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Liberal Arts Requirements

BFA | BA 45 UNITS

Written Communication
(Effective for Spring 2006 start terms and beyond)
AA 2 Courses | BFA 3 Courses | BA 3 Courses
LA 108 English Composition for the Artist closed_circle
(required for AA, BFA, BA)
LA 110 English Composition: Narrative Storytelling
(required for BFA and BA only, and AA students with start terms prior to Fall 2008)
Choose one: (required for AA, BFA, BA)
LA 202 English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument
  or
LA 280 Perspective Journalism

Art History & Appreciation AA 2 Courses | BFA 4* Courses | BA 1 Course
LA 120 Art History through the 15th Century
(required for AA and BFA, except Architecture & Music for Visual Media)
LA 121 Art History through the 19th Century
(required for AA and BFA, except Architecture & Music for Visual Media)
Choose two:
LA 118 History of
Industrial Design closed_circle open_circle
LA 222 20th Century Art LA 281 History of Film:
Pre 1940 closed_circle open_circle
LA 123 American Art History LA 226 Survey of Interior Architecture closed_circle open_circle LA 282 History of Film:
Post 1940 closed_circle open_circle
LA 127 Topics in World Art LA 229 Survey of Contemporary Interiors closed_circle open_circle LA 302 Film Theory + Criticism
LA 131 History of Gaming closed_circle open_circle LA 236 Survey of Bay Area Architecture open_circle LA 307 History of Aesthetics
LA 132 History of Animation closed_circle open_circle LA 243 History of American Illustration open_circle LA 382 Contemporary Cinema: 1990 - Present closed_circle
LA 134 History of Technology of VFX + Animation closed_circle open_circle LA 244 History of Fashion closed_circle open_circle LA 383 International Cinema in an Age of Change closed_circle
LA 182 Genres in Film closed_circle LA 276 Seminar in Europe LA 384 Underrated Cinema
LA 195 History of Comics open_circle
*Note: the BFA degree requires 4 Art History courses. (Exceptions: MUS - 1 Art History | ARH - 3 History of Architecture)
The 3rd and 4th Art History may be taken as a major, art elective or LA.

Historical Awareness BFA 1 Course | BA 1 Course
Choose one:
LA 171 Western Civilization LA 270 US History LA 359 Urban Sociology

Quantitative Reasoning Literacy
(Effective for Spring 2007 start terms and beyond)
BFA 1 Course | BA 1 Course
Choose one:
LA 124 Natural Phenomenon closed_circle LA 254 Introduction to Ergonomics LA 256 Topics in Contemporary Math
LA 175 Astronomy Exploring the Cosmos closed_circle LA 255 College Math closed_circle

Cultural Ideas & Influences
(Effective for Fall 2007 start terms and beyond)
BFA 1 Course | BA 1 Course
Choose one:
LA 127 Topics in World Art LA 343 Comparative Religion LA 368 Experiencing Culture: Anthropology for Today
LA 180 Geography & Museum Cultures LA 359 Urban Sociology LA 462 Myth & Symbol
LA 238 World Literature

Employment Communications and Practices
(Effective for Fall 2008 start terms and beyond)
AA 1 Course | BFA 1 Course | BA 1 Course
LA 291 Designing Careers
(Required for AA** | BFA | BA)
**NOTE AA start terms prior to FA08: choose LA 110 or LA 291.

