Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts (AFA) Degree


The Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester hours of college transfer courses. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and basic computer use.

Students must meet the receiving university's foreign language and/or health and physical education requirements, if applicable, prior to or after transfer to the senior institution.

Courses in this program

6 Minimum Required Hours - English

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to develop the ability to produce clear writing in a variety of genres and formats using a recursive process. Emphasis includes inquiry, analysis, effective use of rhetorical strategies, thesis development, audience awareness, and revision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, well-developed essays using standard written English. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies English Composition.

This course, the second in a series of two, introduces research techniques, documentation styles, and argumentative strategies. Emphasis is placed on analyzing data and incorporating research findings into documented argumentative essays and research projects. Upon completion, students should be able to summarize, paraphrase, interpret, and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources using standard research format and style. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies English Composition.

Select two courses from two different disciplines.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces the origins and historical development of art. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of design principles to various art forms including but not limited to sculpture, painting, and architecture. Upon completion, students should be able to identify and analyze a variety of artistic styles, periods, and media. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course introduces the practices and principles of interpersonal communication in both dyadic and group settings. Emphasis is placed on the communication process, perception, listening, self-disclosure, speech apprehension, ethics, nonverbal communication, conflict, power, and dysfunctional communication relationships. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, apply basic principles of group discussion, and manage conflict in interpersonal communication situations.

This course provides instruction and experience in preparation and delivery of speeches within a public setting and group discussion. Emphasis is placed on research, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of informative, persuasive, and special occasion public speaking. Upon completion, students should be able to prepare and deliver well-organized speeches and participate in a group discussion with appropriate audiovisual support. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Communication.

This course covers selected works in American literature from its beginnings to 1865. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry, and drama. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret, analyze, and respond to literary works in their historical and cultural contexts. This course requires a research paper. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course covers selected works in American literature from 1865 to the present. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry, and drama. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret, analyze, and respond to literary works in their historical and cultural contexts. This course requires a research paper. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course covers selected works in British literature from its beginnings to the Romantic Period. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry, and drama. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret, analyze, and respond to literary works in their historical and cultural contexts. Reading an eighteenth century novel is required. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course covers selected works in British literature from the Romantic Period to the present. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry, and drama. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret, analyze, and respond to literary works in their historical and cultural contexts. Reading a nineteenth-century novel is required. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course is a basic survey of the music of the Western world. Emphasis is placed on the elements of music, terminology, composers, form, and style within a historical perspective. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate skills in basic listening and understanding of the art of music. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course introduces the origins and musical components of jazz and the contributions of its major artists. Emphasis is placed on the development of discriminating listening habits, as well as the investigation of the styles and structural forms of the jazz idiom. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate skills in listening and understanding this form of American music. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course introduces fundamental issues in philosophy considering the views of classical and contemporary philosophers. Emphasis is placed on knowledge and belief, appearance and reality, determinism and free will, faith and reason, and justice and inequality. Upon completion, students should be able to identify, analyze, and critique the philosophical components of an issue. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course introduces theories about the nature and foundations of moral judgments and applications to contemporary moral issues. Emphasis is placed on utilitarianism, rule-based ethics, existentialism, relativism versus objectivism, and egoism. Upon completion, students should be able to apply various ethical theories to individual moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, crime and punishment, and justice. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

 

6 Minimum Required Hours - Social/Behavioral Science

Select two courses from two different disciplines.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces economic analysis of individual, business, and industry choices in the market economy. Topics include the price mechanism, supply and demand, optimizing economic behavior, costs and revenue, market structures, factor markets, income distribution, market failure, and government intervention. Upon completion, students should be able to identify and evaluate consumer and business alternatives in order to efficiently achieve economic objectives. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course introduces economic analysis of aggregate employment, income, and prices. Topics include major schools of economic thought; aggregate supply and demand; economic measures, fluctuations, and growth; money and banking; stabilization techniques; and international trade. Upon completion, students should be able to evaluate national economic components, conditions, and alternatives for achieving socioeconomic goals. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course introduces world history from the dawn of civilization to the early modern era. Topics include Eurasian, African, American, and Greco-Roman civilizations and Christian, Islamic and Byzantine cultures. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in pre-modern world civilizations. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course introduces world history from the early modern era to the present. Topics include the cultures of Africa, Europe, India, China, Japan, and the Americas. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in modern world civilizations. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course is a survey of American history from pre-history through the Civil War era. Topics include the migrations to the Americas, the colonial and revolutionary periods, the development of the Republic, and the Civil War. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in early American history. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course is a survey of American history from the Civil War era to the present. Topics include industrialization, immigration, the Great Depression, the major wars, the Cold War, and social conflict. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in American history since the Civil War. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course is a study of the origins, development, structure, and functions of American national government. Topics include the constitutional framework, federalism, the three branches of government including the bureaucracy, civil rights and liberties, political participation and behavior, and policy formation. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and participatory processes of the American political system. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course provides an overview of the scientific study of human behavior. Topics include history, methodology, biopsychology, sensation, perception, learning, motivation, cognition, abnormal behavior, personality theory, social psychology, and other relevant topics. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the science of psychology. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

This course introduces the scientific study of human society, culture, and social interactions. Topics include socialization, research methods, diversity and inequality, cooperation and conflict, social change, social institutions, and organizations. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of sociological concepts as they apply to the interplay among individuals, groups, and societies. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

 

3 Minimum Required Hours - Mathematics

Select one course.

