Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design - 
Digital Art Certificate Online
Professional Certificate in Digital Arts
NEXT CLASS: DEC 1st | Enroll now with our affordable tuition!
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
About This Program
In our Sessions College Professional Certificate in Digital Arts programs, students develop a foundation in the technical and creative skills for digital art and illustration. Students explore the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, building their understanding of color and composition through projects in traditional drawing and vector illustration.
I am beyond pleased that through a series of circumstances I ended up taking the Digital Arts Certificate course through Sessions. The courses were thorough, informative, educational, interesting, challenging and very rewarding. After they viewed my portfolio on my website I've been contacted by prospective clients to design logos and book covers.
Student Work By: Stephanie Cadd, Julie Belmonte, Maria Ocampos, Michael Kunz
Program Benefits
Kick Start Your Creative Career
Advance your career in a flexible 9-month program.
Study With The Pros
Get expert feedback on your art and design work.
Grow Your Portfolio
Enhance your portfolio with creative projects.
Flexible, Self-Paced Program
Study at your own pace – no weekly deadlines!
Invest in Your Education
Affordable payment plans help you fund your education.
Enroll Today, Start Tomorrow
Get creative now with open enrollment and monthly class starts.
The Curriculum
Designed for the busy adult learner, the Professional Certificate in Digital Arts is a 360 clock hour program completed in nine months studying part time.
- 4218 Photoshop Basics - 60 hours
- 4017 Color Theory - 30 hours
- 4226 Illustrator Basics - 60 hours
- 4018 Intro To Drawing (Or 4220 Digital Illustration Basics) - 30 hours
- 4227 Illustrator Advanced - 60 hours
- 4501 Drawing I - 60 hours
- 4222 Digital Illustration Advanced - 60 hours
Already have some design experience? You can customize the program around your learning goals. Browse our Illustration courses or course list and talk to an advisor.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
4218 Photoshop Basics
Get a thorough grounding in Adobe Photoshop, the premiere image-manipulation tool for print design, Web design, and photography. You'll learn to choose and use the best techniques for common Photoshop jobs including selecting and isolating objects, creating image composites, masking and vignetting images, setting typography, and improving images with retouching and effects. Every designer must tame this creative powerhouse of a program.
4017 Color Theory
Focus on developing appropriate color systems for graphic design projects. Projects explore the principles, terminology, and applications of color theory, with an emphasis on manipulating color. A working knowledge of the expression and perception of color, and color interaction, lends credibility and sophistication to a designer’s work.
4226 Illustrator Basics
Build a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, the graphic designer’s vector program of choice. Course projects explore selection tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool, transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Tapping the power of vector software allows you to produce detailed and scalable art for almost any application.
4018 Intro To Drawing
Learn how to draw with proper techniques, learning how to represent what they see through studies in contour drawing, perspective, positive/negative space, and value. As you progress through this class, you will develop a better understanding of the forms you are observing and become more skillful in representing those forms.
OR
4220 Digital Illustration Basics
Learn how an illustrator approaches perspective, lighting, storytelling, and expression and how basic shapes, symbols, gradients, fill colors, Bezier curves, and text can be combined to create artwork in Illustrator. Creative class projects include still life illustrations, editorial art/brand logos, and character illustrations.
4227 Illustrator Advanced
Create photo-realistic illustrations, complex patterns, rich designs and learn how to speed your efforts with helpful workflow features. You'll build on your existing Illustrator skills to tackle high-end projects with depth, dimension, and wow-power.
4501 Drawing I
Learn how to analyze what you see in the world around you and communicate it on paper. Through hands-on projects, and guided by a professional artist, you will explore the critical concepts of line, mass, form, perspective, value, and composition, building a solid foundation for all your art and design work.
4222 Digital Illustration Advanced
Learn advanced illustration and Adobe Illustrator techniques for communicating your creative concepts. This course explores how a professional illustrator approaches creating editorial illustrations, icons, retro poster designs, illustrations with depth, and identity designs. Open-ended projects will help you develop portfolio-quality illustrations, and peer discussions and critiques will provide valuable interaction opportunities.
OUTCOMES
Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Professional Certificate in Digital Arts students develop the following competencies:
1. Drawing
Draw and paint utilizing traditional media and classic techniques, demonstrating a command of proportion, perspective, value contrast, and the human figure.
