Pratt seeks to instill in all graduates aesthetic judgment, professional knowledge, collaborative skills, and technical expertise.
With a firm grounding in the liberal arts and sciences, a Pratt education blends theory with creative application in preparing graduates to become leaders in their professions.
Pratt enrolls a diverse group of highly talented and dedicated students, challenging them to achieve their full potential.
Industrial Design Alumni Speak at BKLYN Designs May 9
Pratt's 119th Commencement To Be Held May 9
2008 Pratt Show to be Held May 6-8 at Manhattan Center
Two Pratt Professors Awarded Guggenheim Fellowships
Annual Manhattan Runway Show of Senior Fashion Designs May 7
Pratt Institute will present “Breaking In,” a panel of five Pratt alumni discussing how they are making their mark on the design world, led by Julie Taraska, a contributor to Interior Design, at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at St. Ann’s Warehouse on 38 Water Street in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. The event is part of the sixth annual BKLYN DESIGNS™ show presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and featuring designers and manufacturers of contemporary furnishings.
Pratt Institute will present degrees to approximately 1,000 bachelor's and master's degree candidates during its 119th Commencement at 10 a.m. on May 9 on The Grand Mall of the Brooklyn campus. The Institute also will award honorary degrees to architect Zaha Hadid, dancer/choreographer Judith Jamison, and arts administrator Thomas J. Cahill, who will deliver Pratt’s Commencement address at approximately 11 a.m. It will also honor 2008-2009 Distinguished Teacher Floyd Hughes, adjunct associate professor, Communications Design.
Pratt Institute will present 2008 Pratt Show, an annual juried exhibition of exceptional design work by 300 of Pratt’s graduating students from May 6 - 8 at The Manhattan Center, located at 311 West 34th Street. The show is free and open to the public and will be open on Tuesday, May 6 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, May 7 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m; and Thursday, May 8 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Pratt Institute professors Joe Fyfe and Thad Ziolkowski were recently selected as two of 190 to receive 2008 Guggenheim Fellowships by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Fyfe is a Brooklyn-based painter who is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Painting in the Fine Arts Department. Ziolkowski, a Brooklyn-based writer, is Associate Professor of English and Humanities and Director of the Writing Program.
Pratt Institute will present to the fashion world the creative talents of its senior class during the annual Pratt Fashion Show on May 7, 2008. There will be two shows – one at 2 p.m. and one at 5:30 p.m. – at The Altman Building located at 135 West 18th Street in Manhattan. The 2008 Pratt Fashion Show is sponsored by the Importer Support Program of the Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated.
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200 willoughby avenue
brooklyn, ny 11205
144 west 14th street
new york, ny 10011
(718) 636-3600
info@pratt.edu
Applications will continue to be accepted on a space available basis.
Space is limited, online registration is advised.
At this time your 1st choice of elective may be full, don't forget to list your 2nd & 3rd elective choice!
Fall and Spring Pre-College programs at Pratt are for commuter students, and are held on weekends at the Manhattan campus. The Summer program is a month-long intensive for both commuter and resident students.
Each summer, over 400 high school students seize the opportunity to experience college-level study in Pratt Institute’s PreCollege program. Students are immersed in a program of art, design, architecture, creative writing, or critical & visual studies, modeled after Pratt’s undergraduate offerings. Upon completion of the program, students earn four elective college credits.
The summer PreCollege program consists of four classes, as well as lectures and cultural and social events. Students pick one of the credit-bearing electives offered; and are automatically enrolled in a Foundation class (also credit-bearing,) an Art History /Appreciation class, and a Portfolio Development class, (both are non-credit, pass /fail courses) to complement their elective of choice.
Start your future now! Earn 4 college credits.
Classes begin February 2
High school students have an invaluable opportunity to sharpen their portfolios, get a taste of college life, and earn college credits.
All classes held on weekends at the Pratt Manhattan location in Chelsea: 144 West 14th Street (bet. 6th & 7th Ave.)
There are two types of scholarships:
Merit Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Your application and slides must be postmarked by the April 1st deadline to qualify.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
All Merit Scholarships are for tuition only; they do not cover supplies or the campus residence package (room and board.)
Please note: even if you are applying for a scholarship, you must include the initial $225 non-refundable deposit and application fee in order to be considered for the program, and to hold your space upon acceptance into the program.
