Associate in Fine Arts Degree - Visual Art Emphasis

Illinois colleges and universities offer two different bachelor’s degrees in art: the professional Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with a major in art. In general, the BFA degree requires about 135-semester credits for completion, while the BA degree with a major in art requires 120 to 124-semester credits for completion. The BFA degree generally requires more studio art courses than does the BA degree. In some colleges and universities, a BA degree requires competency in a foreign language, while the BFA degree often does not.

To transfer as a junior into either a BFA or a BA program with a major in art, students should select the option described below in consultation with a faculty member in the art department. Since transfer admission is competitive, completion of this option does not guarantee admission. Most institutions require a portfolio review for admission to a BFA program, for registration in advanced studio art courses, and/or for scholarship consideration. Community and junior college students are strongly encouraged to complete an associate degree before transferring.

The college recommends using the Academic Planning, Registration, and Payment Tool on accessECC to track your progress toward completion.

The general education courses required for the AFA degree are approved by the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI); however, the structure of the AFA degree does not meet the minimum IAI general education core requirements, nor does it meet the requirements for the AA or AS degrees.

Course Title Credits
General Education Requirement
Communications9
Three courses including a two-course sequence in writing and one course in oral communication. A grade of C or better in ENG 101 and ENG 102 is required.
English Composition I
English Composition II
Fundamentals of Speech
Mathematics3-4
One course selected from the courses listed below:
General Education Statistics
General Education Mathematics
Statistics I
Finite Math for Business & Managmt
Calculus for Business/Social Science
Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
Physical & Life Sciences7-8
Two courses with one course selected from the physical sciences courses and one course from the life sciences, one of these must include a lab. (Note: L=Lab)
Physical Sciences:
Earth Science (L)
Applied Physical Science (L)
Astronomy
Elementary Astronomy
Preparatory Chemistry (L)
Elements of Chemistry: General (L)
General Chemistry I (L)
Intro to Physical Geography
Environmental Geology
Physical Geology (L)
General Physics I (L)
Engineering Physics I (L)
Life Sciences:
Survey of Environmental Biology
Biology for Contemporary Society (L)
Principles of Biology (L)
Molecular & Cellular Biology (L)
Organismal Bio, Evolution, Ecology (L)
Environmental Biology (L)
Humanities6
(Note: N=human diversity from a non-Western perspective; D=human diversity within the United States)
Humanities:
Intermediate French II
Intermediate German II
Intermediate Spanish II
Spanish for Spanish Speakers I
Latin American Civilization
American Civilization
History of Mexico
Ancient & Medieval Western Humanities
Modern Western Humanities
Intro to Non-Western Humanities (N)
Introduction to Philosophy
Ancient & Medieval Western Philosophy
Modern Western Philosophy
Critical Reasoning
Logic
Introduction to Asian Philosophies (N)
Philosophy of Religion
Introduction to Mythology
Ethics
Introduction to Literature:Fiction
Introduction to Literature:Drama
Introduction to Literature:Poetry
Introduction to Shakespeare
Latinx Literatures of the US (D)
African American Lit 1619-1940 (D)
Multicultural American Literature (D)
Intro to Literature by Women (D)
African American Lit (1940-Present) (D)
LGBTQ Literature (D)
International Literature (N)
Children's Literature
Novel and Film
Masterpieces of World Lit
Bible as Literature
Great Books Seminar I
Great Books Seminar II
Great Books Seminar III
Great Books Seminar IV
Great Books Seminar V
Social & Behavioral Sciences6
Two courses with one course selected from social sciences and one course from behavioral sciences. (Note: N=human diversity from a non-Western perspective; D=human diversity within the United States)
Social Sciences:
Fundamentals of Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Human Geography (N)
Geography of the Developing World (N)
History of Western Civilization I
History of Western Civilization II
History of World Civilizations I (N)
History of World Civilizations II (N)
History & Politics of Gender
History of Latin America I (N)
History of Latin America II (N)
History of Asia: Ancient to 1500 (N)
History of Asia: 1500 to Present (N)
History of Native America (D)
U S History to 1870
U S History Since 1865
African American History I
African American History II
Amer Government - National
Amer Govt State Local
Principles of Political Science
Comparative Political Systems
International Relations
Behavioral Sciences:
Introduction to Anthropology (N)
General Prehistoric Archeology
Cultural Anthropology (N)
Human Evolution
Intro to Psychology
Child Psychology
Adulthood and Aging
Social Psychology
Human Growth and Development
Principles of Sociology
Social Problems
Racial and Ethnic Relations (D)
Marriage and Family
Social Psychology
Gender Roles and Social Change (D)
Major Field & Elective Courses21
Art History:
History of Art, Prehistory to 1300
History of Art, 1300 to the Present
Drawing:
Drawing I
Drawing II
Two-Dimensional Design:
2D Design Foundations
Three-Dimensional Design:
Design II
Life/Figure Drawing:
Life Drawing
Electives:
Select studio art courses from at least two of the following disciplines in consultation with an art faculty member: 1
Painting I
Painting II
Ceramics I
Ceramics II
Sculpture I
Sculpture II
Printmaking I
Printmaking II
Jewelry I
Jewelry II
Darkroom Photography I
Total Credit Hours 60-68
1

Transferability of ART 104 Sculpture II, ART 106 Ceramics II, ART 108 Painting II, ART 112 Jewelry II, ART 114 Printmaking II is dependent on a portfolio examination at the senior institution.

College Requirements

  1. A total of 60 hours or more must be completed as specified. This total cannot include any credits earned in courses numbered below 100 nor any courses with ABE, ASE, AMT, ARW, or ESL prefixes. The 60 hours total may include up to four hours of credit in physical education courses prefixed by PHC.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all courses numbered 100 and above.
  3. Meet the college’s Academic Residency Requirement for University Transfer degrees: A minimum of 15 semester hours in courses numbered 100 and above and must have been achieved at ECC, excluding AP, CLEP and proficiency credits.
  4. Students may apply up to six hours of Independent Study credit toward any associate degree.
  5. Students can earn only one transfer associate degree. Should a student seek to earn more than one transfer degree, a Petition to Earn Multiple Transfer Degrees form must be submitted to the associate dean of advising, transfer, and career development services.