Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design - 
Online Art Classes
Certificate in Fine Arts
NEXT CLASS: FEB 1st | Enroll now with our affordable tuition!
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
About This Program
In the Sessions College Certificate in Fine Arts program, students gain a foundation in art theory and artistic technique. Students enjoy a wide-ranging training in drawing and painting that instils a rigorous, traditional approach to representing still life and human figure subjects with attention to critical concepts of line, mass, form, perspective, value, and composition.
I am a graphic designer. I currently work for the Gifted and Talented Education Project on Guam, and one of our components is our art program that I hope to one day become a teacher for. All instructors had great insights and provided extremely beneficial constructive criticism for all courses.
Student Work By: Marissa Sasscer, Rosalina Martina, Shelby Howell
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 Certificate in Fine Arts is a 360 clock hour program completed in nine months studying part time.
- 4803 Intro to Visual Arts - 30 hours
- 4018 Intro to Drawing - 30 hours
- 4800 History of Art - 60 hours
- 4501 Drawing I - 60 hours
- 7002 Digital Photography I - 60 hours
- 4502 Figure Drawing - 60 hours
- 4700 Painting I - 60 hours
Already have some art experience? You can customize the program around your learning goals. Browse our online art courses or course list and talk to an advisor.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
4803 Intro to Visual Arts
Develop an understanding of the visual arts by exploring your own artistic creativity. You'll explore paintings, sculptures, experimental pieces, and more, learning to critique their composition and decode their social or political purpose. You'll be introduced to the elements that make up a visual message and build a vocabulary of fundamental terms and compositional techniques.
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.
4800 History of Art
Build a foundation in art history and gain a deep understanding of art and the artists who create it. Explore profound themes that have concerned artists for centuries: nature, the human body, society, religion, and politics. Through engaging lectures and projects, you’ll learn how to identify the mediums, materials, and techniques artists use and discuss the styles of important artists, art movements, and historical periods from antiquity through the mid-20th century.
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.
7002 Digital Photography I
Explore the interaction of photography techniques and environmental factors to create powerful digital images. Students learn the fundamentals of lighting, perspective, and set up and explore techniques for classic assignments: portraits, product shots, indoor and outdoor location shoots, and fast-action sports. Whether you’re a fine artist, graphic designer, or Web developer, a mastery of digital photography gives you creative control of the medium.
4502 Figure Drawing
Follow traditional methods to learn the standard measures and proportions artists use to achieve naturalistic and expressive figure drawings. Illustrations and activities guide students through the structure of the human skeleton and help them understand how the body’s anatomy shapes its external form. The course builds progressively from the fundamentals to the challenges of portraiture, three-dimensional form, composition, and expression.
4700 Painting I
After a thorough orientation to the painter’s materials (paint, canvas, brushes, and solvents), students study a systematic and time-honored approach to painting that enables them to capture proportion, perspective, and lighting. Students learn how to build a foundation with preparatory sketches and underpainting, then gain control over value through monochromatic painting and color studies.
OUTCOMES
Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Certificate in Fine Arts students develop the following competencies:
1. Drawing
Draw utilizing traditional media and classic techniques, demonstrating a command of proportion, perspective, value contrast, and the human figure.
2. Painting
Paint utilizing traditional media and classic techniques, demonstrating a command of proportion, perspective, value contrast, and the human figure.
3. Photography
Demonstrate effective and efficient use of a digital camera to create photographs applying well considered framing, exposure, composition, perspective, distance, and lighting.
4. Art/Design Principles
Demonstrate the ability to produce visually compelling artwork by applying knowledge of color and composition.
Sessions Student Work
Student Work
Visit the Student Gallery
What Our Students Say
FACULTY
Dr. Taz Tally
is an industry-leading expert in digital imaging and pre-press techniques.
Jordon Schranz
is an audio/visual artist and designer.
Fiorella Shalat
is a sculptor, textile artist, and art educator.
VIEW ALL PROGRAM FACULTY
Get expert feedback in classes taught by our industry-leading faculty.
| Instructor | Biography | Degree(s) Earned |
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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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Fiorella Shalat is an artist and educator with expertise in commercial still life, microscope photography, and creative darkroom techniques. |
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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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Kevin Hedgpeth is an Arizona native who makes his home in Phoenix, where he actively writes and illustrates in addition to teaching college-level visual arts courses. He is co-author and illustrator of several published books. |
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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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Dr. Taz Tally is the president of Taz Tally Seminars and Taz Tally Photography and author of numerous graphics and print production books and instructional videos, CDs, DVDs and online training courses on scanning, prepress and printing, Photoshop, and color correction. |
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View all faculty.
Job Facts
You want to know you can find employment after taking art classes. What does the career landscape look like?
Facts are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. For more information about fine arts careers, the art community and grants visit: American Craft Council, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, The Association of Medical Illustrators, and The National Endowment for the Arts.
30.4%
Median income for Fine Artists in May of 2017 was $49,160 per year, 30.4% higher than median for all workers.
6%
Employment of Fine Artists is projected to grow 6% from 2016 to 2026, as fast as the national average for all occupations.
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.
- 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.
