ArtsAA Degree

Share my plan
Community of interest
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
This program meets the lower division major preparation for a similar major at CSU, Chico. Visit website for details www.assist.org
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Program Snapshot

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

Next Steps

Map Class Schedule

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Arts
AA Degree — expand to learn about this award

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 2026-27 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15–18 units
ART 7
2-D Foundations
3 units
course details

This course is an introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to two-dimensional art and composition, including the study of the basic principles and elements of line, shape, texture, value, color and spatial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).

View full course outline for ART 7

ART 8
Drawing I
3 units
course details

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).

View full course outline for ART 8

General Education: Area 1A

about 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

about 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 3

3 units
Choose one of 1 choice
Choose one of 1 choice

Art Studio option: Meets Area 3

3 units
Choose one of 1 choice
Choose one of 1 choice

Term 2

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15 units
ART 9
3-D Foundation
3 units
course details

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).

View full course outline for ART 9

General Education: Area 1B

about 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

about 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
Choose one of 1 choice

Art Studio option

3 units
Choose one of 1 choice
Choose one of 1 choice

Elective (any course numbered 1-199 or C1000-C2999)

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

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

14–20 units

General Education: Area 4

about 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
Choose 3 of 3 choices

Art Studio option (Select one): Meets Area 3

3 units
Choose one of 3 choices
Choose one of 3 choices

Elective (any course numbered 1-199 or C1000-C2999)

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

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

16–21 units

General Education: Area 5

about 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
Choose one of 3 choices

Art Studio option (Select two)

3 units
Choose 2 of 4 choices
Choose 2 of 4 choices

Elective (any course numbered 1-199 or C1000-C2999)

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.

Example roles: 4

  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Photographers
  • Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

Graduate School Paths

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

Example roles: 1

  • Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Local Job Market

Secondary School TeachersSOC 25-20312 nearby openings

Search keyword used: secondary teacher · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $59,539/yr

Top employers in sample

  • Amergis 1
  • E Center 1

Where the postings are

  • Linda, Yuba County 1
  • Thermalito, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. SPED Teacher -Yuba/Chico-PAY up to $70hrAmergis · Linda, Yuba County · 2 weeks ago
  2. Head Teacher AA (49702)E Center · Thermalito, Butte County · 3 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

PhotographersSOC 27-402112 nearby openings

Search keyword used: photographer · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $37,440/yr

Top employers in sample

  • Archway Physician Recruitment 7
  • Summit Recruiting Group 2
  • Aladdin Bail Bonds 1
  • Golden State Farm Credit 1
  • Source Medical, LLC. 1

Where the postings are

  • Oroville, Butte County 11
  • Chico, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Physician Pediatrics - Competitive SalarySummit Recruiting Group · Oroville, Butte County · 1 day ago
  2. VP, Appraisal ManagerGolden State Farm Credit · Chico, Butte County · 3 days ago
  3. Oroville, CA - Administrative Coordinator ($17-$19/hr.)Aladdin Bail Bonds · Oroville, Butte County · 6 days ago
  4. Physician Psychiatry - Competitive SalaryArchway Physician Recruitment · Oroville, Butte County · 2 weeks ago
  5. Physician Psychiatry - Competitive SalarySummit Recruiting Group · Oroville, Butte County · 2 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSOC 27-10131 nearby opening

Search keyword used: fine artist · Search window: last 90 days, 100-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $110,000/yr

Top employers in sample

  • Iron Orchid Designs 1

Where the postings are

  • Antelope, Sacramento County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Senior Designer, Surface & Product ArtIron Orchid Designs · Antelope, Sacramento County · 11 days ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Craft ArtistsSOC 27-10121 nearby opening

Search keyword used: craft artist · Search window: last 60 days, 50-mile radius

Top employers in sample

  • Salvation Army Careers 1

Where the postings are

  • Nevada City, Nevada County 1

Sample current postings

  1. 49er Leader- Discipleship Program MentorSalvation Army Careers · Nevada City, Nevada County · 4 days ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-11213 nearby openings

Search keyword used: music teacher · Search window: last 60 days, 50-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $76,346/yr

Top employers in sample

  • Nevada City School of the Arts 3

Where the postings are

  • Nevada City, Nevada County 3

Sample current postings

  1. 7th/8th Math TeacherNevada City School of the Arts · Nevada City, Nevada County · 7 days ago
  2. 7th/8th Math TeacherNevada City School of the Arts · Nevada City, Nevada County · 7 days ago
  3. Elementary School TeacherNevada City School of the Arts · Nevada City, Nevada County · 2 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 90 days within up to 100 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.

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.

Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.

Last generated 2026-07-05T16:48+00:00