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Course Catalog
Section F · Visual & Performing ArtsPre-AP · AP On-Ramp
Pre-AP Arts - Visual Arts
UC A-G approved Pre-AP Arts - Visual Arts course delivered fully online through immersive VR and AI-enhanced instruction.
1 Year Online · Remote / Hybrid / In-Person Visual Arts Grades 9, 10 10 credits
Pre-AP Skill System
- Sustained investigation
- Selected works
- Written evidence and process documentation
SofAI Study Studio
- Portfolio critique wall
- Process and revision log
- Artist statement coach
Proof + EDU
- Sustained investigation
- Selected-work reflection
- Revision evidence
Pre-AP → AP On-Ramp
Pre-AP Arts - Visual Arts → AP 2-D Art and Design
Your on-ramp to AP 2-D Art and Design — the same SofAI arts mentor and the same sustained-investigation portfolio habits.
What this course builds toward AP 2-D Art and Design
- Sustained creative investigation and inquiry
- Process documentation and deliberate revision
- Critique, reflection, and artist-statement writing
- Portfolio habits AP Art and Design rewards
Same SofAI expert, start to finish: Avery Chen 🎨 coaches both this Pre-AP course and AP 2-D Art and Design, so the mentor, method, and rigor carry straight through.
Pre-AP → AP Pathway
Pre-AP Arts - Visual Arts → AP 2-D Art and Design Pathway
AP 2D Art and Design becomes a complete AP command center with a specialized SofAI tutor, exam-mode practice, targeted feedback, portfolio evidence, offline study, and EduCoin progress.
Skill-Building Practice
Scaffolded practice that builds the exact skills AP 2-D Art and Design will test, at a foundational pace.
Specialized SofAI Tutor
The same course-aware SofAI coach who teaches the AP course, meeting you where you are now.
Offline Ready
Study packets and spaced review designed for commutes and low-bandwidth practice.
Your SofAI Expert (Pre-AP → AP)
Avery Chen
AP Art Portfolio and Sustained Investigation Mentor
I can help you clarify your inquiry, critique visual decisions, document revision, and write portfolio evidence with confidence. I also understand this course's Score 5 path: Make the investigation visible. Document revision decisions.
Ask
Open a course-aware tutor who knows the AP course this leads into, and the foundations you need first.
Practice
Request scaffolded, AP-style MCQ, FRQ, studio, lab, or analysis prompts at a foundational level.
Connect
Switch into SofAI mode to connect this course to your AP pathway, transcript, goals, and EduCoin evidence.
Section FUC A‑G Requirement
Visual & Performing Arts — 1 year required
One yearlong course (or two semester courses) in dance, drama/theater, music, visual arts, or interdisciplinary arts. Courses must be UC-approved and meet state visual/performing arts content standards.
Why This Matters for College Admission
Arts courses develop creativity and design thinking — skills increasingly valued in tech and business. Many selective UCs view a second or third arts year as a positive differentiator.
What You'll Learn
Develop a sustained investigation portfolio demonstrating artistic growth
Master compositional principles: form, color, texture, space, and perspective
Create works in multiple media including drawing, painting, printmaking, and digital tools
Analyze art history and connect contemporary work to historical movements
Critique peers' work using formal analysis vocabulary
Prepare a portfolio for AP Art & Design or college-level art programs
Course Structure
Semester 1, Unit 1Weeks 1–5
Foundations
- Core vocabulary and concepts
- Foundational skills
- Context-setting activities
Semester 1, Unit 2Weeks 6–12
Core Skills
- Skill-building exercises
- Primary assessments
- Collaborative projects
Semester 2, Unit 1Weeks 13–18
Advanced Concepts
- Deeper conceptual application
- Research and analysis
- Peer-review activities
Semester 2, Unit 2Weeks 19–24
Synthesis & Mastery
- Cross-unit integration
- Final capstone project
- Portfolio submission
Lectures & Reviews
Curated YouTube videos for Pre-AP Arts - Visual ArtsHand-picked from credible educators — AP teachers, university lectures, and Khan Academy. Click a thumbnail to play in place; cookies are blocked until you click.
SpecialistSmarthistory
Art historical analysis (painting), a basic introduction using Goya's Third of May, 1808
Open on YouTubeSpecialistMiacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel
What Is Art? - Defining Visual Art and All Its Forms
Open on YouTubeSpecialistArt Class with Dave Dees
🎨 Master the 7 Principles of Design: Essential Art Lesson for All Ages! 🖌️
Open on YouTubeSpecialistKeshArt
What Are Even The “FUNDAMENTALS OF DRAWING!?”😤(How to Practice them?)
Open on YouTubeSpecialistDrawing & Painting - The Virtual Instructor
The Drawing Exercise that Changed My Life
Open on YouTubePrerequisites & Requirements
Open to qualifying students in grades 9, 10; no prerequisites required
All students complete a placement conversation with our admissions team before enrollment is confirmed. Questions? Contact admissions.