Academy of Art University’s free, scholarship-based, 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 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.

Your Pre-College Art & Design Experience will be offered on campus, in San Francisco, or online.

Apply HERE

Course Offerings

For up-to-date course offerings, please contact our Pre-Admissions Department at

preadmissions@academyart.edu

800-544-2787

Summer 2025 (2 weeks)

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)

Fall 2025 (3 Saturdays)

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)

More Information

Pre-College Art & Design Experience

FAQ

Program Schedule

Pre-College Courses in Architecture

Curious to learn about what architects do? Interested in finding out whether you’d like to pursue it as a college degree? Find out! All supplies are provided in Architecture Pre-College classes. The program is a great way to get hands-on experience in a fun and low-stakes environment.

For students who have already made the decision to apply to college as an architecture major, our longer summer program can help you build your portfolio. Please note that the program is not for college credit.