Wood Design and Craftsmanship
Students who desire a better
understanding of wood tooling, furniture design and how to fashion wood through skills
such as carving, turning and joinery can select the WSC Professional Electives option in Wood Design and Craftsmanship.
Students in this option take courses in Wood Sculpture, Topics in Studio Art, Design of Wood Structures, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD).
Through a collaborative arrangement with
Maine's Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, students also take a 3 month intensive program to develop hands-on wood working skills for course credit in the UMaine WSC curriculum.
The core segments of the wood crafting and wood design curriculum allows
students to build furniture of their own design and learn from experts
in the field. Students learn in a beautiful setting near the coast of
Maine. Those who elect this option with
the intent of developing a business after graduation are also encouraged to take selected business courses. Students develop a firm understanding of
wood tooling, craftsmanship and design concepts in the WSC core curriculum. Regular field trips in our classes expose students to
a rich variety of wood designers and fabricators in the state of Maine ranging from Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers, producers of fine
wooden furniture, to Hodgdon Yachts the builders of multi-million dollar wooden marine vessels.
The University of Maine is the only program in the US that provides a
fully-accredited 4-year wood science and technology degree
and also provides a curriculum and Certification in Wood Design and Craftsmanship. The breadth of this curriculum prepares students for a variety
of career options.
Boat Building Option
in the Area of Wood Design and Craftsmanship
Professional Elective Sequence
Requirements for the acceptance of credits from Husson's Boatbuilding program by
the UMaine WSC program are outlined as follows. Students enrolled in the UMaine
WSC program are eligible to take one semester (a 14-week Intensive program) in
Husson' s Boatbuilding program. The courses the students will take for credit are:
BOA 144 , Wooden Boat Construction 8
BOA 171 Marine Joinery 3
BOA 280 Wooden Boat Restoration 4
It is also understood that WSC students will be required to undertake a day-long
training period in Boat Lofting and pass a Boat shop Safety test, plus a day of
stationary and portable power tool practices prior to the start of BOA 171, 144 and 280. This will be facilitated by students completing all reading assignments and tests required in BOA 102 Boat shop safety and BOA 130 lofting during the fall prior to attendance. UMaine students will not receive additional credit for this lofting and safety training.
Acceptance of WSC students into the Husson's Boatbuilding program would be guaranteed as long as the students apply before a course is filled, and WSC students would pay the standard tuition rate and application fee to Husson expected of all students enrolling at that College. Students would earn 15 credit hours transferable to the University of Maine and these credits could be used to satisfy a portion of the Professional Elective sequence in Wood Design and Craftsmanship in the Wood Science and Technology program in the School of Forest Resources at UMaine. WSC students are expected to complete all Husson requirements of the 14-week Intensive and Husson instructors will grade these students for their work. Upon request of the student, the Husson would provide a transcript of their course credits at Husson to UMaine. WSC students would typically be allowed to enter the Husson program after completion of their sophomore year in the WSC program at UMaine. This will allow the students to complete basic courses in WSC but also to develop a level of professionalism required for enhancement of the craftsmanship experience.
The procedures and responsibilities for taking course credits in the Husson
Boatbuilding program lie with the individual student in consultation with their
UMaine WSC faculty advisor. However, the procedures for application, participation in the program, and documentation of coursework will be in accordance with the following path:
1. UMaine WSC students who are interested in participating in the Husson’s 14-
week Intensive should apply by September of the year for entry into the Husson
program in January.
2. Application materials for the Husson will be provided by the School of Forest
Resources Administrative Office and completed application forms must be
approved and submitted to the WSC Program Leader by September of each
year to make arrangements for admission to Husson. WSC students enrolled in
the Wood Design and Craftsmanship Professional Electives option will receive
first priority for selection in this program in the event of limited space in a
particular summer or semester.
3. WSC students entering into the Husson Boatbuilding l4-week Intensive are
responsible for their own housing in the Eastport, Maine area, but recommendations for lodging may be available from Husson.
4. In addition to Husson tuition payment, students are also responsible for the cost of materia1s and supplies needed for the design and development of their
projects. Typically one boat project will be developed and completed in the 14-week period. Additional lecture material supplements the Husson student
experience and the students learn both design and woodworking skills through
hands-on training as well as group and personal instruction.
5. The grades and course credits assigned by Husson staff will be provided on a
Husson transcript to the University of Maine upon request of the student. The course credits will appear on the student’s UMaine transcripts as transfer credits. Grades lower than a C- earned at Husson will not be accepted by the University of Maine for credit.
6. Students will also receive a certificate from the Husson Boat Building Program indicating completion of the Intensive Program.
7. Husson will publish information about this program on their Boatbuilding program web site and the WSC program at UMaine will in-turn also promote this program on their web site and other informational materials.
Web link to Husson Boat Building Program:
http://www.husson.edu/index.php?cat_id=1080
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