AA in Fine Art

NCC's Fine Art program helps develop a student's artistic interests and strengths. As students build their portfolios, they will be encouraged to develop creativity through discovery. Exposure to career opportunities and educational options is an integral part of the program. By the end of the fourth semester, the disciplined and self-motivated student will draw from examples of all coursework for transfer to a college, university, or art school. The successful student will also develop the skills in presentation needed to pursue a career in the visual arts.

Drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and photography will showcase a deeper understanding of the student's own ideas. The Individual Studio/Professional Practices course gives students the opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of the art world through visits to museums, galleries, and art centers in New York City, Philadelphia, and the Lehigh Valley. In addition, students will speak with curators, gallery directors, art museum personnel, and a visiting professional artist who will help guide and critique their work.

The Art faculty at NCC holds exhibitions in Communications Hall with open receptions to give students a chance to see their work and to talk to them about it.

NCC FINE ART students have transferred to: Kutztown University, East Stroudsburg University, Millersville University, Moravian College, Cedar Crest College, University of the Arts (UArts), Tyler School of Art/Temple University, School of Visual Arts (SVA), Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art (Pafa), School of Visual Arts (SVA), The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, Pratt Institute, Parsons The New School for Design, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Maryland Institute College of Fine Art (MICA), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Herron School of Art and Design - Indiana University, Massachusetts College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

First year art offerings include Drawing I, Drawing II, Principles of 2-D Design & Color, and Principles of 3-D Design. These courses emphasize essential skills for studying all of the visual arts. You will also take introductory courses in Art History, Computer Graphics, and Painting. Advanced Drawing and Painting follow, along with additional choices in 2-D and 3-D media such as Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Ceramics. In the final semester, Media Art features a synthesis of traditional art techniques and experimental digital technology.

During the final capstone course, Individual Studio/Professional Practices, you have the opportunity and personal challenge of synthesizing your accumulated experience and knowledge into a highly individualized series of artworks for a final group exhibition. You may also maintain an extensive sketchbook/journal and use this resource for writing assignments and studio work. The program also expands your knowledge of the professional fine art world through visits to museums, galleries, and art centers in New York City, Philadelphia, and the Lehigh Valley. There, you will speak with artists, curators, gallery directors, and art museum personnel who will share their wealth of experience.

First Semester

• COLS101College Success
• ARTA101Art History Survey
• ARTA107Drawing I
• ARTA111Principles of 2-D Design & Color
• ARTA170Computer Graphics
• ENGL101English I

Second Semester

• ARTA110Principles of 3-D Design
• ARTA124Drawing II
• ARTA158Painting I
• CMTH102Introduction to Communication
• ENGL151LEnglish II

Third Semester

• ARTA162 Sculpture
  or
  ARTA161Ceramics
• Studio Elective +
• Studio Elective +
• Science Elective (SCI)
• Social Science: Societies and Institutions over Time Elective (SIT)

Fourth Semester

• ARTA220Media Art
• ARTA260Individual Studio/ Professional Practices
• MATH120Nature of Mathematics
• Studio Elective +
• Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior Elective (SSHB)

+ Complete a total of three (3) Studio Electives from among: ARTA 151, ARTA 161, ARTA 162, ARTA 164, ARTA 204, ARTA 226, ARTA 282

• The electives specified above must be taken from the list of approved courses in each of the categories.
• One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
• Students must take two General Education Electives (SIT, SSHB or SCI) in Writing Intensive (WI) sections. WI course sections are identified with a "G" following the course number.
• Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program, specifically ARTA111, ARTA170, and ARTA220. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement.

Graduates of the program will:

• Create artworks using basic art media, demonstrating core techniques, with proficient craftsmanship.
• Utilize design, i.e. the elements of art and principles of organization, in the creation of successful artworks.
• Demonstrate creativity, by synthesizing knowledge and imagination in form, style, and content.
• Recognize and use the technical and aesthetic terminology of the fine arts.
• Develop and use critical thinking skills to analyze artworks, both in speaking and writing.
• Have prepared a comprehensive portfolio of high quality artworks for transfer to four-year colleges, universities, or art school.

A career in art is not limited to being a painter of canvases which get framed and sold in a gallery. Behind every piece of art in a newspaper, magazine, book, poster, brochure, website or display piece, there's usually a commercial artist or a team of artists. Those interested in truly trying to make a career in one of the fine arts fields know that art is everywhere - from computer animation to film and TV stage sets. If art students truly apply themselves, they can pursue their passion not just in work created to hang in museums, but also in teaching art, art history or photography.

Future Career Paths

• Art educators
• Visual art related careers