Delivery: A mix of daytime, evening, and online courses.
Start: Fall, Spring, or Summer Semester, Full- or Part-Time.


About the Program

Century College offers a comprehensive Associate of Fine Arts Degree in Fine Art (AFA in Fine Art). The Century College Fine Art Department faculty and coursework seek to empower and prepare students for the rigor of a 4-year Art or Design education.

The AFA Fine Arts degree curriculum closely resembles that of the first two years of a baccalaureate Art or Design Degree at a 4-year college or university. This reinforces a smooth transition into a Bachelor’s degree at one of our transfer partner institutions.

The AFA Fine Arts degree classes present a unified foundation of essential knowledge that is required for success in upper-class work after transferring from an Art or Design major to a BFA or BA Degree. Our classes challenge students to view and analyze diverse approaches to art and design in contemporary culture while also researching traditions from past centuries. These opportunities are useful to students interested in careers in art or design, as well as students simply wishing to enhance their visual acuity and stretch their conceptual abilities.

Our instructors are active professionals in their fields. We bring this body of knowledge and personal experience to each of our students, daily demonstrating what a creative life in the arts and design looks like - and that it is indeed possible. We offer a partnership - a mentoring relationship that will help each of our students fulfill their unique goals in the arts.

Art Transfer Pathway AFA Degree

The Art Transfer Pathway AFA degree offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an associate degree whose course credits will directly transfer to designated Art bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities. The entire curriculum has been carefully designed so that you can complete a specific associate degree at a Minnesota State College and transfer to a Minnesota State University to earn a bachelor’s degree. Transfer Pathways can be a great resource for saving time and money as you work toward graduation.

Minnesota State universities include Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University, Moorhead; Southwest Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University; and Winona State University.

Transfer Pathway degrees may transfer to colleges and universities outside of the Minnesota State system, such as private and out-of-state schools. It is highly recommended that students interested in this possibility contact their intended transfer school, advisor/counselor, and program instructors for academic planning assistance.


Planning for Your Program

Transferology - Check how your courses transfer in and out from Century College through Transferology.


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Cost & Financial Aid

As a two-year public community and technical college, Century College receives funding from the State of Minnesota, keeping tuition rates significantly lower than private colleges and universities. With affordable tuition rates and financial aid and scholarship opportunities, our students avoid student loan debt.

Financial Aid

Century College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and our programs qualify for financial aid including grants, loans, and college work-study. Eligibility for financial aid is determined annually based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Century College’s Federal School Code is 010546.

Scholarship Opportunities

Each year, the Century College Foundation awards more than $300,000 in scholarships to Century College students involved in several areas of study. Students are encouraged to create an account and apply for scholarships online.

Tuition Cost per Credit Comparison: Century College $206.41, University of MN - TC $555.13, Private Colleges & Universities $1,416.

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Art student surrounded by paintings in the art room.

Related Programs

    Program Faculty

  • Experience: Neil Johnston began teaching college-level studio classes in 2001. Starting at Century College in 2006, Johnston teaches Painting 1, 2D Design, and Drawing 1 - focusing on the creative development of students in the Foundation years of a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Johnston’s studio practice includes painting and music – his creative investigations often combining the two experiences. Neil’s work is in several corporate collections including local Medtronic Inc. Hines International, and Orfield Laboratories, and he has several murals and public works in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area. Century College is proud to include Johnston works on campus - the Library ‘Lanterns’ and West Campus Computer Lab ‘Glass Wall Mural’ both completed collaboratively by Johnston and fellow faculty member, John Kothera. Neil Johnston brings this diverse and active creative process to the classroom, sharing the intersection of visual arts and music, and his creative process with his students.
    Education: MFA, Visual Studies/Painting, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
    Neil Johnston
    Faculty/Program Director
    Bio
    Art
  • Experience: Melissa has been an educator for over 20 years. For 15 years she led summer programs at the Burren College of Art in Co. Clare Ireland. Recently she has served as a mentor at Minneapolis College of Art and Design and San Francisco Art Institute’s MFA Programs. Melissa is currently a full-time faculty member in Art and Gender Studies and Exhibitions Director at Century. It was through her position at Century that she partnered with a local Somali Artist to create the Young East African Artists Project. Funded by an MN State Arts Board Arts Learning Grant the project provided opportunities for high school students from East African immigrant communities to learn photography as a creative tool. The program culminated in an exhibition at the Quater Gallery at the University of Minnesota Department of Art.
    Education: Masters of Fine Arts in Visual Art, San Francisco Art Institute
    Notable: Melissa’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally. She is a recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative and Creative Support Grants, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Grant, and Rochester Art Center’s Jerome Emerging Artist Award. She has self-published three artist books, two of which are in the Rosemary Furtak Artist Book Collection at the Walker Art Center.
    Melissa Borman
    Faculty/Exhibition Coordinator
    Bio
    Art
  • Experience: Dr Arney Johnston has more than 10 years experience teaching and 25 years experience in the museum sector.
    Teaching Approach: “I am committed to creating a learning environment that is both rigorous and engaging. My passion for the subject encourages engagement at many different levels. I am here to help you advance in your academic career!”
    Education: Bachelor of Arts - University of Minnesota - Twin Cities; Masters of Art - University of Ulster - Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK); PhD - University of Ulster - Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
    Notable: Dr. Megan Arney Johnston is a curator, writer, and educator who utilizes socially engaged practices to connect with audiences. She is interested in where creativity converges with visual culture and civil engagement. Her passion is focusing on creating inclusive museum environments for audiences. She loves working to connect communities and museums. She has presented on her research at the College Art Association (USA), Universities Art Association of Canada, Association for Art History (UK), and several symposiums nationally and internationally. She divides her time between Ireland and Minnesota/USA. Her upcoming book, Slow Curating: A Practical Guide for Socially Engaged Curating, will be published by Routledge UK in Autumn 2023.
    Megan Johnston
    Faculty
    Bio
    Art
  • Experience: After earning her teaching degree and license, Mandy worked in the K-12 system as an Art Teacher from 2010-2022. She has taught in Winona, Rochester, Edina, Bloomington, Anoka, Minnetonka, St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Michael, and Champlin in this time, and has worked in elementary, middle, and high schools. Mandy began working at Century College in the fall of 2022 as a Lab Assistant for the art department.
    Teaching Approach: “I believe all humans have creativity inside of them, it just presents in varying degrees. Being creative is an ability or skill that can be nurtured and learned, as well as neglected or lost, and my approach to teaching is to place value on real world and every day skills. Artistic things are cathartic to teach and learn, but in the end, we’re all just people who need to be able to clean up our messes and work/interact respectfully with one another.”
    Education: B.S. Art Education from Winona State University
    Hobbies: gardening, crafting, traveling, being outdoors, watching horror movies, and spending time with my family
    Mandy Kauphusman
    Lab Technician
    Bio
    Art