This course will be an appraisal of traditional and contemporary psychophysical and neurobiological models of visual sensation and perception with a focus on various forms of visual art. It will include a study of the human visual system emphasizing its role in the brain and behavior, and it will emphasize the relationship between physical characteristics of environmental stimuli (e.g., wavelength of light) and their associated mechanisms (e.g., visual perception of color). This knowledge will provide a deep understanding into the perceptual and physiological experience of visual art.
PSYC 1101 or PSYC 1101H with a grade of C or higher
Review major theoretical perspectives relating to sensation and perception.
Understand the physiological and psychological components of visual sensation and perception.
Understand the visual process and how objects and scenes are perceived.
Understand perception of motion, color, depth, and size.
Understand the practical relevance of visual sensation and perception.
Understand how visual art is perceived.
Understand how visual art differs from normal perceptual processes and experiences.
Understand why visual art is created and how human perception impacts its creation.
Consider what our appreciation of visual art says about humans’ reliance on the visual system.
The Psychology of Visual Art: Eye, Brain and Art by George Mather
ISBN: 978-0-521-18479-3
Experiences (10% of overall grade)
Throughout the semester there will be a number of experiential learning activities and assignments that take place either in class or will be completed on your own outside of class. Instructions for these will be provided individually when appropriate during the semester. The purpose of these activities is to provide you the opportunity to experience for yourself some of the concepts we will be learning about related to cognitive psychology. They cannot be made up--unless it is a written assignment that takes place outside of class; in that case, they fall under the late writing assignment policy (see syllabus policy page).⚠️ AI may be allowed on certain activities or assignments. This will be announced for each activity. If AI use was not expressly allowed in writing, AI use is prohibited.
Exams (60% of overall grade)
There will be four in-class exams covering content from class and readings. These exams will be a combination of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank. Use the exam review on D2L to help you study. You will need to bring a green scantron and a pencil for each exam. You are allowed to use a single 3” x 5” note card with notes per exam. No other resources are allowed during the exam. If you use a note card, you must turn in that note card. Failure to turn in the note card used during the exam will result in a zero on the exam. (If you do not use a note card, you do not have to turn one in.) You must make your own note card; copying a peer’s note card is not allowed. Exams cannot be made up without approved documentation from Dean of Students. No exceptions.
✅ AI is allowed and encouraged to generate study aids, practice questions, and general exam preparation.
Visual Art Portfolio (30% of overall grade)
You will attend two live visual art events throughout the semester. There will be two events that will be paid for by UNG. If you cannot attend these events or wish to attend different, equally appropriate and relevant events, then you can choose other events; you just need instructor approval. You will visually document and write about each event using the full instructions provided on D2L. We will also conduct a sheep eye dissection early in the semester that will also be visually documented and you will write about that as well. Also, certain "experiences" (as detailed above) will also need to be included in your portfolio. See portfolio instructions on D2L for full details. The final portfolio will be turned at the end of the semester and will serve as the final exam. A portfolio gala will take place during our final exam period where you will share your portfolio with your peers, and you will have a chance to review your peers' portfolios. Refreshments will be provided.
🚫 AI use is strictly prohibited.
> 90.0% = A
80.0 - 89.9% = B
70.0 - 79.9% = C
60.0 - 69.9% = D
< 60.0 = F
MODULE 1: ART, EYE, & BRAIN
Week 1: Syllabus & Chapter 1
Week 2: Assigned Reading 1
Week 3: Chapter 2
Week 4: Assigned Reading 2 // Exam 1 // Dissection on Saturday from 9 am - 12 pm (REQUIRED)
MODULE 2: SCENES & PICTURES
Week 5: Chapter 3
Week 6: Assigned Reading 3
Week 7: Chapter 4
Week 8: Chapter 5 // Exam 2 // Visit High Museum as a class on Saturday (Optional; FREE!)
MODULE 3: DEPTH & MOTION
Week 9: Assigned Reading 4 // Project topic due
Week 10: Depth & motion continued...
Week 11: Chapter 6 // Exam 3
MODULE 4: COLOR & AESTHETICS
Week 12: Assigned Reading 5
Week 13: Chapter 7
Week 14: Chapter 8 & 9 // Visit Atlanta Botanical Gardens on Saturday (Optional; FREE!)
Week 15: Chapter 10 // Exam 4 // Portfolio due
FINALS
Portfolio Gala -- during final exam period (REQUIRED)