Associate in Fine Arts - AFA in ART
The Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degree is designed to complete the lower-division (freshman and sophomore) coursework required for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree. Because B.F.A. programs are highly structured and include extensive sequential coursework in the major, some general education requirements are deferred until the junior and senior years.
Although the A.F.A. does not include the full IAI General Education Core Curriculum (GECC), students who transfer with at least 30 semester credit hours of college-level coursework may complete either the remaining IAI GECC requirements or the receiving institution's lower-division general education requirements.
There are four approved A.F.A. concentrations: Art, Art Education, Music, and Music Education. These pathways were developed collaboratively by faculty from community colleges, public universities, and independent institutions through the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI). Institutions with an approved A.F.A. program may add additional concentrations through the Reasonable and Moderate Extension process.
Note to Faculty and Course Submitters working with IAI Courses:
Before submitting to the IAI Art major panel, please review the panel criteria and other important documents which are available at
Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A) IAI Major Recommendations (60-68 semester credits)
AFA in Art General Education recommendations
In addition, when transferring, many receiving institutions require a portfolio, please review documentation provided by the Art major panel for further information.
Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements. The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.
Return to the IAI Majors: Art.
Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).