Fine Art (AAS) 3D Studio Arts

Painting of a cabin near a body of water - by Christina Rasmussen

The Associate of Arts in 3-Dimensional Studio Arts offers a comprehensive foundation in creating 3D fine art, including metal arts, jewelry, figurative works in clay, and ceramic sculpture. This program emphasizes technical skills, critical thinking, and creative expression through hands-on projects and personalized instruction. Students choose an area of emphasis and learn to bring their creative visions to life. Whether your goal is a career in jewelry design or creating large-scale sculptures, this AAS degree is an excellent starting point and a pathway to a BFA in either Sculpture or Jewelry & Metal Arts.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree
Core Classes

This program is available online and on campus

FASCU 130

Sculpture 1 Core/3

Explore the nature of three-dimensional form. You'll create a sculpture to gain technical skills, hands-on experience, and a knowledge of sculptural materials.

FASCU 230

Sculpture 2 Core/3

This course is Fine Art Sculpture's midpoint skills assessment class. Students will be evaluated on assignments designed to be challenging both in concept and technical skills, as well as problem-solving abilities. Students will model in clay and fabricate in cardboard volumetric constructions. Students will make three gallery-ready portfolio works, six models, and a written artist statement.

FASCU 231

Ceramics: Expressions in Clay Core/3

Clay is an expressive medium. Using various sculptural techniques, you'll gain a variety of painterly and contemporary low fire abilities. (This course is cross-listed with FASCU 624.)

FND 110

Analysis of Form Core/3

In-depth study of classical drawing principles on achieving heightened realism in imagery. Learn how to incorporate accurate geometrical construction and use the five-value system to analyze light and shadow on forms. Gaining skills in perspective, composition, and rendering of various textures and materials.

FND 122

Color Fundamentals Core/3

Color is a powerful tool. Discover how color psychology, simultaneous contrast, proportion, desaturation, atmospheric depth, light temperature, composition, and harmony can greatly enhance imagery. You will utilize various color schemes to explore color harmony using digital media.

ILL 133

Digital Media: Digital Manipulation Core/3

Combine essential camera and digital imaging skills to augment your imagery. Using a camera for reference, inspiration, and digital imaging to manipulate photo images, you'll learn to create narrative content, increasing your skills in a fun yet challenging environment. Phone camera or digital camera and computer access are required.

IND 138

Model Making - Fall Core/3

The ability to communicate your design ideas in quick and accurate ways is a valuable skill. Through design and modeling projects, you will learn to make design models for industrial design evaluation.

JEM 110

Jewelry and Metal Arts 1 Core/3

Create fine metal objects and jewelry using copper, brass, bronze, and sterling silver. Gain skills in stone setting, metal forging, die forming, basic chain making, and introductory casting.

JEM 249

Introduction to Metal Casting Core/3

Gain skills in both ancient and modern casting techniques. Working with bronze, silver, and gold, you'll learn both centrifugal and vacuum techniques, injection mold making, gating, investing, metal pouring, and finishing. (This course is cross-listed with JEM 649.)

JEM 314

Enameling 1 Core/3

Enameling is the art of fusing powdered glass onto metal to create colorful designs and surfaces. The beauty of tradition and the excitement of the contemporary are yours to combine with your metalworking skills. (This course is cross-listed with JEM 614.)

Degree Requirements

Unit RequirementsUnits
Core24
Sophomore Portfolio3
Major18
Liberal Arts15
Total60

AAS 3-DIMENSIONAL STUDIO ARTS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  • Minimum grade of C- in all major coursework.
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
    1 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art course
    1 Art & Design Communication course
    1 Quantitative Literacy course
    1 Employment Communications and Practices course

After above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.

Additional Information

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Visual Communication

  • Effectively execute design concepts
  • Demonstrate evidence of trialing and self-editing designs, as evidenced in sketchbook/journal
  • Demonstrate facility in fine art foundations and media-specific skills

Conceptual Development and Critical Analysis

  • Explore and articulate concepts and creative possibilities within a given topic or subject
  • Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a given project
     

Presentation Skills

  • Clearly express ideas verbally, visually, and in writing
  • Display work to professional presentation standards
  • Demonstrate craftsmanship and attention to detail

Professional Readiness

  • Manage workload to meet deadlines
  • Produce basic materials suitable for an entry-level job search