Art I: 2D Design & Drawing introduces students to the elements and principles of art through a two-dimensional lens while learning a variety of media, concepts and techniques. This will include elements and principles of design, sequential techniques with drawing, painting, printmaking, low-relief sculpture, ceramics and digital media. Students practice skills, explore historical and cultural relevance, gain an understanding of creative expression and learn to respond and evaluate artwork through close observation using critical thinking. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs. This is a two semester course in which students must take both semesters, in sequence, to meet the one year fine arts requirement.
Grade Placement: 9 – 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1
What’s next? Art II: 2D, Art II: 2D Honors, or Art II: 3D Honors
Art I: 3D Design & Sculpture introduces students to the elements and principals of art through a three-dimensional lens learning additive and subtractive sculpture, ceramics, and digital work. Students will utilize drawing and painting techniques through the creation of threedimensional objects. As an introductory course students practice skills, explore historical and cultural relevance, gain an understanding of creative expression and learn to respond and evaluate artwork through close observation using critical thinking. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs. (see Consumable Supply Fees on page 10) This is a two-semester course in which students must take both semesters, in sequence, to meet the one year fine arts requirement.
Grade Placement: 9 – 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1
What’s next? Art II: 2D, Art II: 2D Honors, or Art II: 3D Honors
Art II: 2D Design & Drawing is designed to spiral and expand on the Art I: 2D or Art I: 3D curriculum. Students will continue to explore a sequential study of drawing, color theory, painting, printmaking, technology and ceramics. Formal compositions will be completed in realistic, abstract, and non-objective styles. Students will build upon skills learned in Art I instruction in order to express big ideas with visual voice. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs.
Grade Placement: 10 - 12
Prerequisite: Art I: 2D or Art I: 3D
Credit: 1
What’s next? AP 2D Art and Design, AP 3D Art and Design, AP Drawing, or AP Art History
Art II: 3D Design and Sculpture is designed to spiral and expand on the Art I: 2D or Art I: 3D curriculum. Students will continue to explore a sequential study of relief, additive and subtractive sculpture, instillations, ceramics, and digital work. Formal compositions will be completed in realistic, abstract, and non-objective styles. Students will build upon skills learned in Art I instruction in order to express big ideas with visual voice. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs.
Grade Placement: 10 - 12
Prerequisite: Art I: 3D Design & Sculpture or Art I: 2D Design & Drawing Credit: 1
What’s next? AP 3D Art and Design
Art and Media Communications combines rigorous and relevant experiential study of modern, post-modern, and contemporary visual art and design with student learning in media literacy and technology applications. Creation and analysis of student artworks will be balanced with explorations into contemporary practices across the visual and commercial arts fields. Students will learn how to bridge traditional hand skills with current technology applications to create new media such as animations, digital images, multimedia presentation, digital video, websites, and interactive or site-based installations and performances. Furthermore, student work will culminate in a capstone project that investigates an issue relevant to the student and uses art, design, and visual communications to address a problem within the community or effect change. This project will afford students an opportunity to learn and practice creative research skills, develop a narrative, engage an audience, and connect an online community to their project. This is a two-semester course in which students must take both semesters, in sequence, to meet the one year fine arts requirement.
Grade Placement: 9 – 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1
What’s next? Art and Media Communications II or any Art I and/or Art II course
AP Drawing, a double-blocked, two-hour class, is an advanced studio course for the college-bound and career-oriented student. It is designed for talented art students who wish to pursue college level studies while in high school. Emphasis will be on drawing, in methods such as graphite, charcoal, painting, and printmaking. Students will develop portfolios of artwork, consisting of two sections: Sustained Investigation and Selected Works, which fulfill current College Board requirements. Students receive two credits, 1 AP credit and 1 honors credit. This course prepares the student to take the AP exam. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs.
