An Associates degree in The Arts develops and deepens the understanding of particular artistic interest and enhances the ability to express concepts and ideas. Students can focus on fine or graphic arts, performing arts, creative writing, media arts, art history or arts management while they explore historical and cultural context, theoretical and philosophical issues, and current developments and perspectives related to art. Courses will help refine research skills, artistic technique and ability to form and communicate ideas, images and critical judgments. 

Degree programs in the Arts offer students the opportunity to develop individualized degree plans based on their intellectual, professional, and personal interests. General program guidelines can be found on the “Program Details” tab, and students will work with an academic mentor to choose courses that meet the guidelines and address each student’s individual interests. Students can also work with their academic mentors to identify applicable transfer credit, prior college-level learning, and possible course equivalencies. Working with a mentor and using SUNY Empire’s educational planning process, students can develop a specialized concentration in the Arts by following the general program guidelines as well as any applicable concentration guidelines. Students may also develop their own concentrations.

For more information about general undergraduate degree requirements, please visit Earning an Undergraduate Degree.

For sample degree programs and other degree planning resources, please visit the Department of Arts and Media Degree Planning Resources web page. 

For more information about degrees in the Arts, please visit the Arts and Media web page. 

Program Details

The Arts area of study encompasses a wide range of possible studies and concentrations in the arts including, but not limited to, the visual arts, the performing arts, digital arts and digital media, photography, music, creative writing, film, and museum studies. Students are encouraged to consider including learning about more than one artistic discipline and the cultures/histories of those disciplines in their degree plans.

Knowledge of each outcome can be demonstrated through transcript credit, individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), prior learning evaluation (PLE), or credit by examination, or specific courses at SUNY Empire State University.

Students should explain in their rationale essay how each foundation below is met in their individual degree plan by explaining how the learning in the course, iPLA, PLE, etc. connects to the foundation. Note that to meet a foundation, the learning must be centered on the arts. 

Associate degree programs in the Arts must address at least four of the following seven foundations.

Foundation # 1: Historical Perspectives   

Courses which meet this foundation include, but are not limited to:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ARTP 3010	History of Physical Theater	4
ARTP 3030	Performance History: The Twentieth Century	4
ARTS 1025	Body Art: Tattooing: Introduction	4
ARTS 1055	Impressionism: The Birth of Modern Art	4
ARTS 1100	Early Art of the Netherlands: Introductory	4
ARTS 2020	Art History I: Prehistory to Renaissance	4
ARTS 2025	Art History II: Baroque to Modern	4
ARTS 2041	African American Art	4
ARTS 2050	Introduction to the History of Western Architecture	4
ARTS 3010	20th Century Art History I	4
ARTS 3012	20th Century Art History II	4
ARTS 3050	American Architectural History	4
ARTS 3055	American Art History	4
ARTS 3080	Arts of Native North America	4
ARTS 3090	Baroque Art & Architecture	4
ARTS 3095	Body Art: Tattooing: Advanced	4
ARTS 3105	Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?	4
ARTS 3115	Cuba at the Crossroads: Art Culture and Identity	4
ARTS 3145	Issues in Contemporary Art	4
ARTS 3150	Italian Renaissance Art & Architecture	4
ARTS 3160	Masters of the Renaissance: Advanced	4
ARTS 3175	Medieval Art & Architecture	4
ARTS 3190	Nineteenth Century Art	4
ARTS 3215	The Odd Couple of Art History – Van Gogh & Gauguin	4
ARTS 3225	The Renaissance & Reformation	4
ARTS 4010	Art History: Methods and Theories	4
ARTS 4035	Images of Women in Western Art	4
ARTS 4040	Indigenous Knowledge in Art	4
ARTS 4055	Native North American History & Art	4
DANC 1005	Western Dance History	4
DANC 3010	DEL Foundations	6
DIGA 4015	History & Theory of New Media	4
FILM 3045	The Films of Alfred Hitchcock	4
FILM 3050	The Golden Age: Hollywood Movies of the 1930s & 40s	4
FILM 3052	The American Cinema	4
FILM 4015	Dark Dreams: Studying the Horror Film	4
HIST 1020	American Art: The New World to the Modern World	4
HIST 1122	Art Music & History I	4
HIST 3135	Art Music & History I: Advanced	4
HIST 4010	Rock and Roll History	4
MUSC 1005	Exploring the World of Music	4
MUSC 3010	American Music, American Life	4
PHOT 1005	Black Photographers 1840- Present: Intro	4
PHOT 1010	Documentary Photography: Introductory	4
PHOT 1015	History of Photography: Introductory	4
PHOT 3015	History of Photography: Advanced	4
PHOT 4010	Photography as Cultural History	4
THEA 1010	U.S. Theatre History: Introductory	4
THEA 3015	U.S. Theatre History: Advanced	4
THEA 3020	Greek Drama	4
THEA 3025	History of American Musical Theatre	4

