by Judy Hua
staff writer
In response to students expressing confusion about visual art courses and credits, administration has provided insight into the classes. Visual arts include courses like animation, computer graphics and art.
Compared to other classes, visual arts are more hands on. For instance, a student in ceramics class sculpts pottery, a student in art picks up a pencil to draw, a student in photo takes pictures.
Guidance Specialist Lynn McCall said, “Visual art is something you can see or feel.”
Even though visual arts are related to performing arts, these are two different subjects. Performing arts include classes such as choir or orchestra.
College and Career Specialist Michaela Wakeman said, “Visual Arts are a certain set of courses, art courses, that you can take here on campus and it encompasses several different art things, performing arts is a separate subject.”
In order to graduate high school, students are required to complete one and a half years of a visual art, a performing art or a world language.
However, requirements are different for universities. Visual and Performing Art classes satisfy the “F” requirement in the UC/CSU “A-G” requirements.
Wakeman said, “You must have one year of a visual art or performing art for colleges, so if you’re going to apply for a four year college you must take a one year visual or performing art class.”
