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4903.00

The Communication Arts Associate in Arts degree area of emphasis is designed to provide students with university transfer preparation in majors such as Art,  Communication, Creative Writing, Literature, Journalism, Television and Radio, Theatre Arts, and similar fields of study. Effective communication is essential in any professional field, and this program helps students develop the skills to influence, persuade, and express ideas thoughtfully and effectively.

Coursework in the Communications Arts program helps improve understanding of oneself and others, while developing critical thinking and communication skills necessary to engage effectively in relationships, the workplace, our communities, and in the democratic process. Areas of focus for the degree include Art/Design, English, Journalism, Photography, Speech/Communication, Television and Radio, and Theatre Arts.

Students pursuing a Communication Arts Associate in Arts degree can expect to develop leadership and career-related skills, as well as the essential ability to interpret and respond to complex ideas, messages, and events throughout their lives.

For students intending to transfer, courses identified for the area of emphasis fulfill major preparation requirements as demonstrated through ASSIST.org articulation. Select courses are based on ASSIST.org data for major preparation articulation with selected transfer institutions. Consult with a Counselor for specific information regarding the intended major at the college the student is choosing. Courses used to complete a student's area of emphasis can double count for general education just as they may for any other major. Although the associate degree recognizes the completion of lower division general education requirements, it does not guarantee admission to a specific campus in the CSU or UC system, nor does it guarantee admission to a specific major or a specific community college program. Some majors and schools require a higher GPA than is necessary for the associate degree. Students should meet with a Counselor to determine the lower division major preparation coursework in addition to which general education pattern is required for transfer or for community college programs. 

Program Outcomes

• Read and critically analyze argumentative contexts using written and performative techniques.
• Use evidence in support of a thesis.
• Communicate using college-level grammar/syntax.
• Demonstrate an awareness of cultural diversity and audience analysis.

