ART – Department Chair Sheila Tobin-Metcalf
The artistic impulse is an intrinsic human necessity for holistic health. The shared creative process of a class in drawing, painting or ceramics fosters, in the warmest, most accessible way, a general communication that spreads out to benefit the entire community.
In addition to generating and nurturing the creative element in human life, the Art Department offers many classes that transfer to the University of California and California State University systems as electives, as well as beginning studio classes that transfer to satisfy Fine Arts and Art History major requirements. Art history classes also satisfy the Humanities General Education requirement.
Focusing on preparation for vocational careers, the Art Department offers three certificate programs: Art Foundation, Botanical Illustration, and Ceramics. These certificates have been designed to prepare students for advancement in areas such a fashion, costume design, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, interior design, media arts, animation, video, architecture, arts education, or childhood education.
Art Foundation
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
The Art Foundation certificate program prepares students to enter vocational programs and fields of study that require knowledge of basic drawing, painting, color theory, 2-D composition and design.
Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Write a visual analysis/critique of their own and other’s art on both form and content, and its relation to a historical and global context.
- Produce artworks reflecting an understanding of basic components of design and composition such as line, shape, value, texture, space, color, scale, proportion, balance, mood, movement, mass and emphasis.
- Assemble a portfolio of strong works of art that demonstrate skill and understanding of techniques in various media.
A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the requirements specified below.
Required Courses: Credit Hours (15 Required)
| Dept/No. | Title | Units |
| ART 20 | Beginning Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| ART 22 | Intermediate Continuing Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| ART 46 | 2-D Visual Design | 3 |
| ART 50 | Beginning Painting | 3 |
| ART 137 | Beginning Figure Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| Select at least one course of 2 or more units from the following: | ||
| ART 23 | Advanced Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| ART 26 | Continuing Figure Drawing and Composition | 2 |
| ART 27 | Intermediate Figure Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| ART 28 | Advanced Figure Drawing and Composition | 3 |
| ART 36 | Continuing Portraiture | 2 |
| ART 40 | Color Dynamics: The Interaction of Color | 3 |
| ART 51 | Continuing Painting | 2 |
| ART 52 | Intermediate Painting | 3 |
| ART 53 | Advanced Painting | 3 |
| ART 60 | Beginning Painting: Watercolor (2) | 2 |
| ART 61 | Continuing Painting: Watercolor (2) | 2 |
| ART 62 | Intermediate Painting: Watercolor (3) | 3 |
| ART 63 | Advanced Painting: Watercolor (3) | 3 |
| ART 66 | Beginning Pastel Drawing | 2 |
| ART 67 | Continuing Pastel Drawing | 2 |
| ART 166 | Beginning Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| Total Required Units: | 17-18 | |
Botanical Illustration
CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY
The Botanical Illustration certificate program provides students with the skills and portfolio to apply to advanced scientific illustration programs, or as the basis for a career as a botanical artist. It is also an attractive resume enhancement for students in other related programs, such as landscape design, botany and biology. A Certificate of Proficiency will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the requirements specified below. The Certificate of Proficiency is not indicated on the student’s transcript.
Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).
Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the certificate will be able to:
- Create visually accurate renderings of diverse plant materials, demonstrating technical competence in both drawing and watercolor techniques.
- Recognize, identify and illustrate basic plant structures relating to stems and their modifications, roots and their modifications, leaves and their modifications, flowers and their modifications, floral inflorescences and fruits.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history of botanical illustration, contemporary botanical artists and development of personal illustration style.
Certificate of Proficiency Requirements:
| Dept/No. | Title | Units |
| Required courses: | ||
| ART 60 | Beginning Painting: Watercolor | 2 |
| ART 61 | Continuing Painting: Watercolor | 2 |
| ART 166 | Beginning Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| ART 167 | Continuing Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| ART 168 | Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| ART 169 | Botanical Drawing | 2 |
| LANHT 23 | Plant Terminology | 2.5 |
| Select a minimum of 3 units from the following: | ||
| LANHT 2 | Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 2E | Plant Materials: Tree ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 3 | Plant Materials: Ground Covers and Vines ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 3E | Plant Materials: Ground Covers and Vines ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 4 | Plant Materials: Shrubs ID and Culture with Lab (D) | 3 |
| LANHT 4E | Plant Materials: Shrubs ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 5A | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5B | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EA | Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| LANHT 5EB | Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) | 3 |
| Total Required Units: | 17.5 | |
Ceramics – Department Chair Sheila Tobin-Metcalf
CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY
The Ceramics certificate program provides comprehensive preparation for employment in the field of ceramic arts. Introductory through advanced coursework allows students to build and refine broad-based skills and concepts from design principles to portfolio development. Merritt College Ceramics students have exhibited art work in gallery and museum venues, been featured in national publications, catalogs and books, and have lectured at conferences and symposia. Upon completion of this program, students have obtained jobs in the profession including college ceramics technician, community arts center instructor, assistant to noted Bay Area artists or public art commissions, ceramic supply salesperson, gallery representative, and as studio artists. A Certificate of Proficiency will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the requirements specified below. The Certificate of Proficiency is not indicated on the student’s transcript.
Note: Students should see a counselor at least once each semester to plan for their educational goal(s).
Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the certificate will be able to:
- Successfully and consistently create ceramic objects that demand skillful control of the medium and processes to build a unique body of work for portfolio presentation.
- Demonstrate knowledge of history and concepts of both ancient and contemporary clay art practice.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of clay bodies, building techniques, finishing and glazing, kiln firings and alternative firing techniques.
Certificate of Proficiency Requirements:
| Dept/No. | Title | Units |
| ART 1 | Introduction to Art History | 3 |
| ART 80 | Beginning Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 82 | Intermediate Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 83 | Advanced Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 88 | Special Projects: Ceramic Sculpture | 2 |
| ART 187 | Beginning Ceramic Sculpture | 3 |
| Total Required Units: | 17 | |
