Middle School Program
In-person courses for middle school students, ages 10-13
SPRING 2025
Early College Program
In-person and online courses for high school students, ages 14-18
Middle School Program
SPRING 2025
In-person courses for middle school students, ages 10-13
Nurturing creative potential prepares children for life.
At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), the nation’s premier art and design school, we understand that self-expression, out-of-the-box thinking, and cultural awareness flourish when kids make art. With us, students learn to explore, imagine, and discover in their own unique ways. We help them on their path to becoming the creators, innovators, and problem-solvers of the future regardless of where their academic interests take them.
For more information, visit saic.edu/msp.
This spring, our Middle School Program courses will be offered on our campus in Chicago’s Loop. Our courses provide access to a wide variety of SAIC resources, including state-of-the-art classrooms, the John M. Flaxman Library, and the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the largest art museums in the United States. Middle school students make frequent visits to the museum for inspiration and instruction for their projects. Courses are led by practicing artists and expert educators. At SAIC, middle school students build confidence and self-efficacy as they work with support from their mentors to find creative inspiration, bring their ideas to life, and collaborate with a community of artistic peers.
“This class was [my child’s] favorite part of the week! She loved it and saw a huge improvement in her skill set.” — MSP Parent
“[My MSP course] was very fun and interesting! I met many new people that gave me a new perspective on art and the way I see the world.” — MSP Student
Middle School Program
SPRING 2025 IN-PERSON COURSES, AGES 10-13
10-week courses meet on Saturdays.
Class # Title
2325 Advanced Drawing Studio: 10-13 SA 1-4
2328 Animation Studio: 10-13 SA 9-12
2326
Comics and Graphic Novels: 10-13 SA 9-12
2347 Comics and Graphic Novels: 10-13
2323 Drawing Studio: 10-13
2324 Drawing Studio: 10-13
2327 Fashion Studio: 10-13
No class March 22
1-4
9-12
1-4
9-12
Cancellations and Schedule Changes: Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified before the first class, and students enrolled in cancelled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Course Descriptions
Advanced Drawing Studio: 10-13
SA 1-4, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2325
This advanced course is for students who have previous drawing experience and want to explore a wide range of materials and processes to expand their work in new directions. While continuing to build on technical skills, students will focus on drawing as a tool for organizing thoughts, feelings, and sharing their ideas. Students will work with a wide range of materials including pencil, charcoal, pastel, ink, and mixed media. Students visit the Art Institute of Chicago to observe and sketch from a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and objects that are used as inspiration for studio work.
Animation Studio: 10-13
SA 9-12, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2328
This course is designed for students who wish to use both digital and traditional/ analog media to create moving images. Learn animation principles while discovering many different techniques, including stop motion, frame-by-frame, and more. Digital tools will be used in conjunction with sketchbook work and traditional processes to reflect contemporary artistic hybrid methods. This course can be repeated for continued skill-building.
Comics and Graphic Novels: 10-13
SA 9-12, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2326
SA 1-4, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2347
Learn how to tell engaging stories as you investigate character development, plot structure, scripting, and storyboarding. Explore penciling, inking, coloring, space, and perspective through the use of a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional media, which may include colored pencils, oil pastels, watercolors, and handmade zines. Basic drawing skills are helpful but not required.
Drawing Studio: 10-13
SA 9-12, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2323
SA 1-4, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2324
Express yourself through drawing and learn a variety of techniques and approaches to build your technical, spatial, and creative abilities. Working with a range of materials, investigate contemporary subjects and themes through skills such as line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. Open to students at all levels.
Fashion Studio: 10-13
SA 9-12, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2327
This course introduces young designers to fashion with an emphasis on discovering their personal style while learning the technical skills that allow them to take their designs from concept to reality. Develop original ideas, find inspiration for fashion in the world around you, and respond to the work of other artists and designers. Explore sculptural draping by using paper to create exciting experimental garments on the dress form and learn technical skills including printing, embroidery, draping, and machine sewing.