The Black Alumni at Pratt (BAP) sponsor a full scholarship program for New York State resident minority students. Your application and slides must be postmarked by the April 1st deadline to qualify. Please contact BAP at 718-636-3479 for more information.
note: Previous PreCollege participants are not eligible for these scholarships.
The application fee and deposit are non-refundable.
Before June 1:
Refund of payments made minus the $25 application fee and the $200 deposit.
Between June 1 and June 25:
50% refund minus the $25 application fee and the $200 deposit.
As of June 25:
No refund
Course Cancellation
All courses are subject to minimum enrollment. When courses are withdrawn or cancelled by Pratt for any reason, you may transfer to another course or receive a full refund. Pratt Institute reserves the right to cancel any class for which there is insufficient enrollment and to withdraw or modify course offerings. Course location, fees, and instructors may also be changed, when necessary.
All International students planning to study in the summer program, must download (below) or request from us, the International Student Forms.
You may not study in Pratt's PreCollege summer program without an F-1 student visa. In order to request an F-1 student visa from the American Embassy in your country, you will first need an I-20 from Pratt.
As a first step, please download and complete the International Student Forms.
Mail the completed forms and all requested supplemental materials to our Brooklyn office:
Pratt Institute - PreCollege Program
ISC Bldg. Room 205
200 Willoughby Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Please note:
All International Student Forms must be fully completed in order for us to send you your SEVIS I-20 form, so that you may then apply for an F-1 student visa.
The deadline for all I-20 requests is May 1.
The PreCollege Manhattan Program for commuter students, and the Brooklyn Program for commuters, are still accepting applications. (Please carefully consider your 2nd & 3rd elective choices in the event that your 1st choice is full.)
BY MAIL:
Download and complete the application form and send with a letter of recommendation, printed on your school’s letterhead, from your art teacher or guidance counselor; along with a brief letter of intent. (Your letter of intent should state why you wish to participate in Pratt's PreCollege Program. You may also mention any other extra-curricular activities in which you take part.) Please indicate your credit card information on the application form or enclose a check for $225 (includes $25 application fee and $200 deposit, please note: both the application fee and deposit are NON-REFUNDABLE.) Checks should include the student’s name and Social Security Number (if applicable) and be made payable to Pratt Institute. For payment by credit card, please make sure to include the name as it appears on the credit card and its expiration date. Pratt accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Please be sure to indicate which campus location and your elective preferences on the application form. (Note: students requiring housing must register for the Brooklyn campus.) Detailed information about the program will be sent to students after receipt of the deposit and letter of recommendation.
Mailing Address:
Pre-College Program
Pratt Institute
Center for Continuing & Professional Studies
ISC Building, Room 205
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205-9975
by email:
by phone: 718-636-3453
by fax: 718-399-4410
in person:
You can come to the above address between 10am–3pm, Monday–Friday. If you wish to meet with a staff representative, please call ahead for an appointment.
Registration is at the Pratt Manhattan location only.
Pratt Manhattan
144 West 14 Street
Between 6th and 7th Avenues
Call 212-647-7199 for directions.
IN PERSON
Monday–Thursday 10 AM–4:30 PM
Friday 10 AM–2 PM
BY MAIL
Fill out the form and mail with check; money order; VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number with expiration date to our office.
Pratt Institute Center for Continuing
and Professional Studies
144 West 14 Street, Room 209
New York, New York 10011-2700
BY FAX
Fill out the registration form and fax to 212-367-2489. Be sure to include your VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number with expiration date.
BY TELEPHONE
Call 212-647-7199 with your VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number and expiration date.
Monday–Thursday 10 AM–4:30 PM
Friday 10 AM–3:30 PM
Click on a link below and scroll to the right to view the course description.
The Pre-College program consists of four classes, as well as lectures and cultural and social events. Students carry a full schedule Monday through Friday with two classes each day, starting at 9:00 am and ending at 4:50 pm. There is a break for lunch. Events may be scheduled any time after class and on weekends. All aspects of the Pre-College program are mandatory, unless stated otherwise.
Students choose one of the Elective course offerings, and are automatically enrolled in a Foundation class, an Art History class, and a Portfolio Development class, to complement their elective of choice.
