A group of college students discussing a sculpture in a classroom

Studio Art

Earn a Studio Art Associate Degree at Aims

Are you passionate about making things and exploring different ways of creating art? If you’re interested in learning multiple artistic disciplines including drawing, painting, ceramics, photography and more, earning a studio art degree at Aims is an affordable way to begin your journey into higher education and a career.

Art plays multiple roles in our culture, including providing a means of self-expression and employment as well as enhancing public and private spaces. Art also reflects and critiques social, political, religious and economic trends.

Earning a studio art associate degree at Aims is an affordable path to getting your bachelor’s degree. Taking your general education degree requirements at Aims instead of a four-year school can save you substantial cost. Thanks to a statewide agreement between community colleges and universities, after completing your associate degree at Aims, you can transfer to any participating four-year public university in Colorado and earn your bachelor’s degree in studio art.

If you’re interested in learning the skills to create things that make people’s lives more enjoyable and interesting, explore the studio art associate degree program at Aims.

See Studio Art Degree Requirements

Painting
Drawing
Ceramics
Jewelry and metalwork

Printmaking
Photography
2D and 3D design

This program is designed to give you a broad overview of different types of studio art forms. You can take studio classes in a specific area of interest while also exploring a sampling of other disciplines. After transferring to a four-year school, you can delve deeply into your preferred artistic medium.

In the Aims studio art associate degree program, you’ll also gain skills and knowledge related to making art and understanding the role art plays in culture, including:

Color theory
Composition and design
Art history
Elements and principles of art
Manipulating different materials such as clay, metal, canvas or paper

Studio art degree courses at Aims will give you experience in creating works of art. You can focus your studies on classes in a specific subject area such as drawing, painting or photography. If you want to focus on a specific project or art form, you can take up to four independent study credit hours, checking in with an instructor to mark your progress.

Depending upon your field of interest, your instructors and Pathway Advisor can help you choose general education and elective courses that are required for associate and bachelor’s degrees. Your instructors will also help you develop the skills you will use in your career. Many Aims students in this program choose courses related to the skills and knowledge that studio art majors and professionals need, including English composition, world history and mathematics for liberal arts.

Problem-solving
Creative thinking
Nonverbal communication
Presentation
Visual communication

Critical observation
Critical thinking
Innovation
Collaboration
Resourcefulness

Careers in Studio Art

You can take a studio art associate degree in many directions, depending upon your areas of interest. Examples of careers you can pursue after earning a bachelor’s degree in studio art include:

Fine artist
Commercial artist
Photographer
Educator
Art therapist (may require education beyond a bachelor’s degree)
Gallery owner
Public art coordinator for a municipality or institution

Continue Your Studio Art Studies at a Colorado Four-Year Public University

A Colorado Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement allows you to go on to study at any participating public university statewide after graduating from Aims with an Associate of Arts degree.

Many general education and elective requirements will transfer to most of these colleges. However, at this time, very few studio art classes offered at Aims are considered guarantee transfer classes by most public Colorado colleges, with one exception: The University of Northern Colorado (UNC). Even better, the Aims2UNC transition program can help you both during your time at Aims and after you transfer to UNC. If you’d like to attend a school other than UNC, you may have to take additional art courses to complete your bachelor’s degree.

Here’s what your journey from Aims to a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art will look like:

An Aims Admissions Advisor can answer your questions about this degree transfer program and help you get started on the path to earning your degree.
After becoming an Aims student, you’ll choose classes to earn your studio art associate degree. Your Aims Pathway Advisor will help you ensure you follow the pathway that best suits you and helps you reach your goals.
You can also reach out to a transfer advisor at your chosen four-year school to make sure you're choosing classes that will support you when you go on to complete your bachelor's degree.
Before graduating from Aims, an Aims Transfer Coach can help you prepare for the transition to your new school as a junior.

Here’s what your journey from Aims to a bachelor’s degree in studio art will look like:

An Aims Admissions Advisor can answer your questions about this degree transfer program and help you get started on the path to earning your degree.
After becoming an Aims student, you’ll choose classes to earn your studio art associate degree. Your Aims Pathway Advisor will help you ensure you follow the pathway that best suits you and helps you reach your goals.
During your time at Aims, you'll also work with an Aims Transfer Coach to get help choosing the school you’d like to transfer to and researching what scholarships are available.
You can also reach out to a transfer advisor at your chosen four-year school to make sure you're choosing classes that will support you when you go on to complete your bachelor's degree.
Before graduating from Aims, your Transfer Coach will help you prepare for the transition to your new school as a junior.

The Aims2UNC Transition Program

Aims2UNC is a joint initiative streamlining the path for students to seamlessly transition between the two colleges. You’ll get support from advisors specific to this program who will assist you as you earn your associate and bachelor's degrees in studio art.

Learn more

Leverage Your Studio Art Associate Degree to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Related Subjects

If you decide to pursue another discipline after transferring to a four-year school, here are some bachelor’s degrees related to studio art:

Art History
Art Education
Graphic Design
Marketing

You can also choose one of the majors above and declare a minor in studio art. Work with your Pathway Advisor to choose the courses that you’ll need to fulfill requirements. If you choose a new major, know that you may need to make up some credits after transferring.

Studio Art Faculty and Staff

You don’t have to worry about having previous experience or being “good” at art to take studio art classes at Aims. You’ll gain different perspectives from the studio art faculty, a student-focused and diverse group with various educational and professional backgrounds. Each faculty member is a working professional artist either exhibiting or selling their work and can give you insight into careers in studio art.

Charles Luna

Instructor, Art

Read Charles Luna's Bio
Sonya PauKune

Professor, Art

Read Sonya PauKune's Bio
Andrew Moline

Part-Time: Faculty, Art

Part-Time: Faculty, English
Kris Heintz Nelson

Part-Time Faculty, Art
Matthew McHugh

Part-Time Instructor, Art
Charis Fleshner

Part-Time: Faculty, Art

Part-Time: Faculty, Women and Gender Studies

Read Charis Fleshner's Bio
Victoria Lisi

Part-Time Faculty, Art
Jamie Autrey

Part-Time Faculty, Art
Shana Salaff

Part-Time Faculty, Art
Henry Stinson

Part-Time Faculty, Art
Helen Villarreal

Art Department Lab Coordinator and Part-Time Instructor, Continuing Education