Art and Design A.S.

School: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Academic Dept: Art & Design and Performing Arts
HEGIS: 5610

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2024 to Summer 2025. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

The Art and Design A.S. program at Westchester Community College is designed to prepare students for transfer to a four-year BFA or Liberal Arts program or to obtain entry-level positions in an arts-related career. Modeled on the “foundation” year taught at most four-year art schools, the curriculum provides a strong foundation in history, theory, and studio practice, establishing a basis for more concentrated study in selected areas of interest. The program encourages both breadth and depth, with a focus on preparing students for the rigorous demands of BFA degree programs and continued growth as professional artists and designers.

Program Goal

To provide students with the foundation level knowledge and skills necessary to pursue an avocation or career in the visual arts, and/or to prepare students for successful transfer to a four-year BFA or Liberal Arts program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate competency in a range of physical and digital media through the creation of observational drawings, 2d & 3d compositions, and work in digital media.
Describe, apply, and begin to analyze formal and conceptual principles in works of art and design.
Using the language of art and design, demonstrate knowledge and perspectives of art historical and contemporary works and processes.
Assemble and prepare a portfolio of work suitable for academic transfer.

Program Requirements

60 credits are required for the degree:

General Education - 31 credits
Required Degree Courses - 29 credits

General Education Requirements - 31 Credits

Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 Writing and Research
Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 Writing and Literature
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) with lab (4 credits): choose from this category of general education courses with a lab
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3 credits): choose from HIS 110 - U.S. History Colonial-1800 HIS 111 - 19th Century U.S. History , HIS 112 - 20th Century United States History , HIS 133 - African American History to 1865 OR HIS 134 - African American History from 1865 to Present
Social Sciences (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
The Arts (6 credits): ART 101 - Drawing 1 and ART 202 - Drawing 2
World History and Global Awareness (6 credits): ART 108 - Art of the Ancient World: Prehistory to Fourteenth Century and ART 109 - Art of the Modern World: Fifteenth Century to Contemporary

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all general education courses .

Required Degree Courses - 29 credits

ART 100 - Art and Design Seminar
ART 107 - Art as Visual Experience
ART 112 - 2D Design
ART 113 - 3D Design
ART 126 - Digital Fundamentals
ART 275 - Portfolio Preparation
Liberal Arts Elective (3 credits): select ONE Liberal Arts and Sciences Course
Art and Design Elective (12 credits): select FOUR courses from the following

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Course	Credits
ART 100 - Art and Design Seminar	1
ART 101 - Drawing 1	3
ART 112 - 2D Design	3
ART 126 - Digital Fundamentals	3
ENG 101 Writing and Research	3
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 2

Course	Credits
Art and Design Elective	3
ART 107 - Art as Visual Experience	3
ART 109 - Art of the Modern World: Fifteenth Century to Contemporary	3
ART 202 - Drawing 2	3
ENG 102 Writing and Literature	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 3

Course	Credits
Art and Design Elective	6
ART 108 - Art of the Ancient World: Prehistory to Fourteenth Century	3
ART 113 - 3D Design	3
ART 275 - Portfolio Preparation	1
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice: Choose from HIS 110 - U.S. History Colonial-1800 HIS 111 - 19th Century U.S. History , HIS 112 - 20th Century United States History , HIS 133 - African American History to 1865 OR HIS 134 - African American History from 1865 to Present	3
Semester Total Credits	16

Semester 4

Course	Credits
Art and Design Elective	3
Liberal Arts and Sciences Course	3
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course with lab	4
Social Sciences Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	13

Minimum Total Credits: 60

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Career Opportunities

Visit Career Coach to explore career paths, job descriptions, salary trends, and job trends.

Visit the Career Services page for more career resources.