The Elective and Foundation courses meet three times a week (M/W/TH.) Students receive a letter grade for these courses, and 2 college credits each.
Art History and Portfolio Development are non-credit, pass/fail courses. Art History meets on Tuesdays and Fridays, and includes fieldtrips to Museums. Portfolio Development meets on Tuesdays.
Click on a link below and then scroll to the right to find out more about these additional courses.
• High school students who are at least 16 years old and have completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year. (Maximum age is 18 years old.)
• Self-motivated and responsible students willing to immerse themselves in college-level study with other students who have similar interests.
• All levels of experience welcome.
• To explore the possibility of studying art, design, architecture, creative writing, or cultural studies.
• To confirm that this is the subject you want to study in college.
• To develop your skills through college-level coursework, using a variety of tools, materials, and techniques.
• To develop a body of work for your portfolio for admission to college.
• To meet other students who share your interests.
• To get a preview of the college experience.
The Fall & Spring weekend program for commuters is offered at our Pratt Manhattan building in Chelsea, NYC.
The Summer PreCollege Program is a month long intensive for both commuter and resident students. Pratt offers two NYC locations for the summer program: one in Manhattan -for commuter students only, and one on Pratt's Brooklyn campus. Students who attend classes in Brooklyn may stay at residence halls on campus.
Pratt Manhattan
CCPS - 2nd Floor
144 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011-2700
212-647-7199
CCPS-PreCollege
Pratt Institute
ISC Bldg. room 205
200 Willoughby Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718-636-3453
Pratt at Munson-Williams-Proctor, an extension campus of Pratt Institute, is located in the midst of Central New York’s “Cultural Corridor” in Utica, N.Y. With its modern studios and classrooms and new residence halls, it provides the optimum learning and living environment for aspiring young artists. The setting is urban, yet intimate and accommodating to students who prefer the more tranquil Upstate atmosphere. Student activities include short trips to the Adirondacks and Cooperstown, both less than an hour’s drive.
PreCollege summer elective courses offered by Pratt at MWP include: Ceramics, Dance, Digital Imaging & Photography, Fine Arts/Painting & Drawing, Graphic Design, and Jewelry/Metal Arts.
For further information or to register, contact Pratt at MWP directly:
Pratt at Munson-Williams-Proctor
310 Genesee Street
Utica, New York 13502
Attention: Pre-College Summer Program
Phone: 800-755-8920
Deadlines:
April 1: The completed application form, along with the $25 application fee and $200 deposit are due (please note that the initial $225 payment is nonrefundable.) After this date, applications will be accepted only if there is space available in the program. Since many classes fill quickly, we strongly encourage you to apply early in order to get your first choice for your elective course.
April 1: Scholarship Deadline
April 1: International Student Forms are due (for I-20 requests, required for all non-US students)
May 15: Full payment of all tuition and fees are due
June 1: $25 late fee if payment isn’t received
June 15: $50 late fee if payment isn’t received
June 30: $75 late fee if payment isn’t received
Manhattan Campus:
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
12noon - 4pm
Brooklyn Campus:
Monday, July 7, 2008
Residential Hall Check-in:
9am - 12noon
Program Orientation:
1pm - 4pm
Tuesday, July 8:
Both campuses, classes begin (mandatory)
Friday, August 1:
Closing exhibition and reception (mandatory)—located in Brooklyn for both Manhattan and Brooklyn students; classes end and students check out of residence halls.
Pratt Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical handicap, or marital status.
Accreditation
Pratt Institute is fully accredited by the following organizations: Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), and the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB). Pratt is a member of AICAD.
Pratt prides itself on its unique twenty-five-acre, green campus with century-old trees and leading contemporary sculptures. Situated in the historic Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn—a quiet residential neighborhood of nineteenth century brownstones—
the campus is close to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Fort Greene Park, and Manhattan.
Pratt's Brooklyn campus is open to the community, and the immediate neighborhood is home to many Pratt graduates, faculty, and staff.
The Pre-College Residence Package includes three meals per day on weekdays, with brunch and dinner service on weekends. In addition, there are many restaurants and shops within walking distance of the campus.
