Associate of Arts Degree in Studio Art
San Mateo, USA
Associate of Arts
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jul 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 4,512 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for a 12-unit semester | 376 USD per unit | non-inclusive of miscellaneous fees
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor's degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing these degrees (AA-T) are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.
The Associate in Arts in Studio Arts for Transfer will prepare students for transfer into bachelor's degree programs in Studio Arts and similar majors. Students gain historical and contemporary perspectives on the creation of art, the ability to analyze and understand compositional structure, and hands-on skills working in a variety of media.
Art majors find employment in a variety of fields, which include advertising, manufacturing, industrial design, public relations, and communications. Experienced artists frequently specialize in a particular product or field such as fashion, industrial art, advertising, or story illustration.
Major Requirements
| Required Core Course: 15 units | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 102 | Art of Renaissance and Baroque (c. 1300-1700) | 3 units |
| ART 103 | Art of Europe and America: Neoclassical (c. 1750-Present) | 3 units |
| ART 204 | Drawing I | 3 units |
| ART 301 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 units |
| OR | ||
| DGME 103 | Fundamentals of Two-Dimensional Design | 3 units |
| ART 401 | Three-Dimensional Design | 3 units |
| Required Selective Courses: List A: Art History Restricted Electives. Select 3 units from the following: | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 101 | Art and Architecture from the Ancient World to Medieval Times (c. 1400) | 3 units |
| ART 104 | Modern Art | 3 units |
| ART 105 | Asian Art and Architecture | 3 units |
| Required Selective Courses: Select a maximum of one course from any of the following areas to total 9 units: Area 1: Drawing | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 205 | Drawing II | 3 units |
| ART 206 | Expressive Figure Drawing and Portraiture | 3 units |
| ART 207 | Life Drawing | 3 units |
| Area 2: Painting | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 223 | Oil Painting I | 3 units |
| ART 225 | Acrylic Painting I | 3 units |
| ART 231 | Watercolor I | 3 units |
| ART 203 | Plein Air Painting | 3 units |
| Area 3: Color | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 214 | Color | 3 units |
| Area 4: Photography | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 351 | Beginning Black and White Photography | 3 units |
| ART 381 | Beginning Digital Photography | 3 units |
| Area 5: Ceramics | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 411 | Ceramics I | 3 units |
| Area 6: Sculpture | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 405 | Sculpture I | 3 units |
| Area 7: Advanced Courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ART 200 | Portfolio Preparation | 3 units |
| ART 224 | Oil Painting II | 3 units |
| ART 226 | Acrylic Painting II | 3 units |
| ART 232 | Watercolor II | 3 units |
| ART 253 | Plein Air Painting II | 3 units |
| ART 208 | Portrait Drawing I | 3 units |
| ART 209 | Portrait Drawing II | 3 units |
| ART 213 | Life Drawing II | 3 units |
| ART 230 | Expressive Figure Drawing and Portraiture II | 3 units |
| ART 352 | Intermediate Black and White Photography | 3 units |
| ART 383 | Intermediate Digital Photography | 3 units |
| ART 391 | Experimental Photography 1 | 3 units |
| ART 392 | Experimental Photography 2 | 3 units |
| ART 396 | Documentary Photography 1 | 3 units |
| ART 397 | Documentary Photography 2 | 3 units |
| ART 406 | Sculpture II | 3 units |
| ART 412 | Ceramics II | 3 units |
Total Required Major Units: 27
General Education: Completion of Cal-GETC (California General Education Transfer Curriculum)
Elective courses: Additional CSU or UC transferable courses needed to meet the minimum 60 CSU transferable units requirement.
Career opportunities include advertising manager, antique dealer, architect, art administrator, art therapist, art critic, art dealer, art historian, cartoonist, ceramicist, commercial ceramicist, community artist, computer artist, computer graphics illustrator, computer publisher, design consultant, curator, display designer/manager, fashion/floral/interior designer, educator, gallery director, graphic artist, illustrator, jewelry designer, layout artist, muralist, museum technician, painter, photographer, police artist, printmaker, set designer, sculptor, and visual information specialist.
Students completing this program will be able to:
- Exhibit visual literacy and critical thinking through communication, analysis, and reflection on artworks and the concepts and influences from which artworks originate.
- Possess physical/technical skills within an art/design-based medium to be used as tools for creative expression.
The San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (SMCSV) offer more than 50 institutional scholarships each year, and all enrolled students are eligible to apply. Award amounts range from $300 to $7,000, helping make college more affordable. Students can also apply for external scholarships, such as the $1,000 Study in California Scholarship, to further support their educational journey.