Please note that our schedule is subject to change.
Early College Program SPRING 2025
In-person and online courses for high school students, ages 14-18
Your ideas and vision. Our resources and mentorship. The freedom to explore.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Early College Program (ECP) invites you to join us at the nation’s most influential art and design school this spring.
What you can expect from our creative community:
• Ideas Matter Here – with us you have the freedom to explore new ideas that push boundaries.
• ECP Faculty – professional artists, designers, and scholars who are passionate mentors.
• Access to our Art Institute of Chicago Museum – connect to one of the largest art museums in the United States for inspiration.
• Preparation – the skills you learn will help you in the classroom and as you start a portfolio of work should you be interested in pursuing art and design at the college level.
For more information, visit saic.edu/ecp.
This spring, the majority of our courses will meet on campus, taking advantage of SAIC’s state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including our museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the largest collections of art in the world.
We will also continue to offer online courses in the spring for those students and families who prefer the flexibility of virtual learning.
What Does Online Learning Look Like?
Expand your understanding of contemporary art-making while developing portfolio-quality work virtually.
Our online courses are offered in a predominantly synchronous format, meaning they meet live at a designated time of day, Central Time, on the video conferencing platform Zoom.
Live lectures and demonstrations will be combined with virtual visits to museums, independent studio work, and group critiques. Many activities will take place as a class, with opportunities to meet one-on-one with your instructor and teaching assistant or in small groups with peers from time to time.
You will have access to course materials outside of scheduled class sessions in Canvas, SAIC’s learning management system.
Course participation and activities will be structured in a way that best suits the course content and students enrolled. In addition to demonstrations, presentations, and group discussions, instructors may provide independent or small group sessions during the scheduled class meeting.
[My instructor] was very informative and helpful. She was constantly pointing us to different artists to inspire us, and would go out of her way to make sure we had every resource we needed. She has helped me become a much better artist!” — ECP Student
Early College Program
SPRING
2025 IN-PERSON AND ONLINE COURSES, AGES 14-18
10-week courses meet Saturdays and Sundays.
Key: = In-Person, = Online
form, and palette, and investigate a range of traditional and contemporary materials such as charcoal, graphite, pen and ink, and digital illustration. Virtual visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussion of practicing artists and illustrators supplement the studio experience. This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current skills and ideas.
Drawing Studio
SU 10-1, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2329
Develop and strengthen fundamental skills as you investigate a range of traditional and contemporary drawing materials and concepts. Explore essential elements of 2D design and contemporary art through the study of line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. Note: This course may use nude models hired by the School. All levels are welcome.
fashion and the history of costume, individual garments and accessories of significant historical importance, and a rich collection of visual material not accessible to the general public. All levels are welcome.
Figure Drawing
SU 2-5, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2330
Work from the nude model as you learn how to draw the human form from direct observation. The essential elements of life drawing, including anatomy, proportion, volume, composition, gesture, and the accurate and expressive use of line and tone are addressed to provide a focus for increasing skill. Note: This course will use nude models hired by the School
From Drawing to Painting
SU 10-1, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2335
No class March 22 or March 23
Cancellations and Schedule Changes: Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified before the first class, and students enrolled in cancelled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Course Descriptions
Advanced Painting and Drawing
SU 2-5, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2337
In this course, students will focus their interests and refine their skills to create strong, portfolio-quality work. This advanced course is intended for students with previous drawing and/or painting experience who are ready to experiment, take risks, and push their skills to the next level. Led by their individual projects and goals, students may choose to work in a variety of media, such as water-based paint, oil paint, ink, pencil, charcoal, collage, or a combination of media. Trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, contemporary artist presentations, group critiques, daily writing exercises, and class discussions supplement the studio experience.