Resident students have a curfew of 11 pm, unless participating in a Pratt-sponsored event or field trip led by a chaperone. After the event, students are taken directly to their residence halls for the night. There may also be visits to museums or galleries with art history teachers on Sunday during the day. When neither in class or participating in an activity, resident students are allowed to come and go from campus until curfew.
We encourage parents and students to agree prior to the program on the proper conduct of the student at all times, whether during supervised activities or free time.
Introduction to Architecture:
What is Architecture? What is it like to be an Architect? This course answers these questions, focusing on subjects such as design, structures, and the future; explored through design projects, field trips, presentations and class discussions.
11 Sessions: Feb. 2 - April 26
Saturdays: 9:30am-1pm
ARCH 100S 2 credits
Tuition: $565.
Registration fee: $20.
Materials fee: $20 payable to instructor at first class
Architectural Design Studio:
Students will be assigned design problems and work with the instructor to develop solutions. Students take into account basic notions such as space, form, and communication, while developing solutions through drawings and models. This course must be taken with or after Introduction to Architecture.
9 Sessions: Feb. 16 - April 26
Saturdays: 1:30pm-4:30pm
PMPC 107 non-credit (2.7 C.E.U.s)
Tuition: $305.
Registration fee: $20.
Materials fee: $20 payable to instructor at first class
Foundation Art:
An intensive studio program featuring interdisciplinary classes in color, drawing, and 3-D design, supplemented by field trips. Drawing from the nude figure and other subjects provides the spine of the studio core.
11 Sessions: Feb. 2 - April 26
Saturdays: 9:30am-1pm
FDN 100S 2 credits
Tuition: $565.
Registration fee: $20.
Fine Arts: Painting & Drawing:
This studio course enhances perceptual and aesthetic awareness through the creation of fine art. Observational drawing, including nude figure studies, is included in the curriculum; as well as visits to museums, galleries and artist's studios.
11 Sessions: Feb. 2 - April 26
Saturdays: 1:30pm-5pm
FAU 100S 2 credits
Tuition: $565.
Registration fee: $20.
Media Arts/Photography:
The photograph as a fine print is the focus of this studio course. (You must have access to a 35mm camera.) A broad based knowledge of black & white photography will be acheived through studies of camera operations, lighting, and darkroom procedures. Exposing & developing film, making contact prints, enlarging and finishing photos will be explored, as well as specific shooting techniques. Extensive fieldwork is an integral part of this studio course.
11 Sessions: Feb. 3 - April 27
Sundays: 9:30am-1pm
PHOT 103S 2 credits
Tuition: $565.
Registration fee: $20.
Portfolio Development:
The goal of this studio course is to provide you with advice as well as practice for developing your art portfolio. Please bring examples of your work, and an 18"x24" drawing pad and charcoal to the first class. Please note: Nude figure drawing is included.
Section 1:
10 Sessions: Feb. 3 - April 13
Sundays: 9:30am-12:30pm
Section 2:
10 Sessions: Feb. 3 - April 13
Sundays: 1pm-4pm
PMPC 114 non-credit (3.0 C.E.U.s)
Tuition: $325.
Registration fee: $20.
Introduction to Creative Writing:
Through reading assignments, writing exercises, and critical responses to peer and professional writing, students will develop basic skills in expository and creative writing; such as form, narrative, and dialog. Genres covered include poetry, fiction, and plays.
11 Sessions: Feb. 2 - April 26
Saturdays: 1:30pm-5pm
ENGL 100S 2 credits
Tuition: $565.
Registration fee: $20.
Students in this program receive the grade of A, B, C, D, or F. The grade becomes part of Pratt Institute’s permanent file. An official transcript is available, for a fee, for the purpose of admission or transfer to other institutions.
To order transcripts, please visit:
www.gettranscript.com
Successful completion of Fall and/or Spring credit-bearing elective courses will earn students 2 elective college credits per course.
The summer program consists of four classes. The elective and Foundation courses are credit-bearing. Upon successful completion of both courses, the student will receive a total of 4 elective college credits on their transcript. (Each course is worth 2 credits.)
