Associate in Arts - Art

at Foothill College USA

Foothill College's Music Technology Program (MTEC) offers cutting-edge curriculum, instruction, and hands-on training in the areas of digital media content creation based on real-world industry standards. MTEC is an innovative educational program that integrates art and music with science and technology using a vocational strategy that enables students to realize a competitive advantage in an ever-evolving, digital-centric socioeconomic era. In addition to preparing students to pursue baccalaureate degrees at four-year institutions, the Foothill College MTEC program prepares students for diverse, productive careers in digital media content creation for music, technology, liberal and audio-visual arts, and communications.

The MTEC curriculum offers students the option to design their course of study to meet their needs. To augment their core courses, students may choose elective courses from music or related fields like media studies, photography, graphic design, and computer science. Because all these fields are very closely related, students can focus on areas that reflect their individual interests and goals. All musical styles and genres are supported and welcomed. Our goal is to give students the opportunity to succeed based on their talent, interest and hard work.

Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the MTEC program will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency with various aspects of digital media content creation, including the use of hardware, software, digital asset management practices and other areas identified by the program's Board of Advisors.
• Apply concepts from audio engineering, acoustics, sound synthesis, music theory, computer literacy and team collaboration in practical situations to optimize digital media production workflows.
• Demonstrate proficiency with audio-video equipment including live content acquisition, microphones, video cameras, sound reinforcement, post-production editing, mixing, mastering, metering, and system troubleshooting.
• Evaluate merits of professional media productions with an understanding of technical and aesthetic considerations appropriate for various genres.
• Distinguish between related career paths associated with the discipline of Music Technology including digital media content creation, technical support, marketing, entrepreneurship and business administrative positions.

The major in Biological Sciences is primarily intended for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree. This major prepares students for careers in the health professions, teaching, forestry, agriculture, environmental protection and conservation, wildlife biology, biotechnology, basic research and many other fields.

Students with an interest in biology who do not intend to transfer to a four-year institution and earn a bachelor's degree are encouraged to look into some of the other programs offered by the Biological and Health Sciences Division, which are: dental assisting, dental hygiene, diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound), environmental horticulture, paramedic, pharmacy technician, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, veterinary technology and/or veterinary assistant.

The department also offers a Certificate of Achievement in Bio-Health Diversity and Inclusion Leadership. Medical schools, healthcare employers, and biological research organizations specifically seek out candidates with an understanding of how issues of diversity impact their work. These organizations and employers understand that attending to diversity is critical for patient health and for excellence in research. This certificate provides a pathway for biology and health science students to gain certification in diversity, equity, inclusion, and service in their fields, such that students are more competitive for transfer and job applications. In earning the certificate, students will complete their major biology courses for their field alongside at least one service-learning course focusing on service in bio/health fields.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The biology majors sequence prepares students to use the scientific method to formulate questions, design experiments to test hypotheses, interpret experimental results to draw conclusions, communicate results both orally and in writing, and critically evaluate the use of the scientific method from published sources.
• The biology majors sequence prepares students to apply evolutionary theory at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels to explain the unity and diversity of living things.

The History department offers courses that explore political, economic, social, and cultural themes of the past with a strong emphasis on global understanding and multicultural contributions. Courses cover the geographical globe from Eastern/Western Europe to Asia and the Americas.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify connections between specific people, groups, events and ideas and larger historical themes, developments and topics.
• Students will be able to critically analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources and draw valid historical interpretations from them.

The Theatre Arts department is an important center for theatre training encompassing acting, performance, literature, design and technical studies. Branches of the department include theatre technology, actor training and the general studies program for both majors and non-majors.

The Theatre Arts department operates a theatre program for both non-theatre major and theatre majors, consisting of theatre appreciation, multi-cultural theatre studies, studio-acting classes, production-related classes, musical theatre, technical theatre studies, industry preparation and electives in theatre specialization.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to proceed to further educational opportunities or entry-level workforce employment in their prescribed area of the performing arts with a minimal adjustment period.
• Students will be able to employ skill sets of collaboration relevant to multiple arenas of alliance or teamwork within the performing arts arena.

