As federal student aid policies increasingly emphasize the financial value of degree programs, students may feel pressure to focus only on classes required for their degrees. But art classes can offer more than another box to check.
Students should take advantage of art classes as forms of self-expression and recreation rather than viewing them only as credit requirements.
Art is a cornerstone of humanity. It connects people through shared experiences and emotions. Whether through painting, music or dance, art is something nearly everyone engages with in some form.
Art student Zoe Cooper sketches a still-life piece for her beginning drawing class with Professor Castano at LBCC on Oct. 20. Beginning Drawing is one of several art courses offered at LBCC that allows students to explore different forms of art. (Sydney Lowe)
While some people may feel intimidated by art because they believe they are not talented enough or do not plan to make a career out of it, there are still many benefits to engaging with art recreationally.
Research highlighted by the American Psychological Association has found that engagement with the arts can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, help protect against cognitive decline and promote social connection.
A World Health Organization review also found that dance can improve balance and functional mobility for people with Parkinson’s disease, while music can support language development in children.
Gerardo Monterrubio, professor of Ceramics at Long Beach City College, expressed how he has witnessed art connecting with non-art students.
“I have a lot of nursing and psychology students. I see them learning how to connect with something every step of the way. You have all these decisions to make sure your piece survives.” Monterrubio said. “This doesn’t belong to academia, it belongs to humanity. Don’t take the class for credits, take it to connect with something.”
Many community college students approach each semester by taking only the courses required for their degree and keeping their workload as light as possible. But would an additional class feel like such a burden if it were something they genuinely enjoyed.
“I don’t have time in my schedule for an art class,” some students might argue. LBCC offers a semester-long beginning drawing course that meets once a week for an hour and a half, with the rest of the course online.
Students do not necessarily need to enroll in an art class to engage with the arts on campus.
Drummer Josh Shetland jams during a Live Sound Production class in G-149 on Oct. 22. The class was testing a sound system. (Dayne Uyehara)
The LBCC art program displays student artwork in the Building K courtyard, giving students an opportunity to see work created by their peers. The college also hosts events such as an upcoming dance showcase, where students can watch and connect with the work other students are creating.
Art helps people connect with themselves, with others and with the world around them. Even at a time when education policy increasingly places emphasis on the economic return of a degree, students should still give themselves the opportunity to create something simply because they enjoy it.
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