Fine Art
Explore art at City College
Develop your artistic expression through study, observation and experience. Your reflection of life is manifested through your art.
Our Fine Art Department offers:
- Courses in ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, design, art history and entrepreneurship
- Beautiful spacious art facilities including a large gallery and sculpture garden
- Guest artists and craftsmen to participate in master classes and workshops
The Associate of Fine Art degree is a transfer degree for students planning to pursue a bachelor's degree with a concentration in studio fine arts at either a four-year college, university or art school. The degree provides experience in different art media areas to prepare the student.
AA degree in 2D fine art
AA degree in 3D fine art
AA transfer studio art
AA in Art History Transfer
Course Catalog Description
Click here for course description from Catalog
Program Description and Goals
The Fine Art major at San Diego City College is one of six options in the Visual and Performing Arts division. The program provides the opportunity for students to develop fundamental skills in art studio and art history for transferring to a four-year institution. The program inspires creative and technological innovation while preparing students for advanced artwork and pursuing entrepreneurial careers in art. Students learn to think critically, collaborate, research, and express artistic ideas in state-of-the-art facilities. The on-campus City Gallery engages students with contemporary art while broadening their cultural, social, economic, and political perspectives.
Arts Entrepreneurship
If you are an art student interested in making a career of being an artist and starting your own business, we have some great classes in Arts Entrepreneurship, Industrial Ceramic Design and Sustainable Art and Design.
Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship
Certificate in Advanced Arts Entrepreneurship
Possible Careers for Artists
Some careers listed require education beyond the associate degree:
- Art critic
- Art dealer
- Educator
- Historian
- Arts administrator
- Advertising specialist
- Ceramicist
- Community or computer artist
- Computer graphics illustrator
- Computer publishing
- Design consulting
- Display designer
- Gallery director
- Graphic artist
- Illustrator
- Muralist
- Painter
- Printmaker
- Sculptor
- Visual information specialist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diego has a moderately high level of employment of fine artists, including painters, sculptors, craftsmen and illustrators.
Please join us and share your art. Send a proposal, resume, website address, or images of artwork to citygallery@sdccd.edu. The committee only meets occasionally, therefore it will take some time for a response.
Visit the City Gallery - AH-314
Located in the heart of San Diego, the City Gallery is an intimate, vibrant forum for exploring art in a variety of media. Through innovative exhibitions, the gallery engages and inspires the City College community and the surrounding San Diego area.
Our faculty members have a passion for art and they share that passion with their students and the community. They understand each student's individual talent and work to enhance the artistic brilliance within all of us.
Terri Hughes-Oelrich
Wayne Hulgin
Anna Delgado
Cynthia Lyons-Dailard
Many of our City College art students move on four-year colleges and universities to enhance their talent at the bachelor degree level.
Common university majors related to the field of Art-Fine Art include:
- Apparel Design and Merchandising
- Art
- Art Education
- Art History
- Creative Arts/Studies
- Design
- Industrial Arts
- Interior Design
- Multimedia
- Photography
- Studio Art
- Textiles
Course Requirements for Transfer Students
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university and earn a bachelor's degree in this discipline should consult with a counselor or visit the Transfer/Career Center to determine the appropriate major preparation courses for their specific transfer institution and major. Transfer students may also earn an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with an emphasis. This degree may be individually tailored to each student's specific transfer requirements in order to provide the most efficient path to transfer. More information on transfer programs and procedures is available in the Transfer Programs section of the catalog.
Outcomes differ in detail per course but in general follow this structure:
- Create an artwork and analyze design principles and elements.
- Plan and create artwork addressing contemporary issues.
- Evaluate artworks within the historical and cultural context of art.
- Explain verbally and written concepts and the content of created artwork. Analyze own work through written critique using the design principles and elements.
- Research, organize, propose, create, and build visually effective objects/designs using the elements and principles of visual design.
- Plan and create an artwork using a variety of different art media. Propose and build a design that achieves visual coherence, unity, and proportion.
- Utilize and explain specific methods, tools, and materials pertinent to each process.
- Demonstrate a high level understanding of art materials, tools, and techniques through creating images, designs, and objects.
- Solve, plan, create, and describe design problems using various media such as clay, glass, fiber, charcoal, paint, metal or wood.
- Create an artist's portfolio that can be used to further your artistic goals.