Online Degrees & Certificates
AA in Art History
Program Description
The Art History program offers an Associate in Arts degree and a Certificate of Achievement and provides students with an awareness of how art relates to economic, political, religious, and social contexts. Art history courses prepare students for transfer to upper division study by developing and improving research and writing skills, critical thinking skills, and visual and information literacy, and provide fundamental training in world art studies. Knowledge of art history engenders heightened understanding and empathy of the history of humanity, a familiarity with the major issues in human cultural development, and exposure to the artistic expression of varied cultures and civilizations.
Learn more about the program on the Art History website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to collect and assess primary and secondary source information and successfully analyze and comment on that information in the form of a reasoned term paper.
Students will be able to demonstrate in written form a strong awareness of the political, social, religious, and technological factors that influence cultures and change in those cultures.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities include the following: college professor, teacher, arts administrator, museum/gallery curator, museum/gallery archivist, corporate art advisor, museum docent, consultant on historical style for film and media production, museum conservator, historical conservationist, art critic, tour guide, travel consultant, research assistant, and art dealer.
Award Type(s)
AA = Associate in Arts Degree
Units Required
Major: 39.5-41.5
Online Courses for Art History
The courses listed BELOW are offered as online courses at least once every two years. Please see the Class Schedule for verification.
- For a complete listing of online courses offered during the current quarter, visit Online Course Information.
- If you need any additional degree information or confirmation, please contact the Counseling Division.
NOTE: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.
Associate Degree Requirements
A minimum of 90 units is required* to complete the associate degree, including:
Core and support courses for the major (39.5-41.5 units total)
Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
Foothill College General Education
Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)**
Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)**
Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)***
* Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
** Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.
*** Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.
Core and Support Courses
Core Courses
| ONLINE COURSE | TITLE | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| ART 1 | Introduction to Art | 4.5 |
| ART 2A | History of Art: History of Western Art from Prehistory through Early Christianity | 4.5 |
| or ART 2AH | Honors History of Art: History of Western Art from Prehistory through Early Christianity | 4.5 |
| ART 2B | History of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance | 4.5 |
| or ART 2BH | Honors History of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance | 4.5 |
| ART 2C | History of Western Art from the Baroque to Impressionism | 4.5 |
| ART 2F | Introduction to Asian Art | 4.5 |
| ART 3 | History of Modern Art from Post-Impressionism to Present | 4.5 |
Support Courses (12.5 - 14.5 units)
Select one course each from List 1, List 2, and List 3
| ONLINE COURSE | TITLE | UNITS |
|---|---|---|
| List 1 | ||
| ART 2D | African, Oceanic & Native American Art | 4.5 |
| ART 2E | A History of Women in Art | 4.5 |
| ART 2G | Introduction to Islamic Art | 4.5 |
| ART 2J | American Art | 4.5 |
| List 2 | ||
| ANTH 2A | Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
| or ANTH 2AH | Honors Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
| HIST 4A | History of Western Civilization to 800 CE | 4 |
| HIST 4B | History of Western Civilization: 700-1800 | 4 |
| HIST 4C | History of Western Civilization 1789-Present | 4 |
| HUMN 1 | Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas: The Ancient World | 4 |
| or HUMN 1H | Honors Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas: The Ancient World | 4 |
| HUMN 2 | Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas: Of Empires & Conflict | 4 |
| or HUMN 2H | Honors Cultures, Civilizations & Ideas: Of Empires & Conflict | 4 |
| JAPN 4 * | Intermediate Japanese I | 5 |
| PHIL 11 | Introduction to the Philosophy of Art & Aesthetics | 4 |
| PHIL 24 | Comparative World Religions: East | 4 |
| PHIL 25 | Comparative World Religions: West | 4 |
| SPAN 4 * | Intermediate Spanish I | 5 |
| List 3 | ||
| ART 4A | Fundamentals in Drawing | 4 |
| ART 19A | Oil Painting I | 4 |
| or ART 19B | Acrylic Painting I | 4 |
| PHOT 5 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| or PHOT 8 | Photography of American Cultures | 5 |
| or PHOT 8H | Honors Photography of American Cultures | 5 |
| or PHOT 10 | History of Photography | 4 |
| or PHOT 10H | Honors History of Photography | 4 |
| THTR 26 | Introduction to Fashion History & Costume Design | 4 |
| Total Units |
39.5-41.5 | |
For a list of on-campus courses that satisfy degree requirements, please visit Art History 2025 - 2026 Degrees & Certificates.
Based on the 2025- 2026 degree program.