LA electives by advisement* BFA 5 Courses | BA 7 Courses
LA 103 Fundamentals of English LA 237 Popular Culture LA 345 The Art of Science, The Science of Art
LA 106 Listening & Speaking for Artists LA 239 Materials & Processes closed_circle open_circle LA 347 Business Law open_circle
LA 114 Art of Music 1 closed_circle LA 260 Beginning French closed_circle LA 352 Golden Section and Sacred Geometry closed_circle open_circle
LA 119 Fabric and Fiber Technology closed_circle open_circle LA 262 Intermediate French LA 365 General Psychology
LA 126 Seminar in the Arts LA 267 Beginning Italian closed_circle LA 381 Marketing Essentials open_circle
LA 140 Music Appreciation LA 268 Beginning Spanish closed_circle LA 402 Advanced Fiction Writing
LA 142 Film Music Appreciation closed_circle open_circle LA 269 Intermediate Italian LA 405 Teaching: Principles & Practices open_circle
LA 151 1st year Seminar for Acad. Success closed_circle LA 273 Intermediate Spanish LA 410 E-Commerce
LA 155 Music and the Visual Arts LA 272 Fundamentals of Drama LA 435 The Power of Signs: Semiotics + Visual Arts
LA 172 Creative Astronomy for Visual Artists closed_circle LA 285 Gestures &
Emotions in Art closed_circle
LA 480 The Small Business Entrepreneur open_circle
LA 190 History of Opera LA 289 Tune into the Tube: History of Television LA 499 ST: Art of Music 2
LA 210 Contemporary American Fiction LA 300 Public Speaking & Oral Communication LA 499 ST: Close Up on Hitchcock
LA 216 Science Fiction and Fantasy LA 303 Critical Thinking & Philosophical Concepts LA 499 ST: Women Directors in Cinema
LA 217 Writing for Comics Graphic Novels LA 305 Philosophy/Understanding Logic LA 499 ST: Examining Film Noir closed_circle
LA 228 Topics in Modern Science LA 312 Creative Writing LA 499 ST: Abnormal Psychology
closed_circle classes without prerequisites
open_circle cross-listed courses
LA 499 ST: Analog Before Digital: Punk/New Wave Film & Music
*Classes in the above categories may also be taken as LA electives.


Waiver Options for Written Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Art History, Historical Awareness and Comparative Ideas & Influences requirements:

During the semester tests are offered once a week @ 491 Post Street. Call 415.618.3664 to schedule an appointment.

Online Students: Call 415.618.3664 or e-mail liberalarts@academyart.edu for proctored exam details.

NOTE: Students who place out of a required English, Quantitative, Art History or Historical Awareness course via the AAU Placement Exam, AP Exam, SATs or non-transferable coursework MUST select a substitute Liberal Arts elective to replace the required course.

Test out & waiver options for LA 108:

  • AAU Placement Test Score of 3 or 4 - students will place out of LA 108 and into LA 202
  • AAU Placement Test Score of 5 or 6 - students will place out of both LA 108 and LA 202, into LA 110
  • AP: 3 or higher on Advance Placement (AP) exam in English Composition
  • IB: 5 or higher on International Baccalaureates (IB) exam in English Composition
  • SAT: 660 or higher on the SAT II (Writing Subject Test) | 510 or higher on SAT I before April 1995 (Written) | 590 or higher on SAT I after April 1995 (Written)

Test out & waiver options for Quantitative Reasoning requirement:

  • AAU Placement Test
  • ACT: Level I or II or 28 on the American College Test (ACT)
  • AP: 3 or higher on Advanced Placement (AP) exam in Calculus AB or BC or Statistics or Computer Science AB
  • IB: 5 or higher on International Baccalaureates (IB) exam in Mathematics
  • SAT: 500 or higher on Mathematics Achievement Test (SAT II Mathematics Subject Examination) | 600 or higher on the SAT I (Mathematics)

Waiver options for Art History, Historical Awareness and Comparative Ideas & Influences requirements:

  • AP: 3 or higher on Advance Placement (AP) exam in equivalent subject area
  • IB: 5 or higher on International Baccalaureates (IB) exam in equivalent subject area
    NOTE: Only one Art History requirement may be waived by above exam scores.
Only 3 units of Art History requirement may be waived by above exam scores

Upcoming English and Quantitative Placement exams on the AAU campus:

Placement Exam Dates During Fall 2009

  • September 9, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • September 18, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • September 23, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • October 2, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • October 7, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • October 16, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • October 21, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • October 30, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72(Friday)
  • November 4, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • November 13, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)
  • November 18, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • No Exam Week of Thanksgiving
  • December 2, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Wednesday)
  • December 11, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at 491 Post Street, Room B72 (Friday)

Exams are by appointment (No drop-ins).

Please contact the Liberal Arts Department 415.618.3664 or email liberalarts@academyart.edu to reserve a seat.