Fine Art, Area of Concentration in Art + Design (AFA)
Award: Associate of Fine Arts Degree
No. of credits required: 61
For more information: Contact Professor Heidi Neff Chuffo, 443-412-2276, hneff@harford.edu; Professor James McFarland, 443-412-2247, jmcfarla@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
The Art + Design program offers students an Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A) degree and preparation to transfer to a B.F.A. Art + Design program. 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. and a career as an exhibiting artist or a professional illustrator.
This program challenges students with an intensive, hands-on, studio-based curriculum that emphasizes art-making skills and critical thinking. Classes are taught by professional, exhibiting artists who have expertise in their disciplines.
The Fine Art concentration gives students the opportunity to study a variety of traditional art-making disciplines while building a strong artistic foundation. Students are taught fundamental art techniques and principles, and are encouraged to realize their individual artistic visions. Students may choose to focus on two-dimensional or three-dimensional work and may include electives in other disciplines such as photography and digital arts. The wide variety of experiences in the Fine Art A.F.A. concentration prepares students to focus in any studio discipline of their choice in their B.F.A. program.
Program Goals
Upon completion of the Associate of Arts in Art + Design degree students will be able to:
- Create works with proper use of design elements.
- Create works with a 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.
- Successfully transfer to a four-year B.F.A. 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 |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ART 107 | Fundamentals of 3-D Design | 3 |
| ART 109 | Sculpture I | 3 |
| ART 113 | Painting I | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective (GM) 1 | 3 | |
| Biological/Physical Science Elective (GS) 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ART 115 | Ceramics I | 3 |
| ART 201 | History of Art-Ancient and Medieval (GAH) (D) | 3 |
| PHOT 131 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| ART 213 | Studio Drawing II: Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| ART 233 | Portfolio Workshop | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ART 202 | History of Art-Renaissance to Modern (GAH) (D) | 3 |
| Advanced Studio Courses | 6 | |
| ART 122 | Color: Art, Science & Culture (GAH) | 3 |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| ART or PHOT Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 61 | |
- 1
A four-credit course in mathematics may be substituted.
- 2
A four credit Biological/Physical Science Lab course may be substituted.
- 3
Any 3+ credit course with the prefix ART or PHOT may be used to fulfill this requirement, as advised for transfer or your personal interest.
Advanced Studio Courses
Check catalog for prerequisites
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 214 | Painting II | 3 |
| ART 219 | Sculpture II | 3 |
| ART 220 | Ceramics II | 3 |
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)