Associate in Fine Arts FAQs

How much experience do I need to have to begin the AFA program?

Prior art experience isn’t mandatory to succeed in arts studio courses, but it can support your ability to confidently approach the coursework. The ART studio courses are college-level courses and intended for art majors.

How much does it cost to earn an AFA degree?

Tuition is based on your residency status. Materials and supplies for studio-based classes range from $100 to $150 per class. Detailed supply lists will be included in each course syllabus posted in Blackboard and discussed on the first day of class. Some of the supplies for a class may be used in other art courses, thus lowering the overall cost of studio art courses.


I have AP credits, took a CLEP exam or have transfer credits. What should I do with them?

Have the scores or transcript sent as soon as possible to ensure these are appropriately evaluated. Expect to see these evaluated after the start of your first semester and not prior. We recommend having copies of any scores or prior credits available during initial advising meetings. AP art courses are not currently accepted for ART coursework.

I already have a bachelor’s degree that is not in fine arts. Am I allowed to apply for the AFA?

Yes. Students who already have a four-year bachelor's degree may pursue the AFA in Visual Arts at Wake Tech.


Do my bachelor’s degree general education courses count toward the AFA in Visual Arts?

The AFA is an associate degree program that is meant to be like the first two years of a university visual art program and geared toward a transfer into a Bachelor of Fine Arts program.

When you submit your transcript for review at Wake Tech, courses that are equivalent to the AFA curriculum may receive transfer credit. Students find out which courses transfer after enrolling. Students who are not enrolled at Wake Tech can find out about transfer credit through TES

To get an AFA degree, students will need to complete 25% of their 60 to 61 required credits at Wake Tech. This means that a maximum of 45 to 46 credit hours could transfer towards the AFA degree.


Do I need to take specific art courses first?

All AFA students should take ART-121 and ART-131 prior to taking any other 2D studio courses. ART-122 should be completed prior to taking other 3D art classes. Please follow the guidelines in the Wake Tech AFA program of study and recommended semester-by-semester progression of courses.

Which colleges have a transfer agreement with the AFA program?

The North Carolina Community College System and the UNC System have a Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for seamless transfer for students who begin visual arts studies at a community college and then transfer to a Bachelor of Fine Arts visual arts program at a UNC institution.

The following UNC schools accept the AFA degree coursework (60 credit hours) based upon successful admission to the visual arts program and earning "C" or above on all courses:

  • Appalachian State University – BFA in Studio Art
  • East Carolina University – BFA in Art
  • UNC-Asheville – BFA in Art
  • UNC-Chapel Hill – BFA in Studio Art
  • UNC-Charlotte – BFA in Art
  • UNC-Greensboro – BFA in Studio Art
  • UNC-Wilmington – BFA in Art
  • Western Carolina University – BFA in Art

Wake Tech also has transfer agreements with North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, as well as the Savannah College of Art and Design and North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Fore more information, check the Transfer Resources page, including options to search by degree or by university.


What degrees will credits in AFA be suitable for?

AFA allows students to successfully transfer and seek a BFA or a BA in visual arts, including painting and drawing, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design or communication art, printmaking, art education and art history.

When should I decide on transferring to a school or program?

Each school has its own requirements and curriculum. Please check any that interest you for a program of study, which is an overview of the degree requirements. Knowing your intended area of study and the requirements of schools you may want to transfer to will help you be certain your course choices at Wake Tech are best suited for a specific institution.

The ACA-122 course offers students the opportunity to explore their transfer opportunities. Students may also set up advising appointments to discuss transfer options and may wish to discuss transfer with faculty in their area of interest.