For first-year students, coming to SCAD can feel overwhelming. Even for students who have been at SCAD for a while, it can be overwhelming. “There is a lot of work,” said first-year motion media student Cory Bundy. It is no secret that students are required to work many hours outside of class building, drawing and sculpting into the wee hours of the morning.
As with any college, the rigor of each class can vary based on the professor who teaches it. Since SCAD Atlanta is such a small university, the reputations of its professors are no secret. Students tell each other which teachers to take to be challenged, and which will be better to take when you have a full course load.
Since foundations classes such as 2D Design, Drawing I and Color: Theory and Application are required for all students to take, nearly every student has something to say about them. Professors of these classes are typically well-known around campus – some more so than others.
One of the most talked about professors of foundational studies is Marcia Cohen. Typically dressed in all black and white, from her shoes to her signature beret, Cohen is known for being challenging. She sometimes giving less than a 24-hour turn around period on projects. Some students believe that she’s the hardest teacher on campus. “It’s kind of crazy that we had to turn a project in by 8 a.m. the next morning. This class (Color Theory) is very intense,” said Jen Jiles, a second-year photography student.
However, Cohen is far from being the only demanding professor on campus. Now infamous to those who took his Drawing I course in winter quarter 2011 for assigning 14 self-portraits, professor Paul Rodecker also has a reputation for bringing students’ time management skills to a whole new level. “We had to do 14 self-portraits. Some of them were fun, but it seemed unnecessary. There weren’t even any critiques for them,” said Catherine Hawksworth, second-year photography student.
There are other teachers at SCAD Atlanta who have the ability to push students to their limit, forcing them to work harder than ever to produce their absolute best work. Those who have taken professor Chin-Cheng Hung’s Drawing II class know that firsthand. Students describe the class as rigorous, but well worth the effort. “Even if you’ve outdone yourself on a particular project, his critiques will still crush you. His standards are very high and he expects you to do better than your best,” said Bundy. “He’s an amazing artist. And he pushes us to be, too.”
The range of professors’ vastly different teaching techniques makes every course a unique experience. While some professors can seem radical, others challenge students to exceed their expectations in a way they didn’t think was possible. “Professor Michelle Anderson [2D Design] has been one of the toughest and best professors I’ve had here. She challenges your creativity and forces it to expand. Some of my best work was done in that class,” said Bundy.
