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Specialized Learning Spaces

The Liberal Arts, Communication, and Social Sciences (LCS) division is comprised of eleven departments offering degrees and certificates in a wide range of disciplines. From psychology to the performing arts and from design to English, the Liberal Arts, Communication and Social Sciences division provides limitless opportunities to enrich your life and help you achieve your goals. Whether you are seeking to enter the workforce, transfer to a four-year institution or enhance your current skills, our division fosters the skills necessary for success. The Division offers students numerous specially designed learning environments which enhance learning outside the classroom. Specialized learning spaces within the LCS Division include:

Descriptions of the LCS's specialized learning spaces include:

+ American Sign Language & Interpreter Education Program (ASLIE)  

The ASLIE Program offers a state-of-the-art interpreting and language skills lab. The ASLIE lab, staffed by Sign Language Mentors (SLMs), provides students with an immersive ASL experience. Students interact with native American Sign Language users and simulated interpreting scenarios with SLMs and hearing peer tutors.

Students can access extensive ASL and interpreting media resources and state-of-the-art technology (computer/internet access, webcam technology, audio-visual equipment, etc.) for skill development, self-assessment, peer-assessment, research, etc. The ASLIE Lab hosts monthly socialization events as another opportunity to engage with American Sign Language. Tutoring services are offered on a drop-in basis or by appointment with SLMs and/or Peer Tutors.

