Summer Art Intensive

ENROLL NOW

We are accepting enrollments and scholarship applications.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Program Schedule

July 7–August 14, 2025

Mondays–Thursdays

9:30 am–4:30 pm (Lunch 12:30 pm–1:30 pm)

Eligibility

Ages 15–18 & rising sophomore–rising senior or equivalent.

Tuition & Fees

Each course costs $4,350 except for Painting which costs $4,500. Tuition covers all material, trip, and artist visit. The $270 non-refundable fee is also included in the total price of tuition.

Deadlines

Enrollment: Monday, June 30. 

Scholarship application: Monday, April 28.

The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive offers high school students (rising sophomores to rising seniors) the opportunity to immerse themselves in art-making in an art college environment with professional instruction alongside classmates who share their passion for art and design. Current Cooper Union undergraduates serve as teaching assistants to support student success enriching the student experience. Visit the instructor page to learn more about our dedicated and talented faculty. 

Students in the program choose from the concentration sections with courses in Drawing, Animation, Painting, Graphic Design, Studio Practice (for rising seniors). Students in the Animation and Graphic Design sections also spend half the day drawing. All students participate in special focus workshops each week, social events with refreshments served, field trips to museums, galleries, and artists’ studios. Visiting artists and designers will present their work to classes and in the final week of the program, an exhibition will be mounted showcasing program-created work, and for the celebratory opening (or closing) event we will invite family, friends, and colleagues to view and congratulate the artists. All materials and museum entry fees are included in tuition. Click here to learn more about the program structure and to see class descriptions.  

The Summer Art Intensive will be held on The Cooper Union campus in the vibrant East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. Students in the program will have a firsthand look at the studio spaces and classrooms that Cooper Union undergraduates utilize. 

The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive does not provide housing on campus, meal plans, or college credits. The program can provide a letter of completion upon request. 

Consent forms (program participation permissions) and a code of conduct will be sent to parents/guardians for signature. Request for signatures will be handled by email before the start of the program. 

FAQ

Who is the program for?

The program is open to all students who are serious about art and/or design and seek develop their portfolio in preparation for college applications. However, the program does not require students to have prior experience in studio art or any software. Instructors and teaching assistants will guide students through the basics as well as more advanced techniques. 

What is the difference between the enrollment and the scholarship application?

Enrollment is conducted on a first come, first serve basis. Students enrolling are not required to submit a portfolio or undergo a selection process. Students must complete registration and submit payment to offiially enroll in the program.

Scholarship applicants, however, are required to submit a minimum of 5 images of recent artwork as their portfolio and will undergo a selection process. Students applying for the scholarship will receive application statuses in May. If a student is not awarded a scholarship, they have the option to enroll by completing registration here and submitting payment of tuition.

Applying for the scholarship does not guarantee or secure a spot in the program unless a student is awarded a scholarship. 

What does tuition cover?

Tuition will cover all materials that will be provided and used in class. It will also cover any trips or artist visits that are conducted during the program. The non-refundable registration fee of $270 is included in the price of tuition. 

What does the scholarship cover?

The Jeffery and Paul Gural Merit Scholarship for NYC Public School Students is a full tuition scholarship which covers the entire price of tuition, materials, trips, and artist visits. If a student is awarded the scholarship, they will attend the program with all costs covered. For more details about the scholarship, please visit our scholarship page. 

Does the program provide housing?

The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive does not provide housing on campus. Students enrolled in the program must find accommodations prior to the start of the program.  

How many classes can I attended?

Students in the program can attend 1 concentration of their choice. Each course will be a full day and attending multiple concentrations will not be possible. See course hours below.

Animation (3 hours) & Drawing (3 hours)

Drawing Intensive (6 hours)

Graphic Design (3 hours) & Drawing (3 hours)

Painting (6 hours)

Studio Practice Section A (6 hours)

Studio Practice Section B (6 hours)

What does a day in the program look like?

Class begins at 9:30 am with lunch at 12:30 pm–1:30 pm with the day ending at 4:30 pm.

Can international students attend the program?

Yes. Students that are coming from abroad can attend the program, however, they must make all arrangements prior to entering the United States as well as finding accommodations before the start of the program. The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive does not provide room or board on campus. 

When is the deadline to enroll?

Monday, June 30, 2025.

Who are the instructors?

Please visit our instructors page for more information about who will lead each class. 

Does The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive give college credits?

No. The program does not give college credits, however, we are can provide a proof of course completion. Requests for proof of course completion must be made in writing within one year of course completion and must include a $10 service fee for each class record requested. Please allow two weeks to process.

Can I request a refund?

Refunds can be requested. Please visit our policies page for more detials on our refund policy and instructions. 

Do I need to have prior studio art experience to attend the program?

No. The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive welcomes all students with varying degrees of studio art experience. Our curriculum is structured so that all students eventually leave learning the basics and beyond. 

How many students are in each class?

Each class has a capacity limit of 16 students. If a class is full, a student has the option to be placed on the waitlist and will be contacted if a seat opens up. 

Do I need to bring art supplies to the program?

No. All materials need for any prompt will be provided on campus. However, students may discuss with their instructor if they can use a certain material they have in mind as long as it adheres to the schools policies and regulations. 

Do I need to bring a computer to the program?

No. Students that need to use a computer will do so as a class in the computer lab when needed. Access to software will also be provided on each computer. Students in a digital course are not expected to buy or own equipment to attend the program.

What is the difference between Drawing Intensive and the other drawing classes?

Drawing Intensive is an all day drawing class that will allow students develop a stronger idea of their personal visual language. This course will give students the opportunity to build a stronger portfolio for college applications. 

The half day drawing classes that accompany Animation and Graphic Design, are geared towards giving students in those courses a more rounded view of animation or graphic design by balancing out digital and analog aspects of those disciplines. 

Who are the teaching assistants?

The teaching assistants at The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive are all current Cooper Union undergraduate students. Teaching assistants play an integral part in the program not only by assisting with the day to day logistics of a class, but also by contributing a dynamic class environment and pedagogy. Teaching assistants also provide a great insight into what life is like at The Cooper Union as an undergraduate student in the School of Art.  

Will there be an exhibition?

Yes. On the last week of the program, we will open an exhibition of each students' work from each class. The exhibition will be announced in advanced and is open to all family and friends of students. 

Does the program provide lunch?

The only day that the program provides lunch is on Thursdays during the program. This is a great opportunity for students to meet other students in other classes. 

We are also accepting scholarship applications for the Jeffery & Paula Gural Merit Scholarship for NYC Public School Students. For information about the scholarship application, please click here. 

Office Hours

Monday–Friday

9:00AM–5:00PM

Email: summerartintensive@cooper.edu

Phone: (212) 353-4202

Join our mailing list here for updates and more information.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.