Introduction
As a distance learning student, you must have a lot of questions as you begin this course. Such as:

• What will be covered in this course?
• What relevance does this art course have for me?
• How can I successfully complete this course at a distance?

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to you, I am Professor Elizabeth Bisbing. I have been teaching this course for three years at the Hackensack Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University. You can visit the course web site that I have developed for my on site students at http://alpha.fdu.edu/~bisbing
What will be covered in this course?

• Basically, we will be discussing art.
• We'll begin with music and theater
• and move onto the visual arts.

What relevance does this art course have for me?

• Every semester I have some students who are reluctant to devote time to the study of art.
• To these students, I point out the importance of being a well rounded person - in other words - to have some understanding of topics outside of their majors.
• Suppose you're a business major. Well someday when you're at the office working, one or more of your colleagues may bring up the topic of art. It's important for you to be able to participate in these discussions in an informed manner.
• I also have many students each semester who are quite eager to take a course on art.
• They see it as an opportunity to spend time on something they enjoy.
• And, by increasing their knowledge about art - to be able to enjoy it even more as a result of taking this class.

How can I successfully complete this course at a distance?

• I think that this class is a great example of the possibilities of distance learning.
• You can fulfil the events requirements by attending local concerts or by attending the Performing Arts Series at FDU in Hackensack.
• You can attend a play in your community to fulfil this requirement. Or, you could go to a Broadway play - or you could come to the Teaneck Campus and see the play at the American Stage Theater.
• You could go to an Art Museum in your area, or go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Whichever is more convenient for you.