+ Art  
  • Ceramics Studio, Building 13, Room 307 (1,307 square feet): The Ceramics Studio is designed and fully accessible for the student of studio pottery. The studio space consists of a classroom and a glaze area. The Ceramics Studio houses the following equipment: 5 electric potter's wheels and 8 potter's kick wheels. Fenestration, heating and cooling systems and commercially designed ventilation system ensure a quality environment of high standards. The Ceramics Studio shares kiln room facilities with the Sculpture Studio. The kiln room houses 7 electric oxidizing kilns including a 15 cubic foot car kiln - all meeting commercial/academic regulations and standards.
  • Drawing Studio, Room 13-301 (1497 square feet) & Painting Studio, Room 13-304 (1476 square feet) – These adjoining studios are furnished with drawing horses and easels. A storage space for props and a changing room for models are located between the two studio spaces. The Painting Studio includes an ionized air cleaning system.
  • Hypotenuse Gallery, located on the third floor of Building 13 flanking the walkway to Building 9. The two separate, triangular gallery spaces are set on opposite sides of the hallway rising approximately 2’ above floor level. Each space has approximately 28 square feet of floor area with the wall area of 73 square feet on the long side of the triangle. The other two sides are composed of glass windows facing the hallway. Entrance to the space is through a 4’ x 6 1/2’ door in the center of the back wall. Both the wall and the floor are covered with a neutral laminate material. A rail and rod hanging system is available for the display of two-dimensional artwork. Track lights are installed in the floor, parallel to the windows. Additional lighting is provided by fixed, recessed ceiling lights.
  • The Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery was dedicated in 1994 and features, local, national, and international contemporary artists. Designed for the exhibition of all media including electronic and installation work. The Triangle Gallery is located in Building 13 on the 4th floor.
  • The Works on Paper Gallery is located on the 4th floor of Building 13 across from the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery. This gallery features artwork from local, national, or international artists. While called Works on Paper Gallery, other 2D art is often featured in this space.
  • Photography, Building 13, Room 303 (2049 square feet total) 1 film processing lab, 2 photography darkrooms, computer lab/work space: The photography area covers a total of 2049 square feet. It is divided into four rooms: 1 film processing lab area, 2 multi-purpose darkrooms and a computer lab/work space with 2 Mac computers and 1 scanner. The film processing lab area has 2 stainless steel sinks, 2 heated drying cabinets, 2 dry-mounting presses (up to 30” x 40”), and 4 archival paper washers. The darkrooms are equipped with 25 Beseler 45MXT Enlargers with Dichro Color Heads, paper processing sinks (1 large & 1 small). A UV light table is also available for alternative process photography. For safety, the photography area has an eye-wash and shower.
  • Photography Studio, Building 13, Room 202 (708 square feet): The Photography Studio serves as a lab supporting ART 1171, Studio Photography. The space includes motorized portrait backdrops, lighting equipment, props and two large format cameras.
  • Sculpture Studio, Building 13, Room 306 (1422 square feet): The Sculpture Studio is designed to accommodate the beginning and intermediate sculpture student. The space consists of one large work area where students study clay modeling, mixed media, and plaster carving. A smaller room adjacent to the large work area is used for plaster casting and plaster carving and includes storage space for projects. The Sculpture Studio includes tool storage and a wide range of hand tools available for student use. The sculpture studio shares kiln room facilities with the Ceramic Studio.
  • Printmaking Studio, Building 13, Room 326 (718 square feet): The Printmaking Studio houses a manual press, two sinks, work tables, a portable eye-wash station, ventilation system, a print drying rack, flat files and storage cabinets.
  • Woodshop, Building 13, Room 329 (729 square feet): The Woodshop serves both Art and Design students and provides support for instruction in wood construction. The Woodshop houses the following equipment: Delta 10” Table Saw, Delta 6” Jointer, Delta 12” Planer, Delta Wood Lathe Model 46-755, Delta Floor Model Drill Press with ½” Chuck, Delta 14” Band Saw, Delta 6” Belt Sander with 12” Disc Sander, Delta 16” Scroll Saw, Delta 10” Radial Arm Saw, Delta Dust Collection System, Craftsman 10” Table Mount Band Saw, Craftsman Oscillating Spindle Sander, Craftsman 6” Buffing Wheel, Porter-Cable ½ HP Plunge Router, Porter-Cable ½ HP Router, Porter-Cable Brad Nailer, Porter-Cable Handheld Belt Sander, Porter-Cable Handheld ½ Sheet Sander, Skil-Saw Chop Saw, Tormex Sharpening Machine, 9 Sets of Carving Chisels.
  • Zone VI Photography Gallery, located on the third floor of Building 13 on the east wall of the west foyer: 4 adjacent wall mounted, glass enclosed cases measuring 3’ H x 7’6” W x 2”D. Cases are cork backed. Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery/Works on Paper Gallery, Located on the fourth floor, northwest corner of Building 13. The Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery provides approximately 1000 square feet of floor space and 120 linear feet of wall space with 10’ ceilings. Fifty percent of the wall space is composed of moveable 5’ x 10’ two-sided panels installed on a grid pattern of tracks mounted in the ceiling. The walls are plywood covered with a coarsely woven neutral fabric. Track lights are installed in a grid pattern on the ceiling and designed to be used with the stationary walls as well as the moveable wall panels. Bamboo wood flooring further enhances this professional gallery space. At the apex of the triangle, 18’ windows that include glass double doors that allow access from a foyer/lounge area. The opposite side of the triangle is composed of a full length, UV protective window. A utility storage room/office of approximately 650 square feet is connected to the gallery. Located adjacent to the foyer/lounge area, the glass encased Works on Paper Gallery is designed to feature a variety of two-dimensional artwork. The rear walls are composed of plywood covered with a coarsely woven neutral fabric. Track lights illuminate the space.
+ Communication  
  • The department has fully equipped specialized classrooms that include computers and internet access for each individual student as they plan and prepare research related coursework. In addition, students are able to use the latest technology in facilitating their presentations of small group projects, speeches, videos, and other course activities.
+ Design  
  • The department has 4 computer labs, each lab is equipped with Macintosh computers, printers (black and white, color and large format), scanners and industry specific Adobe Creative Cloud software. There are two Drawing Labs, each with 22 light tables. The Press lab includes a two screen presses and a digital press. The lab includes related binding and finishing equipment, as well as a laser cutter. The Photography Lab includes softbox lighting and backdrop backgrounds. The Interior Design Lab has 22 drafting tables with parallel rulers, 6 PC computers, one large format printer, and samples of various interior finishes.
+ Developmental Language Arts  
  • The department operates a tutoring center called the Tutoring and Learning Center that serves all DEV courses.
+ Early Childhood Education (ECE)  
  • ECE students have access to the ECE Lending Library, an extensive collection of materials, literature, and resources especially suited for early childhood curricula. ECE students can utilize any of these materials to create activities and lesson plans appropriate for Pre-K children. ECE students also have the benefit of utilizing the Sinclair Early Childhood Education Center (an on-site model preschool). As various points in their coursework, ECE students utilize the preschool as an on-site location for observation and teaching skills development. Videotaping equipment allows for detailed review and assessment of each ECE student’s teaching of the preschool children.
+ English  
  • The department utilizes state-of-the-art composition labs equipped with the latest word processing software and multimedia tools that provide student access both in and out of the classroom setting. Access to both library and tutorial services are readily available through close collaboration with the tutoring and learning center, which can provide assistance to all students in composing written assignments.
+ Humanities, Government and Modern Language  
  • The department has a dedicated modern language lab with 24 computers. The lab uses multimedia resources to provide students taking language courses an immersion experience outside the classroom. It is also used to facilitate outreach and placement testing and services for incoming high school and transfer students. Fall 2022 Lab Open Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the lab closed on Saturday and Sunday.
+ Journalism  
  • The department has fully equipped classrooms that include computers and internet access for each individual student, allowing students to report and write news stories. The multimedia journalism classroom includes Macintosh computers with software for each individual student to use to create stories using a variety of journalistic platforms.
+ Music & Theatre
  • Blair Hall Theatre

