Academy of Art University’s free Pre-College Art & Design Experience (PCADE) is for every high school student who wants to take a deep dive into their own creative universe. Study architecture, animation, game design, fashion, fine art, photography, filmmaking, and much more.
We’ve designed our college-level courses for high school students new to art and design, and for those who want to take their skills to the next level. You will collaborate with other artists and make new friends in an environment that embraces what is unique about you.
Classes are held primarily onsite in San Francisco.
For up-to-date course offerings, please view our Course Catalog or reach us at preadmissions@academyart.edu and 800-544-2787
Architecture and the City & Maker Lab (Architecture)
Creating Dream Spaces (Interior Architecture & Design)
Introduction to Styling (Fashion)
Introduction to Fashion Design (Fashion)
Painting: Still Life (Fine Art)
Animal Sculpture (Fine Art)
Character Design (Illustration)
Comic Book (Illustration)
Digital Character Design (Visual Development)
Character Design (Visual Development)
Interactive Music Production (Music Production)
Video Gaming: Game Design (Game Development)
Sketching for Game Art (Game Development)
Introduction to Maya (Animation & Visual Effects)
Photography (Photography)
In the Mood for Interior Design (Interior Architecture & Design)
Product Design (Industrial Design)
Introduction to Fashion & Print Design (Fashion)
Still Life Painting (Fine Art)
Fantasy Portrait Sculpture (Fine Art)
Figure Drawing (Foundations)
Drawing: Fantasy Worlds (Foundations)
Comic Book Illustration (Illustration)
Character Design (Illustration)
Designing Characters like the Pros (Visual Development)
Interactive Music Production (Music Production)
Video Gaming: Game Design (Game Development)
Animating in Maya (Animation & Visual Effects)
Studio Photography with a Smartphone (Photography)
Acting Experience (Acting)
AI Concepting and Image Creation (Advertising)
Art History: the Myth and the Body (Art History)