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to engage students in complex and realistic situations involving the mathematical phenomena of quantity, change and relationship, and uncertainty through a project and activity-based assessment. Emphasis is placed on authentic contexts which will introduce the concepts of numeracy, proportional reasoning, dimensional analysis, rates of growth, personal finance, consumer statistics, practical probabilities, and mathematics for citizenship.

This course provides a project-based approach to introductory statistics with an emphasis on using real-world data and statistical literacy. Topics include descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, basic probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Upon completion, students will be able to use appropriate technology to describe important characteristics of a data set, draw inferences about a population from sample data, and interpret and communicate results.

This is the first of a two-course sequence designed to develop topics that are fundamental to the study of Calculus. Emphasis is placed on solving equations and inequalities, solving systems of equations and inequalities, and analysis of functions (absolute value, radical, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic) in multiple representations. Upon completion, students will be able to select and use appropriate models and techniques for finding solutions to algebra-related problems with and without technology.

This is the first of a three-course sequence designed to develop the topics of differential, integral, and multivariate calculus. Emphasis is placed on limits, continuity, derivatives, and integrals of algebraic and transcendental functions of one variable. Upon completion, students will be able to select and use appropriate models and techniques for finding solutions to derivative-related problems with and without technology. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Mathematics for the Associate in Science.

 

4 Minimum Required Hours - Natural Sciences

Select 4 credits from the following:

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course provides a survey of fundamental biological principles for non-science majors. Emphasis is placed on basic chemistry, cell biology, metabolism, genetics, evolution, ecology, diversity, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate increased knowledge and a better understanding of biology as it applies to everyday life. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Natural Sciences.

This course introduces the principles and concepts of biology. Emphasis is placed on basic biological chemistry, molecular and cellular biology, metabolism and energy transformation, genetics, evolution, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of life at the molecular and cellular levels. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Natural Sciences.

This course covers the fundamental principles and laws of chemistry. Topics include measurement, atomic and molecular structure, periodicity, chemical reactions, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gas laws, and solutions. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of fundamental chemical laws and concepts as needed in CHM-152. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Natural Sciences.

This course introduces basic landforms and geological processes. Topics include rocks, minerals, volcanoes, fluvial processes, geological history, plate tectonics, glaciers, and coastal dynamics. Upon completion, students should be able to describe basic geological processes that shape the earth. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Natural Sciences.

This course provides a conceptually-based exposure to the fundamental principles and processes of the physical world. Topics include basic concepts of motion, forces, energy, heat, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of matter and the universe. Upon completion, students should be able to describe examples and applications of the principles studied. Nonmathematical discussions of concepts and practical applications will be stressed. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Natural Sciences.

This course is a laboratory for PHY 110. Emphasis is placed on laboratory experiences that enhance materials presented in PHY 110. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in PHY 110. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in natural science/mathematics. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Natural Sciences.
 

15 Minimum Required Hours - ART - Additional UGETC

Additional Universal General Education Transfer Courses: ART (ART-114 and ART-115)

Other Required: ART (ART-121, ART-122, ART-131)

Required courses

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course covers the development of art forms from ancient times to the Renaissance. Emphasis is placed on content, terminology, design, and style. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a historical understanding of art as a product reflective of human social development. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in humanities/fine arts. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course covers the development of art forms from the Renaissance to the present. Emphasis is placed on content, terminology, design, and style. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a historical understanding of art as a product reflective of human social development. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts.

This course introduces the elements and principles of design as applied to two-dimensional art. Emphasis is placed on the structural elements, the principles of visual organization, and the theories of color mixing and interaction. Upon completion, students should be able to understand and use critical and analytical approaches as they apply to two-dimensional visual art. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces basic studio problems in three-dimensional visual design. Emphasis is placed on the structural elements and organizational principles as applied to mass and space. Upon completion, students should be able to apply three-dimensional design concepts. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces the language of drawing and the use of various drawing materials. Emphasis is placed on drawing techniques, media, and graphic principles. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate competence in the use of graphic form and various drawing processes. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

15 Minimum Required Hours - Art Additional Courses

An additional 17-19 SHC of courses should be selected from the courses (listed below) classified as pre-major, elective, general education, or UGETC within the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.  Students should select these course based on their intended major and transfer university.