    • Blair Hall Theatre, on the first floor of building 2, seats 445 people with a main floor and balcony. It was renovated in 2017 and is wheelchair accessible.
    • This facility has been praised for its unobstructed sightlines while preserving the feeling of intimacy appropriate for educational performances. Students receive multiple performance opportunities as they complete associate degrees in theatre performance, theatre technology and music.
    • Blair Hall has a large proscenium stage comparable to many regional theatres with offstage wings, a single-purchase counterweight fly system, and a mechanically adjusted orchestra pit that was renovated in 2018.
    • Technology in Blair Hall includes a Technical Booth with an ETC Ion lighting console to control Source 4 incandescent and LED light fixtures, along with a variety of automated lighting fixtures from Vari-lite to Martin.
    • The balcony houses 3 Lycian Superstar 600 LED follow-spots as well as a sound booth with a large format Yamaha Digital LS-9 32 sound board.
    • Blair Theatre is also equipped with two dressing rooms. Both have full restroom facilities that include a shower, as well as spacious make-up tables with storage drawers and vanity lights.
  • Blair Hall Lobby

    • In the lobby you will find a Box Office with state-of-the-art ticketing and scanning capabilities providing experiences for front of house and customer service areas. The space also spotlights upcoming performances; many regional and national awards; music and theatre majors who have earned scholarships, as well as track their successes after leaving Sinclair. At the end of each year, the space is used as a gallery to showcase the technology and design work of theatre majors.
  • Black Box Theatre

    • The Black Box Theatre, located on the fourth floor of Building 2, is used for theatre productions and as the studio for all acting and dance classes, lab space for lighting classes and several master classes throughout the year. It offers flexible seating for up to 100 people with portable risers and comfortable chairs.
    • The studio features a classroom sound system with an analog Yamaha console and for productions, an ETC Element lighting console is used to control the Source 4 LEDs inside the full lighting grid. There is also a wood sprung floor, ballet barres, a full wall of mirrors and two dressing rooms with restroom facilities and spacious make-up tables with storage drawers and vanity lights.
    • During the day, you will find students taking acting, movement, voice, ballet, jazz, and modern dance classes. In the evening, it becomes a rehearsal and performance space for theatre productions. As a performance space it can be set up in different configurations for the placement of the audience and the stage, like proscenium, thrust, stadium, and theatre in the round.
    • The Black Box is also where the Free Expressions series and the Mac Student Series are produced. The Free Expressions Series is free theatre that tackles current social issues. The Mac Student Series allows students to create their own theatre and be directors, playwrights, actors, dancers, choreographers, designers, stage managers, and box office agents.
  • Scene Shop

