Students work in our beautiful, spacious studios in the historic College of Fine Arts building and the School of Art’s fabrication facilities. Individual instruction, in-class work sessions, critiques, demonstrations, and lectures are all part of the classroom experience. Students should expect to attend nightly open studios to complete work outside of class.

Session One [Weeks 1 - 3] Courses: 

• Drawing
• Sculpture
• Animation
• Concept Studio

Session Two [Weeks 4 - 6] Courses (6-week students only): 

• Painting
• Digital Photography
• Printmaking
• Concept Studio (a continuation of the first three weeks)

The Pre-College Art faculty is comprised of accomplished artists with experience teaching teenagers, as well as college-level undergraduates and graduates. Small class sizes allow students to benefit from individual attention, intense instruction, and substantial constructive feedback. Undergraduate teaching assistants from our School of Art’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program support both instructors and students. Their presence in the classroom allows Pre-College students to understand the experience and commitment of an artist studying at the college level.

Concept Studios are an integral part of the art curriculum at CMU, and all undergraduate students in the School of Art are required to take a series of these courses throughout their four years of study.

During the Pre-College experience, we condense these college-level courses into a rigorous two-part (Session One and Session Two) introduction designed to assist students in the development of personal, non-medium-specific approaches to generating art. Areas of exploration may include:

• the self and the human being
• space and time
• systems and processes
• contextual practice

Instruction in Concept Studio is centered around helping students to develop work that focuses less on technique and more on the creative process itself and what artmaking can convey to others.

Assignments in Concept Studio will include readings, short writing projects, collaborative projects, and the completion of individual artworks.

Each Friday, students participate in elective workshops. These morning and afternoon sessions present introductions to a wide range of topics and skills. While attendance is required, students are not evaluated on their workshop performance - fostering an atmosphere of experimentation, exploration, trial and error, and freedom. Students will be prompted to sign up for workshops once they have enrolled in the program.

Through exploration in various media, students develop conceptual and technical skills valuable to the college application process and critical to success in a competitive college-level art program.

Depending on individual levels of completion and effort, you should expect to create portfolio-quality work in each of your art courses.

All students are invited and encouraged to participate in one-on-one portfolio reviews with CMU School of Art faculty. These individual reviews are informal and are 15-30 minutes in length. This is a wonderful way to build confidence and practice for future in-person reviews when applying to college. 

To be eligible for Pre-College Art, students must: 

• Be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
• Be a current sophomore or junior in high school at the time of application submission.
• Have a strong interest in art.

The complete application for Pre-College Art consists of the following:

• Completed online application
• Unofficial transcript
• Standardized test scores (optional)
• One letter of recommendation
• Responses to essay prompts
• Samples of your artwork, submitted in one of the following formats (optional but recommended):
  • Video submission, up to three minutes. YouTube or Vimeo links only.
  • Five (5) to 10 images of work in a single PDF file.

Applicants will submit responses to one essay prompt and three short answer prompts. 

The following prompt is required of all applicants (300-500 words):

• What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon’s Pre-College Programs?

Applicants must then answer the following short answer prompts (150-200 words each):

• Why do you want to attend CMU's Pre-College Art Program?  
• What resources do you wish were available in your area to make you a better artist?
• What artwork do you make outside of assigned school projects, and what excites you about this process of creating?

Who can participate?

Students must be at least 16 years old by the program start date and currently enrolled in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application.

What is the goal of the program?

The Pre-College Art Program mirrors the structure and intensity of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Art undergraduate experience. Students gain hands-on studio training, learn critical thinking skills, and develop portfolio-ready work for college applications.

How many classes will I take?

Each Art student is enrolled in four classes per 3-week session. Classes meet Monday-Thursday. Morning classes run from 9am-12pm and afternoon classes meet from 1pm-4pm. Core coursework is the same for all students. Student schedules are generated upon enrollment into the program.  

What is the difference between the 3-week program and the 6-week program?

We highly recommend signing up for the 6-week program! That said, we understand that time and financial commitments are different for everyone and will ultimately dictate whether you choose the 3-week or 6-week program. We divide the program into two halves (Session One and Session Two) so that students leaving after the 3-week program feel that their coursework has been brought to a natural close.

