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Thesis Seminar - ART394 Fall 2026
Course
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Josef Zaruba
About
Art Thesis & Final Project Seminar
Course code: ART 394
Semester and year: Fall 2026
Day and time: Tuesday 8:00-10:45
Instructor: Doc. Josef Záruba-Pfeffermann, PhD.
Instructor contact: joszaruba@seznam.cz
Consultation hours: After class
|
Credits US/ECTS |
3/6 |
Level |
Advanced |
|
Length |
15 weeks |
Prerequisite |
3rd Year |
|
Contact hours |
42 hours |
Course type |
Required |
1. Course Description
This course is a required preparation for the Senior Thesis (ART 390) and Advanced Studio Research Project (ART 489) or Advanced Studio Curatorial Project (ART 445), which are taken in the final semester of studies for completion of the study program. This Seminar is designed to provide historical ideas, context and groundwork for students to more clearly define their own studio practice. Students will establish strategies for studio or curatorial research in order to isolate, identify, and pursue a meaningful subject(s) within a clearly defined personal and art historical context. They will study key examples of artistic/creative research as well as debates about the role of research in the artistic/creative and curatorial process.
The course will concentrate on building practical research skills. How does an artist use research to propel the creative process? How do we ask questions that generate useful or usable information? How does research relate to artistic practice?
Each student will gain confidence writing and talking about their practice within larger issues of history, society, and culture and understand that thinking through writing clarifies and deepens one’s studio practice.
2. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Conduct academic research as part of their studio practice
- Gain new perspectives on individual art projects
- Conceptualize and actualize a long-term research project
- Create a forum for the sharing and discussion of studio work across disciplines
- Enhance your ability to write, edit and revise
- Develop critical thinking skills - raise vital questions and problems, formulate them, gather and assess relevant information in order to come to well-reasoned and insightful conclusions and solutions
- Establish an academic/intellectual context for the Final Art Studio or Curatorial Project
3. Reading materials
All course materials will be distributed during the semester and/or chosen and gathered by the students for individuated assignments.
4. Teaching methodology
This course offers a series of lectures, seminars and discussions including student presentations.
5. Course Schedule
|
Date |
Class Agenda |
|
Class 1 |
Introductions Introduction to the course; syllabus review; Discussion of goals. Class Excursion: Museum Visit. |
|
Class 2 |
Student Presentations (Studio) Students in the studio and curatorial studies track will present on their work. Class Excursion: Gallery Visit. |
|
Class 3 |
Student Presentations (curatorial studies/art history) Students in art history track will present on their interests. Guest Lecture. |
|
Class 4 |
Thesis topic and structure Class will review the structure of an AAU art thesis. Thesis abstract. Class Excursion: Gallery Visit. |
|
Class 5 |
Thesis topic structure Students share their thesis abstract with the class. Class Excursion: Artist Studio Visit. |
|
Class 6 |
Research methods Discussion of academic and non-academic research methods in the arts. Guest Lecture. |
|
Class 7 |
Sharing research results Students discuss their preliminary research. Class Excursion: Museum Visit. |
|
|
Midterm Break |
|
Class 8 |
Methodology and Artist Statements Discussion of the Artist Statement Class Excursion: Artist Studio Visit. |
|
Class 9 |
Methodology and Curatorial Statements Discussion of the Curatorial Statement Class Excursion: Gallery Visit. |
|
Class 10 |
Student Presentations – Artist Presentation |
|
Class 11 |
Student Presentation – Curator Presentation |
|
Class 12 |
Studio Visit Class field trip (if possible) to student studio spaces |
|
Class 13 |
Individual consultations Tutorial sessions between professor and student |
|
Class 14 |
Individual consultations Tutorial sessions between professor and student |
6. Course Requirements and Assessment
This course is structured as a series of exercises designed to prompt discovery, analysis, and refinement of your studio work/curatorial project. The goal of this course is two-fold: to generate new perspectives on individual studio production and to enhance the written articulation of your process, product and purpose. In addition, each student must make a committed effort towards contextualizing your practice within larger issues of history, society, and culture outside of the art world.
Grade will be based on a combination of class participation during the seminar, the successful completion of the individual assignments throughout the semester, to ensure preparation for the final project. Because much of the work for this course is incremental, building toward the submission of the final project, in the forthcoming semester, it is imperative that student meets all deadlines as outlined in the course schedule. Missed deadlines will negatively impact grades on the individual assignment.
|
Assignment |
Workload (average) |
Weight in Final Grade |
Evaluated Course Specific Learning Outcomes |
Evaluated Institutional Learning Outcomes* |
|
Attendance and Class Participation |
42 |
30% |
|
|
|
Presentation 1 |
15 |
15% |
|
|
|
Presentation 2 |
15 |
15% |
|
|
|
Artist or Curatorial Statement |
10 |
20% |
|
|
|
Research and Writing |
63 |
20% |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
150 |
100% |
|
|
*1 = Critical Thinking; 2 = Effective Communication; 3 = Effective and Responsible Action
7. Detailed description of the assignments
Assignment 1: Presentations
Assessment breakdown
|
Assessed area |
Percentage |
|
Content of presentation |
50% |
|
Preparedness and delivery |
50% |
Assignment 2: Written Research Submissions
Assessment breakdown
|
Assessed area |
Percentage |
|
Quality of Research |
50% |
|
Writing style |
50% |
8. General Requirements and School Policies
General requirements
All coursework is governed by AAU’s academic rules. Students are expected to be familiar with the academic rules in the Academic Codex and Student Handbook and to maintain the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity in their work. Please see the AAU intranet for a summary of key policies regarding coursework.
Course specific requirements
There are no special requirements or deviations from AAU policies for this course.