The curriculum in Fine Arts (Art) is designed to prepare students to continue studies toward the baccalaureate degree in art in four-year colleges and universities. Since this curriculum places emphasis on applied/studio courses as well as general education courses, graduates may find they will be required to take additional freshman and sophomore level general education courses after transfer. General education courses should be selected from the list of IAI General Education Courses.
Illinois colleges and universities offer two different bachelor’s degrees in art: the professional Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in art. In general, the B.F.A. degree requires about 135 semester credits for completion, while the B.A. degree with a major in art requires 120 to 124 semester credits for completion. The B.F.A. degree generally requires more studio art courses than does the B.A. degree. In some colleges and universities, a B.A. degree requires competency in a foreign language, while the B.F.A. degree often does not.
To transfer as a junior into either a B.F.A. program or B.A. program with a major in Art, after receiving an Oakton Associate in Fine Arts (Art) degree, students should follow the curriculum presented below, in consultation with an advisor. Since transfer admission is competitive, completion of the associate degree does not guarantee admission. Most institutions require a portfolio review for admission to a B.F.A. program, for registration in advanced studio art courses, and/or for scholarship consideration.
The curriculum in Art is consistent with the Illinois Articulation Initiative curriculum in this field. Public universities in Illinois, and many private four-year colleges and universities as well, have agreed to this curriculum. Students should consult with an advisor at the school to which they intend to transfer to confirm the school’s participation in the Illinois Articulation Initiative for the art major.
Students who wish to major in Art Education should consult an Oakton advisor immediately upon entry to the College to ensure appropriate selection of courses.
Associate in Fine Arts Degree – Art
64 Semester Credit Hours; Curriculum: 0801
Note: Refer to IAI General Education Courses page for guidelines on General Education course selection.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements: | ||
| Area A - Communications | ||
| EGL 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| EGL 102 | Composition II | 3 |
| SPE 103 | Effective Speech | 3 |
| Area B - Mathematics | ||
| One MAT course of at least 3 credits from the approved list of IAI general education Mathematics courses | 3 | |
| Area C - Science | ||
| One science course from the Life Sciences and one science course from the Physical Sciences; at least one of these courses must be a lab course | 7 | |
| Area D - Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Two courses (two different disciplines) | 6 | |
| Area E - Humanities/Fine Arts | ||
| Two courses from the humanities (two different disciplines); not applied or studio courses, or ART 111, 112 or 113 | 6 | |
| Area F - Global Studies 1 | ||
| One course that satisfies Global Studies requirement | 0-3 | |
| Area G - U.S. Diversity Studies 2 | ||
| One course that satisfies U.S. Diversity Studies requirement | 0-3 | |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
- 1
Students may take a Global Studies course that satisfies both Area F and another Area requirement.
- 2
Students may take a U.S. Diversity Studies course that satisfies both Area G and another Area requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| ART 105 | Fundamentals of Two-Dimensional Art I | 3 |
| ART 107 | Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Art I | 3 |
| ART 111 | Art History: Prehistoric to Renaissance | 3 |
| ART 112 | Art History: Renaissance to Modern | 3 |
| ART 113 | Art History: Modern Art (Twentieth Century) | 3 |
| ART 131 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 231 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 243 | Figure Drawing I | 3 |
| Electives: Select nine credits from the following Studio Art courses: | 9 | |
| Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Art II | ||
| Beginning Photography | ||
| Alternative Photographic Processes | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Ceramics: Introduction to Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor I | ||
| Color Photography | ||
| Introduction to Digital Imaging | ||
| Advanced Digital Imaging | ||
| Painting II | ||
| Ceramics II | ||
| Ceramics: Advanced Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor II | ||
| Introduction to Computer Art | ||
| Figure Drawing II | ||
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Art Pre-major
Department Chair: Louis Pierozzi, 847-635-1838 or lpierozz@oakton.edu
The following pre-major is recommended for students who are considering completing a Bachelor’s degree in Art after transferring to a four-year institution. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university. Once a transfer school is selected, students are strongly encouraged to consult the Office of Advising, Transitions, and Student Success and the transfer institution’s catalog to select courses that will meet both Oakton and transfer institution requirements.
For more information on course selection or program-specific advising, contact the department chair. Part time students should also consult the Office of Advising, Transitions, and Student Success for part-time Pre-major recommendations. General Education courses should be selected from the list of IAI General Education Courses.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One (Fall) | Hours | |
| EGL 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| ART 131 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 111 | Art History: Prehistoric to Renaissance | 3 |
| MAT 125 or MAT 131 | General Education Mathematics or Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Semester Two (Spring) | ||
| EGL 102 | Composition II | 3 |
| ART 105 | Fundamentals of Two-Dimensional Art I | 3 |
| ART 107 | Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Art I | 3 |
| ART 112 | Art History: Renaissance to Modern | 3 |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Three (Summer) | ||
| Select one Humanities course 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester One (Fall) | ||
| SPE 103 | Effective Speech | 3 |
| ART 113 | Art History: Modern Art (Twentieth Century) | 3 |
| ART 231 | Drawing II | 3 |
| Select one of the following electives: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Art II | ||
| Beginning Photography | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Ceramics: Introduction to Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor I | ||
| Introduction to Computer Art | ||
| Select one Life Science (LS) or Physical Sceince (PS) course with lab: 2 | 4 | |
| Introduction to Life Science (LS) | ||
| Human Genetics (LS) | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science (LS) 3 | ||
| Introduction to Earth Science (PS) | ||
| Physical Geology (PS) | ||
| Historical Geology (PS) | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester Two (Spring) | ||
| ART 243 | Figure Drawing I | 3 |
| Select one Life Science (LS) or Physical Science (PS) course without lab from a discipline not taken previously: 2 | 3 | |
| Plants and Society (LS) 3 | ||
| Microbe and Society (LS) | ||
| Physical Geography (PS) | ||
| A Survey of Oceanography (PS) | ||
| Environmental Geology (PS) | ||
| Select one of the following electives: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Art II | ||
| Beginning Photography | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Ceramics: Introduction to Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor I | ||
| Color Photography | ||
| Painting II | ||
| Ceramics II | ||
| Ceramics: Advanced Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor II | ||
| Introduction to Computer Art | ||
| Select one Fine Arts course 1 | 3 | |
| Select on Social and Behavioral Sciences course from a discipline not taken previously 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Three (Summer) | ||
| Select one of the following electives: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional Art II | ||
| Beginning Photography | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Ceramics I | ||
| Ceramics: Introduction to Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor I | ||
| Color Photography | ||
| Painting II | ||
| Ceramics II | ||
| Ceramics: Advanced Wheel-Throwing | ||
| Watercolor II | ||
| Introduction to Computer Art | ||
| Figure Drawing II | ||
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 65 | |
- 1
When selecting Social and Behavioral Sciences and Humanities/Fine Arts courses, please select at least one course that also satisfies the Global Studies requirement and one course that also satisfies the U.S. Diversity requirement.
- 2
One science course must be from the Life Sciences and one science course must be from the Physical Sciences; at least one of these courses must be a lab course.
- 3
Course fulfills the Global Studies Requirement. At least one Global Studies course is required for degree completion.
Note: Pre-major is a recommended sequence and selection of courses. See Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A) - Art page for degree requirements.