The Associate of Fine Arts Degree in Visual Arts prepares students for transfer into Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) programs at four-year institutions and professional schools of art. In an A.F.A. program, students pursue rigorous training and art education to prepare them to continue their studies through the baccalaureate level. Throughout the year, art lectures, workshops, seminars and bus trips to New York museums and galleries supplement the program. Visual art majors participate in a First-Year review and are given individual help with preparing their portfolios for transferring to a four-year art program in the Portfolio Development course.

There are eight spacious, well-equipped studios, which include studios in sculpture, painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, printmaking, design and digital graphic design. There are two student art exhibitions held in the College Art Gallery during the year: a Juried Art Exhibition in the fall semester and a Student Art Exhibition curated by the faculty in the spring semester.

This degree is intended for students who desire careers as professional studio artists or college teachers. It is also recommended for students planning a career in K- 12 art education who obtain certification after graduating with a B.F.A. or B.A. in Art.

Graduates are able to:

• understand the role of the visual artist
• apply basic formal and conceptual artistic skills in the creation of two- and three-dimensional artwork
• identify major artists and art movements from a historic, cultural, and social perspective
• analyze visual art concepts and theories
• demonstrate technical and artistic development through a portfolio of artwork
• investigate careers in the visual arts