Visual and Performing Arts Department Courses
Please note that college course and program curriculum is a process of continual change. Every effort is made to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the information below, but students should consult a counselor or the faculty chair for the most current details regarding course descriptions, course applicability to programs, and patterns of course offerings at each Cerro Coso Community College campus location. That a course does not showing a pattern of offerings does not mean it is not offered, only that it may be offered irregularly. Consult counseling or the faculty chair for more information.
Click on each course below for course details.
Course Descriptions
3.0 Units
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This course provides a general introduction to art that offers a look at works of art through the study of theory, terminology, themes, design principles, media, techniques, with an introduction to the visual arts across time and diverse cultures. In addition, the student is given studio art experiences dealing with various studio media in order to reinforce the concepts presented. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3 & 6.
3.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C070
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This course provides an overview of western art and architecture from prehistory through the Middle Ages. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
C-ID: ARTH 120 Survey of Western Art from Renaissance to Contemporary
Advisory: ENGL C070
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This course provides an overview of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the Contemporary period. (ART C105 is not a prerequisite for ART C106.) Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C070
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This course provides a select overview of art and architecture from India, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan from pre-history to modern times. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C070
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This course provides an overview of art and architecture from the Western modern period of the 19th and 20th centuries. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
C-ID: ARTS 100 2-D Foundations
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This course provides an introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to two-dimensional art and composition, including the study of basic design principles and elements of line, shape, texture, value, and color. A combined lecture and studio approach provides students with the opportunity to develop a visual vocabulary for creative expression through traditional, hands-on art production methods and materials. Digital tools are not used in this course. Course previously known as Two Dimensional Design. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
C-ID: ARTS 101 3-D Foundations
Advisory: ENGL C101
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $20 materials fee. This course is an introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to three-dimensional design and spatial composition, including the study of the elements and organizing principles of design as they apply to three-dimensional space and form. A combined lecture and studio approach provides the student with the opportunity to develop a visual vocabulary for creative expression. The course uses traditional hands-on art production methods and materials for representational and non-representational three-dimensional studio projects. Digital tools are not used in this course. Course previously known as Three-Dimensional Design. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
C-ID: ARTS 110 Fundamentals of Drawing
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This is a studio course that introduces the principles, elements, and practices of drawing, employing a range of subject matter and drawing media. A strong focus is placed on perceptually based drawing, observational skills, technical abilities, and creative responses to materials and subject matter. $10 materials fee. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
C-ID: ARTS 210 Introduction to Painting
Advisory: ENGL C070
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This course is a beginning level studio arts course introducing the materials, methods, and techniques of painting as a means of creating two dimensional art images. The course focuses on exploration of painting materials, perceptual skills and color theory, paint mixing and technique, as well as creative responses to materials and subject matter. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C101
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This course introduces students to ceramics materials, concepts, and processes including basic design principles, creative development, hand-building, throwing, glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. The course covers aesthetics and creative development of clay objects examining historical, contemporary, and personal modes of expression across cultures. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $20 materials fee. This course introduces sculptural principles, concepts, processes and techniques. Modern materials and their relationship to design, form, and three-dimensional space are examined. A combined lecture and studio approach provides students with the opportunity to develop perceptual skills that enable them to create sculptures for personal artistic expression. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Prerequisite: ART C121
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This studio course provides an exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression in intermediate-level drawing, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts and using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course build on fundamental drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Prerequisite: ART C131
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $10 materials fee. This course provides students opportunities for advanced projects in painting. Students in this course build on fundamental painting skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials, while exploring complex subject matter, artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Prerequisite: ART C141
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $20 materials fee. This course provides an opportunity for advanced work in basic ceramic techniques, glaze and clay formulation, and kiln firing. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Prerequisite: ART C151
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. $20 materials fee. This course introduces intermediate sculptural principles, concepts, processes, and techniques. A combined lecture and studio approach provides students with the opportunity to develop perceptual skills that enable them to create sculptures for personal artistic expression. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
0.0 Units
Advisory: Advisory: ART C121
Repeat Status: Repeatable 10 times
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This studio course provides students with opportunities for creative expression and communication through an exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and materials in intermediate-level drawing, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts and using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course build on fundamental drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing. This course is specifically geared toward older adults; however, there are no age or other restrictions on enrollment.b
0.0 Units
Advisory: ART C131
Repeat Status: Repeatable 10 times
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This course provides students opportunities for advanced projects in painting, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of paint mediums. This course is specifically geared toward older adults; however, there are no age or other restrictions on enrollment.
