Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals OR senior class standing 

Description: Students will learn and practice various two dimensional methods of art creation, including but not limited to drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media. Emphasis is placed on composition, technical drawing and painting, observational drawing and painting, color theory application, and developing a creative voice.

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals & 2D Art and Design I 

Other Info: This course may be repeated for credit 

Description: Students will continue to master a variety of concepts of drawing and painting techniques to explore their creative voice. Students will demonstrate a range of ability and versatility. Students will focus on quality, concepts and composition. Emphasis will be placed on art as an ongoing process of creation that involves critical thinking, decision making and problem solving.

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals OR senior class standing

Description: Students will explore various three dimensional media such as working with clay, plaster, metal, wire, glass, and wheel throwing. Emphasis is based on exploring conceptual ideas to express unique three dimnesional works of art that are functional or sculptural. Students will use problem solving skills and critical thinking skills that include handbuilding, soldering, carving, mold making, and wheel throwing to create art.

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals and 3D Art and Design I

Other Info: This course may be repeated for credit 

Description: Students will demonstrate knowledge and practice toward mastery in methods of three-dimensional creation with techniques and materials. Students will explore more complex ideas and continue to build on problems solving skills to construct their designs. Students will exhibit a personal voice through their works and concepts. Students will critique and analyze art history and contemporary art and utilize it in their designing process. Students will be encouraged to take risks and explore with three-dimensional mediums they have previously learned to show their voice. 

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Description: Students will explore the nature of art, its uses and meanings, art making, and responses to art. Through investigation of diverse artistic traditions of cultures from prehistory to the present, the course fosters in-depth and holistic understanding of the history of art from a global perspective. Students learn and apply skills of visual, contextual, and comparative analysis to engage with a variety of art forms, constructing understanding of individual works and interconnections of art-making processes and products throughout history. Upon completion of the class, students are encouraged to take the AP exam for possible college credit. 

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: 2D Design I or II OR 3D Design I or II OR Photography IV OR Computer Art IV

Other Info: Recommended to be taken concurrently with Studio Art

Description: Advanced Placement Studio Art is a yearlong college-level art-making and portfolio development experience for serious art students. In this class, students discuss and evaluate their work, explore and formulate new ideas to strengthen the content of their work, and study the work of experienced artists through slides, the internet, field trips, and selected readings. Demonstrations of new techniques are presented on an individual basis to further a student’s art-making. Students choose one area of concentration early in the year and prepare one of the following portfolios for submission to the College Board in the spring: Drawing, 2-Dimensional Design, or 3-Dimensional Design. Students should expect to continue to work on artwork and projects outside of class. This requires a commitment of 3 to 4 hours per week.

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 

Description: In this year-long introductory class, students will utilize the Elements and Principles of Design through a wide variety of art media such as drawing, ceramics, printmaking, painting, sculpture and metals. This class is designed to provide students with the foundation necessary to expand into more specialized areas. 

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals OR Foundation of Graphic Design 

Other info: May be taken as an art course at DCHS, HHS, and JHS or as part of the graphic design pathway at DCHS or JHS.

Description: Students will explore computer art and design. Projects will be created primarily using the Adobe Creative Suite using techniques and tools for the creation of computer art, design layout, and image manipulation. Areas such as computer generated design, typography, advertising design, and printing will be explored. This course introduces students to the Adobe Creative Suite and other imaging software as a design tool and a means of producing finished art work. Study and production in the areas of digitized photographic images, visual communications, and drawing and design will be included in the course. 

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Computer Art I

Other info: May be taken as an art course at DCHS, HHS, and JHS or as part of the graphic design pathway at DCHS or JHS.

Description: Students will apply techniques and tools for the creation of computer art, design layout, using the web as an advertising tool, image manipulation, and digital drawing reference. Areas such as computer generated design, typography, advertising design, and printing will be explored. Students will use the Adobe Creative Suite to create designs for advertising and artistic concepts. Students will be introduced to more complex concepts and techniques of graphic design and illustration.

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Computer Art II

Other info: May be taken as an art course at DCHS, HHS, and JHS or as part of the graphic design pathway at DCHS or JHS.

Description: Students will apply techniques and tools for the creation of computer art, design layout, using the web as an advertising tool, image manipulation, and digital drawing. Areas such as computer generated design, typography, advertising design, and printing will be explored. Students will use the Adobe Creative Suite to create designs for advertising and artistic concepts.

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Computer Art III

Other info: May be taken as an art course at DCHS, HHS, and JHS or as part of the graphic design pathway at DCHS or JHS.

Description: Students will create a body of work to present in a portfolio format with an emphasis on concept and themes.

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Other info: DCHS and JHS only

Description: Students will explore computer art and design; emphasis will be placed upon theories and processes that make up graphic design. Projects will be created primarily in Adobe Creative Suite using techniques and tools for the creation of computer art, design layout, and image manipulation. Areas such as computer generated design, typography, advertising design, and printing will be explored. Study and production in the areas of digitized photographic images, visual culture and communications, and drawing and design will be included in the course. 

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Art Fundamentals OR senior class standing 

Other Info: Students at DCHS and JHS are strongly encouraged to have a DSLR camera. Students at HHS are strongly encouraged to have a 35mm Manual. 

Description: Students will learn and practice digital and manual techniques of photography. Students will capture successful compositions and analyze them while learning the elements and principles of design. Students will learn about the history of photography. Students will utilize a variety of digital tools from the Adobe Creative Suite.

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Photography I

Other Info: Students at DCHS and JHS are strongly encouraged to have a DSLR camera. Students at HHS are strongly encouraged to have a 35mm Manual. 

Description: Emphasis will be on purposeful use of elements and principles to create and or capture compositions. Student will explore subjects that inspire their personal voice or they find aesthetically stimulating. 

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Photography II

Other Info: Students taking this course are strongly encouraged to have a DSLR camera. 

Description: Emphasis will be for students to be intentional about their compositions and subjects. Students will learn about a thematic body of work and start work towards portfolio creation. 

Length/Credit: 1 semester/0.5 units 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: Photography III

Other Info: Students taking this course are strongly encouraged to have a DSLR camera. 

Description: Students will create a body of work to present in a portfolio format with emphasis on concept and themes. 

Length/Credit: 2 semesters/1 unit 

Grade: 11, 12

Prerequisite: 2D Design I or II OR 3D Design I or II OR Teacher Recommendation. 

Description: This is a capstone course. Students will determine a technique or medium of focus, for example, drawing, painting, ceramics, metals, mixed media, etc. They will demonstrate mastery of that process throughout the year and create a body of work while forming their personal artistic voice. Students will be encouraged to take risks and explore with different techniques, concepts and compositional approaches. Students will be working toward creating a body of work suitable to use as a portfolio for college entry.