Our Fine Art Certificate Programs Help You Discover Your Focus in Fine Art
The League’s intensive Certificate Program is designed to cultivate growth of the individual’s talent within the League’s renowned atelier system. The Certificate Program consists of a prescribed course of study leading to a Certificate of Completion. The prescribed course of study is a dedicated two- or four-year plan of intensive study, tailored to meet professional and personal artistic interests. This semester-based program allows for two starting periods: September and January.
Two- or Four-Year Certificate Program
In the Two- or Four-Year Certificate Program, students concentrate in one of the following fine arts disciplines: Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Drawing or Mixed Media. Students in the program fulfill core requirements that consist of a primary class in their discipline, plus a secondary, class in any discipline. Students select their core classes from the League’s schedule of classes. Additionally, students may elect to take supplemental League workshops, lectures, and sequential courses, as part of their Certificate Program. In any Certificate Program, students enroll in a minimum of 22 hours of class time per week. Students accepted into the two-year program must have at least two years of previous fine art study (see eligibility and requirements).
Students in the Certificate Program benefit from:
• Ongoing educational and professional development support from the League Student Affairs Department.
• An official certificate authenticating successful completion of a formalized art curriculum.
• A gallery exhibition with all students completing the Certificate Program that year.
• A wealth of other programs at the League: intensive workshops; 12-week, goal focused “sequential” classes; exhibition and public art opportunities; and free art history lectures, artist talks, and critiques.
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Core Requirements for a Certificate of Completion
Four-Year Certificate of Completion
8 semesters of 1 primary class in chosen major discipline.
• Major Disciplines: Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Drawing or Mixed Media.*
• Must be a Monday to Friday class offered in the AM, PM, or EVE session. 8 semesters of secondary class in any discipline.
• Selected from any full time or part time class from the League schedule of classes.
Satisfactory progress reports from class instructors each semester over the 4 years.
Satisfactory attendance reports each semester over the 4 years.
Two-Year Certificate of Completion
4 semesters of 1 primary class in chosen major discipline.
• Major Disciplines: Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Drawing or Mixed Media.*
• Must be a Monday to Friday class offered in the AM, PM, or EVE session. 4 semesters of secondary class in any discipline.
• Selected from any full time or part time class from the League schedule of classes.
Satisfactory progress reports from class instructors each semester over the 2 years.
Satisfactory attendance reports each semester over the 2 years.
Tuition
Tuition is a calculation of your primary and secondary core requirements and varies based on your class selection. Tuition does not include non-refundable school fees. Both tuition and school fees are subject to increase. Students are responsible to register and pay tuition at the start of each semester.
The Certificate of Completion is not a degree or a diploma.
*I-20 Eligibility: International Students and Veterans who use their VA Educational Benefits are only permitted to concentrate in the Four-Year Painting, Printmaking, or Sculpture Certificate Program. Concentrations in Mixed Media, Drawing, and the Two-Year Certificate Program are not approved by the VA or SEVP. The Art Students League of New York is approved by New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs to accept students who wish to use their Veterans Education Benefits. The League is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant, alien students. VA students are subject to the specific refund policies of the Department of Veterans Affairs regulation [38 CFR 21.4255]. For more information, please email [email protected].
Eligibility & Requirements
A certificate program student with instructor Barney Hodes in our clay sculpture studio.
In order to be eligible for the Prescribed Course of Study Certificate Program you must fulfill these requirements:
Statement of Intent and C.V.
A Statement of Intent describes your reason for pursuing a Certificate of Completion with the Art Students League. You are encouraged to include information about yourself, your objectives, and your interests that may not be immediately apparent from a review of your portfolio and application.
Artwork Submission
Online artwork submission of 6–10 jpg images should be included in the application. It is advised that applicants choose work appropriate to their chosen program.
Transcripts
• An official transcript is required to show your previous studies in the fine arts.
A degree or diploma is not necessary. Official Transcripts from the Art Students
League are accepted.
• Applicants to the two-year Certificate Program must demonstrate a minimum of
2 academic school year’s study from a post-secondary Fine Arts Program
• Applicants to the four-year Certificate Program must demonstrate previous fine
arts study from studio classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking or
mixed media.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required.
International Student Language Proficiency
If you are an international student, a good working knowledge of English is required.
Applying to the Certificate Program
Fall 2020
Frequently Asked Questions:
• My understanding is that a student takes one Monday-Friday class and an additional class. Is that correct?
Yes.
An annual estimate looks like $5,500 for tuition and fees (fees make up $1,000 of the total).
Yes. If the students is an international student, the I-20 would have to be updated.
One semester. There is an add/drop period for the first month of the semester (which would be September or January).
Only in September and January.
Yes, you may work only 20 hours per week during the year and 40 hours during annual vacation.
Yes, but you must also submit an I-20 application in addition to being accepted into the program.
Unfortunately no. This is because you were not matriculated into the Certificate Program at that point, and therefore did not receive attendance progress reports. Your study before the Certificate Program is within the general League open enrollment.
We ask applicants to demonstrate some previous fine arts study, and seriousness of intent. This can be shown in the form of transcripts from another university, college, or private non-accredited institutions like the League. If you have previously studied here you can request a transcript from our registrar. If you do not have previous fine arts study, or informal study without a transcript, you may provide letters of recommendations in lieu of transcripts. These may or may not be accepted; it will depend on the panel review and your portfolio.