Academic Catalog

Studio Arts, AA-T

Program Description

Studio art is the study of visual art through hands-on studio experience and understanding of the history of art. The Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer degree is a solid preparation for transfer majors to local California State Universities (CSUs) in various areas in studio art. The Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer degree includes core foundation level drawing, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, and art history. The Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer degree also offers a wide variety of beginning level studio art electives, including painting, figure and head and hand drawing, ceramics and ceramic sculpture, illustration, digital arts, and photography.

Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer degree will be ensured preferential transfer status to local CSUs for Studio Art majors and majors in related disciplines. The Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many local CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific local CSUs and to validate which CSUs are considered local.

Learn more about the program on the Art website.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be equipped with the fundamental formal two- and three-dimensional foundation level technical skills, materials, concepts, and methods.
  • Students will gain strong awareness of cultural art traditions through the examination and critical evaluation of culturally significant works of art.
  • Students will be able to critique and analyze two- and three-dimensional creative projects using the current principles, theories, and language of art and design.

Units Required

  • Major: 42

Associate Degree Requirements

Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units, including:

  • Core and support courses for the major (42 units)1
  • California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)2 (45 units) (full certification is required)
  • Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement
1

Some units from the core and support courses may be used to satisfy the GE requirement. Please see a counselor for more information.

2

Cal-GETC began in Fall Quarter 2025. Students with catalog rights for Summer Session 2025 and previous catalog years may be able to use IGETC or CSU GE Breadth. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
ART 2BHISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE RENAISSANCE4.5
or ART 2BH HONORS HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE RENAISSANCE
ART 2CHISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE BAROQUE TO IMPRESSIONISM4.5
ART 3HISTORY OF MODERN ART FROM POST-IMPRESSIONISM TO THE PRESENT4.5
ART 4AFUNDAMENTALS IN DRAWING4
ART 5A2-D FOUNDATIONS4
ART 5B3-D FOUNDATIONS4
Support Courses
List A
Complete one course from List A:4.5
HISTORY OF ART: HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM PREHISTORY THROUGH EARLY CHRISTIANITY
HONORS HISTORY OF ART: HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM PREHISTORY THROUGH EARLY CHRISTIANITY
AFRICAN, OCEANIC & NATIVE AMERICAN ART
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART
List B
And complete three courses total, from three different areas in List B:12
Drawing Area
INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
and REPRESENTATIONAL DRAWING 1
FIGURE DRAWING I
and HEADS & HANDS DRAWING 1
Painting Area
OIL PAINTING I
and ACRYLIC PAINTING I 1
Second Semester Area
OIL PAINTING II
Color Area
COLOR THEORY
Sculpture Area
CERAMIC SCULPTURE
Ceramics Area
BEGINNING CERAMICS HANDBUILDING
BEGINNING CERAMICS POTTER'S WHEEL
Other Media Area
WATERCOLOR I
Digital Art Area
DIGITAL ART & GRAPHICS
Photography Area
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
Total Units42
1

Both courses must be completed to fulfill the requirement.