The associate in arts in art history for transfer offers students a curricular program for studying a variety of beginning courses within the field of art history. The art history major is a two-year degree program of transferable courses open to all students. The program requirements are designed for those interested in art history as preparation for transfer. The program is broadly constructed both to prepare students for advanced study in the history of art and to provide a basis for many other fields that require the ability to do independent research, evaluate evidence (visual and textual), and create a coherent argument.
The major has required components of Western art history, non-Western art, and fundamentals of drawing and design. The studio practice courses are common components of art history degrees, and are necessary to an understanding of the fundamentals of art making, which informs theory and critique. Students also select related electives. Foreign language preparation is recommended as many baccalaureate degrees and most post-baccalaureate programs require proficiency in at least one foreign language.
The associate in arts in art history for transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. In order to earn the degree, students must:
• Complete 60 semester CSU-transferable units.
• Complete the California State University-General Education pattern (CSU GE); or the Inter-segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern.
• Complete a minimum of 18 semester units in the major.
• Obtain of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
• Earn a grade of “C“ or higher in all courses required for the major.
Possible career opportunities
Students can pursue careers as curators or archivists at the many museums and galleries across the country. Careers in media, advertising, publishing, fashion or design, as well as art therapy, and working with handicapped or disabled people are also open to art history students. Undergraduate art history majors can pursue advanced training in art history, archaeology, architecture, law, library and information science, business, and education.
September 2025
Los Medanos College
2700 East Leland Rd,
Room SS3-301,
PITTSBURG,
California,
94565, United States
September 2025
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill Campus,
321 Golf Club Road,
PLEASANT HILL,
California,
94523, United States
A student is eligible for admission if he or she has graduated from a regionally accredited high school, or is 18 years of age or older and is no longer in high school, or has passed the State of California Certificate of Proficiency Test (CHSPE) or the General Educational Development Test (GED).
English proficiency