The purpose of the fine arts curriculum is to open the minds of students to new and diverse worlds and cultures and enable them to creatively express themselves and value the multiple perspectives of others. Students are actively involved learners in the arts. Through their experiences in the arts, they become creative and critical problem solvers, independent and divergent thinkers, self-motivated workers, and innovators.
Students are led in an exploration of self, others, and the world in relation to the art forms. Students are given opportunities in the fi ne arts to apply learning in new ways by connecting and integrating content across disciplines. The fi ne arts—dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts—provide each generation with knowledge of other cultures, past and present, and are among humanity’s greatest aesthetic and intellectual achievements. The curricula in fi ne arts courses are guided by four artistic processes identified in the new MCPS Frameworks: Creating, Performing/ Presenting, Responding, and Connecting; and are aligned to both the National Fine Arts and Maryland State Fine Arts standards.
The fine arts encourage students to take intellectual risks and to think critically and creatively when presented with opportunities to make choices and to solve complex, open-ended problems with the possibility of multiple solutions. Excellence in the fine arts is developed through continuous practice, craftsmanship, refinement, and reflection. The creative process encourages students to build resilience, perseverance, self-awareness, and a growth mindset. The fi ne arts prepare students to engage meaningfully with others in an ever-changing world. The skills learned through study and practice of the fi ne arts ensure students are equipped for future studies and careers.
Graduation Requirements
One credit in Fine Arts is required for graduation: Courses that satisfy the fine arts requirement are marked FA.
A variety of dance courses satisfy the graduation requirement for fine arts. 6017/6018, Dance as Fine Art, is described here. Other dance courses are listed in the table above. For their descriptions, see the Online Course Bulletin. Check with your counselor to find out what dance courses are offered at your school.
All Dance courses may be repeated for elective credit.
| ART2000A / ART2000B | Dance Fine Art A |
| ART2003A / ART2003B | Dance 2A |
| ART2004A / ART2004B | Dance 3A |
| ART2005A / ART2005B | Modern Dance A |
| ART2006A / ART2006B | Tap Dance 1A |
| ART2007A / ART2007B | Adv Tap Dance 2A |
| ART2008A / ART2008B | Adv Tap Dance 3A |
| ART2009A / ART2009B | Hip Hop Dance A |
| ART2010A / ART2010B | Dance Company A |
| ART2011A / ART2011B | Jazz Dance 1A |
| ART2012A / ART2012B | Jazz Dance 2A |
| ART2013A / ART2013B | Jazz Dance 3A |
| ART2014A / ART2014B | Ballet 1A |
| ART2015A / ART2015B | Ballet 2A |
| ART2016A / ART2016B | Choreography 1A |
Public performances during and after school hours may be required to meet course objectives.
| ART2071A / ART2071B | Piano HS 1A |
| ART2072A / ART2072B | Piano HS 2A |
| ART2073A / ART2073B | Piano HS 3A |
| ART2074A / ART2074B | Piano HS 4A |
| ART2075A / ART2075B | Music Theory Comp 1A |
| ART2076A / ART2076B | AP Music Theory A |
| ART2077A / ART2077B | Music Theory Comp 2A |
| ART2080A / ART2080B | Guitar HS 3A |
| ART2081A / ART2081B | Guitar HS 4A |
| ART2082A / ART2082B | Guitar HS 1A |
| ART2083A / ART2083B | Guitar HS 2A |
| ART2084A / ART2084B | Music Technology A |