Foundation # 2: Artistic Practice

Courses which meet this foundation include, but are not limited to:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ARTP 1007	Acting Songs: Introductory	4
ARTP 1015	Performing Literature: Introductory	4
ARTP 1122	Playwriting Lab: Introductory	4
ARTP 1127	Writing the Solo Play: Introductory	4
ARTP 1132	Writing the Solo Musical: Introductory	4
ARTP 1137	Playwriting: Introductory	4
ARTP 3005	Creating Solo Performance	4
ARTP 3012	Acting Songs: Advanced	4
ARTP 3015	Performing Literature: Advanced	4
ARTP 3122	Playwriting Lab Advanced	4
ARTP 4005	Performance Art & Installation	4
ARTP 4122	Writing the Solo Play: Advanced	4
ARTP 4127	Playwriting: Advanced	4
ARTP 4132	Writing the Solo Musical: Advanced	4
ARTS 1000	Arts & the Environment: Introductory	4
ARTS 1030	Collage	4
ARTS 1040	Figure Drawing	4
ARTS 1065	Introduction to Drawing	4
ARTS 1075	Introduction to Painting	4
ARTS 1080	Introduction to Studio Art	4
ARTS 1125	Watercolor Painting	4
ARTS 1127	Drawing Into Painting	4
ARTS 2040	Eco Arts	4
ARTS 2055	Sculpture: Introductory	4
ARTS 3000	Advanced Nature Drawing	4
ARTS 3020	A Sense of Place: Drawing from Nature: Advanced	4
ARTS 3025	Advanced Drawing	4
ARTS 3030	Advanced Drawing: Comics	4
ARTS 3040	Advanced Painting	4
ARTS 3105	Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?	4
ARTS 3135	Illustration	4
ARTS 3135	Illustration	4
ARTS 3180	Mixed Media	4
ARTS 3210	The Illustrated Man-Sci-Fi Metaphors & Ray Bradbury: Advanced	4
ARTS 3245	Advanced Digital Photography	4
ARTS 3260	Advanced Watercolor Painting	4
ARTS 4122	Independent Arts Project	4
CRWR 1000	Introduction to Creative Writing	4
CRWR 1005	Crafting Personal Narratives in Creative Nonfiction: Intro	4
CRWR 1015	Creative Nonfiction: Introductory	4
CRWR 1020	Portraiture in Poetry	4
CRWR 1025	Screen Writing	4
CRWR 1030	Screenplays: From Concept to Production	4
CRWR 1035	Creative Writing: The Short Story	4
CRWR 1040	Creative Writing: Fiction	4
CRWR 1045	Stories We Think We Know (Intro)	4
CRWR 2005	Microfiction	4
CRWR 3005	Crafting Personal Narratives in Creative Nonfiction: Advanced	4
CRWR 3010	Creating Fictional Worlds	4
CRWR 3015	Creative Nonfiction: Advanced	4
CRWR 3025	Creative Writing: Poetry	4
CRWR 3030	Stories We Think We Know (Adv)	4
CRWR 3035	Dramatic Writing: The Hero’s Journey	4
CRWR 3045	Plays & Playwriting	4
CRWR 3050	Portraiture in Poetry	4
CRWR 3055	Poetry & Healing	4
CRWR 4025	Creating a Graphic Narrative	4
DIGA 1010	Digital Art & Design: Introductory	4
DIGA 1035	Introduction to Digital Editing	4
DIGA 2010	Digital Presentation	4
DIGA 2122	Introduction to Digital Photography	4
DIGA 3015	Advanced Digital Photography	4
DIGA 3020	Advanced Digital Presentation	4
DIGA 3035	Digital Art & Design: Advanced	4
DIGA 3040	Digital Storytelling	3-4
DIGA 3045	Game Design & Development	4
DIGA 3065	Digital Media Arts	4
DIGA 3070	New Media Advocacy	4
DIGA 3080	Digital Painting	4
DIGA 4005	Advanced Collage: Digital Portfolio	4
DIGA 4122	Professional Digital Portfolio	4
FILM 2010	Cell-phone Cinematography	4
FILM 3005	Advanced Documentary Film Production	4
FILM 3005	Advanced Documentary Film Production	4
FILM 4005	Advanced Topics in Documentary Film	4
FILM 4020	Experiments in Motion Media	4
MUSC 1010	Introduction to Guitar and Guitar Music	4
MUSC 2010	Songwriting: Introductory	4
MUSC 3005	Songwriting: Advanced	4
MUSE 3010	Curatorial Practice	4
PHOT 1010	Documentary Photography: Introductory	4
PHOT 1025	Photographic Narratives: Introductory	4
PHOT 1030	Photography from Dusk to Dawn: Introductory	4
PHOT 1040	Photography & The Environment: Introductory	4
PHOT 1045	Street Photography: Composing the Urban Landscape: Introductory	4
PHOT 2005	Photography Project: Introductory	4
PHOT 2010	The Photographic Vision	4
PHOT 3015	History of Photography: Advanced	4
PHOT 3030	Photography from Dusk to Dawn: Advanced	4
PHOT 3045	Photography & The Environment: Advanced	4
PHOT 3050	Street Photography: Composing the Urban Landscape: Advanced	4
PHOT 3055	Advanced Digital Photography	4
PHOT 4005	Advanced Photography Portfolio	4

