A.A. in Visual Arts

The Visual Arts curriculum offers instruction in theory, practice and history. These three areas of study provide the foundation needed to begin a career in Visual Arts. The foundation courses meet prerequisite requirements to UC, CSU systems and four-year art schools.

Students are encouraged to work closely with an advisor or counselor in course selection. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet requirements of transfer institutions.

A.A. Degree Level Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Visual Arts A.A. Degree will:

  1. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of Visual Arts history, techniques and theory.
  2. Use critical, analytical and aesthetic thought processes, and communication skills specific to the discipline.

Students receiving this degree must meet the following requirements:

  1. Complete the District General Education Pattern, CSUGE or IGETC.
    If transferring to a CSU or UC students are strongly recommended to complete the CSUGE or IGETC General Education Patterns. Students looking to transfer to an out of state or private college should consult with a counselor for the appropriate GE pattern selection.
  2. Complete with a “C” or better each course as specified by the major.
  3. Maintain an overall GPA of a 2.0 or better in all degree applicable coursework.
  4. Meet the local area requirement of Kinesiology/Dance.
Required courses:
ART 100ASurvey of Western Art from Prehistory through the Middle Ages3
or ART 100AH Survey of Western Art from Prehistory through the Middle Ages - Honors
or ART 100B Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary
or ART 100BH Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors
ART 111Beginning Drawing3
ART 120Two-Dimensional Design3
Select three (3) of the following courses:
Art History - Ancient Art3
Art History - Western Medieval Art3
Art History - Renaissance and Baroque Art in Western Europe3
Art History - Modern and Contemporary Art3
Art History - Topics in Contemporary Art3
Introduction to the Visual Arts3
Intermediate Drawing3
Figure Drawing I3
Figure Drawing II3
Three-Dimensional Design3
Beginning Painting3
Intermediate Painting3
Beginning Ceramics3
Intermediate Ceramics3
Experimental Ceramics3
Beginning Ceramics - Handbuilding3
Ceramic Design and Decoration3
Ceramics: Tile and Mosaic3
Computer Art Basics3
Introduction to Art: Mobile Digital Devices3
Digital Media Productions I3
Commercial Graphic Design3
Introduction to Typography3
Computer Graphics I3
Web Design I3
Animation I3
Beginning Clay Sculpture3
Intermediate Clay Sculpture3
Advanced Clay Sculpture I3
Advanced Clay Sculpture II3
Sculpture and Metalwork3
Art Portfolio and Resume Production3
Motion Picture Appreciation3
Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
History of Latin American Art - Colonial through Contemporary3
History of Latin American Art - Colonial through Contemporary - Honors
History of Asian Art3
History of Asian Art - Honors
Advanced Painting3
Advanced Ceramics I3
Advanced Ceramics II3
Web Design II3
Animation II3
Basic Photography3
Intermediate Photography3
Total Units18

2-Year Curriculum Map Example
This map represents one possible pathway through the program and is only for reference.

*It is highly recommended that you make an appointment to create a customized education plan that fits your needs.

Note: Co-requisite MATH course (2 units) and/or substitute ENGL 101E (5 units) may be needed based on placement.

