Fall, Winter, and Spring PreCollege

Fall, Winter and Spring PreCollege courses are designed for high school students to explore creative disciplines and prepare for admission to a degree in art, design, or architecture. During these college level programs, students create portfolio pieces for college admission and develop art/design skills while earning elective college credit. See course description for the modality of each course: in-person or online synchronous.

Courses, tuition, location, and schedules may vary by semester; please review the application or registration link for details and availability each term. 

Please note that credit and noncredit courses have separate registration processes and deadlines.

FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING OFFERINGS

1-CREDIT COURSES

Credit-bearing classes are modeled after Pratt’s undergraduate curriculum and focus on specific areas of study available across the Institute’s offerings. Most classes are taught by Pratt faculty or alumni. 

Each course requires dedicated time to complete assignments outside of class hours. Upon completion of the class, students receive a letter grade and one (1) elective college credit per class accepted at Pratt and most other universities.

Whether your interest lies in pursuing higher education in creative fields, or in establishing yourself as a professional in the creative industry, a carefully built portfolio can make a substantial impact on your skill development and educational goals.

NONCREDIT COURSES

PreCollege NonCredit courses are designed to support your creative practice, expand your technical skills, and build your portfolio. Each course includes assignments to be completed outside of class hours and students receive a pass/fail grade.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Fall and Spring classes run 2-3 hours over the course of 8 Saturdays. Fall classes run mid-October to mid-December with a break for Thanksgiving weekend; Spring classes run mid-February to mid-April. The dates, deadlines, and registration portal are released 3-4 months before the start of the term. 

OFFERED COURSES

Architecture – 1 Credit: Reconstruct the spaces you use every day. This course is designed to introduce students to ideas, principles, concepts, and methods of architectural design in a studio setting. Through a graduated sequence of exercises, students explore the architectural concepts of space, form, function, scale, site, structure, and inhabitation through analytic and generative approaches.

Graphic Design – 1 Credit: Explore the impact of design and what makes a design successful in an ever-changing society. Learn basic design principles, computer graphics, and ways of thinking and seeing to create memorable, influential works. The course focuses on imagination, research methods, creative concepts, content development, and clear point-of-view through a series of projects. Design is world-making; from the typeface to the images chosen, seeking to create narratives with intention. Complete design projects toward your portfolio.

Industrial Design – 1 Credit: Reimagine everyday objects. This course will introduce students to the process of designing objects intended to meet the everyday needs of society. In this course, students will examine how embracing today’s social, physical, and ecological needs can present opportunities for creative design. Through drawing and model-making, students will explore, challenge, and redefine the forms and inventions with which we live.

Painting and Drawing – 1 Credit: Translate the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface. This course covers fundamental issues in drawing and painting while enhancing perception and aesthetic awareness of Fine Art. Students will be familiarized with the visual language of line, shape, composition, proportion, perspective, and color; and are given the tools to express their ideas through a variety of techniques.

Portfolio Development: Discover: Learn to shape your art and design portfolio in ways that reflect your creative voice. Students will research topics of personal interest, create one or more portfolio pieces that demonstrate their personal perspectives, and begin to draft an artist statement in this virtual studio class.

Note: PreCollege does not currently offer scholarship opportunities or payment plans for fall, winter, or spring students. Full payment for courses must be completed before the start of any course. Tuition does not include the cost of any materials or lab fees unless otherwise stated.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

The Fall, Winter, and Spring PreCollege programs are open to students who meet the following eligibility requirements:

• At least 15 years old and no older than 18 years old before the first day of the program. No exceptions
• Currently enrolled in high school (or equivalent program).
• United States citizen, permanent resident, or international student with approvedUS Visa.
• Self-motivated, responsible, and willing to dive into college-level study with support from our Pratt faculty and staff.
• Passionate and inquisitive about creating works of art, design, architecture or writing. Program is open to all levels of experience.

ADD/DROP AND WITHDRAWAL POLICIES 

Add/Drop Policy 

For courses that are four weeks or longer, students must add/drop classes before the start of their second class. For example, if the start of your second class is on Saturday, the Friday prior at 11:59 p.m. ET would be the last day to submit an add/drop form via email. Exact dates will vary depending on the course start date. For courses that are less than four weeks, students must add/drop within five business days before the start of the first class.

Any form submitted after the end of the Add/Drop period will not be accepted. Changes made outside of this period will not be eligible for a refund. Not all class changes are equal exchanges. Price adjustments may occur, resulting in a possible balance owed. Requests need to be approved and signed by the student’s academic advisor. Please allow 2-4 business days for changes to be made to your account after your request has been approved.

Withdrawal Policy 

A student may withdraw from a course with a complete refund of tuition fees (minus a $15 processing fee and any nonrefundable fees) by the payment deadline. This deadline is typically 3-5 weeks prior to the start of the course. Withdrawal deadlines and nonrefundable fees are listed on the PreCollege webpage. 

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS 

Online students must meet the requirements below to register for online classes.

• A laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection
• Access to a webcam or phone camera
• A scanner or digital camera
• All students will be given access to the required digital tools through their Pratt Onekey account (e.g. GSuites, Slack, Adobe Suite, and Zoom). Pratt will use these online platforms to connect students with their faculty and it is the student’s responsibility to check that their region/computer is capable of supporting these various platforms and tools.

Have a question? Contact precollege@pratt.edu.