The Associate in Fine Arts degree program will prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university and major in art.
What You Will Learn
The Associate in Fine Arts (A. F. A.) degree ensures you can transfer to a four-year institution having already fulfilled general education and major-specific course requirements. When you finish the program, you will have completed a portfolio that is required for both a Bachelor's in Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and a Bachelor's in Arts (B.A.) in studio Art. (If you plan to major in art history, you would not be required to complete a portfolio.)
The visual arts program offers a wide variety of courses for the art student and the lifelong learner, including:
The Uniform Articulation Agreement ensures that your foundation-level course credits will transfer seamlessly to any UNC institution and many independent institutions — meaning you can enter a four-year, public college as a junior. Many students choose this path in order to not incur a lot of student debt. That's because at Central Piedmont, you can save more than $38,000 in tuition over two years, compared to many four-year schools.
With the Career & College Promise dual enrollment visual arts pathway, you can start studying art while you're still in high school — graduate high school having already completed some of the requirements of a four-year art degree.
Real World Education
At Central Piedmont, your education goes beyond what you learn in class. We offer numerous opportunities for you to enhance your learning — and to make friends, network, and pursue your passions — through clubs and organizations, sports, events and activities, leadership opportunities, job experience, volunteer experiences, visual and performing arts, and even international experiences.
Wherever I do or go, I will be ready to face it head on with the skills and support Central Piedmont has given me.
Taylor Tomasko '20
Read Taylor's story
Earn an Associate in Fine Arts - visual arts. The college catalog details program options currently available at Central Piedmont as well as program eligibility and course requirements. The school you transfer to will determine how your courses will transfer.
Visiting Students
If you wish to transfer general education course credit back to your home institution, explore how to enroll at Central Piedmont as a visiting student.
Corporate and Continuing Education
Central Piedmont's Corporate and Continuing Education provides non-credit, non-degree courses and programs, including job skills, industry-focused career training, certificates, certifications, professional licensure, and personal enrichment. Day, evening, weekend, and online opportunities are available.
College and Career Readiness
If you are looking for programs to gain the knowledge or skills necessary to finish a high school degree or to get a job, visit Central Piedmont's College and Career Readiness.
College Credit for High School Students
Visit Career and College Promise to learn about opportunities for high school students to earn college credit at Central Piedmont.
For detailed information on Associate in Fine Arts in visual arts course requirements, visit the college catalog.
If you submit artwork to a school-sponsored art show, always be sure to make arrangements in advance to pick up your work up at the schedule time. Never assume the department has the facilities to store your work beyond the scheduled period. Contact the organizer of the show to determine when and where to arrange a pick up. If, after a reasonable amount of time the work has not been claimed, it will become the property of the visual arts department and may be destroyed.
For detailed information on art courses at Central Piedmont, visit the college catalog. Please note that course offerings, delivery methods, and location availability are subject to change from semester to semester. Always confirm current course offering locations and delivery methods using Schedule Builder.
Studio courses require a lab fee (paid with tuition). This helps pay for some supplies and classroom items not furnished by the college. For example, gas to run kilns in ceramics, easels and models in painting, and plaster to build molds in sculpture are paid out of lab fees.
You will receive a supply list from your instructor on the first day of class. Most likely this will include recommendations on quality of product as well as vendors. Art materials vary widely in price and quality. The best rule of thumb for any artist is to buy the best quality you can afford. Many local arts supply stores offer discounts for Central Piedmont students (be sure to take your student ID). Bring any supplies you have that you feel may be appropriate to the class.