2. Technology
Create images, animations, and movies by effectively and efficiently using creative software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other industry technologies.
3. Illustration
Conceptualize, create and provide illustrations for a range of commercial applications in traditional or digital media.
4. Art/Design Principles
Demonstrate the ability to produce visually compelling work by applying knowledge of color, and composition.
Sessions Student Work
Student Work
Visit the Student Gallery
What Our Students Say
FACULTY
Michael Hamm
is a senior visual designer, Web developer, and all-round Illustrator guru.
Jordon Schranz
is an audio/visual artist and designer.
Andrew Shalat
is an author, designer/illustrator, educator, and Mac expert.
VIEW ALL PROGRAM FACULTY
Get expert feedback in classes taught by our industry-leading faculty.
| Instructor | Biography | Degree(s) Earned |
|---|---|---|
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Andrew Shalat is an author, designer/illustrator, educator, and Mac expert who is a regular speaker at Macworld and has written several books on design for McGraw-Hill and Peachpit Press. |
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Bruce Bicknell is a writer, instructor, illustrator, animator, Web designer, video editor, marketing pro, and graphic designer based in Tampa, Florida. Bruce has worked on projects for Adobe Systems, ATI, Photoshop Elements Techniques, MacTribe, Yellow Machine, and Mac Design. |
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Jessica Peltz has more than 20 years of industry experience in graphic design as an Art and Creative Director with ad agencies, design firms, publishing companies, and in-house corporations. |
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Jordon Schranz is an audio/visual artist and designer whose work has been exhibited internationally in New York, Chicago, El Paso, Berlin, Bogotá, and Ciudad Juárez. |
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Piper Nilsson is a graphic/Web designer and educator. Piper has been working with the Web since 1997, working in various roles as a designer, programmer, and information architect, Piper blueprinted sites for such global clients as MetLife, Pepsi, ETS, and Citibank. |
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View all faculty.
Job Facts
Is a digital art certificate worth it? Career opportunities are projected to continue to grow into the foreseeable future. Here are some career statistics to keep in mind:
Facts are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Facts are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. For more information about art and illustration careers and the community visit: National Cartoonists Society, Association of Illustrators, or AIGA.
30%
Average income for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in May 2017 was $49,160 a year, 30.4% higher than the median for all workers.
7 in 10
About 7 in 10 Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators were self-employed or independent artists in 2016.
GETTING STARTED
Our online application process makes getting started easy, fast, and convenient.
What's the Admissions Process?
Open Admissions.
The Professional Certificate is open admissions, with classes starting each month. To apply for the program, simply complete our free, no-obligation application and select your program options. Applicants are expected to have graduated high school.
How Long is the Program?
Nine Month Program.
The program can be completed in nine months studying on a part time schedule. Since you study at your pace, you may complete it sooner! If you need more time to complete, there is a painless extension policy for an additional 6 months of access for students who qualify based on academic progress.
Will the Program Fit My Schedule?
There are no set login times, so you can complete your program at your own pace in our most flexible program. A designated Student Advisor will track your progress from class to class, providing you support and motivation.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
To take this program, you’ll need the following:
- Mac or Windows computer with an Internet connection.
- A digital camera for photographing drawing work.
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CC.
- Your computer must meet software manufacturer requirements.
There are no textbook or course material costs to participate in this online program. Student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud software is available to enrolled students.
What are the Program Costs?
Sessions College programs are flexible and affordable. There are no textbooks required; tuition costs include all digital materials. Effective May 1, 2020, tuition and fees for Professional Certificate programs are as follows:
| Professional Certificate | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,100 |
| Registration Fee | $200 |
| Total Cost | $3,300 |
Paid in Full Discount: Total program cost is $2,999 for students who pay in full.
Enrollment in any certificate program requires a $200 registration fee (non-refundable five days after beginning of Orientation class or submission of first assignment). All tuition and fees must be paid on time, including those paid by third parties.
Can I Use a Payment Plan?
Most definitely. Affording your education is easier with our Payment Plan.
- Pay for your Professional Certificate with 11 monthly payments of $300.
- Once you’ve set up your plan, your payments are automatic.
- Your first payment which includes a $200 Registration Fee.
Request Program Information
Need more information on this program? Complete this form.
An Admissions Advisor will contact you to discuss program options. We will never share your information and you may choose to opt out at any time. Privacy Policy.
