Academic Certificate in Drawing and Painting

Fine Arts
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Program Information

Learn more about the Fine Arts program.

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Course Sequence

Field of Interest

Field of Interest: Visual and Performing Arts

The Academic Certificate (AC) in Drawing and Painting is designed for students who wish to develop specialized skills in drawing and painting beyond the foundational level. The courses in this certificate offer an emphasis in creative problem-solving and portfolio development, as well as the advanced training required for art careers. With the certificate, students may pursue a career as a practicing artist or continue their education at specialized art schools. An Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA) is also available.

Details

Details icon Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Type
Academic Certificate (AC)
Academic Plan
Drawing and Painting (CER)
Academic Plan Code
6257N
Total Credits Required
33
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

This program is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Demonstrate specialized painting and drawing skills to enable effective visual communication and personal expression.
  2. Apply critical thinking skills, the creative process, and aesthetic/perceptual literacy to solve visual, technical, and conceptual problems.
  3. Communicate and collaborate effectively while recognizing diverse opinions and cultural and individual differences.
  4. Interpret the social, cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts that influence the production and interpretation of art.
  5. Engage in ethical personal and professional artistic practices, with an awareness of copyright laws, intellectual and artistic freedom, civic responsibility, and standards of the field.
  6. Use the critique process to present and develop fine art portfolios for transfer, career development, or personal use.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Painters, Sculptors, Illustrators, and Other Fine Artists

$20,731

Postsecondary Art, Drama, and Music Teachers

$72,944

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART111 Drawing I Critical course Gateway course 3
ART112 Two-Dimensional Design Critical course Gateway course 3
ART115 Three-Dimensional Design 3
ARH102 Art from Renaissance to Modernism H, HU 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART113 Color Critical course Gateway course 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART255 Art Marketing 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART116 or
ART165 or
ART167
Life Drawing I or Watercolor Painting I or Painting I ART116, ART165, and ART167 are introductory courses and prerequisites for other courses in the Restricted Elective area;
At least one of these introductory courses must be completed, however more than one may be taken
3
ART116 Life Drawing I 3
ART117 Life Drawing II 3
ART118 Art Anatomy 3
ART122 Drawing and Composition II 3
ART165 Watercolor Painting I 3
ART166 Watercolor Painting II 3
ART167 Painting I 3
ART168 Painting II 3
ART211 Drawing and Composition III 3
ART216 Life Drawing III 3
ART217 Life Drawing IV 3
ART222 Drawing and Composition IV 3
ART263 Figure Painting 3
ART265 Watercolor Painting III 3
ART266 Watercolor Painting IV 3
ART267 Painting III 3
ART268 Painting IV 3
ART290AA Studio Art 1
ART290AB Studio Art 2
ART290AC Studio Art 3
ART290BC Studio Art: Drawing 3
ART290DC Studio Art: Life Drawing 3
ART290HC Studio Art: Watercolor 3
ART290JC Studio Art: Color 3
ART290PC Studio Art: Painting 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART111 Drawing I Critical course Gateway course 3
ART112 Two-Dimensional Design Critical course Gateway course 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART113 Color Critical course Gateway course 3
ARH102 Art from Renaissance to Modernism H, HU 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART115 Three-Dimensional Design 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART255 Art Marketing 3

Restricted Electives

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ART116 or
ART165 or
ART167
Life Drawing I or Watercolor Painting I or Painting I ART116, ART165, and ART167 are introductory courses and prerequisites for other courses in the Restricted Elective area;
At least one of these introductory courses must be completed, however more than one may be taken
3
ART116 Life Drawing I 3
ART117 Life Drawing II 3
ART118 Art Anatomy 3
ART122 Drawing and Composition II 3
ART165 Watercolor Painting I 3
ART166 Watercolor Painting II 3
ART167 Painting I 3
ART168 Painting II 3
ART211 Drawing and Composition III 3
ART216 Life Drawing III 3
ART217 Life Drawing IV 3
ART222 Drawing and Composition IV 3
ART263 Figure Painting 3
ART265 Watercolor Painting III 3
ART266 Watercolor Painting IV 3
ART267 Painting III 3
ART268 Painting IV 3
ART290AA Studio Art 1
ART290AB Studio Art 2
ART290AC Studio Art 3
ART290BC Studio Art: Drawing 3
ART290DC Studio Art: Life Drawing 3
ART290HC Studio Art: Watercolor 3
ART290JC Studio Art: Color 3
ART290PC Studio Art: Painting 3

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Fine Arts program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

This certificate is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=182649).

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Academic Certificate (AC) in Drawing and Painting