Digital Arts, Area of Concentration in Art + Design (AFA)
Award: Associate of Fine Arts Degree
No. of credits required: 61
For more information: Contact Associate Professor Kenneth Jones, 443-412-2326, kjones@harford.edu; or Advising, Career and Transfer services 443-412-2301.
Program Description
The Art + Design program offers students an Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A) degree and preparation to transfer to some B.F.A. Art + Design programs. The A.F.A degree is a pre-professional degree. In comparison with an A.A. in Art + Design, there is a higher concentration of studio classes and fewer general education courses. Students wishing to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) at a private art college, or who need more intensive development of their portfolios for transfer to any institution, should choose this degree. Students planning to transfer to a state institution may want to consider enrolling in the Associate of Arts (A.A.) Art + Design degree. Please consult with an advisor. The B.F.A. is the best choice for students who plan on pursuing their M.F.A.
The Digital Arts concentration focuses on the creation of artwork using digital and interactive media. Students investigate a broad range of disciplines including video, web, sound, animation, 3-D modeling, motion graphics and digital photography within the context of the fine arts. This interdisciplinary approach exposes students to evolving technologies and practices of using the computer as a rich and unique resource for image making, print and web design, time-based art, and portfolio production. Graduates are prepared for further study in film and animation, the gaming industry, commercial art and photography, motion graphics, new media, and interdisciplinary arts.
Program Goals
Upon completion of the Associate of Fine Arts in Art + Design degree students will be able to:
- Create works with proper use of design elements.
- Create works with demonstrated proficiency in the use of materials, tools, techniques, and processes.
- Clearly communicate and demonstrate critical thinking to articulate ideas in visual, verbal, and written forms.
- Demonstrate good habits and behaviors of self-reflection, motivation, confidence, and work ethic.
- Create work that shows the clear evolution of concept development and increasing sophistication.
- Successfully transfer to a four-year BFA Program.
Transfer Information
HCC graduates have successfully transferred to art schools and universities, both in and out of Maryland. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should check the requirements of that institution. If they are significantly different from the courses listed, students should consult with an advisor for academic guidance. Some art schools require portfolios for admission and financial aid consideration. HCC faculty are well-versed in these requirements and assist students in portfolio preparation.
Employment Information
In 2021 arts and culture added $1.016 trillion to the US GDP, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). The creative workforce in the US was 4.9 million in arts and cultural jobs, $504 billion in wages and accounted for 3.2% of all US jobs. Artists and designers are 3.6 times more likely to be self-employed and 63% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and creativity, originality and initiative is the number five skill predicted to be in demand for 2025. For more information, visit the following websites: NASAA and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report for Arts and Design.
Field Trip Statement
Courses in this discipline may require field trip(s).
Additional Information
Students who wish to pursue further study in art may, with instructor permission, enroll in Independent Study.
Degree Requirements
Recommended Course Sequence
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 101 | Fundamentals of 2D Design | 3 |
| ART 111 | Studio Drawing I: Observation | 3 |
| ART 120 | Digital Foundations I | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) | 3 |
| ART 160 | Time-Based Media | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 107 | Fundamentals of 3-D Design | 3 |
| PHOT 131 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| ART 230 | 2-D Computer Animation | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective (GM) 1 | 3 | |
| ART or PHOT Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB) | 3 | |
| ART 201 | History of Art-Ancient and Medieval (GAH) (D) | 3 |
| ART 231 | 3-D Modeling and Animation | 3 |
| ART 233 | Portfolio Workshop | 3 |
| ART 208 | Digital Foundations II | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ART 202 | History of Art-Renaissance to Modern (GAH) (D) | 3 |
| ART 229 | Design for the Web | 3 |
| ART or PHOT Elective 2 | 6 | |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Biological/Physical Science Elective (GS) 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 61 | |
- 1
A four credit course in mathematics may be substituted.
- 2
Any 3+ credit courses with the prefix ART or PHOT may be used to fulfill this requirement, as advised for transfer or your personal interest.
- 3
A four credit Biological/Physical Science Lab course may be substituted.
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)