0.0 Units
Advisory: ART C141
Repeat Status: Repeatable 10 times
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This studio course provides students with opportunities for intermediate to advanced work in basic ceramic techniques, glaze and clay formulation, and kiln firing. This course is specifically geared toward older adults; however, there are no age or other restrictions on enrollment.
0.0 Units
Prerequisite: ART C151
Repeat Status: Repeatable
27 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This course introduces intermediate sculptural principles, concepts, processes, and techniques. A combined lecture and studio approach provides students with the opportunity to develop perceptual skills that enable them to create sculptures for personal artistic expression. This course is specifically geared toward older adults and/or other community members wishing to further their sculpture production skills; however, there are no age or other restrictions on enrollment.
3.0 Units
C-ID: MUS 100 Music Appreciation
Advisory: ENGL C101
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This course is a survey of art music in Western civilization, tracing the development of Western music from approximately 450 A.D. to the present. Topics studied include the elements of music, basic musical forms, music style periods, and the role of music and musicians within the Western world. Musical examples used in class are drawn from a variety of musical styles. Concert attendance is required. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
4.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C101
Limitation on Enrollment: Enrollment in this honors course is limited to students enrolled in the associated course. Students will be required to read and comprehend challenging materials and analyze in depth a chosen topic appropriate for intensified study, and must be able to maintain a minimum standard of coursework at the honors level.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
72 hours lecture. This course is a survey of art music in Western civilization, tracing the development of Western music from approximately 450 A.D. to the present. Topics studied include the elements of music, basic musical forms, music style periods, and the role of music and musicians within the Western world. Musical examples used in class are drawn from a variety of musical styles. The honors course provides more content and requires greater intensity and depth of study than the non-honors course; the honors course also requires at least one extra paper assignment beyond that required in the non-honors. Concert attendance is required. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C101
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This course is an introduction to the historical and stylistic developments of American popular music, with an emphasis on its cultural, social, economic and political consequences. This course studies the development of Anglo-American folk music, African-American music, Latin music, musical theatre, and various rock styles. Concert attendance required. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3 & 6.
2.0 Units
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
27 hours lecture/27 hours laboratory. This is a beginning-level guitar course designed to familiarize students with the techniques and repertoire of the guitar. Guitar techniques and repertoire include both classical and popular styles. Students learn to play the instrument through the use of technical exercises and reading music notation. Students learn to play simple chord progressions on the guitar using both strumming and finger-style techniques. Students must provide their own guitar. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
1.0 Unit
Repeat Status: Repeatable 3 times
54 hours activity. This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to an orchestra, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. An audition is required. The course is repeatable a maximum of 3 times. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
1.0 Unit
Repeat Status: Repeatable 3 times
54 hours activity. This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to a concert band, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. An audition is required. The course is repeatable a maximum of 3 times. Approved for Local GE Area 3.
1.0 Unit
Repeat Status: Repeatable 3 times
54 hours activity. This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to a choir, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. An audition is required. The course is repeatable a maximum of 3 times. Approved for CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3.
3.0 Units
Advisory: ENGL C101
Repeat Status: Not repeatable
54 hours lecture. This is a survey of twentieth-century jazz styles and performers with a historical background of the antecedents to jazz. This course traces the musical and cultural contributions of diverse racial and ethnic groups that led to the development of jazz from its roots in West African music and the slave culture in the United States through the blues, Ragtime, Dixieland, Swing, Bop, Cool, Hard Bop, Free jazz and Fusion styles. Concert attendance is required. Concert attendance required. Approved for IGETC Area 3A, CSU GE Area C1, Local GE Area 3 & 6.
0.0 Units
Repeat Status: Repeatable
54 hours laboratory. This is a non-credit course. This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to a choir, with emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large ensemble. Different literature is studied each semester. An audition is required. This course is specifically geared toward older adults; however, there are no age or other restrictions on enrollment.
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