Art and Art History
24 courses · Berkeley City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
ART 1 Introduction to Art History
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL C1000 or ENGL 001AS or ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTH 100
Introduction to art purposes, principles and forms: Basic understanding of stylistic development and methods of analysis with emphasis on twentieth century art.
ART 4 History of Modern Art (1800 to Present)
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL C1000 or ENGL 001AS or ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTH 150
Major visual art forms and movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: Concentration on the foremost painters, sculptors, and architects of the modern period and their works.
ART 13 History of Women in Art
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Study of the theoretical approaches and key issues of women and art production: Critical examinations of formal elements and stylistic characteristics of artwork throughout different art historical periods and interpretations of the impact that social, political and economic factors had on art production by women.
ART 16 Introduction to Islamic Art
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Major visual art forms and movements of Islamic art: Concentration on architecture, painting, and objects from the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent; the relationship among art, politics, everyday life, and gender identities and relations; European and American opinions of Islamic arts and culture.
ART 18 Critique and the Creative Process
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 001 or ART 004 or ART 013 or ART 020 or ART 030 or ART 046 or ART 047 or ART 050 or ART 137
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to critique in support of the creative process: Development of a personal style, theme, and cohesive body of art work within a supportive community; development of an artist’s packet for professional review; methods and theories for monitoring and stimulating the creative process; analysis and evaluation of art work from a variety of perspectives. Students should have a working familiarity with their chosen medium as well as access to facilities to continue this work.
ART 20 Beginning Drawing & Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 110
Freehand drawing with various media: Drawing techniques and fundamentals of composition applied to subject matter including an introduction to perspective.
ART 22 Intermediate Drawing & Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 205
Exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level drawing, complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies: Foundations of drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing.
ART 24 Special Projects: Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Independent exploration and experimentation in special areas of drawing: Studio projects involving development of personal style in a specific technique.
ART 27 Intermediate Figure Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 137
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued development of knowledge and skills introduced in Art 137: Emphasis on expressive content of the figure developed through manipulation of line, form, value, composition, facial expression, pose, and anatomical proportions.
ART 29 Special Projects: Figure Drawing
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued study and development of special projects in figure drawing from the live model.
ART 30 Beginning Figure Drawing: Anatomy
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Study and drawing of the human form using live models: Emphasis on basic problems of line, gesture, volume, and anatomy.
ART 31 Continuing Figure Drawing: Anatomy
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 030
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuation of Art 30 using live models: Emphasis on problems of proportion and perspective, stressing anatomy.
ART 46 2-D Visual Design
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 100
Fundamental elements of design: Dot, line, plane, volume, space, color, texture and light; laboratory experience in visual composition and layout emphasizing two dimensional design.
ART 47 3-D Visual Design
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 101
Introduction to the concepts, applications, and historical references related to three-dimensional design and spatial composition: Elements and organizing principles of design as they apply to three-dimensional space and form. Development of visual vocabulary for creative expression through lecture presentations and use of appropriate materials for non-representational three-dimensional studio projects.
ART 49 Independent Study in Art
- Units
- .5-5
- Hours
- .5 - 5 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU
In-depth exploration of an area or problem of the student's choice not covered by regular catalog offerings in Art. Student must obtain approval from an appropriate faculty member. For more details, see the section on independent study in the college catalog.
ART 50 Beginning Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 020
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- ARTS 210
Emphasis on the basic techniques of oil or acrylic painting: Preparation and use of canvas and supports, color mixing, composition in a variety of styles, development of imaginative and objective images.
ART 52 Intermediate Painting
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Intermediate-level development of skills, composition and techniques, application of color theory, concepts, style, and creative expression in acrylic, oil, and mixed media; development of personal approach to content and materials in relation to historical and contemporary approaches to painting.
ART 54 Special Projects: Painting
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 1 hour lecture, 3 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued study and skill development with oil and acrylics: May include production of murals and other large-scale paintings as well as individual projects.
ART 119 Figure Painting in Context
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Painting the human form using live models: Inventing a narrative using the figure; exploration of basic painting techniques used to create gesture, volume and color with an emphasis on context, narrative and personal style; acrylic, gouache, watercolor.
ART 133A Mural Design and Creation I
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to the techniques of mural painting: Application of ancient and contemporary mural themes; technical approaches in a collectively designed project in the school and community.
ART 133B Mural Design and Creation II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 6 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Further development and training in the techniques of mural painting: Application of ancient and contemporary mural themes; technical approaches in a collectively designed project located within the school or in the greater community; methods of promotion and documentation.
ART 137 Beginning Figure Drawing and Composition
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Advisory
- ART 020
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to drawing the human figure from observation using a wide variety of drawing media and techniques: Human anatomy, historical and contemporary roles of figure drawing in the visual arts with descriptive and interpretive approaches to drawing the figure.
ART 181 Artist as Citizen: Community-Based Art Practices
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab
- Transfers to
- CSU
Contemporary art practices required for public art: Creative collaboration with other artists and local organizations; conceptual and technical approaches of a community-based art project.
ART 182 Introduction to Visual Culture
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Introduction to the function of visual languages from “high” art to TV, movies, and popular culture: Key concepts such as power, identity, ideology, gender, race, class, globalism, desire, consumerism and their impact on the production and understanding of the visual; role of the viewer in the ongoing and co-creative establishment of meaning. Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in HUMAN 182.