The two additional courses, Art History/Appreciation and Portfolio Development, are non-credit, pass /fail courses.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Pre-College Student
FROM: Pre-College Coordinator
CC: Parents
RE: Common Sense
As a Pre-College student you will have to make many decisions that will directly affect your time at Pratt. Please use common sense. Let me give you an example of something that happens every year: A student will take a nap after dinner, fall into a deep sleep, and miss curfew. The RA (Residential Advisor) on duty will go looking for the student and find the student fast asleep in their room. The RA will give the groggy-eyed student notice that they have missed curfew and will have to come see me. The student will come to my office the following day to plead their case. The student makes the argument that the curfew violation should not count because she had been in her room, and not out somewhere causing trouble. To this I will say something like, “It doesn’t matter if you were in the building or in Midtown.” The point is that the student missed curfew because she did not take responsibility and think through the situation; she could have set her alarm clock. When this idea is mentioned to the student, the reaction is usually something like, “I didn’t think of that.” However, a lack of common sense will never be a valid excuse in any situation.
The second phrase that I hear a lot is: “I didn’t know.” Although ignorance may be bliss, it does not absolve someone from responsibility. Please familiarize yourself with the Student Life & Academic Policy and read all information given to you by the various Pratt offices. Do this not to find loopholes, but to understand what kind of learning environment Pratt wishes to maintain. If you do not understand something or need clarification just ask me—that’s what I’m here for.
Pratt Institute is a great place to be, and I am here to help you make the most of it. I can be emailed at precollege@pratt.edu or reached at 718 399 4533. During the program I can be found in the CCPS office in the ISC building on the 2nd floor, room 210, my door is always open for you.
I look forward to a great summer!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Kisseleff
PreCollege Coordinator
TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR PARENTS
Marriott Hotel Saddle Down (Bed & Breakfast)
333 Adam Street 266 Washington Ave
Brooklyn, New York (between Willoughby & Dekalb Ave)
(718) 246-7000 Brooklyn, New York
(718) 399-7913
International Center Garden Green (Bed & Breakfast)
38 West 88th St. 641 Carlton Ave
(Central Park West) Brooklyn, NY
New York, NY (718) 783-5717
(212) 787-7706
Pennington Friend House The Chelsea Hotel
215 East 13th St. 222 West 23rd St.
(Near 3rd Ave) (between 7th & 8th Ave)
New York, NY New York, NY
(212) 673-1730 (212) 243-3700
Best Western Excelsior Hotel
President Hotel 45 West 81st St.
234 West 48th St. (Off Central Park West)
(between B’way & 8th Ave) New York, NY
New York, NY (212) 362-9200
(212) 246-8800
Summer Tuition 2008
Four Credits: $2,295
Additional Fees:
Application fee: $25
(Nonrefundable; due with application)
Deposit: $200
(Nonrefundable; due with application, applied to tuition)
Student Administration fee: $250
Housing: Double Occupancy $715
Meal plans:
Brooklyn resident students (mandatory) $625
Board/lunch only: $150
(Optional for commuters to Brooklyn campus)
Pratt health coverage: $150*
(May be waived upon proof of own coverage)
Local transportation fee: $76*
(30-day MetroCard with unlimited access for Brooklyn residential students only)
*Prices are subject to change.
All Pre-College students residing on the Brooklyn campus will live in one of Pratt’s freshmen residence halls. The residence halls can accommodate 200 or more students in double rooms (two students per room).
Resident Advisors (Pratt student staff) live on each of the Pre-College floors and are there to serve as resources, peer counselors, answer questions, check curfews, enforce policies, respond to emergencies, administer hall procedures, mediate roommate conflicts, and get to know students and help students get to know one another. There is also a Resident Director who supervises the RAs and administers Pre-College residence hall functions. In addition to the in-hall staff, there is support and 24-hour emergency coverage provided by the professional staff from the Office of Residential Life. In the event of an emergency, residents should go to the security guard at the entrance of each residence hall, who will in turn contact the appropriate personnel.
Each weeknight, residents are free to come and go from the halls from the time they finish with class until curfew (11pm Monday through Sunday,– for curfew details see the Student Life and Academic Policy form).
All Pre-College residents will receive a “Guide to Community Living” when they check into the residence halls. This guide explains the residential policies, procedures and services in greater detail.
Linens are not provided. Students should bring (extra-long twin-size) sheets, pillowcases, a pillow, blanket, towel, and hangers. You may also want to bring a desk lamp and an alarm clock. Students may ship items in advance in care of the Office of Professional Studies. Indicate your name and “Pre-College” on the box. You will be responsible for making the arrangements to ship items home of.