Animation Studio
SA 1-4, 2/1-4/12 (no class 3/22), #2333
Explore traditional and digital animation techniques, such as frame-by-frame, stop motion, and more. Beginning with sketches and storyboards, complete several projects that focus on communicating ideas through
motion studies, character and environment development, storytelling, and other cinematic devices. Using a variety of tools throughout the course, develop a final project based on individual goals and interests. Basic drawing and computer experience are required.
Creative Writing
SU 10-1, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2336
Learn how to craft short stories, monologues, poetry, and personal essays, as well as edit, revise, and workshop your writing with your peers. Push your skills through journaling, free writing, writing through music, digging through memories and dreams, and other methods of responding to the world in written form. All levels are welcome.
Drawing and Illustration - Online
SU 2-5, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2331
Focus on drawing and illustration as exciting tools for organizing thoughts, experiences, and images. Develop and strengthen fundamental skills as you work with line, volume, space,
Fashion Construction
SU 2-5, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2332
Learn how to design, construct, and sew garments. Develop original pattern blocks, explore drafting and draping, and document three-dimensional explorations with photography and/or drawing. Work produced in this class allows students to reflect and expand on their personal style and ambition while learning the skills to construct a garment from start to finish.
Do you have a background in drawing and are ready to learn to paint? In this course, skills such as line, volume, space, materiality, form and function, and palette are explored through both drawing and painting. A variety of traditional and contemporary materials are used such as graphite, charcoal, pastels, water-based paints, mixed media, and/or collage. By the end of the course, students will have an expanded knowledge of materials and acquire the ability to transition from drawing to painting. All levels are welcome.
Fashion Design
SU 10-1, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2345
Develop skills in illustrating the fashion figure, styling, draping, and fabric selection; explore the history of fashion design; investigate contemporary designers and design practices. Create unique textile and garment designs and learn about clothing as a language. Students may explore resources such as SAIC’s Fashion Resource Center, which houses a library on
Oil Painting
SU 2-5, 2/2-4/13 (no class 3/23), #2334
Discover how to prepare a canvas, set up your palette, and explore various painting techniques. Study the essentials of color mixing, color theory, composition, structure, proportion, and perspective by engaging in observational painting and activities designed to help you develop your unique style and direction.
Middle School Program Early College Program
Registration
Register online at continuingstudies.saic.edu . Call 312.629.6170 or email cs@saic.edu if you have any questions about online registration.
Tuition
Spring 2025 courses for ages 10-13: $600
Supplies
Supplies will be provided.
Refund Policy
A 100 percent tuition refund will be issued if courses are dropped at least one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date. All requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.
Cancellations and Schedule Changes: Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified before the first class, and students enrolled in cancelled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available in the form of scholarships. Visit saic.edu/mspfinancialaid for more information and how to apply.
Additional information regarding registration can be found by visiting saic.edu/msp, emailing cs@saic.edu , or calling 312.629.6170
Registration
Register online at continuingstudies.saic.edu . Call 312.629.6170 or email
cs@saic.edu if you have any questions about online registration.
Tuition
Spring 2025 noncredit courses for ages 14-18: $600
High school juniors and seniors, ages 15-18, have the option to enroll in spring 2025 courses for 1.0 credit for $1,848.
Supplies
Supplies are the responsibility of the student. Students will receive a supply list in the first class meeting for in-person courses and in the week prior for online courses. The cost of supplies varies by course, and can range between $50 and $200. Students may need to purchase additional supplies for specific projects as needed.
Refund Policy
A 100 percent tuition refund will be issued if courses are dropped at least one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date.
All requests must be submitted in writing to cs@saic.edu and include the student’s name, ID number, and course information. Refunds take four to six weeks to process.
Cancellations and Schedule Changes: Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel or alter the fees, schedule, or staffing of courses when circumstances warrant. If a cancellation or change is necessary, students will be notified before the first class, and students enrolled in cancelled courses will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available in the form of limited need-based aid and scholarships where need is not a requirement. Visit saic.edu/ecpfinancialaid for more information and how to apply.
Cover images: Savannah B. (top), Cam C. (bottom)