Mathematics and related subjects play important dual roles in our culture. On the one hand, mathematics is a study in its own right; on the other hand it is an indispensable tool for expressing and understanding ideas in the sciences, engineering, and an increasing number of other fields.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The student will be able to clearly communicate mathematical ideas through graphs, tables of data, equations and verbal descriptions.
• The student will be able to construct appropriate mathematical models of natural phenomena, develop those models with appropriate mathematical techniques and interpret results of those models.

The Anthropology Program educates students to understand and value the cultural and social diversity on a global scale, both past and present. By studying cultural, physical and linguistic anthropology and archaeology, students gain valuable skills and knowledge to prepare them for transferring to a four-year university and for careers and success in the workplace. Through innovative learning experiences, the anthropology program connects students to the community, and heightens their awareness of today's critical human problems. Through these activities the program introduces more educated citizens into our community who seek to solve problems and improve our world.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to understand and apply cultural relativism; they will be able to convey an understanding of multiple cultural perspectives.
• Students will demonstrate a core knowledge base in anthropology appreciating and reflecting on human diversity in the past and present.
• Students will integrate their knowledge and understanding of anthropological concepts and methods to creatively and ethically solve real-world human problems at the local, regional, and global scales.
• Students will be able to articulate key concepts and events in the process of human evolution and demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities toward that end.
• Students will be able to critically assess the important role that the past plays on the present, and conversely, the important role that the present has on the past from both local, regional, national and worldwide perspectives.

Environmental Horticulture & Design is a broad field encompassing the functional, aesthetic, and environmentally sound creation and care of our landscapes. Students learn to combine principles of environmental design, construction and maintenance practices for urban, rural and natural landscapes. The green industry is one of the largest employers in the United States.

The Environmental Horticulture & Design department offers an Associate in Science degree and two Certificates of Achievement. Students may also take courses in preparation for transfer to four-year institutions where they may continue their studies in horticulture, landscape architecture, and other related disciplines. We also encourage people currently working in the field to attend classes to supplement or update their knowledge and to work toward certification in the field. For the homeowner or the landscape professional, short courses from two to four weeks are available.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate skills necessary to design residential landscapes.
• Students will be able to identify plant material.

The Art program offers an Associate in Arts degree and a Certificate of Achievement and provides beginning through intermediate level studio art and art history classes with an emphasis in practical techniques, artistic expression and art theory. This guided program assists students in developing specialized artistic techniques and skills necessary to apply and transfer to art programs at local universities. The program offers a range of ceramics, drawing, painting, color theory, digital arts and art history classes. We offer art classes on weekdays, weeknights, weekends, on-campus, hybrid or online to fit students' needs.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to create two- and three-dimensional artwork and designs using appropriate tools, materials, methods and techniques.
• Students will be able to analyze and critically evaluate two- and three-dimensional creative projects using the current principles and language of art and design.

The Women's Studies major offers both male and female students opportunities to study the experiences, history, contributions and cultural images of women domestically and internationally, with a strong emphasis on global understanding and multicultural contributions. Courses from a variety of traditional disciplines, including sociology, history, psychology, communication and art, are included within the major.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The student will be able to identify connections between specific people, groups, events and ideas and larger sociological, psychological, historical and gender studies specific themes, developments and topics.
• The student will be able to critically analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources and draw valid sociological, psychological, historical, and gender studies interpretations from them.

Computer programming, algorithms, data structures, and languages play an increasingly important role in academic, science and business careers. The Associate in Science degree satisfies the transfer requirements of many disparate 4-year colleges and universities. Our up-to-date curriculum is also valuable for enhancing the career opportunities of working professionals.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to use standard software engineering tools to create reusable code.
• Students will be able to design a large program that takes advantage of existing code libraries.
• Students will be able to organize a complex program in a logical way, enabling the extension of the program.
• Students will be able to comprehend user requirements and produce code and documentation in an industry-accepted style that satisfies those requirements.
• Students will be able to develop software that solves problems in a variety of fields, including math, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, business, and the Internet.