Skip to Content

Home Academics Programs and Majors General Education - Transfer

General Education - Transfer

Overview Degrees/Certificates 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.

Certificates of Achievement

CSU General Education Certificate of Achievement Certificate

This certificate is designed for students planning to transfer to a California State University (CSU) campus. Completion of this certificate ensures that the student has met the lower division General Education requirements for all CSU campuses.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
A minimum of 39 units from the following: 39
Students must complete a minimum of 39 units used to satisfy the CSU General Education requirements. See the CSU General Education patterns listed in the American River College (ARC) catalog or consult with an ARC counselor.
Total Units: 39

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • explain the values of a culture as expressed through its art or language.
  • demonstrate effective expository and persuasive writing skills.
  • develop a reasoned solution to a problem.
  • evaluate new and accepted ideas about the natural universe using testable methodology.
  • evaluate the methods of inquiry and evidence used in the behavioral and social sciences.

Honors Transfer Certificate

The American River College (ARC) Honors Program is a community of students and faculty who are dedicated to the pursuit of intellectual and personal enrichment in a diverse and challenging academic environment. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better who have completed at least 15 units of approved Honors coursework earn a Certificate of Achievement noted on the transcript. A maximum of 6 units of Honors coursework may be transferred from other colleges. Some courses may need to be petitioned. A total of 12 units of degree-applicable coursework must be earned at ARC to meet residency requirements. Most courses in the certificate fulfill requirements for the ARC A.A., A.S., A.A.-T., A.S.-T. degrees, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), and the CSU General Education Certification Pattern. Check with an ARC counselor for exceptions. Completion of the certificate with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or better allows students to take advantage of transfer agreements with highly selective colleges and universities through the Honors Transfer Council of California and to participate in the Transfer Alliance Program at UCLA. Honors students must meet with a counselor to ensure completion of ARC graduation and/or transfer requirements. In addition, Honors students should meet regularly with an Honors faculty advisor to ensure completion of the Honors certificate in a timely fashion.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
A minimum of 15 units from the following: 151
ANTH 480 Honors Biological Anthropology (3)
ANTH 481 Honors Cultural Anthropology (3)
ASTR 481 Honors Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology (4)
BIOL 482 Honors Marine Biology (4)
CISP 480 Honors Introduction to Structured Programming (5)
ENGWR 480 Honors College Composition (3)
ENGWR 481 Honors College Composition and Literature (3)
ENGWR 482 Honors Advanced Composition and Critical Thinking (3)
HIST 480 History of Western Civilization - Honors (3)
HIST 481 History of Western Civilization - Honors (3)
HIST 483 History of the United States - Honors (3)
HIST 484 History of the United States - Honors (3)
NUTRI 481 Honors - Cultural Foods of the World (3)
POLS 480 Introduction to International Relations - Honors (3)
POLS 481 Introduction to Government: United States - Honors (3)
PSYC 480 Honors General Principles (3)
PSYC 481 Honors Abnormal Behavior (3)
SOC 480 Introductory Sociology - Honors (3)
STAT 480 Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors (4)
Total Units: 15

1Up to six units of the Honors Certificate may be earned with non-Honors coursework for which there is an Honors Contract. Contact the Honors Coordinator for details.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • analyze the broad areas of human knowledge that contribute to purposeful and meaningful lives.
  • incorporate argumentative reasoning and logic involved in the process of advanced problem-solving in an academic setting.
  • investigate advanced methods of inquiry and analysis employed in a variety of disciplines.
  • justify personal accomplishments as a highly motivated, self-directed individual in an advanced academic setting.
  • demonstrate cultural competence in a diverse academic setting.

Intersegmental General Education Transfer (IGETC) Certificate of Achievement Certificate

This certificate is designed for students planning to transfer to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus. It ensures that the student has met the lower division General Education/Breadth requirements for all CSU and UC campuses.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
A minimum of 34 units from the following: 34
Students must complete a minimum of 34 - 37 units used to satisfy either the UC or CSU IGETC certification requirements. See the IGETC pattern in the American River College (ARC) catalog or consult with an ARC counselor.
Total Units: 34

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • explain the values of a culture as expressed through its art or language.
  • demonstrate effective expository and persuasive writing skills.
  • develop a reasoned solution to a problem.
  • evaluate new and accepted ideas about the natural universe using testable methodology.
  • evaluate the methods of inquiry and evidence used in the behavioral and social sciences.