Foundation #3: Artistic Theory 

Courses which meet this foundation include, but are not limited to:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ARTP 2005	Introduction to Performance Studies	4
ARTP 4010	Performance Theory	4
ARTP 4147	Theatre Community & Social Change: Advanced	4
ARTS 1055	Impressionism: The Birth of Modern Art	4
ARTS 2041	African American Art	4
ARTS 3010	20th Century Art History I	4
ARTS 3012	20th Century Art History II	4
ARTS 3145	Issues in Contemporary Art	4
ARTS 3240	Visual Literacy	4
ARTS 4010	Art History: Methods and Theories	4
ARTS 4020	Color Theory	4
ARTS 4070	What Is Art?	4
DIGA 3040	Digital Storytelling	3-4
DIGA 3050	Information Design	4
DIGA 3065	Digital Media Arts	4
DIGA 4015	History & Theory of New Media	4
MUSC 4005	Critical Theory & the End of Noise	4
MUSE 3010	Curatorial Practice	4

Foundation # 4: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion   

Courses which meet this foundation include, but are not limited to:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ARTP 2005	Introduction to Performance Studies	4
ARTP 3035	Popular Music & Social Justice: Advanced	4
ARTP 4147	Theatre Community & Social Change: Advanced	4
ARTS 1025	Body Art: Tattooing: Introduction	4
ARTS 2035	Diversity in the United States Arts	4
ARTS 2041	African American Art	4
ARTS 3012	20th Century Art History II	4
ARTS 3080	Arts of Native North America	4
ARTS 3095	Body Art: Tattooing: Advanced	4
ARTS 3105	Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?	4
ARTS 3115	Cuba at the Crossroads: Art Culture and Identity	4
ARTS 4035	Images of Women in Western Art	4
ARTS 4040	Indigenous Knowledge in Art	4
ARTS 4055	Native North American History & Art	4
CRWR 4015	Poetry of the Oppressed: Verse Under Fire	4
DANC 4005	Dance Across World Cultures	4
FILM 1005	Frozen, Encanto, and Beyond: Analyzing Children's Animated Films (Introductory)	4
FILM 2005	America on Film: Race Class & Gender	4
FILM 3010	Frozen, Encanto, and Beyond: Analyzing Children's Animated Films (Advanced)	4
FILM 3015	Cuban Film Festival Residency	4
FILM 3025	Gender & Power in American Film	4
FILM 3040	Race & Representation in Cinema	4
FILM 4040	Transgender in American Film	4
MUSC 1005	Exploring the World of Music	4
MUSC 3010	American Music, American Life	4
MUSC 3045	World Music Across Cultures: Advanced	4
MUSE 3015	Museum Studies	4
SPAN 3025	Contemporary Spanish American Theater	4

