SUMMER 2025 CLASSES
Digital Drawing and Illustration
Session 1, #1079, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
Session 2, #1080, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
Begin with traditional media and processes and then translate your ideas digitally into programs such as Procreate. Presentations will feature work by contemporary illustrators pushing the field forward using new approaches to mark-making.
Animation Studio
Session 2, #1069, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
Explore traditional and digital animation techniques like frame-by-frame, stop-motion, and more. Students complete several projects focusing on communicating ideas through motion studies, character/environment development, storytelling, and other cinematic devices such as composition, set creation, and props.
Moving Images: Video Production
Session 2, #1068, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
This course is foundational for students interested in video production, motion graphics, and animation. Students may work with traditional materials such as sketchbooks alongside digital applications such as Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere. Session 1: July 7-18 | Session 2: July 21-August 1 | Session 3: August 4-15
Architecture: Design & Drawing
Session 3, #1004, M-F, 1-4, Online
Learn basic architectural drawing, perspective, drafting techniques, and 3D modeling. Each student creates a stunning final project that could include a combination of prints, drawings, and impressive 3D physical models. No prior experience is necessary— just a passion for creativity and design!
Comics and Graphic Novels
Session 2, #1274, M-F, 9-12, Online
Session 3, #1043, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
Learn how to tell engaging stories and investigate character development, plot structure, scripting, and storyboarding. Explore penciling, inking, coloring, space, and perspective through traditional and non-traditional media, including colored pencils, oil pastels, watercolors, and handmade zines. All levels are welcome.
Drawing Studio
Session 1, #1273, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
Session 1, #1039, M-F, 9-12, Online
Session 2, #1041, M-F, 1-4, Online
Session 3, #1044, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
In this drawing course, students use diverse techniques to enhance their technical, spatial, and artistic abilities. Working with various materials, investigate contemporary subjects and themes through skills such as line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. All levels are welcome.
Figure Drawing
Session 3, #1042, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
Discover the beauty of the human form in this dynamic drawing course, where students work from the nude model to develop their observational skills and gain skills in representing proportion, volume, composition, gesture, and the accurate and expressive use of line and tone.
Fashion Construction
Session 2, #1054, M-F, 1-4, In-Person Session 3, #1055, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
In this hands-on course, students design, construct, and sew their own garments from start to finish. Young designers will explore a wide range of materials, including paper, muslin, secondhand clothing, and fabric off the bolt. No experience is necessary.
Fashion Design
Session 1, #1275, M-F, 9-12, In-Person Session 3, #1056, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
Students create unique textile and garment designs while discovering the fascinating concept of clothing as a powerful form of expression. Explore the rich history of fashion and investigate contemporary work and innovative practices shaping the industry. All levels are welcome.
Fashion Illustration
Session 2, #1053, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
Develop essential drawing skills and fashion illustration techniques focused on personal expression! Draw inspiration from live models and the stunning garments at SAIC’s Fashion Resource Center. Previous drawing experience is beneficial but not required.
Artist Materials and Techniques
Session 1, #1276, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
This course is designed for students who want to explore contemporary art materials and techniques. Students immerse themselves in the vibrant world of modern art, experimenting with various exciting methods, including drawing, sculpture, image transfer, collage, laser cutting, and even 3D printing. The course starts with several smaller exercises and demos combined with discussion to help students develop a larger final project that reflects their individual interests
From Drawing to Painting
Session 1, #1278, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
Session 3, #1119, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
This course guides students from drawing to mastering essential painting techniques. They’ll explore key concepts such as line, volume, space, and palette while experimenting with a diverse array of traditional and contemporary materials. This course is recommended for both beginners and those wanting to improve and develop their current abilities.
Oil Painting
Session 2, #1104, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
Dive into the world of color theory, composition, and proportion, and engage in observational painting. Exciting exercises help students cultivate their unique style and practice foundational skills such as stretching canvases, laying out palettes, color mixing, and paint applications.
Water-Based Painting
Session 1, #1103, M-F, 9-12, In-Person
Session 3, #1277, M-F, 1-4, In-Person
Explore a diverse range of mediums, including ink, acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media, while working from captivating subjects. Develop essential color, tone, volume, contrast, and temperature techniques to create dynamic work.
Creative Writing
Session 2, #1279, M-F, 9-12, Online
Craft short stories, monologues, poetry, and personal essays as you workshop your writing with your peers. Push your skills through journaling, freewriting, writing through music, digging through memories and dreams, and other methods of responding to the world in written form. All levels are welcome.
SAIC AND CHICAGO
Woven into the fabric of vibrant downtown Chicago, SAIC’s campus provides the ideal platform for ECP students to explore new artistic domains. Chicago, home to one of the country’s largest concentrations of working artists, is a city of unparalleled architecture, innovative public art, and world-class museums and galleries. SAIC’s faculty of practicing artists, designers, scholars, industry influencers, and innovators connect students with all of the city’s amazing resources.
In addition to the Art Institute’s famous collections of French Impressionist, PostImpressionist, and Surrealist work, the museum’s Modern Wing houses a worldrenowned collection of 20th and 21st century art. Students enrolled in ECP courses have unlimited access to the museum’s collections.
Registration
Register online at continuingstudies.saic.edu . Call 312.629.6170 or email cs@saic.edu if you have any questions about online registration.
All students in grades 9–12 may register for noncredit. Students who have completed their sophomore year have the option of enrolling for one college credit per course.
Tuition
Audit (noncredit) course: $600
1.0 college credit (student must have completed their sophomore year): $1,848
Tuition does not include supplies. Students provide their own supplies and will receive a material list on the first day of class. Supplies vary by class and can range from $50–$200.
Refund Policy
100 percent tuition refund will be issued if courses are cancelled at least one week prior to the session start date. No refunds will be issued after this date. All requests to drop a course 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.
Note: Nonattendance does not constitute an official withdrawal, nor a cancellation of tuition and fees.
SAIC reserves the right to cancel or alter fees, schedule, or staffing. Students will be notified prior to the first class and will have the option of taking another class or receiving a full refund.
Please note that SAIC does not provide medical or mental health services, and is not equipped with a nurse or guidance counselor for Early College Program students. SAIC security and emergency services provide support and are consulted on an asneeded basis.
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.
Grace and Walter Byron Smith Scholarship
The Smith Scholarship covers 100 percent of tuition for any non-credit (audit) ECP course taken in fall, spring, or summer, and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students living in Illinois. Applicants must complete the Google form online at saic.edu/smith
Additional details regarding registration and financial assistance can be found by visiting saic.edu/ecp or calling 312.629.6170.
