Portfolio Development in Studio Arts | West Valley College

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Portfolio Development in Studio Arts

Certificate of Achievement

The Certificate of Portfolio Development in Studio Arts is designed to provide students with a broad experience in a variety of media along with the opportunity to progress in a specific area of concentration. The certificate as a stand-alone is appropriate for the returning professional who is seeking to develop their Studio Arts portfolio. The certificate, in conjunction with the Associate Degree for Transfer (AD-T) in Studio Arts is appropriate for the competitive portfolio-review requirements of the BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts)-bound transfer student. Students complete a shared core of 5 classes in drawing, 2D & 3D design, digital media and photography, while also completing 3 additional courses in one of the following discipline areas: Drawing/Painting, Sculpture/Ceramics, Photography, or Animation.

Core Requirements (17.5 units)

Course NumberCourse TitleUnits
ARTS031ABeginning Drawing 3.5 units
ARTS033ATwo-Dimensional Design3.5 units
ARTS055Introduction to Digital Art3.5 units
ARTS062ABasic Photography3.5 units
ARTS0813-Dimensional Design3.5 units

Electives: Complete three courses from one concentration (10.5 units)

Course NumberCourse TitleUnits
Concentration: Digital Art
ARTS051
ARTS057A

Select one:
ARTS031B
ARTS035A
ARTS057B

Intro to Illustration
Animation I


Expressive Drawing
Beginning Life Drawing
Animation II

3.5 units
3.5 units


3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
Concentration: Drawing/Painting
ARTS031B
ARTS031C
ARTS033C
ARTS035A
ARTS035B
ARTS035C
ARTS035D
ARTS047A
ARTS047B
ARTS047C
ARTS047D
ARTS049A
ARTS049B
ARTS049C
ARTS049D
ARTS051

Expressive Drawing
Representational Drawing
Color Design
Beginning Life Drawing
Intermediate Life Drawing
Intermediate-Advanced Life Drawing
Advanced Life Drawing
Beginning Watercolor
Intermediate Watercolor
Intermediate-Advanced Watercolor
Advanced Watercolor
Beginning Painting
Intermediate Painting
Intermediate-Advanced Painting
Advanced Painting
Intro to Illustration

3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
Concentration: Photography
ARTS062B
ARTS062C
ARTS062D

Black and White Photography
Color Photography
Studio Photography

3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
Concentration: Sculpture/Ceramics
ARTS065A
ARTS065B
ARTS065C
ARTS065D
ARTS067A
ARTS067B
ARTS085A
ARTS085B
ARTS088A
ARTS088B

Ceramics-Handbuilding
Ceramics-Handbuilding II
Ceramics-Handbuilding III
Advanced Handbuilt Ceramics IV
Ceramics - Potter's Wheel
Ceramics - Potter's Wheel
Sculpture
Sculpture
Metal Sculpture and Metalsmithing
Metal Sculpture and Metalsmithing

3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units
3.5 units

Total Certificate Units: 28 units

To be awarded a certificate, a student must:

  1. Complete all the program requirements.
  2. Earn a grade of “C” (or "P") or better for all required courses.

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

  • Utilize industry standard tools and techniques in order to produce professional quality work in a particular genre (form, style, or subject matter).
  • Give and receive constructive critical feedback both in writing and verbal communications
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of design principles, art concepts and vocabulary across a variety of media
  • Recognize parallel applications in other media
  • Manage the research, concept design, planning, production, exhibition and distribution of original work
Last Updated 6/30/26