There are no house cleaning services. Students are responsible for cleaning their rooms and bathrooms during the program.
Yes, in the Counseling & Health Services Office, located in Room 115 Willoughby Residential Hall, Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m. In order for the student to be treated, we must have a signature at the bottom of the health form authorizing treatment.
There are pay phones in the residence halls. The Stabile payphone # is 718-783-8738. Pantas payphone #’s are 718-783-8785 and 718-783-9633. Because of the length of the program, individual telephones cannot be installed in the residence hall rooms. You can call the student on these phones and another student will get him or her. Many students bring cell phones with them. Non-emergency messages can also be left on the hall office voice mail. These messages are given nightly. Stabile Hall’s number is (718) 399-4568 and Pantas Hall’s number is (718) 399-4554.
In an emergency during the day, you can call the Center for Continuing & Professional Studies (CCPS) at (718) 636-3453, fax: (718) 399-4410. The office of Residential Life is at (718) 399-4550, fax: (718) 399-4552. At night, you can call campus security at (718) 636-3540 to contact the Residential staff on duty.
The amount of spending money can vary among students. Approximately $250.00 should be budgeted for art supplies. The student will want money for snacks and souvenirs as well. The local transportation fee covers a metro-card of 30 days with unlimited access to both subway trains and local buses. A taxi ride from downtown Manhattan to Pratt is about $20 The student might also choose to have an additional $200.00 for meals away from the Pratt Dining Hall.
We recommend that students use an ATM, Debit Cards, or Credit Cards. Students could bring some cash. Student could also use American Express travelers’ checks of $20.00 denominations only. Students will be able to cash them only with a valid Pratt ID and a personal picture ID, passport or drivers license. Personal checks and money orders are not honored at the campus bank. $100.00 dollar bills are equally difficult to cash. Also, we urge you to bring several pieces of identification.
A Guide for Art Students
What is a Critique?
The critique (or crit for short) is a chance for you to share your artwork with your teacher and classmates. Essentially it is a discussion-based evaluation of your work. The crit is intended to help you improve your visual as well as verbal art skills. The teacher may choose to review either projects assigned in class or homework assignments.
Types of Critiques
The number of participants and the group facilitator categorizes critiques.
Group Critique: This is the most common crit, and it usually takes place once a week. It is a discussion between the professor and the entire class. Each person displays a piece to be discussed. The professor then leads the group through each piece individually remarking on topics such as content, composition, artist's intent and use of materials.
Individual Critique: The individual crit is a one-on-one discussion between the student and the teacher. The student usually initiates the conversation to discuss questions and concerns they have about their individual project as well as to talk about their personal needs as a student. It is also a useful time to process the comments and suggestions brought up in the larger group critique.
End of Semester or Final Critique: This is a group critique that takes place at the end of each semester. It is usually more extensive than the weekly group crit as it focuses on the progress made during the course of the semester. Students bring in a larger more ambitious final project to be discussed.
Guest or Visiting Artist Critique: Professors often invite a guest critic into their classes to provide the students with outside input on their work. The guest is often a well-respected working artist who may provide additional insight into the students’ work as it relates to his or her professional field of expertise.
The Benefits of Having a Critique
Progress: Weekly class critiques give you the opportunity to see artistic growth not only in your own work, but also in the work of your classmates. Throughout the semester everyone’s studio skills will strengthen and the critiques let you know how you can keep improving your work. It is also a time to share suggestions for new materials and techniques. In this way, you will be exposed to a variety of elements aimed at strengthening your artwork.
Insight: The critiques will give you a better understanding of your work. Your strengths and weaknesses will be revealed to you through the discussion of each assignment. You will be able to apply the feedback given to your next piece of art.
Communication: The critique gives you a chance to talk about your thought processes behind creating the piece. You’ll have the opportunity to answer questions the class has about your work and respond to the comments being made. Your ability to look at art and discuss it in an intelligent, organized, and constructive manner will dramatically improve. Learning to analyze and talk about art is crucial for an artist. Developing these communication skills will not only enable you to succeed in the art world, but within any field you choose to work.
