Art, Design and Performing Arts

Begin your Art or Music Major or Career at Black Hawk College

The Art, Design and Performing Arts Department at the Quad-Cities Campus offers programs for students to prepare for a career or major in art or music. The department also offers electives and performance groups for non-majors.

Areas of focus for transfer students

If you plan to transfer into an art or music major to complete a bachelor’s degree, here are a few sample transfer plans:
Art (including Graphic Design/Visual Communication) (PDF)
Music (Performance or Education) (PDF)
Music (Therapy) (PDF)
Music (Business) (PDF)

Where do you want to transfer?

If you have a transfer school in mind, your advisor will customize a transfer plan for that college or university. BHC also has many transfer guides and agreements already established with four-year institutions in a variety of majors.

Transfer Guides and Agreements »

Transfer from Career Programs »


Department Highlights

Art and Music-Related Careers

Students who study music performance, theory or the music industry, or learn art and design skills while developing a professional portfolio go on to careers in dozens of fields, including education, recording, publishing, museums, photography and multimedia.

Hands-On Classes

Studios, practice rooms and digital facilities offer hands-on learning in vocal and instrumental music, drawing, ceramics, digital art and video.

Opportunities  for Majors and Non-Majors

ArtSpace Reception

  • Vocal and instrumental ensembles
  • Trips to Chicago museums and art galleries
  • Concerts, recitals and festivals by students and visiting artists
  • ArtSpace Gallery: Monthly exhibits by local, regional and national artists. At the end of the academic year, ArtSpace is reserved for our Student Art Show. BHC students submit artworks that are judged by a local professional artist.

ArtFusion Magazine

ArtFusion 2020 Cover

ArtFusion is produced every other year by and for the students of Black Hawk College. Essays, digital drawing, photography, painting and other student works are featured in this student-designed and professionally-published magazine.
ArtFusion 2020 magazine (flipbook)
ArtFusion 2020 magazine (PDF)
ArtFusion 2018 magazine (flipbook)

Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles

choir and director performing at event

  • Chamber Singers
  • Concert Choir
  • Community Chorale
  • Community Band
  • Community String Orchestra
  • Jazz Ensembles
  • BHC Music YouTube Playlist

Join a Music Group

Scholarship Opportunities

Career and Transfer Program Information

Program Name Code Award Credits Category Department Keywords
Program Name Code Award Credits Category Department Keywords
Associate in Fine Arts 1245 AFA Degree 62 Art, Design and Performing Arts
Associate in Science 1645 AS Degree 60 AgricultureArt, Design and Performing ArtsBusiness, Computer and Engineering TechnologyEnglish, Reading & CommunicationESL, Languages, Humanities, Philosophy & SpeechHealth and Human ServicesMathematicsNatural Sciences & EngineeringPsychology and SociologySocial Sciences
Associate in Arts 1145 AA Degree 60 AgricultureArt, Design and Performing ArtsBusiness, Computer and Engineering TechnologyEnglish, Reading & CommunicationESL, Languages, Humanities, Philosophy & SpeechHealth and Human ServicesMathematicsNatural Sciences & EngineeringPsychology and SociologySocial Sciences
Music Industry Certificate 5124 Certificate 29 Music Career Programs Art, Design and Performing Arts
Visual Communication (AAS) 5458 AAS Degree 66 Computer Technology Career Programs Art, Design and Performing Arts