Courses
Start building your summer today by selecting from hundreds of Columbia courses from various topics of interest. Courses for Summer 2024 are now available, with new offerings being added throughout the winter into early spring. Key to Course Listings | Course Requirements
Offered in collaboration with the School of the Arts, the Visual Arts Department at Columbia University offers students many opportunities to expand the depth and complexity of their studio practice in Photography, Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking, as well as their ability to think critically in the context of contemporary art theory.
Students can apply to take individual courses listed below as a Visiting Student or as a part of the Arts in Summer program.
Course Options
Fundamentals of visual vocabulary. Students work from observation using still-life objects and the human figure. Emphasizes the relationship of lines and forms to each other and to the picture format. Materials used: vine charcoal, compressed charcoal, pencil, pen, ink, and brushes. Class assignments, discussions, and critiques.
Instructor
Andie Carver
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Tu 17:30-20:00
We 17:30-20:00
Th 17:30-20:00
Enrollment
8 of 18
Arts and Culture in NYC
Visiting students can take this course as part of a Focus Area.
The Arts and Culture in NYC Focus Area leverages the artistic hub of NYC with insights from Columbia’s faculty, making it ideal for students who are interested in art history, creative arts, and those who are interested in enhancing their portfolio for an MFA program or graduate studies. Students enhance their academic experience through specialized co-curricular activities exclusive to the city and may earn a Certification of Participation.
Introductory course to analog photographic tools, techniques, and photo criticism. This class explores black & white, analog camera photography and darkroom processing and printing. Areascovered include camera operations, black and white darkroom work, 8x10 print production, and critique. With an emphasis on the student’s own creative practice, this course will explore the basics of photography and its history through regular shooting assignments, demonstrations, critique, lectures, and readings. No prior photography experience is required.
Instructor
Diana Palermo
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Mo 18:15-21:25
We 18:15-21:25
Enrollment
9 of 14
Arts and Culture in NYC
Visiting students can take this course as part of a Focus Area.
The Arts and Culture in NYC Focus Area leverages the artistic hub of NYC with insights from Columbia’s faculty, making it ideal for students who are interested in art history, creative arts, and those who are interested in enhancing their portfolio for an MFA program or graduate studies. Students enhance their academic experience through specialized co-curricular activities exclusive to the city and may earn a Certification of Participation.
Introductory course to analog photographic tools, techniques, and photo criticism. This class explores black & white, analog camera photography and darkroom processing and printing. Areascovered include camera operations, black and white darkroom work, 8x10 print production, and critique. With an emphasis on the student’s own creative practice, this course will explore the basics of photography and its history through regular shooting assignments, demonstrations, critique, lectures, and readings. No prior photography experience is required.
Instructor
Jacqueline Silberbush
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Tu 18:15-21:25
Th 18:15-21:25
Enrollment
12 of 16
Arts and Culture in NYC
Visiting students can take this course as part of a Focus Area.
The Arts and Culture in NYC Focus Area leverages the artistic hub of NYC with insights from Columbia’s faculty, making it ideal for students who are interested in art history, creative arts, and those who are interested in enhancing their portfolio for an MFA program or graduate studies. Students enhance their academic experience through specialized co-curricular activities exclusive to the city and may earn a Certification of Participation.
Since Walter Benjamin’s concept of “work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction” (1935), photography has been continuously changed by mechanical, and then digital, means of image capture and processing. This class explores the history of the image, as a global phenomenon that accompanied industrialization, conflict, racial reckonings, and decolonization. Students will study case studies, read critical essays, and get hands-on training in capture, workflow, editing, output, and display formats using digital equipment (e.g., DSLR camera) and software (e.g., Lightroom, Photoshop, Scanning Software). Students will complete weekly assignments, a midterm project, and a final project based on research and shooting assignments. No Prerequisites and no equipment needed. All enrolled students will be able to check out Canon EOS 5D DSLR Camera; receive an Adobe Creative Cloud license; and get access to Large Format Print service.
Instructor
Paula Lycan
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Tu 18:15-21:25
Th 18:15-21:25
Enrollment
10 of 14
Arts and Culture in NYC
Visiting students can take this course as part of a Focus Area.
The Arts and Culture in NYC Focus Area leverages the artistic hub of NYC with insights from Columbia’s faculty, making it ideal for students who are interested in art history, creative arts, and those who are interested in enhancing their portfolio for an MFA program or graduate studies. Students enhance their academic experience through specialized co-curricular activities exclusive to the city and may earn a Certification of Participation.
This is an intensive, six-week class moving from the basics of paint materials, techniques, issues of color, light, narrative and most of all representation. Students will begin working from still life set-ups in the studio and gradually move towards more ambitious approaches including figure painting from a model. Towards the end of the class students will be encouraged to work on a project or projects that more closely reflect their personal ideas.
Instructor
Taekyung Suh
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Tu 17:30-20:00
We 17:30-20:00
Th 17:30-20:00
Enrollment
11 of 16
Arts and Culture in NYC
Visiting students can take this course as part of a Focus Area.
The Arts and Culture in NYC Focus Area leverages the artistic hub of NYC with insights from Columbia’s faculty, making it ideal for students who are interested in art history, creative arts, and those who are interested in enhancing their portfolio for an MFA program or graduate studies. Students enhance their academic experience through specialized co-curricular activities exclusive to the city and may earn a Certification of Participation.
Introduction to the fundamentals of silkscreen techniques. Students gain familiarity with the technical processes of silkscreen and are encouraged to use the processes to develop their visual language. Students are involved in a great deal of drawing for assigned projects. Portfolio required at end.
Instructor
Valeria Guillen
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Tu 18:15-21:25
Th 18:15-21:25
Enrollment
8 of 14
Introduction to the fundamentals of silkscreen techniques. Students gain familiarity with the technical processes of silkscreen and are encouraged to use the processes to develop their visual language. Students are involved in a great deal of drawing for assigned projects. Portfolio required at end.
Instructor
Johanna Velasquez
Modality
In-Person
Day/Time
Mo 18:15-21:25
We 18:15-21:25
Enrollment
11 of 14