The making of a Successful Critique
A critique is successful if you learn something about your work. The experience is meant to be an enriching one where you are opened to new ways of thinking and seeing. Often the anxiety of waiting for feedback is worse than the actual feedback given. The following are helpful tips for giving and receiving criticism.
Tips for Giving Criticism: Giving constructive criticism is just as integral a part of the learning process as receiving criticism. Therefore, your participation in the discussion is required. You may not have a comment for every piece being discussed, but when something moves you, you must speak up.
Remember to begin your comments with a positive statement about something you like in the piece. Follow this with a suggestion for improving an area you feel isn’t as successful. For example: “I really like the diagonal composition you’ve developed, however, I’m not sure if blue is the correct color to use. Maybe a warmer color, such as red, would work better.”
Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong comment to be made. You are expressing your opinion, which may be different from your classmate’s or even your professor’s. The crit is meant to provide the artist with a variety of helpful suggestions from which they may choose the ones that fit their personal goals for making art.
Your primary job during this part of the crit is to listen to what is being said with an open mind. You may want to take notes in a notebook to review later as you begin a new piece.
Remember that it is the artwork that is being criticized, not the artist. The common goal for all people participating in a critique is to learn how to make good art. Learning takes place when both the strengths and the weaknesses are realized.
After everyone has finished sharing their feedback, you may either ask follow up questions about the comments made, or you may offer an explanation clarifying your intention in making the piece. Sometimes background information such as a dream you had, a book you read, or your mood while creating the piece will help your audience better understand the work.
Bringing it Together
Remember too, that critiques are great times to share information. So if a piece reminds you of another artist’s work, let the class know. Or, if you know a better technique for achieving the results your classmate wants, speak up. You may have knowledge from which others in the class could learn.
Tips for Receiving Criticism: When the time comes to discuss your work, remember that your classmates will be following the same guidelines you used to discuss their work. You will be hearing both positive comments and suggestions for improvement
Art is a form of visual communication. You create art in order to share information – whether it is a political statement or a personal emotion. The critique is a form of verbal communication meant to help you improve your visual skills. Hopefully after reading this, you are less anxious and more comfortable with the idea of the studio critique. Being able to analyze and discuss art is truly the most useful way for an artist to grow. By utilizing the tips above you are sure to find your classroom a special place where you will feel inspired and invigorated to create – and being able to create is powerful!
There are several tours scheduled for orientation day. Upon arrival parents and students can sign up for one of the hour-long tours. Otherwise, the Pratt Admissions Office organizes campus tours everyday from Monday to Friday, at 11am and 2:30pm. You need to call Admissions at (718) 636-3779 to leave your name(s) to register for a specific date and time. No other tours will be arranged.
Upon check-in students will be given instructions on how to collect their mail. Mail should be sent to:
Pre-College Program
- For: (Student’s name)
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205-9975
All correspondence related to the Pre-College program should be sent to this address, not the Admissions Office.
According to the law, you must be 18 year of age or older to be allowed to smoke. No smoking is allowed in any classroom, residence halls, buildings, or anywhere on the Pratt campus.
The day can be hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 80-90+ degrees. However, we suggest that students bring a blanket and a sweatshirt or sweater, since the residence halls are air-conditioned.
Pratt Institute has one of the safest urban campuses in the country. The 1995 USA Today survey of national campus crime statistics places us in the forefront of safe campuses well ahead of such institutions as Harvard, Princeton, and Berkeley. For current safety statistics on Pratt Institute visit the US Department of Education.
As part of the orientation the security staff will meet with the students to explain specific measurestaken to insure the safety of the Pratt community. The campus is a university style, enclosed setting, with a 24-hour security force. However, Pratt is an open campus. We also recommend parents to discuss your expectations and to encourage your child to communicate to you about their whereabouts.
Engage in the artistic exploration of interactivity and digital technology, and create innovative and compelling art experiences using multimedia programming. Students learn creative problem-solving techniques in the design of computer-human interfaces, including the use of video motion detection responding to player input. The skills acquired have relevance to diverse career options in interactive arts, interaction design, web publishing, and game design.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Optimize the space in which we live. This elective centers on the impact of the interior space on the individual, as well as various groups, by working with the classic elements of light, color, form, and space.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Design wearable art in silver, copper, and brass. This elective involves basic metal arts and jewelry-making techniques. Students learn—through demonstration and projects— basic techniques, including sawing, texturing, riveting, chain making, and stone setting.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Understand the unique character and potential of the moving image. This elective introduces the craft and aesthetic of video. It explores perception, motion, composition, and sequence.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Capture life in the moment. Students study 35mm camera operations, lighting techniques, and darkroom procedures to achieve a broad-based knowledge of black and white photography. Digital and color photography will be introduced (exposing and developing film, making contact prints, enlarging and finishing photographs.)
