Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is designed to provide a balanced liberal arts education. The BA Program in Art presents students with the opportunity to acquire an understanding of various art and design disciplines in order to develop excellence in a specific area.

The total number of units required for the BA degree in Art is 120 units, of which 57 units are in the major.

Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in each option of the degree, including GE (minimum of 48 units) and free electives.

For a BA degree, a minimum of 40 semester units must be upper-division courses numbered 3000-4990. Courses numbered above 4990 are intended for graduate students only and are not applicable toward bachelor’s degrees.

Options

The program offers six options:

• Animation - The Animation Option provides a thorough education in the creative, practical, and historical uses of animation. The option encourages an experimental approach to animation that combines traditional and contemporary techniques. 

• Art Education - The Art Education program prepares students for careers in arts education and qualifies students to become candidates for the Single Subject Teaching Credential program in Art (a post-baccalaureate program). A partial professional preparation program is included in the Art Education curriculum, which is certified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and is designed for teacher candidates to perform subject matter competency in Art. Students in the Art Education program are experienced and knowledgeable in a wide range of art disciplines that reflect and are relevant to teaching and learning art in public schools and other educational settings in the community. The Art Education curriculum ensures that graduates are able to implement all the components of the California Framework for Visual and Performing Arts into a state standard-based curriculum in their future teaching. For more information see the Charter College of Education section for regulations governing all teaching credential programs.

• Art History -  The Art History Option provides a historical and developmental study of art in most of the world civilizations. It is intended to develop the student’s ability to evaluate and comprehend concepts and issues within the global cultural heritage.

• Fashion, Fiber, and Materials - The Fashion, Fiber and Materials Option provides students with a unique experience in the educationally rich context of Art and Design.  Students gain an understanding of the systems of Fashion, Fiber, and Materials through the multifaceted offerings in art, design, craft, critical theory, and history.  The option encourages an experimental approach that combines traditional and contemporary techniques, preparing students for a variety of career opportunities and/or further study in the field of fashion and art.

• Graphic Design/Visual Communication - The Graphic Design/Visual Communication Option provides broad initial exposure to visual communication design skills, theory, and practices needed for careers or further study in the design profession. 

• Studio Arts - The Studio Arts Option provides theory and practice for the development of perceptual and conceptual abilities needed to engage in creative visual expression. In seeking an integrated and aesthetically balanced program, Studio Arts incorporates innovation in visual technology and emphasizes community interaction.