Studio Art Associate Degree

Shape your vision. Craft your future. Make art that matters

Art transforms lives. Humanity needs innovative hands and minds in an expanding creative workforce. The Studio Art Associate's Degree at CMC is a multidisciplinary educational experience where students receive hands-on training that fuses skilled trades with creative and critical thinking.

Why CMC?

• Experiential Learning – Spend your days making, experimenting, and discovering in the studio.
• Learn from artists in the field – Faculty are active professionals sharing real-world insight and inspiration.
• A mountain arts community – Aspen, Carbondale, and Steamboat Springs are vibrant hubs for galleries, studios, and creative energy.
• Flexible paths, lasting impact – Pursue a career in the arts, or transfer to a four-year program. Learn the basics or deepen essential skills to contribute to cultural growth in a rapidly changing world.

The Essential Skills

Immerse yourself in media that bring your ideas to life:

• Drawing & painting
• Ceramics & wheel throwing
• Small metals & jewelry making
• Printmaking & mixed media
• Digital fabrication & 3D printing

Beyond personal enrichment, studying Fine Art builds community, empathy, and cultural understanding, contributing to a richer, more fulfilling life.

Where It Can Take You

A Studio Art degree opens doors in creative careers and beyond:

• Professional artist or designer
• Illustrator or graphic designer
• Art educator or art therapy
• Gallery or arts nonprofit professional
• Product designer or art director
• Curator or conservator

The Studio Art Experience at CMC

Art at CMC is hands-on and deeply fulfilling. Small classes, personalized mentorship, and a thriving creative environment will let you grow as an artist, person, and professional.

Check the catalog for specific campus facilities and course offerings.