Requirements for the area of emphasis

Courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better, or P if the course is graded on a P/NP basis. All courses must be numbered 001–099 or C1000xx – C2999xx.  Students must complete at least 3 units in three different areas listed below for a total of 18 units. 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Art /Design
ART 001A	HISTORY OF WESTERN ART - PREHISTORIC THROUGH MEDIEVAL	3
ART 001B	HISTORY OF WESTERN ART - RENAISSANCE THROUGH CONTEMPORARY	3
ART 011A	FOUNDATION DRAWING	3
ART 011B	INTERMEDIATE DRAWING	3
ART 015	SKETCHING FOR DESIGN	3
ART 016	PERSPECTIVE	3
ART 018	RENDERING	3
ART 031A	COLOR AND COMPOSITION - TWO DIMENSIONAL DESIGN	3
ART 031B	COLOR THEORY	3
ART 032A	DESIGN - THREE DIMENSIONAL	3
ART 034A	APPLIED DESIGN I - MATERIALS AND PROCESSES	3
ART 052A	INTRODUCTION TO ILLUSTRATION	3
DMA 010	DIGITAL ART: DESIGN FOUNDATION	3
DMA 012	DIGITAL ART: PAINTING & DRAWING	3
DMA 020A	GRAPHIC DESIGN I	3
DMA 020B	GRAPHIC DESIGN II	3
DMA 022A	TYPOGRAPHY I	3
English
ENGL 005A	CREATIVE WRITING	3
ENGL 005B	CREATIVE WRITING	3
ENGL 006	SHORT STORY WRITING	3
ENGL 008	WRITING POETRY	3
ENGL 009	CREATIVE NONFICTION	3
ENGL 010	INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS	3
or LING 010	INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
ENGL 012	LANGUAGE AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION	3
or LING 012	LANGUAGE AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
ENGL 025A	LITERARY MODERNISM AND MODERNITY	3
ENGL 025C	WOMEN'S LITERATURE	3
ENGL 026	INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM	3
ENGL 030A	AMERICAN LITERATURE	3
ENGL 030B	AMERICAN LITERATURE	3
ENGL 030C	AMERICAN LITERATURE: 1945 TO THE PRESENT	3
ENGL 044A	WORLD LITERATURE: ANTIQUITY TO LATE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY	3
ENGL 044B	WORLD LITERATURE: LATE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT	3
ENGL 045A	LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE: THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES	3
ENGL 045B	LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE: THE NEW TESTAMENT	3
ENGL 046A	ENGLISH LITERATURE: BEOWULF TO JOHNSON	3
ENGL 046B	ENGLISH LITERATURE: ROMANTIC MOVEMENT TO THE PRESENT	3
ENGL 049A	FILM AS DRAMATIC LITERATURE - GENRE AND AUTEUR THEORY	3
ENGL 049B	FILM AS DRAMATIC LITERATURE - SOCIAL CONTEXTS	3
ENGL 053	INTERPRETING POETRY	3
ENGL 054	CALIFORNIA LITERATURE	3
ENGL 055	NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION	3
or ETH 055	NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION
ENGL 059	CHILDREN'S LITERATURE	3
ENGL 061	INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL	3
ENGL 065	AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE	3
or ETH 065	AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 075	ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LITERATURE	3
or ETH 075	ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 078A	INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE	3
ENGL 078B	SHAKESPEARE: PAGE TO PERFORMANCE	3
ENGL 082A	INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY	3
ENGL 085	CHICANO AND MEXICAN LITERATURE	3
or ETH 085	CHICANO AND MEXICAN LITERATURE
Journalism
JOUR 002	BEGINNING JOURNALISM	3
JOUR 004A	REPORTING AND NEWSWRITING	3
JOUR 007A	NEWSWRITING AND MAKE-UP I	4
JOUR 009	PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION	3
JOUR 018	MULTIMEDIA NEWS PRODUCTION	3
JOUR 042A	BEGINNING PHOTOJOURNALISM	3
or PHOT 042A	BEGINNING PHOTOJOURNALISM
Photography
PHOT 001	FILM PHOTOGRAPHY I	3
PHOT 021	INTRODUCTION TO BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY	3
CINE 025	FILM ART	3
CINE 026A	BEGINNING FILMMAKING	3
CINE 026B	INTERMEDIATE FILMMAKING--ELECTRONIC	3
Speech/Communication
COMM 001	SURVEY OF MASS COMMUNICATION	3
SPCH 004	ORAL INTERPRETATION	3
SPCH 005	FORENSICS - SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM	2
SPCH 006	ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE	3
SPCH 008	READERS' THEATER	3
SPCH 009	SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION	3
SPCH 013	INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH COMMUNICATION	3
Television and Radio
TVR 001	INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC MEDIA	3
TVR 002A	BEGINNING AUDIO PRODUCTION	3
TVR 004	BEGINNING SINGLE CAMERA PRODUCTION	3
TVR 007	BEGINNING TV STUDIO PRODUCTION	3
TVR 012	MEDIA PERFORMANCE	3
TVR 014A	BEGINNING RADIO PRODUCTION	3
TVR 015	MEDIA WRITING	3
TVR 016A	PRODUCING & DIRECTING I	3
TVR 017A	TELEVISION AND FILM SCRIPT WRITING	3
TVR 017B	TELEVISION AND FILM SCRIPT WRITING	3
TVR 018	MULTIMEDIA NEWS PRODUCTION	3
TVR 019	MEDIA AESTHETICS AND CINEMATIC ARTS	3
TVR 041	BEGINNING DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING	3
Theatre Arts
THRT 002A	ACTING I	3
THRT 002B	INTERMEDIATE ACTING	3
THRT 002C	ADVANCED ACTING	3
THRT 005A	THEATRE HISTORY I	3
THRT 005B	THEATRE HISTORY II	3
THRT 006	PLAYWRITING	3
THRT 008	VOICE AND MOVEMENT FOR THE PERFORMER	3
THRT 010A	MAKEUP FOR STAGE AND SCREEN	3
THRT 012A	TECHNICAL THEATER	4
THRT 012B	ADVANCED TECHNICAL THEATER	4
THRT 013	INTRODUCTION TO SCENIC DESIGN	3
THRT 015	COSTUME CRAFTS	3
THRT 029	REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE	3
THRT 030	STAGE TECHNIQUES	1
THRT 041	FUNDAMENTALS OF STAGE LIGHTING	3

Visit the Program Mapper for a suggested sequence of courses.

General Education Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree

• General Information
• PCC Local Gen Ed
• Students who have previously been awarded a bachelor‛s degree or higher from a U.S. institutionally accredited institution shall be deemed to have fulfilled the general education and elective course requirements for the Associate in Arts degree.
• Cal-GETC
• Students with rights to the former general education patterns can complete IGETC or CSU GE in lieu of Cal-GETC. Students should consult with an Academic Counselor to determine which general education pattern to complete and may refer to an appropriate archived College Catalog or www.assist.org for more information.