Select five courses

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course is designed to introduce students to the elements and principles of design through the use of digital software. Emphasis is placed on developing composition and design skills using vector, raster, and time-based media. Upon completion, students should be able to identify and use tools in digital software, understand and utilize digital and artistic vocabulary, and employ the principles and elements of design to create artwork using digital means. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces printmaking: its history, development techniques, and processes. Emphasis is placed on basic applications with an investigation into image source and development. Upon completion, students should be able to produce printed images utilizing a variety of methods. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces the language of painting and the use of various painting materials. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and use of various painting techniques, media, and color principles. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate competence in the use of creative processes directed toward the development of expressive form. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces basic methods and techniques used in watercolor. Emphasis is placed on application, materials, content, and individual expression. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a variety of traditional and nontraditional concepts used in watercolor media. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces photographic equipment, theory, and processes. Emphasis is placed on camera operation, composition, darkroom technique, and creative expression. Upon completion, students should be able to successfully expose, develop, and print a well-conceived composition. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces digital photographic equipment, theory and processes. Emphasis is placed on camera operation, composition, computer photo manipulation, and creative expression. Upon completion, students should be able to successfully expose, digitally manipulate, and print a well-conceived composition. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement

This course introduces various aspects of basic video production including concept development, scripting, camera operation, and post-production. Emphasis is placed on creative expression, camera handling, storyboarding and editing. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of video camera operation and production techniques. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course is designed to provide a framework for the production of a long-term video project. Emphasis is placed on the realization of the unique creative vision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce a thematically coherent, edited video with sound and titling. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course introduces students to the field of graphic design. Emphasis is placed on the basic concepts of visual communication, the design process and the ability to evaluate and discuss design issues in a critical manner. Upon completion, students should be able to use contemporary design software and visual language techniques as they apply to creative visual problem-solving involving typography, image manipulation, symbolic representation, and page management while being responsive to the relationship between client, designer, and audience.

This course introduces students to the concepts and techniques used in designing and producing interactive projects. Emphasis is placed on the interactive development process, aesthetics of visual solutions, technical proficiency, and graphical user interface (GUI) with projects including digital imaging, web design, simple animation, graphics, and copyright issues.

This course provides an exploration of the creative and technical methods of sculpture with a focus on the traditional processes. Emphasis is placed on developing basic skills as they pertain to three-dimensional expression in various media. Upon completion, students should be able to show competence in a variety of sculptural approaches. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course provides an introduction to three-dimensional design principles using the medium of clay. Emphasis is placed on fundamentals of forming, surface design, glaze application, and firing. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate skills in slab and coil construction, simple wheel forms, glaze technique, and creative expression. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

This course covers advanced hand building and wheel techniques. Emphasis is placed on creative expression, surface design, sculptural quality, and glaze effect. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a high level of technical competence in forming and glazing with a development of three-dimensional awareness. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

2 Minimum Required Hours

Required Courses (2 hours)

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course provides information and strategies necessary to develop clear academic and professional goals beyond the community college experience. Topics include the CAA, college policies and culture, career exploration, gathering information on senior institutions, strategic planning, critical thinking, and communications skills for a successful academic transition.

This course covers resume writing, interview skills, and the preparation and presentation of an art portfolio. Emphasis is placed on the preparation of a portfolio of original artwork, the preparation of a photographic portfolio, approaches to resume writing, and interview techniques. Upon completion, students should be able to mount original art for portfolio presentation, photograph and display a professional slide portfolio, and write an effective resume. This course has been approved for the transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

Total Credit Hours Required:
60

Good To Know

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

  • Six hours from Communication
  • Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
  • Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

Communication Humanities & Fine Arts Social & Behavioral Science Natural Science & Mathematics
COM-110 ART-111 ECO-251 BIO-161
COM-120 ART-114 ECO-252 BIO-163
COM-231 ART-115 HIS-111 BIO-168
ENG-110 HUM-110 HIS-112 MAT-110
ENG-111 HUM-115 HIS-131 MAT-121
ENG-112 MUS-110 HIS-132 MAT-143
ENG-114 MUS-112 POL-120 MAT-152
  PHI-215 PSY-150 MAT-171
  PHI-240 SOC-210 PHY-110/110A
    SOC-225 PHY-121

 

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six to nine hours in Communication / Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Three to eight hours in Mathematics
  • Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
  • 11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six hours in Communication / Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • 12 hours in Mathematics
  • 12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six hours in Communication / Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Three to four hours in Mathematics
  • Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will
learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

  • Students will demonstrate information literacy.
  • Students will critique works of human expression.
  • Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

  • Students will identify processes.
  • Students will analyze problems.
  • Students will interpret the results.
  • Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

  • Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
  • Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
  • Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.

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