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Frequently Asked Questions

Sessions Online College FAQ

The following is a list of frequently asked questions about Sessions College programs. Have a question that's not answered here? Contact an Admissions Advisor.

Jump to a section of frequently asked questions:
Admissions and enrollment
General school and program information
Scheduling and pacing
Online learning and instruction

Admissions and Enrollment

Q. How do I apply for a program?

The application process is easy and can be completed online. Visit the Degree Admissions page or the Certificate Admissions page to read about the process and begin your application. If you have any questions about the application or requirements, email or call an Admissions Advisor or chat live.

Q. What are the tuition and fees?

Sessions degree and certificate programs provide the best educational value in the industry. Visit our degree tuition and fees page and our certificate tuition and fees page for all of the details.

Q. Is financial aid available?

Sessions College does not participate in U.S. federal financial aid programs. However, with competitive tuition and flexible payment options, Sessions College offers a better "value proposition" than many other schools that participate in the federal financial aid process via the FAFSA application. Learn more about the many payment options for degree applicants and certificate applicants. Additionally, military students have GI Bill and other tuition assistance options to explore. Contact an Admissions Advisor for more information.

Q. Can active duty military students take Sessions programs?

Sessions College is pleased to count many active duty military servicemembers, spouses, and veterans as current students and alumni. Our degree and certificate programs, offered entirely online, provide tremendous flexibility for the demanding scheduling challenges of the military community. Read more about military student benefits.

Q. Are foreign students allowed to apply to Sessions?

We are pleased to accept foreign students to all Sessions College courses and programs—individual courses, certificate programs, and degree programs. Provided you are over 18, have a satisfactory command of English, and are able to meet any program admissions requirements, there is no geographical or national restriction on applying to Sessions College. Please review our International Students page for details.

Q. How do I pay?

To apply, register, or enroll in any Sessions College program, you can pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card), check, money order, or bank wire. To pay by check, money order, or travelers check:

1. Write a check or money order for the total amount.

2. Make your check or money order payable to Sessions Online Inc.

3. Mail the check, money order, or travelers check along with this completed form and a letter that includes your name, phone number, and email address to:

Sessions College for Professional Design
Bursar's Office
PO Box 810
Smithtown, NY 11787

If you wish to pay by bank wire, ask an Admissions Advisor to send you bank routing information. A $25 processing fee will be charged for bank wire transfers. Depending on your background and the program to which you are applying, various forms of payment assistance may be available, including payment plans, tuition assistance, military student benefits, and more. Review the Admissions area for more details.

Q. What is the refund policy?

A student who cancels a degree program within five days of the beginning of orientation is entitled to a full refund of all fees and tuition. After five days, if a degree student cancels this contract, the school may retain the application and registration fees plus a percentage of tuition based on the number of weeks elapsed in each semester, detailed in the degree program catalog.

A student who cancels a certificate program within five days of enrollment is entitled to a full refund of all fees and tuition. After five days, if a student cancels this contract, the school may retain the registration fee of $200, plus a percentage of tuition based on the number of weeks elapsed in a semester (certificate programs are administered in 12-week semesters until contract expiration), detailed in the certificate program catalog.

General School and Program Information

Q. Is Sessions College for Professional Design accredited?

Sessions College for Professional Design is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. Additionally, Sessions College for Professional Design certificate programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. Accreditation is a recognition that Sessions College meets the high standards set by authorities in education and distance learning. Learn more about Sessions accreditation.

Q. Is your accreditation recognized outside the United States?

The Distance Education Training Council and Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools are listed by the U.S. Department of Education as nationally recognized accrediting agencies and are recognized members of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The DETC has emerged as a leading accrediting association in global distance learning. DETC has accredited members in Australia, Japan, and throughout the United States.

Q. How does Sessions differ from other schools that offer design programs?

Sessions College for Professional Design has a long history of online design education. Our mission is to prepare art and design professionals through our accredited degree and certificate programs. Sessions programs provide a unique blend of individual attention, rigorous and top-quality course materials, caring advisement and community, and career focus that is unmatched by other online art and design schools. For this reason, Sessions has received prestigious awards for excellence in online education as well its offerings for military students.

Q. What programs does Sessions College offer?

Sessions College offers online courses, certificate programs, and degree programs in the visual arts:

• Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree programs in Graphic Design or Web Design.
• Certificate programs in graphic design, Web design, multimedia arts, digital arts, marketing design, game art, and fine arts.
• Over 80 art and design courses available for individual enrollment.

Q. Is an AOS degree different from an Associate's degree?

An AOS is one of several types of Associate's degrees. AOS stands for Associate of Occupational Studies, meaning that the bulk of your program will focused on design and your career. Learn more about how this type of Associate's degree works on our Degree Programs page.

Q. What are the benefits of enrolling in a degree program?

Sessions College Associate's programs are two-year programs with a professional focus. First year classes build a foundation in art and design ranging from color and typography to drawing, digital photography, and basic Web design. Second year classes enable graphic and Web design students to specialize and build a high-quality portfolio. The program culminates in a capstone project and portfolio review.

Q. What are the benefits of enrolling in a certificate program?

Sessions College Certificate programs are 9-15 months in length. Professional Certificate programs help students build a foundation in design, develop a proficiency in design software, and begin to create a body of work for potential employers. Advanced Professional Certificate programs help students build a professional portfolio with one or more areas of concentration.

Q. What hardware or software do I need for the program?

Sessions College programs can be taken on a Mac or a PC. Specific software and hardware requirements vary depending on the program. Please check degree or certificate program areas of this site for details, or the school catalog. Educational discounts are available to enrolled students for hardware and software. View our Student Store for more details.

