This course provides the opportunity to explore their art in three-dimensionals.  Pulling from two-dimensions, students will be introduced to sculptural techniques and an understanding of design and craftsmanship. It includes hand-building, sculpture, fiber arts, and 3D design.  History of sculpture will be introduced *offered every other year.

Students may choose from two different exams: Advanced Placement Drawing or Advanced Placement Two-D Design. The class is devoted to preparing a portfolio of work required for the Advanced Placement Examination. Projects must represent college-level examples of technique, artistic ability, and originality relating to drawing, painting, graphics and design. Some of the actual work plus slides of what has been produced in the class are sent in May to the Advanced Placement Board for evaluation. These are returned to the student in the summer along with a grade for the portfolio. In addition to the materials provided by the materials fee, students may be required to purchase materials outside of what is provided. Students will also pay for the portfolio production fees required for the exam.

Advanced Placement Art History is a chronological art survey course that, while focusing on traditional Western art, also includes non-Western art and its impact on Western art forms. Since art is the reflection of the time, place, and people that produced it, Advanced Placement Art History is as much concerned with history as with art. The course—equivalent to three semesters of college art history—is designed to provide the same benefits as an introductory college art history course: an understanding and enjoyment of architecture, sculpture, and other art forms within their historical and cultural context. Students learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to analyze what they see.

This course is an introduction to the basics of digital photography as a fine art. Students will learn about the elements of art and principles of design by observing the world through the camera’s lens, and develop the technical skills for creative control of their work. They will also learn how to use a variety of settings on their digital cameras, gain photo-editing proficiency in Photoshop, and explore the rich history of photography. Students must provide their own digital cameras, and those enrolled in the class will be provided with camera specifications by the instructor. Through this course students will be challenged to problem solve and participate in critical discussions and critiques. Students will explore lighting, portraiture, and the photographic series as a visual narrative as well as different career options available in the field of photography.  Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

This is an intermediate semester course that provides students with the opportunity to continue to develop skills of observational drawing focusing on the human form, the environment, perspective, and light. Students will use a variety of dry media, to collect visual information and investigate composition, as well as focus on individual style.  Students create artworks with a variety of themes and concepts from classical art history to contemporary, while studying artists from history.  This class prepares students for AP Art and Design in all disciplines.

This course is for the student interested in pursuing performing arts in college with a focus on audition preparation and technique. The semester covers six monologues of classic and modern material as well as comedic and dramatic material. The pieces covered are tailored to the needs of the individual student and will vary based on various college requirements.

Women's Chorus I is designed to teach excellent choral technique to the beginning choral student. In addition to beginning sight reading, students focus on how to use the body and voice as a unified instrument, develop good listening skills in the production of their music, and how to shape vowels and enunciate for clarity and unity of text and tone. Particular focus is placed on producing concert repertoire with a high degree of artistic excellence. Repertoire consists of unison, two, three and four-part women's choral works from various forms, periods and genres.

Women's Chorus II is designed to expand on the excellent choral technique begun in Women's Chorus I. Sight reading skills are further developed, as students continue to focus on how to use the body and voice as a unified instrument, develop good listening skills in the production of their music, and how to shape vowels and enunciate for clarity and unity of text and tone. Particular focus is placed on producing concert repertoire with a high degree of artistic excellence. Repertoire consists of unison, two, three and four-part women's choral works from various forms, periods and genres. PREREQUISITE: Women's Chorus I

Women's Chorus III is designed to solidify and expand on the excellent choral technique begun in Women's Chorus I & II. Sight reading skills should be advanced at this stage, as students continue to focus on how to use the body and voice as a unified instrument, develop good listening skills in the production of their music, and how to shape vowels and enunciate for clarity and unity of text and tone. Particular focus is placed on producing concert repertoire with a high degree of artistic excellence. Repertoire consists of unison, two, three and four-part women's choral works from various forms, periods and genres. PREREQUISITE: Women's Chorus I & II