| ART2087A / ART2087B | Chorus HS 1A |
| ART2088A / ART2088B | Chorus HS 2A |
| ART2089A / ART2089B | Chorus HS 3A |
| ART2090A / ART2090B | Chamber Singers A |
| ART2091A / ART2091B | Show Choir A |
| ART2092A / ART2092B | Beginning Band HS A |
| ART2093A / ART2093B | Concert Band A |
| ART2094A / ART2094B | Symphonic Band A |
| ART2154A / ART2154B | Wind Ensemble A |
| ART2096A / ART2096B | Beginning Orchestra HS A |
| ART2097A / ART2097B | Concert Orchestra A |
| ART2099A / ART2099B | Symphonic Orchestra A |
| ART2155A / ART2155B | Philharmonic Orchestra A |
| ART2150A / ART2150B | Jazz Lab Band A |
| ART2100A / ART2100B | Jazz Ensemble A |
| ART2106A / ART2106B | Theatre HS 1A |
| ART2107A / ART2107B | Theatre HS 2A |
| ART2103A / ART2103B | Adv Acting A |
| ART2104A / ART2104B | Stage Design A |
| ART2105A / ART2105B | Play Directing A |
| ART2153A / ART2153B | Musical Theatre A |
| ART2033A / ART2033B | 2D Studio Art 4A |
| ART2054A / ART2054B | AP Art History A |
| ART2053A / ART2053B | Functional Fine Art & Craft 1A |
| ART2052A / ART2052B | Art History A |
| ART2052A / ART2052B | Art History A |
| ART2019 | Adv Drawing 2 |
| ART2020 | Adv Contemp Mixed Media 2 |
| ART2031A / ART2031B | Adv 2D Studio Art 2A |
| ART2032A / ART2032B | 2D Studio Art 3A |
| ART2045A / ART2045B | Ceramic Sculpture 1A |
| ART2046A / ART2046B | Adv Ceramic Sculpture 2A |
| ART2047A / ART2047B | Adv Ceramic Sculpture 3A |
| ART2050A / ART2050B | Graphic Art & Design 1A |
| ART2051A / ART2051B | Adv Graphic Art & Design 2A |
| ART2069A / ART2069B | Digital Art 1A |
| ART2070A / ART2070B | Adv Digital Art 2A |
| ART2042A / ART2042B | 2D Studio Art 1A |
| ART2001A / ART2001B | Foundation of Art and Culture A |
| ART2043A / ART2043B | Adv Painting 2A |
| ART2038A / ART2038B | Photography 1A |
| ART2039A / ART2039B | Adv Photography 2A |
| ART2037A / ART2037B | Darkroom Photography A |
| ART2062A / ART2062B | AP Drawing A |
| ART2063A / ART2063B | AP Drawing A DP |
| ART2064A / ART2064B | AP 2D Art & Design A |
| ART2065 | AP 2D Art & Design DP |
| ART2066A / ART2066B | AP 3D Art & Design A |
| ART2067 | AP 3D Art & Design DP |
| ART2068A / ART2068B | Visual Art Level 1A DP |
| ART2055A / ART2055B | Visual Art Level 2A DP |
| ART2056A / ART2056B | AP Visual Art Centr 3A DP |
| ART2058A / ART2058B | AP Visual Art Centr 4A TP |
| ART2057A / ART2057B | AP Visual Art Centr 4A DP |
| ART2040A / ART2040B | AP 2D Photography A |
| ART2041A / ART2041B | AP 2D Photography A DP |
| ART2061A / ART2061B | Adv Animation 2A |
| ART2044A / ART2044B | Adv Printmaking 2A |
| ART2048A / ART2048B | Adv Ceramic Sculpture 4A |
| ART2059A / ART2059B | Digital Art 3A |
| ART2060A / ART2060B | Adv Digital Art 4A |
| ART2049A / ART2049B | Adv Functional Craft 2A |
| ART2022A / ART2022B | Fashion Illustration 1A |
| ART2030A / ART2030B | Adv Fashion Illustr 2A |
| ART2023A / ART2023B | Fashion Production 1A |
| ART2024A / ART2024B | Adv Fashion Production 2A |
| ART2034A / ART2034B | Adv Photography 3A |
| ART2151A / ART2151B | Adv Fashion Production 3A |
| ART2035A / ART2035B | Adv Photography 4A |
| ART2152A / ART2152B | Adv Fashion Production 4A |
| ART2018A / ART2018B | IB Art Design 1A |
| ART2021A / ART2021B | IB Art Design 2A |
| ART2079A / ART2079B | IB Adv Music 1A |
| ART2126A / ART2126B | IB Theatre 1A |
| ART2127A / ART2127B | IB Theatre 2A |
| ART2110A / ART2110B | IB Film 1A |
| ART2111A / ART2111B | IB Film 2A |
| ART2124A / ART2124B | IB Dance 1A |
| ART2125A / ART2125B | IB Dance 2A |