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Explore the art of pictorial storytelling; combining images and text to create visual narratives for single panel illustrations, comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels. Students investigate all aspects of this art form: drawing techniques, lettering, and inking, to composition, perspective / camera angles, panel sequences, and developing their own original comic stories. Skills acquired provide a foundation for creative processes such as: children's book illustration, storyboards for film and television production, video gaming and animation.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Express fine art in three dimensions. This elective concentrates on the creation of three-dimensional art. It will offer an in-depth examination of the materials and processes used in sculpture.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Students who enroll in an elective course in art or design will automatically be enrolled in the Foundation of Art and Design course. Students will develop their skills in using color, shape, line, movement, and other formal concepts basic to professional study in all areas of art and design.
Students enrolled in Creative Writing or Critical and Visual Studies will be automatically be enrolled in a Foundation of Writing course. Students will further develop fundamental writing and critical analysis skills for application to their area of study.
Modeled after Pratt’s first year Foundation program and taught by professional artists, designers, or writers, this course will expand your thinking, strengthen your portfolio, and provide a basis for further study.
The Foundation course is worth 2 credits, and is designed to complement your 2 credit elective choice. Your transcript will reflect both course grades and a total of 4 elective college credits.
Create objects that meet the everyday needs of society. This elective examines how embracing today’s social, physical, and ecological needs, presents opportunities for creative design. Through drawing and model making, students explore, challenge, and redefine the forms and inventions with which we live.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Tell a story without using words. This course explores ways to create pictures that communicate new ideas. Students develop technical and artistic skills in drawing and painting, through life studies, for use in the commercial world.
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Use cutting-edge tools to make thoughts tangible. The world of illustration has moved into the new millennium with rapidity. Students develop illustration skills while experimenting with scanning, digital photography, and digital animation, using software such as PhotoShop and Flash.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Create the structures in which we live and work. Students develop solutions to architectural problems by producing sketches, drafting plans, and building models.
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Explore fine art and design in this cross-disciplinary class. This elective is perfect for students wishing to sample the vast world of art and design.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Develop an artistic sensibility through the study of art history. Students examine the major artistic movements of the 19th century from Neo-Classicism to Post-Impressionism within their social, political, and cultural context (critical thinking and visual analysis.)
Note: This elective is different from the non-credit art history appreciation course, which will also be taken as a co-requisite.
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Express thoughts and ideas through words. Students focus on developing writing skills
in one or more genres (poetry, essay, fiction, writing for film or magazine writing.)
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Gain the skills necessary to intervene in the production of culture. This elective explores relationships between cultural practices and their various social contexts in the contemporary world (critical thinking and cultural analysis.)
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Learn the key aspects of designing clothes. Students explore sketching, collection development, pattern making and the basics of clothing construction.
(Brooklyn campus only)
Develop skills of observation and expression through a visual medium. This elective enhances students’ perceptual and aesthetic awareness through the creation of fine art.
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
Arrange words, pictures, and space to deliver ideas. This course shows how and when
to use photography, illustration, typography, and computer graphics to design logos, web pages, books, video spots, exhibits, posters, and packaging.
(Offered in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
This course will use the culturally rich resources of NYC to help students experience key elements of the history of art. Students will explore the many functions of art and the stylistic differences and similarities across historical periods. The course also serves as a complement to studio classes, helping students find meaningful connections between art history and the development of their own work.
A professional portfolio can be vital in gaining admission into college. This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of portfolio development. Students will learn what to include in their portfolios — based on standards set by top colleges — and develop the basic technical skills for developing a professional portfolio. Upon completion of this course, students will be given the opportunity to have their portfolios reviewed by a Pratt admissions counselor to help them gain a first-hand understanding of what might be expected by one of the top colleges.