For more about the course, please see the College Board's Course and Exam Description found here: AP Drawing
Grade Placement: 11-12
Prerequisite: Art I 2D or 3D
Credits: 2
What’s next? AP 2D Art and Design, AP 3D Art and Design, or AP Art History
AP 2D Art Design is a double-blocked, two hour advanced studio course for the college-bound and career-oriented student. It is designed for talented art students who wish to pursue college level studies while in high school. Emphasis will be on advanced drawing and painting styles, 2-D design, color study, and digitally created art. Students will develop portfolios of artworks, consisting of two sections: Sustained Investigation and Selected Works, which fulfill current College Board requirements. Students receive two credits, 1 AP credit and 1 honors credit. This course prepares the student to take the AP exam. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs.
For more about the course, please see the College Board's Course and Exam Description found here: AP 2D Art and Design
Grade Placement: 11 – 12
Prerequisite: Art I: 2D or 3D
Credits: 2
What’s next? AP 3D Art and Design, AP Drawing, or AP Art History
AP 3D Art and Design is a double-blocked, two hour advanced studio course for the college-bound and career-oriented student. It is designed for talented art students who wish to pursue college level studies while in high school. Emphasis will be on advanced sculpture, ceramics, and three-dimensional design. Students will develop portfolios of artworks, consisting of two sections: Sustained Investigation and Selected Works, which fulfill current College Board requirements. Students receive two credits, 1 AP credit and 1 honors credit. This course prepares the student to take the AP exam. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs.
For more about the course, please see the College Board's Course and Exam Description found here: AP 3D Art and Design
Grade Placement: 11 - 12
Prerequisite: Art I: 2D or 3D
Credits: 2
What’s next? AP 2D Art and Design, AP Drawing, or AP Art History
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the rich traditions of western and non-European architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms through factual knowledge and the skillful use of principles of aesthetics and comparative criticism. Students will learn how to respond to works of art with intelligence and sensitivity, examining the major forms of artistic expression of the past and of distant cultures as well as those of their own time and environment. Students may earn college credit by passing an exam written by the College Board. This course prepares the student to take the AP Art History exam. Additional supply fees may be associated with this course; however, Plano ISD will take steps to ensure that costs will not prevent access to programs
For more information about this course, please see the College Board's Course and Exam Description found here: AP Art History
Grade Placement: 11-12
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1
Visual Arts SL :
Prerequisites: Art I and/or portfolio Review
Credit: 1
IB Art Design III SL is designed for students who are seriously interested in the actual experience of creating and researching art. This course is individually charted to meet the needs and interests of each student. IB Art III SL includes both independent research and with instruction in advanced art techniques and media. This course is the first course necessary for preparation for the IB Art HL exam. Students are prepared to take the IB Art SL exam upon completion of this course; students continuing on to IB Art Design IV HL will take the IB Art HL exam and not the SL exam.
Visual Arts HL:
Prerequisites: IB Art Design III SL
Credit: 1
IB Art Design III HL is the second year of IB Art. It delves deeper into the experience of creating and researching art. This course is individually charted to meet the needs and interests of each student. IB Art includes independent research and instruction in advanced art techniques and media. This course is the second course necessary for preparation for the IB Art HL exam.
Please click below to access the International Baccalaureate subject briefs for each level.
Prerequisites: None
Credit: 1
IH Art I allows the students the opportunity to learn how to work with a large variety of materials. Students extend their basic understanding of art through drawings, color study, painting, printmaking, technology, sculpture, and ceramics. This course is vertically aligned with the expectations of the upper level IB course requirements. This is a two semester course in which students must take both semesters to meet the one year fine art requirement.
Prerequisites: Art I
Credit: 1
IH Art II allows the students the opportunity to learn how to work with a large variety of materials. Students extend their basic understanding of art through drawings, color study, painting, printmaking, technology, sculpture, and ceramics. This course is vertically aligned with the expectations of the upper level IB course requirements. This is a two semester course in which students must take both semesters to meet the one year fine art requirement.