    • The Scene Shop serves as a classroom lab space and the construction area for all theatre production scenery and props that fill Blair Hall and the Black Box stages. This space includes an office for the technical director, a spray booth and all the wood working equipment for building scenery and props, including the safety standard of a SawStop table saw! Scenery is constructed here then transported across Fourth St. to building 2 where it is reconstructed on stage.
  • Costume Shop

    • The Costume Shop serves as a classroom lab space and the design and construction area for all theatre production costumes. This space provides 6 commercial sewing machines, serger, steamer, craft room and spacious tabletop work spaces to construct the costumes needed for each show as well as costume construction classes.
  • Costume Storage

    • Sinclair Theatre maintains hundreds of costumes, shoes and accessories on the fourth floor of building 13. Costumes range from period pieces to contemporary, including the costumes for the annual production of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
  • Dance Studio

    • This studio space is primarily used for student studio work and rehearsals. Performance and dance classes include projects which require rehearsals outside of the classroom and this space is available for those rehearsals. This is also a space for the students to come together to work on their own performance projects as directors, designers, playwrights, actors and dancers. This studio also houses the department’s library of scripts and theatre texts.
  • Val P. Hattemer Recital Hall

    • This large space can seat up to 75 participants and is used to accommodate music ensemble rehearsals, classes, recitals, master classes, and applied lessons.
  • Music Technology Computer Lab

    • The computer lab is a large 22-station room, with 5 large whiteboards on the walls, in which music theory and ear training courses are held. Students can (and are required to) utilize the lab, when the lab itself is not being used for classroom activity, for their music composition assignments, listening assignments, and signing in and out of a specialized ear training program with which they must maintain a certain pace all year long.

  • Piano Lab

    • The piano lab houses 21 full-size digital pianos and is used for group piano instruction. Courses for non-pianist music majors as well as beginner pianists are offered here.
  • Private Practice Rooms

    • The department offers students thirteen practice rooms, all of which house pianos or other musical instruments for student use. These practice rooms allow students to sculpt their own sound environment and record themselves on flash drives for playback later.
+ Psychology
  • The Psychology Department hosts a “Psych Pod” in the first-floor student area of Building 4. It contains four computer workstations and a TV display showing slide presentations on a variety of topics related to psychology and to Sinclair’s Psychology Department. Students log in to the computers using their Sinclair account to access the internet, communicate with instructors, work on assignments, and connect with any of Sinclair’s programs and services. The video display is updated each month by Susan Raber with contributions from the Psychology Dept. faculty.
+ Sociology/Geography/Social Work
  • Center for Applied Social Issues (CASI) Research Center is a computer classroom/lab in Building 12, Room 363 that supports the program/course outcomes of quantitative literacy in Sociology and Geographic Information Systems in Geography (GIS).
  • Description of the specific services or activities of the center or lab: Sociology and GIS classes are held on a regular basis in this computer classroom/lab. ESRI software housed in the lab supports Geographic Information Systems courses. The lab allows for the integration of data analysis learning activities associated with the Sociology curriculum. The Research Center is used extensively during both Fall and Spring semesters by Sociology students to conduct the bi-annual All-Grad Study on behalf of Research, Analytics and Reporting at Sinclair.
  • Center for Applied Social Issues (CASI) Student Learning Lab in Building 12, Room 365 provides an active learning space for students to bolster sociological concepts based upon the Sociology/Social Work outcomes and objectives, as well as facilitate general education outcomes, such as literacy and communication skills. The lab supports the spatial learning outcomes and objectives by providing Geography and GIS students’ access with maps, globes and ESRI software.

Description of the specific services or activities of the center or lab:

  • Audio, video and tabletop activities that students watch, listen and complete assignments related to Sociology and Social Work course content.
  • Interactive, computer generated assignments and assessments are provided by full-time and part-time faculty members associated with each of the disciplines.
  • Globes and Maps essential to the completion of Map Quizzes in all Geography courses.
  • Students access ESRI software essential to all Geographical Information Systems related courses.
  • Course textbooks for all Sociology, Social Work and Geography courses that are offered for the semester are available for students to use.