Women's Chorus IV is for the truly dedicated choral musician. The class is designed to solidify and expand on the excellent choral technique begun in Women's Chorus I, II & III. Sight reading skills should be advanced at this stage, as students continue to focus on how to use the body and voice as a unified instrument, develop good listening skills in the production of their music, and how to shape vowels and enunciate for clarity and unity of text and tone. Particular focus is placed on producing concert repertoire with a high degree of artistic excellence. Repertoire consists of unison, two, three and four-part women's choral works from various forms, periods and genres. PREREQUISITE: Women's Chorus I, II & III

Digital Video Production will give students a hands-on real film production experience.  Students will work together as a production team to conceive, shoot and edit multiple short films.  The class will be taught in conjunction with 3D Design Class. Students will study film genres, cinematic techniques, learn to use camera, audio and lighting equipment, and learn to create compelling stories.   Students will write their own original film screenplays with careful attention to story elements such as narrator, tone, narrative structure, and character development. Students will learn how to edit video and audio footage in editing software to produce final films.  Students will complete a number of films in varying formats and genres, such as documentaries, linear narrative fiction, and experimental video essays. Viewing and written analysis of films will also be a part of the course as students understand and use the language of film. Students will learn through hand-on equipment training, guest speakers, in-class and for homework film viewings, class discussions and in-class exercises.  All class films will be filmed during class meeting hour with instructor supervision. Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

An introductory course into Fiber Arts, sewing applications and creative usage fabric materials. Students will work on a range of hands-on projects using fabrics, yarn, thread, and textiles as primary art making materials.  Projects will include introduction and lessons using sewing machines and product building instruction, batik painting, embroidery/stitch art, quilting, knitting, and  2D/3D assemblage projects.  Students will take drawing and painting skills to create handmade textile projects in addition to more fiber art related projects.  Focus will be placed on creative-problem solving and experimentation with materials.  Students will learn about contemporary fiber arts artists, service design, as well as the cross-cultural importance of the medium throughout history.  Emphasis is placed on fiber art projects, aesthetics, and expanding a personal visual language. Projects will be introduced within an art historical context and examples by master artists will be shown throughout the semester or year if taken the entire year. This course is suggested as preparation for Advanced Placement Art and Design in 2D, 3D or Drawing portfolio.  Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

This class is an intermediate course in studio art processes through the use of a variety of art materials and techniques. The student will gain knowledge and skills through assignments in intermediate drawing, painting, digital illustration and 2-D design. As students apply these disciplines to artwork, the students will acquire visual vocabulary and an ability to utilize the language of art in discussions and through critiques. Artistic achievement of individuals, both historical and contemporary, and the work of different cultures will be explored as sources of inspiration for studio practices. This course is suggested as preparation for AP Studio Art, along with Intermediate Art II, and Studio Art I and II. Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

In this course, students read and examine four plays beginning with the origins of theater in ancient Greece and ending with modern dramatic material, reading authors including Sophocles, Moliere, Williams & Freihl. Students look at various perspectives of theater: writer, director, designer & performer. Students work with sound and movement, exploring physical leads and alignment, vocal tone, and projection techniques in order to create an ensemble capable of telling a story through a dramatic medium. For their mid-year examination, students perform their original work, and for their final exam at the end of the year, they perform scenes from literature they have studied in the class.

This course is a prerequisite for all other art classes in the Visual Arts department. Introduction to Visual Arts will cover the use of a variety of materials and techniques. This course will introduce students to drawing and painting, 2D design, Printmaking, Digital Art, Color Theory, and Typography. Students will be using diverse media such as pencil, pastel, charcoal, ink, and acrylic and learn the basics in computer programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

This course introduces the student to Harold Clurman’s approach to directing theater. Students discover how to develop concepts through dramatic material. The class also includes a self-study research component. For the final exam, each student will direct a one-act play, running and documenting all aspects of the process: pre- production, auditions and rehearsal.

This course will combine the fundamentals of music theory with an overview of Music history throughout different genres and historical style periods. It will include knowledge of the keyboard as related to music theory. It will also focus on the many distinct music cultures of the world.

