Visual Arts – Art & Graphic Design

Program Description

Associate in Applied Science Degree

The Visual Arts program provides students with the basic technical and intellectual foundation necessary to pursue a career as either a fine artist or graphic designer.

The Department of Visual Arts, guided by a faculty of experienced professional artists, offers two options: Art and Graphic Design, and Fine Arts. In each option, students are expected to develop an individual aesthetic within their discipline. The Visual Arts program is dedicated to encouraging and nurturing the pursuit of independent interests and personal vision while preparing students for careers in the visual arts field.

Graduates of the Visual Arts program will demonstrate competency in:

• Basic technical skills in the visual formats of drawing, color, and design (Fine Arts and Graphic Design)
• Basic technical skills in computer generated formats (Graphic Design)
• Basic technical skills in elective subjects such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography and/or graphic design (for transfer as a junior to a baccalaureate degree program).

The Art and Graphic Design Option provides a strong technical and intellectual foundation in Graphic Design. The core of the curriculum is a series of foundation courses. Tracks in Illustration and Graphic Design follow in the second year. Electives allow students to incorporate additional media into their curriculum with courses from the Fine Arts Option.

Visual Arts also offers a Fine Arts degree.

In each option, students are expected to develop an individual aesthetic within their chosen discipline. The Visual Arts faculty is dedicated to encouraging and supporting students in their individual course of study and preparing them for transfer to a bachelor’s degree program or entry-level career paths in the visual arts field.