Arts Program Map

Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Community of interest: BCAD Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award: AA Degree
Program code: 01329.01AA
Department: Studio Art/Graphic Design
CIP code: 50.0701: Art/Art Studies, General.
TOP code: 1002.00 - Art

Map Class Schedule

Program Schedule Report Meet with a counselor

Arts

AA Degree

The Associate of Arts is typically awarded for academic areas outside STEM and CTE — humanities, social sciences, arts, language. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum and an academic program of specialization.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

15–18 units

ART 7

2-D Foundations

3 units

This course is an introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to two-dimensional art and composition, including the study of the basic principles and elements of line, shape, texture, value, color and spatial illusion. Students develop visual vocabulary for creative expression through lecture presentations, studio projects, problem solving, and written assignments. (C-ID ARTS 100).

ART 8

Drawing I

3 units

This course is an introduction to principles, elements, and practices of drawing, employing a wide range of subject matter and drawing media. Focus on perceptually based drawing, observational skills, technical abilities, and creative responses is placed on materials and subject matter. (C-ID ARTS 110).

General Education: Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 2

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.

Select one option:

Art Education option: Meets Area 3A

3 units

Choose one of 1 choice

ART 1
Art Appreciation
3 units
course details
This course provides a general introduction to art that offers a look at works of art through the study of theory, terminology, themes, design principles, media, techniques, with an introduction to the visual arts across time and diverse cultures. (C-ID ARTH 100).
+−

Art Studio option: Meets Area 3A

3 units

Choose one of 1 choice

ART 4
Renaissance in Contemporary Art History Survey
3 units
course details
This course provides an overview of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the Contemporary period within their historical and cultural contexts. (C-ID ARTH 120).
+−

Term 2

Class Schedules

15 units

ART 9

3-D Foundation

3 units

This course is an introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to three-dimensional design and spatial composition, including the study of the elements and organizing principles of design as they apply to three-dimensional space and form. Development of a visual vocabulary for creative expression through lecture presentations and use of appropriate materials for non-representational three-dimensional studio projects. (C-ID ARTS 101).

General Education: Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

General Education: Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Select one option:

Art Education option

3 units

Choose one of 1 choice

ART 17
Painting I
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to principles, elements, and practices of painting. Focus is on exploration of painting materials, perceptual skills and color theory, paint mixing and technique, as well as creative responses to materials and subject matter. (C-ID ARTS 210).
+−

Art Studio option

3 units

Choose one of 1 choice

ART 14
Figure Drawing I
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to drawing the human figure from observation using a wide variety of drawing media and techniques. Topics include an introduction to human anatomy and the historical and contemporary roles of figure drawing in the visual arts. Students in this course will learn both descriptive and interpretive approaches to drawing the figure. Students will draw from clothed, draped, and live nude models. (C-ID ARTS 200)
+−

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Term 3

Class Schedules

14–20 units

General Education: Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)

Select one option:

Art Education option (Select three):

3 units

Choose 3 of 3 choices

ART 23
Printmaking I
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to the basic materials, equipment, and processes of printmaking, including relief (linocut and woodcut), intaglio (drypoint, etching, and collagraph), planography (lithography and monotype), and stencil (screenprint).
+−
ART 50
Beginning Ceramics
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to ceramics materials, concepts, and processes, including basic design principles, creative development, hand-building, throwing (potter's wheel), glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. Students will experiment with a variety of forms, glazes, and other surface treatments, and will be introduced to historical as well as contemporary ceramic artworks.
+−
MSP 30
Introduction to Digital Art
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to fundamental concepts, practices, and theories of digital art production. Topics include integration of traditional design, color, and compositional principles with contemporary digital tools. (C-ID ARTS 250).
+−

Art Studio option (Select one): Meets Area 3A

3 units

Choose one of 3 choices

ART 2
Prehistoric to Gothic Art History Survey
3 units
course details
This course provides an overview of western art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period within their historical and cultural contexts. (C-ID ARTH 110).
+−
ART 3
Asian Art History Survey
3 units
course details
This course provides a select overview of art and architecture from India, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan from pre-history to modern times. (C-ID ARTH 130).
+−
ART 6
African, Oceanic, and Native American Art History Survey
3 units
course details
This course is a survey of visual culture within select regions in Africa, Oceania, and indigenous North America. (C-ID ARTH 140).
+−

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Term 4

Class Schedules

16–21 units

General Education: Area 5

Physical and Biological Sciences

The physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena — astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics — taught alongside the scientific method that makes them work.

Select one option:

Art Education option (Select one):

3 units

Choose one of 3 choices

ART 14
Figure Drawing I
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to drawing the human figure from observation using a wide variety of drawing media and techniques. Topics include an introduction to human anatomy and the historical and contemporary roles of figure drawing in the visual arts. Students in this course will learn both descriptive and interpretive approaches to drawing the figure. Students will draw from clothed, draped, and live nude models. (C-ID ARTS 200)
+−
ART 60
Sculpture I
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to three-dimensional sculptural principles, techniques, and concepts utilizing a wide range of materials and practices. Various sculpture methods are practiced with attention to creative self-expression and historical context.
+−
PHO 4
Beginning Digital Photography
3 units
course details
An introductory digital course presenting the origins and history of photography, camera and lens use, exposure, metering, printing procedures, print presentations, composition and standards of quality. Emphasis is placed on print quality along with content, composition and personal expression.
+−

Art Studio option (Select two)

3 units

Choose 2 of 4 choices

ART 50
Beginning Ceramics
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to ceramics materials, concepts, and processes, including basic design principles, creative development, hand-building, throwing (potter's wheel), glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. Students will experiment with a variety of forms, glazes, and other surface treatments, and will be introduced to historical as well as contemporary ceramic artworks.
+−
ART 60
Sculpture I
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to three-dimensional sculptural principles, techniques, and concepts utilizing a wide range of materials and practices. Various sculpture methods are practiced with attention to creative self-expression and historical context.
+−
PHO 2
Introduction to Photography
3 units
course details
This course is an introduction to the processes, principles, and tools of photography. Topics include the development of technical and aesthetic skills, elements of design and composition, camera technology, materials and equipment, black and white film, darkroom skills, and contemporary trends in photography.
+−
PHO 4
Beginning Digital Photography
3 units
course details
An introductory digital course presenting the origins and history of photography, camera and lens use, exposure, metering, printing procedures, print presentations, composition and standards of quality. Emphasis is placed on print quality along with content, composition and personal expression.
+−

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the 4-year pathway for this program.

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

No NCES/IPEDS CIP-to-SOC mapping was found for this program's CIP code.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:19+00:00

Program Snapshot

Next Steps

2-Year Degree Paths

4-Year Degree Paths

Graduate School Paths

Source Notes