seen growth in your work?
- Have you discovered any influences that guide your work now?
- What do you see yourself investigating further during your junior and senior years?
- Has your experience so far altered your perception of studio art in any way? How so?
- What common themes do you see in your display? Are these of interest to you?
- What is hindering you from achieving your artistic goals?
Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?
Yes. But if you remain prepared, it shouldn’t feel as cumbersome. It is important to schedule a time to chat with your advisors or ask your peers about their past experiences. Here are other resources that can help you ease into the process:
Visual Resources Center (VRC)
The purpose of the Visual Resources Center (VRC) is to support student learning & faculty teaching in the Department of Visual & Media Arts and the GVSU community. This includes the constant improvement and development of visual resources.
Writing Center
Writing consultants are highly-trained students ready to help you improve your writing. Writing consultants can help you:
- Brainstorm ideas
- Create an outline
- Organize content
- Polish a draft
- Cite sources
Visit the Writing Center Website
Digital Creator Lab
Digital Skills Consultants are highly-trained students ready to help you improve your digital skills. Digital Skills Consultants can help you with:
- Develop an approach for completing digital projects
- Learn basic computer skills for Windows and Mac
- Determine mediums for digital communication
- Navigate technologies for media production
- Edit and revise projects made with technology
- Understand basic digital ethics and safety
- Visualize basic data sets
- Engage fully and responsibly with the internet, social media platforms, and other tech services
Speech Lab
Speech consultants are highly-trained students ready to help you improve your presentations. Speech consultants can help you:
- Use presentation software
- Organize presentations
- Practice delivery
- Overcome speech anxiety
Questions?
If you have questions, please reach out to any of the three people in your Advisor Network.
- Your faculty advisor (see Who's My Advisor?)
- Doris Penn, CLAS Academic Advisor, [email protected]
- Sonja Wall, CLAS Academic Advisor, [email protected]