Tennessee Community Colleges
Art Programs
Art and visual-arts coursework at community colleges in this state. Studio art, art history, and design-track classes for fine-arts transfer.
12 colleges · 322 sections · 34 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Tennessee community college art programs span studio art (drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics) and applied design (graphic design, digital media, illustration). The 322 sections across 12 TBR colleges this term include intro studio courses, art history, design fundamentals, and software-specific training (Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Blender for 3D).
Two distinct outcomes: the studio-art associate is largely transfer-prep for BFA programs at four-year art schools; the graphic-design AAS is a direct-to-career credential preparing students for entry design roles, agency junior positions, and in-house marketing teams. Compare colleges below — programs with strong portfolio-development emphasis place graduates better than those focused purely on technique.
Earnings & outcomes for Art graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 5004 — Design and Applied Arts. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Art
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer State Community College | 50 | 13 | 14 | — | — |
| Nashville State Community College | 43 | 6 | 1 | 29 | — |
| Columbia State Community College | 33 | 10 | 9 | — | — |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 33 | 8 | 2 | 33 | — |
| Motlow State Community College | 29 | 7 | 10 | — | — |
| Chattanooga State Community College | 27 | 6 | 18 | 56 | $31,084 |
| Walters State Community College | 25 | 7 | — | — | — |
| Northeast State Community College | 20 | 10 | 5 | — | — |
| Jackson State Community College | 19 | 6 | 10 | — | — |
| Pellissippi State Community College | 18 | 11 | — | 45 | — |
| Dyersburg State Community College | 14 | 4 | 5 | — | — |
| Cleveland State Community College | 11 | 8 | 3 | — | — |
Art Availability Snapshot
How art sections are being offered across 12 colleges in Tennessee this term (322 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person245 (76%)
- online77 (24%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)112
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)61
- Evening (5 PM and after)9
- Asynchronous / TBA140
Start dates
Sections begin on 10 distinct dates. 308 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 52 distinct instructors across 12 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chattanooga State Community College2 programs
Cleveland State Community College2 programs
Columbia State Community College2 programs
Jackson State Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
65 credits- ART 1340Foundations Studio I(3 cr)1 section
- ENGL 1020English Composition II(3 cr)16 sections
- ART 2000Art History Survey I(3 cr)1 section
- ART 1350Foundations Studio II(3 cr)not offered
- ART 2020Art History Survey II(3 cr)1 section
- ENGL 1010English Composition I(3 cr)66 sections
- COL 1030College to Career Navigation(3 cr)45 sections
- SPAN 1020Spanish II(3 cr)1 section
- SPAN 1010Spanish I(3 cr)8 sections
- COMM 2025Fundamentals of Communication(3 cr)32 sections
- ART 1045Drawing I(3 cr)2 sections
- ART 1050Drawing II(3 cr)1 section
Source: College catalog
Motlow State Community College2 programs
Nashville State Community College2 programs
Northeast State Community College3 programs
Southwest Tennessee Community College2 programs
Volunteer State Community College3 programs
Walters State Community College2 programs
Common Art courses
- ART 1035Introduction to Art(170 sections)
- ART 1045Drawing 1(30 sections)
- ART 2000Art History Survey I(25 sections)
- ART 2020Art History Survey 2(23 sections)
- ART 1340Foundations Studio 1(17 sections)
- ART 1050Drawing 2(9 sections)
- ART 1350Foundations Studio II(5 sections)
- ART 280TInd Study for Ceramics(5 sections)
- ART 2510Painting I(4 sections)
- ART 2000AArt History Survey I - On-campus instruction(3 sections)
- ART 2410Clay I(3 sections)
- ART 135Ceramics I(2 sections)
Career outlook for Art graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Tennessee’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Tennessee's typical pay is about 8% below the typical state — common for lower cost-of-living states, but worth weighing against tuition savings.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I be a graphic designer with just a community-college degree?
- Yes — the AAS in graphic design is a complete entry-level credential, and most Tennessee programs are designed to build a portfolio strong enough for junior designer roles. Hiring is heavily portfolio-driven; the degree gets you in the door but your portfolio determines whether you get the role. Software fluency (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) is table stakes.
- Will my art credits transfer to a BFA program?
- Studio courses (drawing, painting, sculpture) typically transfer as elective credit toward a BFA but may not fulfill specific BFA major-requirement slots — BFA programs usually want their own foundation sequence. Art history and gen-ed courses transfer cleanly. The associate of fine arts (AFA) is the strongest transfer-prep pathway if you know you'll continue to a BFA; check articulation agreements with target schools.
- What's the difference between studio art and graphic design programs?
- Studio art is fine-art-oriented (creating original work, often for galleries or commission); graphic design is commercial-art-oriented (creating work to client briefs for marketing, branding, packaging, web). The career economics are very different — graphic designers have many more entry roles available; studio artists typically need to build a separate career while developing their practice.
- Do I need to be 'good at art' to start?
- Less than you'd think for graphic design — the program teaches design principles and software from the foundation up. Studio art programs assume more foundational drawing skill but most Tennessee CCs offer beginner-level studio courses; the question is whether you have time and motivation to put in the hours of practice that any visual-art career requires.
Compare Art programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Tennessee’s art programs stack up.
Other programs in Tennessee
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.