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The 3-week program (Session One) culminates in a student exhibition, while the 6-week program includes both sessions for a more comprehensive experience with additional coursework and mentorship. The 3-week option is only available during Session One (Weeks 1-3). No exceptions are ever made to this rule.

The primary difference between the two options is the amount of time spent in the studios and on campus. As a 6-week student, you will become better acquainted with campus, with the city of Pittsburgh, and with one another. By taking a broader array of courses, you’ll develop a deeper skill set and be pushed further conceptually. Students enrolling in the 3-week program will take four classes while 6-week students will take eight.

What do students study?

Classes include Drawing, Sculpture, Animation, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Concept Studio - a course that encourages experimentation and creative problem-solving. 

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On average, how many hours of work are assigned outside of the classroom each week?

Every course and teacher will manage homework assignments differently. On average, you can expect to spend 8-10 hours per week working on projects outside of class.

What is the daily schedule like?

Students attend classes Monday-Thursday, 9 AM-12 PM and 1 PM-4 PM, with optional Friday workshops. They should expect 8-10 hours of independent work each week, fostering strong time-management and studio habits.

How much time is spent on portfolio development?

All students are invited and encouraged to participate in one-on-one portfolio reviews with CMU School of Art faculty. These individual sessions are informal and last between 15-30 minutes. This is a wonderful way for you to build confidence and to practice for future in-person reviews when applying to college.

Depending on individual levels of completion and effort, you should expect to create portfolio-quality work in each of your art courses.

Is the program residential? 

Yes, students may live on campus in CMU residence halls with full supervision from trained residential staff. Commuter options are also available for students who live within approximately 30 miles of CMU's campus.

Learn About Housing & Dining

What level of artistic experience do I need to have to apply to Pre-College Art?

Most students have taken high school art classes or extracurricular art programs held within the community. However, some students are successful with little experience given they are highly interested and motivated. 

Will I earn college credit from this program?

The program is non-credit, but it provides an authentic college-level studio experience and a valuable preview of life as a CMU student.

How can this program help with college admission?

Students leave with a strong, faculty-reviewed portfolio, direct feedback from CMU professors, and a better understanding of art school expectations - all of which strengthen future college applications.

What kinds of supplies will I need to bring?

Students will receive material kits from the CMU Art Store once they arrive on campus; this is included in the program cost. These kits are made to the specifications of the Pre-College faculty and will include items needed for individual classes such as Drawing and Painting.

Other items not included in the material kit are listed below. It is imperative that you purchase these before classes begin. 

Students are responsible for purchasing and bringing these items:  

All 3- and 6-week students

• Personal sketchbooks (works in progress or new)
• A large portfolio (20x30 or similar size)
• Documentation of previous artwork in the form of physical 2D pieces, digital files, or a personal website (for use during the portfolio review)
• A laptop computer (with Adobe Creative Suite) is not required but recommended

All 6-week students

• A quality digital camera (DSLR) with manual settings (DSLR camera overview)

What are workshops?

Art students participate in morning and afternoon workshops every Friday. Workshops are unique opportunities for students to develop skills and knowledge in areas of their personal choosing. Workshop sign-ups occur during orientation weekend.

Students are not evaluated on participation or any artwork produced during workshops. Pre-College faculty, teaching assistants, CMU affiliated artists, and Pittsburgh-based experts teach various selections. Examples of past offerings include puppetry, performance art, soft sculpture, green screening, kinetic sculpture, matte painting, creating an artist website, bonsai tree tending, kite-building, using a laser cutter, anatomy for artists, GIF-animation, and introduction to installation art.

How is student safety supported?

CMU’s Pre-College staff provides 24-hour supervision, including resident advisors, program coordinators, and campus security. Students also have access to on-campus health and wellness services.

How much does it cost, and is financial aid available?

Tuition and scholarship information is available online. Need-based financial aid and merit scholarships are available, and applications are due by February 1 for scholarships and international applicants.

View Tuition & Aid Info