Art History
Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T) Art · Orange Coast College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Students graduating with an Associate in Art History for Transfer Degree are well positioned to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a similar major within the California State University system with 60 units of upper-division coursework. Students who complete the Art History AA-T degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum 2.0 is required for CSU admission, some majors may require a higher GPA. Please consult a counselor for more information.
The Associate in Arts in Art History Transfer Degree educates students on the history of art and its function as a global language. Courses are designed to foster an understanding of visual communication through study in context, culture, social, political, economic and religious conditions in different historical eras.
Program Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
- Read,write, interpret and understand the major movements and concepts in art history.
- Conduct original research in the history of art.
- Understand the significance and application of art historical styles, Cultures, artist and relevant vocabulary in art and design.
- Students will be eligible and prepared for admission (SB 1440 and Education Code 66746) to California State University system schools.
Requirements
Associate Degree for Transfer Requirements
The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees:
- Minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.
- Minimum GPA of at least 2.0 in all CSU transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors require a higher GPA. Consult with a counselor for more information.
- Completion of a minimum of 18-semester units in the major as detailed in the Degree and Certificate section of this catalog. All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of C (or “P”) or better.
- Certified completion of the Cal-GETC/Breadth.
- A minimum of 12 units in residence within the Coast Colleges (Orange Coast College, Golden West College and/or Coastline College).
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ARTH C1100 | Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era | 3 |
| orARTH C1100H | Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era - Honors | |
| orARTH C1200 | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary | |
| orARTH C1200H | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors | |
| ART A120 | Beginning Drawing | 3 |
| orART A120H | Beginning Drawing Honors | |
| ART A102 | Survey of Modern and Contemporary Art History | 3 |
| orART A108 | Women in Art | |
| orART A109 | Ancient Greek Art and Architecture | |
| orART A109H | Ancient Greek Art and Architecture Honors | |
| List A - Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| ART A103 | Survey of Asian Art | 3 |
| ART A114 | Art of the Ancient Americas | 3 |
| ART A115 | Art of Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous North America | 3 |
| List B - Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| ART A110 | Color and Design: Two-Dimensional | |
| ART A111 | Color and Design: Three-Dimensional | |
| ART A121 | Life Drawing 1 | |
| ART A125 | Perspective Drawing | |
| ART A131 | Painting 2 | |
| ART A141 | Sculpture 1 | |
| ART A150 | Ceramics 1 | |
| ART A151 | Ceramics 2 | |
| ART A170 | Printmaking 1 | |
| DMAD A115 | Typography | |
| DMAD A181 | Introduction to Computer Graphics | |
| DMAD A182 | Graphic Design | |
| PHOT A120 | Introduction to Photography | |
| orPHOT A120H | Introduction to Photography Honors | |
| PHOT A122 | Personal Expression | |
| PHOT A283 | Art Photography | |
| List C - Select one course from the following or any course from List A or B not taken: | 3-5 | |
| ANTH A100 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| orANTH A100H | Cultural Anthropology Honors | |
| ANTH A190 | Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology | |
| ARCH A290 | History of Architecture 1 | |
| orARCH A290H | History of Architecture 1 Honors | |
| ARCH A296 | History of Architecture 2 | |
| orARCH A296H | History of Architecture 2 Honors | |
| ART A107 | Introduction To Art | |
| DANC A200 | Appreciation Of Dance | |
| ETHS A100 | Contemporary Ethnic America | |
| ETHS A190 | The Ethnic Family | |
| FILM A100 | History and Appreciation of the Cinema | |
| orFILM A100H | History and Appreciation of the Cinema Honors | |
| HIST A101 | Afro-American History | |
| HIST A150 | Ethnic Groups of the United States: Their Histories | |
| HIST C1001 | History of the United States to 1877 | |
| orHIST C1001H | History of the United States to 1877 - Honors | |
| HIST C1002 | United States History since 1865 | |
| orHIST C1002H | United States History since 1865 - Honors | |
| HUM A100 | Introduction to the Humanities | |
| MUS A100 | History and Appreciation of Western Classical Music | |
| PHIL A100 | Introduction to Philosophy | |
| PHIL A120 | Ethics | |
| THEA A100 | Introduction to Theatre | |
| Total Major Units | 18-20 | |
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) | up to 34 | |
| Transferable electives as needed to satisfy unit requirement | Varies | |
| Total Degree Units | 60 | |
- Some program major units may also meet GE requirements.
Program Sequence - Cal-GETC
Program Sequence - Cal-GETC
These sequences at Orange Coast College are general course curriculum maps for students to finish all major and general education requirements for two-year completion of degrees, and/or fulfillment of transfer requirements. The course sequence may include course prerequisites and other placement requirements. Students are advised to meet with an Orange Coast College Counselor to review course selections and sequences to ensure that completion of this program will meet a student's transfer and career goals.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Units |
|---|---|
| ARTH C1100or ARTH C1100H | Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Eraor Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era - Honors |
| ARTH C1200or ARTH C1200H | Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporaryor Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors |
| ART A120or ART A120H | Beginning Drawingor Beginning Drawing Honors |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 1A- CHOOSE ONE | 3 |
| Units |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| ADT LIST A COURSE- CHOOSE ONE (See Requirements) |
| HIST C1001or HIST C1001Hor HIST C1002or HIST C1002H |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 1B- CHOOSE ONE |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 2- CHOOSE ONE |
| ELECTIVE (UC/CSU TRANSFERABLE) 2 |
| Summer |
|---|
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 6- CHOOSE ONE |
| ELECTIVE (UC/CSU TRANSFERABLE) 2 |
Year 2
| Semester 1 |
|---|
| ADT LIST B COURSE- CHOOSE ONE (See Requirements) |
| POLS C1000or POLS C1000H |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 1C - CHOOSE ONE |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 5A (no lab)- CHOOSE ONE 4 |
| Semester 2 |
|---|
| ADT LIST C COURSE- CHOOSE ONE (See Requirements) 5 |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 4- CHOOSE ONE |
| Cal-GETC GE AREA 5B (with lab)- CHOOSE ONE 4 |
| ELECTIVE (UC/CSU TRANSFERABLE) 2 |
- American Institutions Requirement - Cal-GETC GE AREA 3B and CSU Graduation Requirement and AAT List C OR take another course from Cal-GETC GE AREA 3B and AAT List C- See Requirements Tab
- VARIES TO REACH MINIMUM 60 TRANSFERABLE UNITS. Not all courses are UC transferable. Please check with your counselor to ensure you have enough transferable units for your transfer goal.
- American Institutions Requirement - Cal-GETC GE AREA 4 and CSU Graduation Requirement OR take another course from Cal-GETC GE AREA 4
- Lab can be taken with 5A or 5B
- If HIST A170, A170H, A175, OR A175H is not taken.