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
ART 111 Beginning Drawing 3
ENGL 101
Reading and Composition
or Reading and Composition - Honors
4
MATH 160
Mathematics for Everyday Living - A Liberal Arts Course
or Introductory Statistics
or Introductory Statistics - Honors
4
ART 100A
Survey of Western Art from Prehistory through the Middle Ages
or Survey of Western Art from Prehistory through the Middle Ages - Honors
3
 Units14
Winter Term 1
ENGL 103
Composition and Critical Thinking
or Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking
or Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking - Honors
3
 Units3
Spring Term 1
ART 120 Two-Dimensional Design 3
SPCH 100
Interpersonal Communication
or Interpersonal Communication - Honors
or Public Address
or Public Address - Honors
3
ETHN 101
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
or Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
3
ART 100B
Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary
or Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors
3
 Units12
Summer Term 1
HIST 107
History of the United States before 1877
or History of the United States before 1877 - Honors
or History of the United States since 1877
or History of the United States since 1877 - Honors
or History of the African-Americans to 1876
or History of the African-Americans since 1876
or History of Women in the United States
3
 Units3
Fall Term 2
Select two art electives.  
ENGL 290
Ethnic Voices in Film
or Children's Literature
or Children's Literature - Honors
or Literature of the Bible
or American Food And Culture: Global Origins, History, and Current Impacts
or Great Religions of the World
or Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
3
ANTH 210
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
or Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - Honors
or Introduction to Psychology
or Introduction to Psychology - Honors
or Introduction to Sociology
or Introduction to Sociology - Honors
3
ART 101
Art History - Ancient Art
or Art History - Western Medieval Art
or Art History - Renaissance and Baroque Art in Western Europe
or Art History - Modern and Contemporary Art
or Art History - Topics in Contemporary Art
or Introduction to the Visual Arts
or Intermediate Drawing
or Figure Drawing I
or Figure Drawing II
or Three-Dimensional Design
or Beginning Painting
or Intermediate Painting
or Beginning Ceramics
or Intermediate Ceramics
or Experimental Ceramics
or Beginning Ceramics - Handbuilding
or Ceramic Design and Decoration
or Ceramics: Tile and Mosaic
or Computer Art Basics
or Introduction to Art: Mobile Digital Devices
or Digital Media Productions I
or Commercial Graphic Design
or Introduction to Typography
or Computer Graphics I
or Web Design I
or Animation I
or Beginning Clay Sculpture
or Intermediate Clay Sculpture
or Advanced Clay Sculpture I
or Advanced Clay Sculpture II
or Sculpture and Metalwork
or Art Portfolio and Resume Production
or Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
or History of Latin American Art - Colonial through Contemporary
or History of Latin American Art - Colonial through Contemporary - Honors
or History of Asian Art
or History of Asian Art - Honors
or Advanced Painting
or Advanced Ceramics I
or Advanced Ceramics II
or Web Design II
or Animation II
or Basic Photography
or Intermediate Photography
6
 Units12
Winter Term 2
ASTR 115
Planetary Astronomy
or Planetary Astronomy - Honors
or Physical Oceanography
or Introduction to Forest Ecology
or Physical Geography
or Introduction to Weather and Climate
3
KIN 170
Fitness for Life
or Health and Wellness
or Health and Wellness - Honors
or Introduction to Nutrition
3
 Units6
Spring Term 2
ANTH 212 Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3
ANTH 212L Introduction to Physical Anthropology Lab 1
POLI 103
American Government and Politics
or American Government and Politics - Honors
3
ART 101
Art History - Ancient Art
or Art History - Western Medieval Art
or Art History - Renaissance and Baroque Art in Western Europe
or Art History - Modern and Contemporary Art
or Art History - Topics in Contemporary Art
or Introduction to the Visual Arts
or Intermediate Drawing
or Figure Drawing I
or Figure Drawing II
or Three-Dimensional Design
or Beginning Painting
or Intermediate Painting
or Beginning Ceramics
or Intermediate Ceramics
or Experimental Ceramics
or Beginning Ceramics - Handbuilding
or Ceramic Design and Decoration
or Ceramics: Tile and Mosaic
or Computer Art Basics
or Introduction to Art: Mobile Digital Devices
or Digital Media Productions I
or Commercial Graphic Design
or Introduction to Typography
or Computer Graphics I
or Web Design I
or Animation I
or Beginning Clay Sculpture
or Intermediate Clay Sculpture
or Advanced Clay Sculpture I
or Advanced Clay Sculpture II
or Sculpture and Metalwork
or Art Portfolio and Resume Production
or Motion Picture Appreciation
or Motion Picture Appreciation - Honors
or History of Latin American Art - Colonial through Contemporary
or History of Latin American Art - Colonial through Contemporary - Honors
or History of Asian Art
or History of Asian Art - Honors
or Advanced Painting
or Advanced Ceramics I
or Advanced Ceramics II
or Web Design II
or Animation II
or Basic Photography
or Intermediate Photography
3
 Units10
 Total Units60

Note: Course selections may affect total unit value.  

Career Opportunities

There are a variety of careers you can do with this major.

 

To explore more about this major, schedule an appointment with a career counselor.