In Georgia, Fine Arts education includes the study of dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.
The Georgia Fine Arts Diploma Seal and Career Pathways were developed for each subject area and are guides for planning high school elective choices. The Georgia STEAM certification program began in the 2016-17 school year for STEAM schools and programs K-12. A wide variety of elective courses are offered at Georgia schools at the secondary level in dance, music, theatre, visual and media arts and are chosen by local systems and schools to benefit their students.
In addition to classroom instruction, there are many activities that help students master Fine Arts content and skills such as local, regional and national arts shows, performances and contests. Community arts partnerships and arts integration into core curricular areas are also part of students Fine Arts education opportunities. A list of resources is at the bottom of this webpage.
Fine Arts Standards
The Georgia Standards of Excellence have been created in Media Arts, Visual Art, and Theatre and are voluntary for the 2017-18 school year. Full adoption begins in the 2018-19 school year.
The GA Performance Standards are still in effect for Music and Dance which will go through the revision process in the 2017-18 school year.
Georgia Standards of Excellence
Crosswalks from GPS and GSE
Georgia Fine Arts Course Numbers and Course Descriptions
Fine Arts course names, state numbers, and course descriptions for all five subject areas are listed below. Teachers should use these course descriptions to guide instruction in addition to the standards for their area.
Fine Arts Pathways, Diploma Seal, and STEAM Certification
Georgia Fine Arts High School Pathways
Georgia public high school students may complete a Fine Arts Pathway in Dance, Music, Theatre, or Visual Art by taking a series of 3 credits in one fine arts subject area.
Georgia Fine Arts Diploma Seal
The creative industries are a 29 billion dollar sector of Georgia's economy and employ more than 200,000 arts professionals. The goal of the Fine Arts Diploma Seal is to create students who are prepared for college and career in these fine arts related industries.
In the 2016-2017 school year 1467 students received the Fine Arts Diploma Seal.
The application deadline for the 2017-2018 school year is September 15th, 2017. Schools who had their applications accepted previously do not need to resubmit unless the contact information or application process has changed.
GA STEAM Certification for Schools - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics
Arts Opportunities for Students
State Arts Learning Organizations
National Arts Learning Organizations
Helpful Links