Curriculum
All Summer Immersion students enroll in two classes from the list below. When completing the application, students will rank their top three course choices. These hands-on classes explore the diverse disciplines available at Pratt and are taught by Pratt faculty using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities across campus. The courses are modeled after Pratt’s undergraduate curriculum and award 4 college credits accepted at most colleges and universities.
Students are in class four days a week from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Students should anticipate spending 2-4 hours each evening working on class assignments. Co-curricular programming includes guided studio hours with Pratt degree students who help with class assignments and provide feedback before critiques.
Commuter students can choose to attend studio hours or expect to spend an equal amount of time completing homework at home. Please note that some assignments may require special tools available only during scheduled studio times.
The Courses
All PreCollege students are automatically enrolled in two classes. Please note that some classes require a foundation course as the second concentration.
Architecture
Reimagine the structures in which we live and work. Develop solutions to a series of architectural problems through hands-on work; producing sketches, drafting plans, and building models. Students will gain familiarity with architectural concepts and build skills through hands-on lessons. Please note: Students taking architecture will automatically be enrolled in an architecture foundation course and cannot take a second concentration.
Comic Book / Sequential Art
Explore the art of pictorial storytelling; combining images and text to create visual narratives for single panel illustrations, comic strips/books, and graphic novels. Investigate all aspects of this art form: from drawing techniques, lettering, and inking, to composition, perspective, panel sequences, and developing original stories. The skills acquired provide a foundation for creative processes such as: children’s book illustration, storyboards for film and television production, and animation.
Cultural Studies
Analyze how popular culture, media, and everyday practices shape and reflect social differences. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students examine how institutions and economic forces influence culture. Students develop critical awareness as consumers, critics, and creators of culture while experiencing NYC’s diverse cultural landscape through site visits. Students will learn to critically analyze why some forms of culture are valued over others and discover how engaging with culture—from books and films to music and social media—can be a powerful tool for social change.
Creative Writing
Craft compelling written compositions. Focus on the fundamentals of creative writing while developing writing skills in one or more genres or styles (poetry, essay, fiction, writing for theatre, film, or magazines). Students will examine written language, voice, and the composing process through reading /writing assignments, critical reviews, and peer review/critique.
Digital Arts: 2D Animation
Create both hand-crafted and digital approaches to the art of animation. From early optical toys, through drawing frame by frame on paper, to creating digitally composited layers of movement for a fully realized project with sound and color. Daily exercises range from traditional character animation to more experimental techniques, allowing students to foster their own vision. Students taking animation will automatically be enrolled in a foundation course and cannot take a second concentration.
Digital Arts: 3D Animation
Learn to create 3D images and short animated videos, by creating engaging narratives, characters, and environments. Using industry standards, develop technical modeling, animation, and rendering skills while applying basic art and animation theory such as color, composition, and movement principles. Students learn Maya and Adobe Premiere.
Digital Arts: Art and Technology
Explore creative possibilities using cutting-edge digital tools. Students experiment with a variety of technologies including augmented reality (AR), AI/machine learning platforms, and interactive audiovisual experiences, creating portfolio-quality works. All the software used in the course is free and user-friendly, and no prior experience with coding is required.
Fashion Design
Discover the trans-disciplinary nature of fashion design. From sketching and illustration to crafting and creating, students will experiment with designers’ techniques and build basic skills in collection development. Students will be instructed in draping, patterning, and hand sewing in Pratt’s cutting edge fashion studio. Please note: sewing machines are not used in this class.
Film/Video
Explore the aesthetic and craft of filmmaking through hands-on projects. Using digital video, students will produce short film projects designed to develop both technical competencies, and an appreciation of the power and creative potential of the moving image. Cameras and editing equipment will be provided.
Fine Arts: Painting and Drawing
Translate the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional surface. Develop perceptual and aesthetic awareness and improve technical skills through the creation of fine art. Students will use different drawing and painting techniques, media, and subject matter to create a body of work with an emphasis on developing an effective studio practice and producing works to include in a competitive portfolio. Please note: Nude figure drawing is included.
Fine Arts: Sculpture
Transform ideas into tangible forms. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the diverse world of three-dimensional art. Students explore various sculptural forms and techniques, gaining hands-on experience from carving and modeling to assemblage and installation. Through the lens of contemporary sculpture and artists, students develop their own creative voice and produce unique works of art.
Foundation Art
Immerse yourself in the fundamentals of art and design. This dynamic studio course, based on Pratt’s first-year curriculum, challenges students to think critically and creatively about visual expression. Through hands-on projects and exploration of diverse media, students gain a deeper understanding of color, shape, line, and movement, while developing essential skills for artistic growth. Please note: Nude figure drawing is included.
Graphic Design
Design for a changing world. This course delves into the power of graphic design to shape our experiences and communicate ideas. Master essential tools and principles—typography, photography, illustration, and computer graphics—to create impactful and memorable visual solutions for today’s challenges.
Illustration: Digital
Explore the creative potential of digital illustration for editorial and commercial applications. Students master industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as well as learn techniques to produce professional-quality images. Through experimentation with drawing, scanning, digital photography, and photo editing, students develop a unique visual voice.
Illustration: Traditional
Develop a comprehensive foundation in traditional illustration techniques. Students will explore drawing and painting, developing your artistic voice and learning to create compelling visuals for the commercial world. Through life drawing, experimentation with various media, and cultivating a creative vision, students gain the skills to produce professional-quality work. Nude figure drawing included.
Industrial Design
Become a creator of functional and meaningful objects. This course examines the role of industrial design in meeting the evolving needs of our society and planet. Gain practical experience in drawing, model making, and design thinking to create innovative products that improve everyday life.
Interior Design
Shape the spaces where life unfolds. Master the principles of light, color, materials, and spatial arrangement. Discover how to create interiors that are both functional and transformational. Students bring design concepts to life through hands-on projects in drafting, 3D modeling, and rendering. Discover how to create interiors that are both functional and transformational.
Jewelry / Metal Arts
Push the boundaries of form and function. This course is an introduction to basic, direct metal, fabrication techniques for metal objects and wearable art pieces. Students will research and develop design concepts and execute finished pieces using non-ferrous metals combined with alternative materials and current technology.
Photography: Analog
Capture life in the moment. Students study 35mm camera operations, lighting techniques, and darkroom procedures to achieve a broad-based knowledge of black and white photography. Instruction includes exposing and developing film, making contact prints, enlarging and finishing photographs. Students are required to provide their own 35mm camera for this course.
Photography: Digital
Develop a comprehensive introduction to digital imaging. Learn to capture and edit impactful images using industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Explore key concepts in art and design while developing a strong foundation in image manipulation techniques. Students are required to provide their own digital camera for this course.