Foundation # 5: Research Skills   

Any course with the subject codes of ARTP, ARTS, CRWR, DANC, DIGA, FILM, MUSC, MUSE, PHOT, or THEA that requires research skills will satisfy this foundation. Students must identify in their rationale essay which course or courses they are nominating for this foundation. They must also describe at least one research project from that course(s) (or a research project that they expect to do) that achieves the learning outcome for this foundation. As with the other Arts AOS foundations, students may also demonstrate the knowledge and skills required by this foundation through transcript credit, individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), prior learning evaluation (PLE), or credit by examination.

Foundation # 6: Critical Thinking Skills   

Any course with the subject codes of ARTP, ARTS, CRWR, DANC, DIGA, FILM, MUSC, MUSE, PHOT, or THEA that requires critical thinking skills to describe, interpret, and critique artistic works will satisfy this foundation. Students must identify in their rationale essay which course or courses they are nominating for this foundation. They must also describe at least one assignment from that course(s) (or a research project that they expect to do) that achieves the learning outcomes for this foundation. As with the other Arts AOS foundations, students may also demonstrate the knowledge and skills required by this foundation through transcript credit, individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), prior learning evaluation (PLE), or credit by examination.

 
Foundation # 7: Ethical and Social Responsibility 

Courses which meet this foundation include, but are not limited to:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ARTP 3035	Popular Music & Social Justice: Advanced	4
ARTP 4147	Theatre Community & Social Change: Advanced	4
ARTS 1020	Art & Sustainability	4
ARTS 2035	Diversity in the United States Arts	4
ARTS 2041	African American Art	4
ARTS 3105	Graffiti: Art or Vandalism?	4
ARTS 3145	Issues in Contemporary Art	4
CRWR 1045	Stories We Think We Know (Intro)	4
CRWR 3030	Stories We Think We Know (Adv)	4
DIGA 3036	Ethics of Digital Art & Design	4
FILM 1005	Frozen, Encanto, and Beyond: Analyzing Children's Animated Films (Introductory)	4
FILM 2005	America on Film: Race Class & Gender	4
FILM 3010	Frozen, Encanto, and Beyond: Analyzing Children's Animated Films (Advanced)	4
FILM 3025	Gender & Power in American Film	4
FILM 3040	Race & Representation in Cinema	4
MUSC 3035	Popular Music & Social Justice: Advanced	4
MUSC 3045	World Music Across Cultures: Advanced	4
MUSE 3010	Curatorial Practice	4
MUSE 3015	Museum Studies	4
PHOT 1010	Documentary Photography: Introductory	4
PHOT 1045	Street Photography: Composing the Urban Landscape: Introductory	4
PHOT 3050	Street Photography: Composing the Urban Landscape: Advanced	4
PHOT 4010	Photography as Cultural History	4
THEA 3065	Hamilton: An American Musical	4

Learning Outcomes

• Foundation 1: Historical Perspectives, Students will be able to identify the diverse historical perspectives of at least one form of creative expression. 
• Foundation 2: Artistic Practice, Students will be able to analyze, create, produce, and/or perform at least one form of artistic practice.  
• Foundation 3: Artistic Theory, Students will be able to describe the interconnectedness between artistic theory and artistic practice in at least one form of creative expression.
• Foundation 4: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Students will be able to discuss and assess a range of social, cultural, or global perspectives in the arts.
• Foundation 5: Research Skills, Students will be able to conduct research using libraries and credible online resources to critically assess and articulate artistic concepts or practices. 
• Foundation 6: Critical Thinking Skills, Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to describe, interpret, and critique artistic works.
• Foundation 7: Ethical and Social Responsibility, Students will be able to analyze, discuss, and apply ethical and social responsibility within the arts.