Associate of Arts

Develops skills to work in a variety of fields related to the visual arts. Students earning this degree will be positioned to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program at a variety of colleges and universities, in or out of the UW system. The program curriculum aligns well with the first two year requirements for nearly all visual arts related majors and emphases, including but not limited to Art Education, Art History, Art Therapy ,Entertainment Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Studio Arts.

Program Outline
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Course #

Course Title

Credits

2089010100

Foundations of University Learning

1.00

Description

2080121900

English Composition I

3.00

Description

Develops expository writing and critical thinking skills, including clarity, concision, concreteness, and completeness of expression, supported by reasoning, organization, and language conventions. Lecture.

2080122300

English Composition II

3.00

Description

Advances composition skills, emphasizing well-reasoned argumentative research papers. Lecture. Credits: 3. Prerequisite(s): 2080121900 English Composition I (D- or better) or 1080119500 Written Communication (B or better).

2081020100

Fundamentals of Speech

3.00

Description

Examines theory and process of communication, the role of speech in self- development, the art of persuasion, topic selection, the use of research-based evidence, and audience analysis. Includes organizing speech content, speech delivery, and critique via presentation of informative and persuasive speeches and development of effective extemporaneous speaking style. Students gain self-confidence, proficiency, and poise.

N/A

Humanities

12.00

Description

COURSE #	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
20815205	Drawing	3
20815209	Design	3
20815211	Three-Dimensional Design	3
	Plus an additional 3 credits in history, journalism/writing, literature, music, philosophy, theatre/film, world language	3

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N/A

Social Sciences

12.00

Description

Must include courses in at least two disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology.

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N/A

Mathematics & Natural Science

10.00

Description

Must include mathematics at the level of Intermediate Algebra, Statistics, Quantitative Reasoning, Elementary Math Education or higher AND 7 credits of Natural Science (one lab course required) chosen from biology, chemistry, geography (selected courses), geology, and physics.

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N/A

Health/Wellness/Physical Education

1.00

Description

N/A

Diversity/Ethnic Studies

0.00

Description

Courses that meet this requirement may also count toward Humanities or Social Science. These credits are not in addition to the 60 credits required for the degree.

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N/A

World Language

4.00

Description

May be met with one year high school, with a grade of “C” or better, or one semester in college.

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N/A

Electives

11.00

Description

Choose 12 credits from the following 3-credit courses:

20815201 Art Appreciation
20815210 Life Drawing
20815213 Painting
20815215 Watercolor
20815221 Ceramics
20815226 Survey of Western Art History I
20815227 Survey of Western Art History II
20815230 Native American Art
20815240 Basic Photography
20815265 Intermediate Ceramics

May be 16 credits if students satisfy the world language requirement with one year of high school (C or better).

At A Glance

How You'll Learn

On Campus

Online Classes

Term Starts

Summer 2025
May 19 - 12-Week Summer Term Start

Fall 2025
August 25 - 16-Week Fall Term Start

Spring 2026
January 12 - 16-Week Spring Term Start

Start dates represent the beginning of a new term. Certain programs or courses may not be available to start every term. Please view the course schedules for a list of upcoming classes or contact the Welcome Center at 715-365-4493.

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Program Tuition*

$12,240

Books & Supplies*

$3,308

*Total cost for degree completion is estimated by current course requirements, books, and supplies. Tuition and fees are set by the Wisconsin Technical College System and subject to change.

Financial Aid Eligible

Potential Indirect Costs

You may experience these additional costs, not charged by Nicolet, estimated based on length of program.

Transportation

$1,150

Food/Housing

$1,144

Personal Expenses

$1,146

What You'll Learn

Apply forms of effective communication in various contexts
Demonstrate quantitative reasoning
Demonstrate critical and/or creative thinking
Apply scientific methods
Demonstrate cultural awareness
Apply ethics to individual, social, environmental, and informational contexts

Possible Bachelor's Degree Majors

The program curriculum aligns well with the first two year requirements for nearly all visual arts related majors and emphases, including but not limited to: