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Art History

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degree for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Art History

The Associate in Arts in Art History for Transfer provides a clearly articulated curricular track for students who wish to transfer to a CSU campus, while also serving the diverse needs of students interested in the breadth and depth of the field of Art History. Additionally, this degree exposes students to the core principles and practices of the field in order to build a foundation for their future personal, academic, or vocational paths.



The Associate in Arts degree in Art History for Transfer provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements of the California State University for transfer. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. The Associate in Arts degree in Art History for Transfer (A.A.-T.) may be obtained by the completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, including (a) the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program outlined below (earning a C or better in these courses) and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education‐Breadth Requirements.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
ART 300 Drawing and Composition I 3
ARTH 302 Art: Stone Age Through the Middle Ages 3
ARTH 308 Renaissance Tradition in Art 3
ARTH 310 Modern Art 3
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
ARTH 333 Introduction to Islamic Art (3)
ARTH 334 International Contemporary Art (3)
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
ART 304 Figure Drawing I (3)
ART 320 Design: Fundamentals (3)
ART 323 Design: Color Theory (3)
ART 327 Painting I (3)
ART 328 Painting II (3)
ART 336 Watercolor Painting (3)
ART 361 Printmaking: Survey (3)
ART 370 Three Dimensional Design (3)
ART 372 Sculpture (3)
ART 375 Figure Sculpture (3)
ART 390 Ceramics (3)
ARTNM 303 Graphic Design: Typography (3)
ARTNM 324 Digital Design (3)
ARTPH 300 Basic Film and Darkroom Photography (3)
ARTPH 305 Digital Photography (3)
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 31
ART 304 Figure Drawing I (3)
ART 320 Design: Fundamentals (3)
ART 323 Design: Color Theory (3)
ART 327 Painting I (3)
ART 328 Painting II (3)
ART 336 Watercolor Painting (3)
ART 361 Printmaking: Survey (3)
ART 370 Three Dimensional Design (3)
ART 372 Sculpture (3)
ART 375 Figure Sculpture (3)
ART 390 Ceramics (3)
ART 420 Film Making (2)
ARTH 333 Introduction to Islamic Art (3)
ARTH 334 International Contemporary Art (3)
ARTNM 303 Graphic Design: Typography (3)
ARTNM 305 History of Graphic Design (3)
ARTNM 324 Digital Design (3)
ARTPH 300 Basic Film and Darkroom Photography (3)
ARTPH 305 Digital Photography (3)
ARTPH 345 Survey of Photography (3)
Total Units: 21

1Excluding any courses used to fulfill the degree requirements listed above.

The Associate in Arts in Art History for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • assess and evaluate the contributions of artists throughout history.
  • identify and evaluate works of art or architecture according to their appropriate style and time frame.
  • analyze and critique art and architecture within the context of their functions and meanings.
  • research and assess theoretical information concerning the meanings and purposes of art and architecture.
  • explain the history of cultures and civilizations and how art and architecture is a reflection of that history.

Career Information

Art historians with undergraduate degrees are placed as registrars, preparators, and curatorial staff in art museums and galleries; they can also be employed as art critics in mass media publications, such as newspapers and magazines. An advanced degree allows an art historian a wider range of possible career applications, including museums directorships, curators, instructors, preservationists, researchers, and auction house personnel.