Visual Arts (F)

Visual Arts are not required for high school graduation.  NJUHSD requires one year (10 credits) of a language, visual or performing arts. or a career technical education course. 

 Visual or Performing Arts (VAPA) Area F of the A-G University Entrance Requirements 

👍 = Student Recommended     🎉= New Course for the 2026/2027 School Year!   * = Indicates semester-long course    (P) = College Prep Elective area F

Introduction to Visual Arts (P)

Students will learn and apply the principles and elements of art to produce creative projects that reflect their understanding of these concepts.  Students create a sketchbook and sketch regularly in addition to completing projects that demonstrate the ability to reflect, critique, and connect personal experiences to art. 

Advanced Visual Arts (P)

Students create a portfolio of work to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and the development of materials, processes, and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios include works of art and design, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. Near the end of each semester, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions. 

Art Appreciation (P)  

Art Appreciation is a survey of the history of Western visual arts, with a primary focus on painting. Students begin with an introduction to the basic principles of painting and learn how to critique and compare works of art. Students then explore prehistoric and early Greek and Roman art before they move on to the Middle Ages. Emphasis is placed on the Renaissance and the principles and masters that emerged in Italy and northern Europe. Students continue their art tour with the United States during the 20th century, a time of great innovation as abstract art took center stage. While Western art is the course's primary focus, students will finish the course by studying artistic traditions from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Coverage of each artistic movement highlights historical context and introduces students to key artists who represent a variety of geographic locations. Throughout the course, students apply what they have learned about art critique to analyze and evaluate both individual artists and individual works of art.  Students will be required to do a final Art Project at the end of the course based on skills gained during the course. Art Appreciation is based on national standards developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, as well as key state standards. It encompasses a variety of skills to enable students to critique, compare, and perhaps influence their own works of art. One semester course.

🎉*Art History and Appreciation  (P)

Art has played a significant role in every major civilization throughout the history of man. The emergence of different art forms often reflects the values that a civilization deems important: religion, labor, love, political change, or even commerce. Since artwork and cultural values are so closely related, studying art is a compelling way to learn about the people who produced it. 

🎉*Art in World Cultures (P)

Art in World Cultures: Who is the greatest artist of all time? Is it Leonardo daVinci? Claude Monet? Michelangelo? Pablo Picasso? Is the greatest artist of all time someone whose name has been lost to history? You will learn about some of the greatest artists while also creating art of your own, including digital art. We will explore the basic principles and elements of art, learn how to critique art, and examine some of the traditional art of the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, in addition to the development of Western art. 

👍Music Appreciation (P) 

Music Appreciation is a streamlined course that introduces students to the history, theory, and genres of music, from the most primitive surviving examples, through the classical to the most contemporary in the world at large. The course is offered in a two-semester format: The first semester covers primitive musical forms, classical music, and American jazz. The second semester presents the rich modern traditions, including gospel, folk, soul, blues, Latin rhythms, rock and roll, and hip-hop. The course explores the interface of music and social movements, examining how the emergent global society and the Internet are bringing musical forms together in new ways from all around the world.

🎉*Theater, Cinema, and Film Production (P)

Theater, Cinema, and Film Production is a one-semester course that explores what goes into the making of a theater and film production. The course’s lessons focus on the pre-production, production, and post-production stages of theater and film productions. Students will be introduced to theater and film, and their different genres and subgenres. They will also learn about the roles and responsibilities of the cast and crew, including the director, actors, screenplay writers, set designers, wardrobe stylists, costume designers, and makeup artists. The course also covers technical aspects, such as lighting and sound. Students will also learn about the influence of the audience on theater, cinema, and film production. The course combines a variety of content types, including lessons, activities, and discussions, to keep students engaged as they discover the world of theater, cinema, and film production. 

North Point Academy does not offer performing arts. For university entrance, the requirement is a year of visual or performing arts (not both). 

A dual schedule through NJUSHD is available for NPA students. To explore dual schedule opportunities, NPA students must begin with a school counselor meeting.  Make an appointment with  NPA's school counselor to discuss this option.

Common dual-scheduled performing arts courses NPA students enjoy:

• Nevada Union - band, choir, dance, drama  

• Bear River - band.