The Visual Arts Program at COM offers a variety of classes including lecture courses in art history and art appreciation and hands-on studio courses in ceramics, sculpture, painting, photography, design, drawing and digital media.

Serving both expressive and academic needs, our students have been accepted to numerous prestigious art schools including the Kansas City Art Institute, Savannah College of Design, San Francisco Art Institute and the University of Houston's Painting Block Program.

Blending traditional and contemporary art-making concepts, COM faculty are accessible, working artists dedicated to advancing the individual vision of our students within collaborative studio environments, lecture classes and online classes.

Our diverse credit and noncredit students have participated in numerous local exhibitions, international shows, solo exhibitions, publications, awards and scholarship opportunities, field trips and workshops.

Besides career options as an exhibiting artist, course work in the Visual Arts Program serves students interested in areas such as architecture, industrial design, fashion design, interior design, forensic and medical illustration, book illustration, graphic design, filmmaking, art criticism, museum administration and arts education.

Prospective students and guests of the College are always welcome to stop by or schedule a visit to meet with a faculty member to discuss your possibilities in the visual arts at College of the Mainland or beyond.

Jobs in the Arts

Job Median Salary
Archivists, Curators and Museum Workers $46,710
Photographer $40,281
Art Directors $89,760
Craft and Fine Artists $45,080
Industrial Designers $67,130
Multimedia Artists and Animators $63,970

For additional information visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm

From Our Students

Fence weavings

“If you have an idea, it’s a place to figure it out.”
- Karen Brasier exhibits throughout the Houston area. Read her story.

“All the classes … helped me to see the world from a different perspective.”

- Yeslireth Montilla, COM graduate. Read her story.

“It’s very difficult to work in solitude. I was really craving art dialogue.”

- Kamila Szczesna, continuing education graduate. Read her story.

News

Students debut artwork at COM

COM students win best of show

Students' banks raise money for food bank

Associate of Arts – Visual Arts

Suggested Study Plan

Semester 1

Course Credits
ARTS 1311 DESIGN I 3
ARTS 1316 Drawing I 3
PSYC 1300 Psychology for Success 3
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
Select from one of the following: 4
BIOL 1408 Biology for Non-Science Majors I  
GEOL 1403 Physical Geology  
CHEM 1406 Introductory Chemistry I  
Total Hours:   16

Semester 2

Course Name
ARTS 2356
or ARTS 2313		 Photography I
or Graphic Design		 3
ARTS 1312 Design II 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3
ENGL 1302 Composition II 3
MATH 1332 Contemporary Math (Quantitative Reasoning) 3
Total Hours:   15

Semester 3

Course Name
ARTS 2348 Digital Media 3
Select from one of the following: 3
ARTS 2346 Ceramics I  
ARTS2316 Painting I  
ARTS 2323 Life Drawing I  
Select from one of the following:   4
BIOL 1408 Biology for Non-Science Majors I  
GEOL 1403 Physical Geology  
CHEM 1406 Introductory Chemistry I  
PHED 1164 Introduction to Physical Fitness and Wellness 1
ARTS 1303
or ARTS 1304		 Art History I
or Art History II		 3
Total Hours:   14

Semester 4

Course Name
Select from one of the following: 3
ARTS 2326 Sculpture I  
ARTS 2323 Life Drawing I  
ARTS 2346 Ceramics I  
ARTS 1303
or ARTS 1304		 Art History I
or Art History II		 3
PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy 3
SPCH 1315 Public Speaking 3
GOVT 2305 Federal Government Constitution & Topics 3
Total Hours:   15

Total Semester Credit Hours: 60