Creative Arts

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Mission

Our program is linked and contributes to the mission of the university in two specific ways:

Through direct experience of the artistic process, students engage in a mode of human behavior that is universal across cultures and as ancient as our species itself, and this common experience can help foster the empathy necessary for global citizenship.
Through developing creative thinking and imagination and the skills or craft to actualize that imagination in artistic works, students gain confidence in their own capabilities as creative individuals who can contribute to fresh solutions to the problems of today’s and tomorrow’s world in any field of endeavor.

Previous Experience

While we also offer advanced-level courses in most areas, there are CARTS courses available in each medium to all students regardless of prior experience. It is not uncommon in our classes to have complete beginners working next to students with extensive backgrounds and learning and developing their capabilities together. Some of our former students have gone on to obtain graduate degrees in the arts, or to begin professional careers as artists or arts educators, but our focus and mission as a program is seeing all our students grow through these creative experiences.

CARTS Courses Offered

CARTS 101 Introduction to Music Composition
CARTS 102 Introduction to Songwriting
CARTS 110 Music Composition with the Computer
CARTS 120 Drawing: Seeing & Imagination
CARTS 130 Ceramics I
CARTS 131 Sculpture: Creating Form
CARTS 140 Creative Painting I
CARTS 150 Introduction to Photography
CARTS 155 Digital Photography I
CARTS 160 Creative Dance: Introduction to Movement and Improvisation
CARTS 201 Composing Tonal Music
CARTS 205 Improvising Music
CARTS 210 Music Composition II: The Next Step
CARTS 260 Advanced Creative Dance
CARTS 290 Topics in Creative Arts
CARTS 298 Special Study
CARTS 299 Independent Study
CARTS 320 Drawing II: Seeing & Imagination
CARTS 330 Ceramics II
CARTS 340 Creative Painting II
CARTS 350 Advanced Photography
CARTS 380 Watercolor Painting II
CARTS 398 Special Study
CARTS 399 Independent Study (multiple offerings)
CARTS 499 Independent Study (multiple offerings)

CARTS Credit Courses

Courses are offered each year in painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, photography, dance, and music (improvisation, songwriting, electronic, and acoustic composition, in rotation). All beginning and advanced level CARTS courses satisfy the requirement, and additional courses, in the same or different media, can be taken for elective credit. One general aspect of creativity which we focus on in all our courses is enhancing perceptual skill; deepening our understanding of and appreciation for how all of our senses work, and then exploring new ways in which our artistic efforts interact with them is essential to fostering creative imagination.

Image of a student musical trio performing in the Performing Arts Center.

Music Ensembles

Students can take these courses for elective credit.

The CARTS Program also offers Music Ensemble courses for students who want to learn or develop their abilities in music performance. These courses do not satisfy the CARTS graduation requirement, but can be taken as elective credits towards graduation. These courses as well are open to students regardless of level of previous experience, as there is a Basic Musicianship course for those with no familiarity with Western music notation. Courses include individual or small-group instruction in voice, piano, jazz, conducting and strings, as well as performing ensembles ranging from chamber groups, jazz and percussion ensembles, chorus, and concert band. All students have the opportunity to perform in recitals each semester, including on stage in the Soka Performing Arts Center.

In my beginning ceramics class, I try to be encouraging and supportive because at this level, it’s all about discovery and learning what’s possible. Teaching at Soka has been so rewarding because my students are from such diverse backgrounds and cultures and the classes are small so I can give a lot of attention to each student.

Don Ryan

Lecturer of Ceramics, Director of Creative Arts Program

Recent Events

Drawing of aerial view of Nazi death camp in Poland

Professor Emeritus Arie A. Galles discusses his drawings based on aerial photographs of death camps taken by Luftwaffe, RAF, and Allied reconnaissance during World War II.