Q. Do I have to buy textbooks?

Students are not required to purchase or utilize any textbooks or reading materials available outside of the Sessions College learning environment. Sessions course developers create all written and visual instructional materials. Degree students also have required course readings that are accessible as part of our free online library, found in the learning environment, which includes access to over 50,000 titles.

Q. I am new to design. Will these programs be too advanced for me?

Sessions programs are designed for students who are new to the world of design. Your first courses will be geared toward learning the basics of software and design fundamentals. Certificate programs also come with an optional Intro course for beginners. Visit the Degree Programs or Certificate Programs area to review the curriculum in the program you're most interested in.

Q. I am an experienced designer. Do I have to repeat subjects that I already know?

Degree program students who have taken college-level courses may be able to transfer credits for courses of equivalent subjects. Certificate students may be able to substitute courses in their programs. For example, a student with experience in Photoshop may be able to take Photoshop Advanced in place of Photoshop Basics. Contact an Admissions Advisor for more details on course substitutions.

Q. Can I speak to current or former students for references?

Sessions does not currently offer opportunities to speak to current or former students for references. However, we invite you to read our detailed interviews and profiles with degree students, certificate students, and student ambassadors.

Q. Does Sessions offer job placement?

Sessions does not currently offer job placement for students. However, we have a robust Career Center for students and alumni that contains up-to-date job listings, resume and portfolio tips, helpful downloads for freelancers, and lots more.

Scheduling and Pacing

Q. When can I start?

Degree programs begin in the spring, summer, and fall. Certificate programs start on a monthly basis. Students interested in enrolling in individual courses can enroll today and start tomorrow.

Q. How much time do I need each week to complete a program?

Degree program students are expected to complete 12 credits (approximately four classes) per semester. Classes have weekly assignment deadlines, so students must allocate 15-20 hours per week to their studies.

Certificate program students need to complete a lesson per week in order to meet program milestones and graduate their program on time. Students are asked to allocate an average of 10 hours per week for coursework.

Q. Do I have to log in at a certain time or day for classes?

All Sessions courses are "asynchronous," which means that you can log in any time and any day to work on your courses. Lectures, exercises, discussion areas, and course mail are available 24/7. Degree students will need to take certain exams live with a proctor, but on the day and time of their choosing. Student Advisors may schedule live group chats that are strongly recommended but not required.

Q. How much time do I need to graduate a program?

Associate of Occupational Studies	2 years
Professional Certificate	9 months/36 weeks
Advanced Certificate*	15 months/60 weeks*
*Time shown is for Advanced Certificate with one concentration. Additional concentrations add 24 weeks each.

Q. Can I finish my program sooner?

Certificate program students need to complete a lesson per week in order to meet program milestones and graduate their program on time, but are welcome to work at a faster pace to complete sooner. Students who complete a course ahead of schedule can request access to the next course. Degree students may shorten their programs transferring credits from equivalent college course taken elsewhere.

Q. What if I need more time to finish my certificate program?

Certificate program students who fall behind schedule have until their program end date to complete any of their scheduled courses. Certificate students who reach their program end date and still need more time to complete their program may request an extension of up to six months to complete their program for a program extension fee of $500. Any further extensions will require the student to reenroll. Extensions will only be approved for students who have maintained satisfactory academic progress and are paid in full.

Q. What happens if I have to take time off during my program due to professional or personal pressures?

Leave of absence options are available for degree students and certificate students with satisfactory tuition payment and academic records. Enrolled students should review the student handbook for details and contact their designated Student Advisor if a leave of absence request is needed.

Online Learning and Instruction

Q. How does studying art and design online work?

Courses are structured around hands-on projects designed to simulate the challenges of professional design projects. Lectures are packed with illustrations and case studies, and supported by video tutorials. Exercises are structured around hands-on projects. You'll get critique and feedback on each exercise from expert instructors. You can learn current design skills and build a portfolio of work as you progress through your program. The learning environment is available 24/7. Explore how a certificate course works in our Course Tours.

Q. How will I interact with instructors?

Students can access the Sessions College learning environment 24/7 to post work and interact with instructors and classmates. Students receive detailed feedback on each assignment from a faculty of industry-leading artists and designers. Instructors can be contacted at any time during each course via a course mail system. Degree course students interact with instructors throughout each semester via online discussions and group critique sessions.

Q. How accessible are the instructors?

All student-instructor communication takes place within the online learning environment; Sessions does not distribute the private email addresses or telephone numbers of students or instructors. In certificate courses, instructors are expected to respond to any student assignments and questions posted in the online learning environment within 1-2 business days. In degree courses, instructors are expected to respond to questions mailed in the learning environment within 1-2 business days, and assignments are expected to be graded by Friday following each assignment due date. This schedule provides the faculty time to provide thoughtful consideration to student work.

Q. Will I have classmates to interact with?

Certificate students will start classes with a "cohort" of students, a group of 20-30 students who are all beginning a Sessions certificate program at the same time. Group chats, online newsletters, and progress reports are part of a cohort structure designed to motivate students and encourage online community among students. In addition, certificate courses have discussion areas for additional interaction.

Degree students have the benefits of group chats and other advisement efforts that encourage a strong community of students, as well as active, engaging discussions with students every week that address current issues in design and other thought-provoking topics.

Q. What student services are available?

All degree and certificate program students have dedicated student advisors who are trained designers. Student advisors provide online orientation, program advisement, and ongoing motivation through progress reports, online chats, and blog posts. Program students are enrolled in cohort groups of up to 30 students who act as a peer support group throughout their programs.

Q. How current are your course materials?

Sessions course materials are kept up-to-date by our Education department and faculty members. Software courses generally reflect the most recent version of software available, as well as one version back for students who do not have the latest version just yet. Design courses are continually updated to reflect current design trends and topics as well as important links and resources. Degree course and certificate course syllabus pages detail the software versions and topics covered.