Art

To be eligible for an Associate in  Arts (AA), an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or an Associate in Science (AS) degree from HCC, a student must successfully:

Complete at least 60 semester hours of credit as follows: (a) for the AA degree, 43 hours of required core courses and 17 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major (b) for the AAT degree, 44 hours of required core courses plus 16-18 hours of required pre-teaching courses (c) for the AS degree, 43 hours of required core courses plus six additional hours of mathematics, four additional hours of natural science, and 7 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major.

• Complete a minimum of 18 semester hours toward the degree in the Houston Community College System. These hours may not be satisfied through credit by exam.
• Have an overall 2.0 HCC grade point average.
• Satisfy TSI requirements.
• Resolve all financial obligations and return all College materials, including library books, to HCC prior to graduation.

A student who has received an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution must meet specific requirements to earn an additional degree from HCC.

• The student must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours at HCC for each additional degree. These hours may not repeat credit applied from a previous HCC degree.  These hours may not be satisfied through credit by exam.
• All additional hours must be applicable toward the additional degree. If the student has prior credit in required courses, appropriate substitutions may be arranged.
• All courses required by the specific HCC program of the additional degree must be completed.
• A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned on all hours since the previous degree.
• Academic courses from previous degrees may be applied to an additional AAS degree required academic core where equivalent and appropriate, which waives the need for approval, except where program restrictions prevail.
• If the first degree was an Associate in Arts, an Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate in Science, a bachelor degree, or higher degree from an accredited educational institution in the United States, the student will be considered to be “Core Complete”, thus needing to complete only the requirement of 18 additional semester hours at HCC toward a new associate degree.
• Each additional academic associate degree obtained from HCC must be of a different type.  Thus, a student may only obtain one Associate in Arts, one Associate of Arts in Teaching, and/or one Associate in Science from HCC. For example, if one degree from HCC was an AA, then any additional degrees must be an AAT, AS, or AAS.
• Multiple Associate of Applied Science degrees may be earned from HCC if all AAS program requirements are met including earning at least 18 additional semester hours at HCC, 12 of which must be earned in the major program of the additional degree. In most cases, however, there is only one AAS degree allowable per workforce program. See counselor or program chair for clarification.
• Multiple workforce Certificates of Completion may be earned from HCC if all program requirements are met for each certificate including earning at least 9 additional unique semester hours at HCC toward the major program of the additional certificate.
• All other state and institutional graduation requirements, including TSI policies and financial obligations, must be met.

HCC is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Seven Art and Design Programs—Studio Art, Interior Design, Digital Communication, Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Filmmaking, and Digital Gaming & Simulation for Artists—collectively represent the Art and Design Unit at HCC.

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248
Phone: 703-437-0700
Website: nasad.arts-accredit.org

There are many successful working visual artists in Houston. HCC graduates exhibit their work in commercial galleries, alternative art spaces, juried exhibitions, and sell art work on-line.
Our graduates also successfully transfer to Bachelor’s Degree programs, such as the University of Houston, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and Kansas City Art Institute.

In general, the career opportunities in art are numerous and varied. Many graduates go on to teach studio art at all educational levels. In addition to exhibition and teaching opportunities, graphic artists, designers, art handlers, installers, and art directors may freelance or hold salaried positions in art handling businesses, design firms, publishers, ad agencies and many companies with in-house communications departments.

• The estimated annual job openings is 13 jobs a year.
• Median Wages - $12.99 hourly, $27,000 annually

Hybrid programs allow students to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses. Hybrid programs offer 50% to 85% of their courses online and the remainder of the curriculum is taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Language Option Restrictions

Some hybrid programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some hybrid programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Required Course Restrictions

Hybrid programs require students to participate in campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements. 

Potential Course Restrictions

Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.

Fine Arts Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum: Studio Track

Field of Study Coursework:

• ARTS 1303        Art History I
• ARTS 1304        Art History II
• ARTS 1311        Design I (2-Dimensional Design)
• ARTS 1312        Design II (3-Dimensional Design)
• ARTS 1316        Drawing I
• ARTS 2348        Digital Art I

Choose three of the following courses:

• ARTS 1317        Drawing II
• ARTS 2313        Design Communications I
• ARTS 2316        Painting I
• ARTS 2326        Sculpture I
• ARTS 2333        Printmaking I
• ARTS 2341        Art Metals I
• ARTS 2346        Ceramics I
• ARTS 2356        Photography I
• ARTS 2366        Watercolor I

Advanced Studio course (no more than one of the following):

• ARTS 2311        Design III
• ARTS 2317        Painting II
• ARTS 2323        Life Drawing I
• ARTS 2347        Ceramics II
• ARTS 2357        Photography II

Fully Transferable: 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has designated the Field of Study Curriculum courses as “fully transferable” to other public colleges and universities in Texas. Students planning on transferring to either private or out-of-state institutions should direct transfer questions to that college or university.  

For more information, refer to the HCC Catalog (https://www.hccs.edu/programs/catalog/ ) and Field of Study Curricula Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board www.thecb.state.tx.us/institutional-resources-programs/public-universities-health-related-institutions/transfer-resources/field-of-study-curricula/