Certificate Programs

In the Drawing Certificate, students develop the skills and conceptual foundation necessary to cultivate their art practice, drawing inspiration and context from SAIC’s many resources. Among them is the Art Institute of Chicago, an encyclopedic museum encompassing more than 5,000 years of creative expression from cultures worldwide.  

Coursework Requirements

- Studio Courses (4): Four 30-hour courses from those listed under Certificate Drawing at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

- Art History Course (1): One 20- to 30-hour course under CS Art History at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

- Elective (1): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificates, including 1-week and 2-weekend intensives.

Total required courses: 6

Required courses may not be offered every term. Adult Continuing Education noncredit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely online. Coursework requirements may not be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person).

Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Drawing Certificate Curriculum Guide.

Completion of the Drawing Certificate requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews occur during or after the student's final coursework term. Students must also complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and complete an exit survey to receive their digital certificate.

The Fashion Certificate is designed for students interested in artistic and professional training in fashion. Participants hone the technical skills necessary to realize their creative vision as they develop a portfolio of work that can be used for a variety of purposes, including preparation for further study.

Inspiration and context are drawn from SAIC’s Fashion Resource Center, a unique collection of late 20th- and 21st-century designer garments and accessories representing extreme innovation, as well as the Art Institute of Chicago museum and other SAIC collections and resources.

Coursework Requirements

- Required Course (1): Sewing Techniques: Fundamentals

- Studio Courses (4): Four 30-hour courses from those listed under Certificate Fashion at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

- Elective (1): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificates, including 1-week and 2-weekend intensives.

Total required courses: 6

Required courses may not be offered every term. Adult Continuing Education noncredit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely online. Coursework requirements may not be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person). 

Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Fashion Certificate Curriculum Guide.

Completion of the Fashion Certificate requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews occur during or after the student's final coursework term. Students must also complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and complete an exit survey to receive their digital certificate.

The Graphic Design Certificate is designed for students with an interest in exploring graphic design with an emphasis on print media. Participants employ analog and digital processes and may elect to work across disciplines as they develop a portfolio of work that represents their personal voice and demonstrates the technical, critical, and analytical skills required of the field.

Students enrolled in the Graphic Design Certificate should have access to a Mac or PC computer with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop installed. Before starting this program, students should feel comfortable navigating the directory structure and creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files and directories without assistance.

Coursework Requirements

- Required Course (1): Introduction to Graphic Design

- Studio Courses (4): Four 30-hour courses from those listed under Certificate Graphic Design at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

- Electives (1): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificates, including 1-week and 2-weekend intensives.

Total required courses: 6

Required courses may not be offered every term. Adult Continuing Education noncredit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely online. Coursework requirements may not be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person).

Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Graphic Design Certificate Curriculum Guide.

Completion of the Graphic Design Certificate requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews occur during or after the student's final coursework term. Students must also complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and complete an exit survey to receive their digital certificate.

SAIC’s non-credit Interior Design Certificate Program equips students with knowledge and skills in the constantly evolving field of interior design. Students will study interior architecture, learning how to design and create functional interior spaces while gaining exposure to contemporary design concepts, trends, and applications. You will learn what is required to design and build an interior space, gain a general knowledge of how interior designers work, and examine what it takes to move creative designs from ideas to reality.

The Certificate in Interior Design is ideal for:

- Students wishing to learn technical interior design skills for career advancement.

- Students interested in undertaking personal design projects relating to interior architecture or design.

- Students looking to build a portfolio for admission to interior architecture degree programs, including SAIC’s Master of Architecture with a Track in Interior Architecture.

In addition to fostering the practical skills needed to succeed in the field, our program also emphasizes the importance of creativity and innovation. Students will have the opportunity to work on real-world projects while developing their design skills and building an interior architecture portfolio that showcases their abilities.

Students should have access to a Mac or PC, and be comfortable navigating directory structures and creating, deleting, renaming, and moving files.

Interior Design Certificate Coursework Requirements

Required Course (1)​: Design Matters

Studio Courses (4): Four 30-hour courses from those listed under Certificate Interior Design at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

Elective (1): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificates, including one-week and two-weekend intensives.

Total required courses: 6

Note: We offer interior architecture and interior design certificate courses in Chicago on our campus and online, however, Adult Continuing Education non-credit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely remotely. Coursework requirements may not always be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person). Required architecture and interior design courses may not be offered every term.

Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Interior Design Certificate Curriculum Guide.

Completion of the Interior Design Certificate requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews occur during or after the student's final coursework term. Students must also complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and complete an exit survey to receive their digital certificate.

In the Painting Certificate, students develop the skills and conceptual foundation necessary to cultivate their art practice, drawing inspiration and context from SAIC’s many resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago, an encyclopedic museum that encompasses more than 5,000 years of creative expression from cultures around the world.

Coursework Requirements

- Studio Courses (4): Four 30-hour courses under Certificate Painting at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

- Art History Course (1): One 20- to 30-hour course under CS Art History at continuingstudies.saic.edu.

- Elective (1): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificates, including one-week and two-weekend intensives.*

Total required courses: 6

*It is strongly encouraged that students with little or no drawing experience take Introduction to Drawing, which can be used to fulfill the Painting Certificate elective requirement.

Required courses may not be offered every term. Adult Continuing Education noncredit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely online. Coursework requirements may not be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person).

Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Painting Certificate Curriculum Guide.

Completion of the Painting Certificate requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews occur during or after the student's final coursework term. Students must also complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and complete an exit interview to receive their digital certificate.

New Studio Art and Design Certificate applications are no longer being accepted.

Designed to support individual students' immediate creative goals and long-term aspirations, the Studio Art and Design Certificate reflects SAIC's interdisciplinary art and design curriculum.

Coursework Requirements

- Required Course (1): Artist Materials and Techniques (formerly Studio: Surface, Space, Time) - offered in fall only

- Electives (4): All 30-hour Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible for all certificates, including one-week and two-weekend intensives​.

- Culminating Course (1): Exhibition Essentials (formerly Critique + Exhibition) - offered in spring only

Total required courses: 6

Required courses may not be offered every term. Adult Continuing Education noncredit certificates were not designed to be completed entirely online. Coursework requirements may not be scheduled in the student's preferred instructional mode (online or in-person).

Keep track of your certificate requirements as you move through your individualized program using our Studio Art and Design Certificate Curriculum Guide.

The sequence of electives can take many forms to suit the individual needs of the adult learner, emphasizing personal enrichment, preparation for further study, and more. 

Completion of the Certificate in Studio Art and Design requires a portfolio review, fulfilled by participation in Portfolio Review Days offered in the fall and spring. Final portfolio reviews occur during or after the student's final coursework term. Students will also need to complete the certificate program completion form, submit high-quality digital images of their work, and complete an exit interview to receive their digital certificate.