Modern dance is a powerful art form that uses a variety of basic elements of movement and design. Students study technique, improvisation and composition gaining strength, flexibility, coordination and bodily awareness within space and time. Classroom exercises include warm-ups, stretches, stationary and traveling combinations that culminate in a performance final. Students also study the origins of Modern Dance, attend a dance concert and discover aesthetics of various dance styles. Students taking Modern Dance for a second semester will continue to develop technique and aesthetic values. Course may also be taken for P.E. credit, but does not satisfy the Physical Education requirement for the  Class of 2021.

Students taking Modern Dance for a second semester will continue to develop dance technique with a gradual increase of difficulty in movement phrases. Students will also study different dance genres to develop their own aesthetic values. They will attend and write about another dance concert, gaining more exposure to professional dance. Students will finish the course by performing in the Spring Concert.

During the second semester of musical theatre, students focus on solo and small group performances in musical theatre. The class will assess strengths and weaknesses in each student's performance and provide the performer with techniques to aid in their own learning. Students will work with text and continue their understanding of musical theatre history and tradition. Students will develop techniques for auditioning and performing.

This semester course provides students the opportunity to develop their painting skills in two-dimensions. Students work with wet and dry media such as: graphite, charcoal, ink, gouache, oil pastels and acrylic on paper, canvas and panel.  By studying still-life, landscape, and the figure, students will grow their technical development as well as their observational skills. Students are exposed to historical and contemporary research of artworks from around the world and investigate human expression throughout history, including expressionism, abstraction and surrealism. Students are encouraged to grow conceptual depth, while showing technical growth. Students will develop their analytical skills through group critique and discussion.  Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

This course provides the exploration of theater through improvisation. The first half of the semester includes the study of Davis Robinson’s physical comedy approach, looking through the eyes of such great performers as Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, the Marx Brothers and Monty Python. The final exam requires participation in a student-directed study and a short comedic rendition of a classic comedian.

This course is a continuation of Physical Comedy I. The semester begins with a focus on Commedia Dell'arte and follows through with pratfalls and jumps characteristic of slapstick. The course has a focus on duos and trios and culminates in a performance of scenes studied and create.

In this course the students will act in and produce a play or scene night to be performed for the public each semester. In the participatory component the students will rehearse and then perform the chosen piece. Production responsibilities will include scenery, costumes, props and stage management. The course will touch on lighting, sound, scenery & props. 

Printmaking is a powerful artistic medium that allowed for the spread of images and information before the digital age. This course introduces students to the exciting artistic possibilities of printmaking. Students will explore the exciting artistic possibilities of printmaking by making monotypes, transfers, linocuts, woodblock prints and screenprints. Students will make unique prints as well as learn registration to make 2 and 3 layer prints. The course will also touch on the history of printmaking and contemporary artists who use these techniques. Materials are provided to the students through the course fee.

This advanced level Drama course will focus on set design.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the experience of carrying the weight of a performance on her own shoulders. In the first half of the semester, the student studies modern solo theater artists: Lily Tomlin, Spaulding Gray, Jack Aranson, and Anna Deavere Smith. Students then write and perform their own one woman show for the final exam.

This course teaches the student the responsibilities of a Technical Director.  The student will manage the set build and crew, props master & team, lighting crew, costume & set designs on either the school musical or play. This will include scheduling crew teams, organization of technical elements and the builds of each show as well as the basics of the school sounds system and sound design, the basics of the school lighting system and lighting design.

This class teaches students the basics of print production through the process of assembling the Immaculate Heart High School Yearbook. Students learn about page design principles, learning to work with typography, photographs, and decorative elements to produce balanced, well-composed layouts. Working both in teams and individually, students learn both the design and technical aspects of professional print production. Additionally, students will build their knowledge of using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, two computer programs used by professionals in the design industry. Each student is required to have access to a digital camera which she can use to take photos for the Yearbook. Teamwork, effective time management, and communication are vital aspects of this class and of print production.