Summer Intensive Studies NYC

Pre-College 

In this course, students develop a solid understanding of the principles of animation and the art of storytelling as the foundation for creating sequential narratives — cartoons, graphic novels, movies, videos. The class helps students find their voice and artistic style as they create an animated short, from concept to finished work. Students use Adobe After Effects to bring their drawings to life. The course is an excellent opportunity for those curious about animation to learn the entire process.

Pre-College

Students are introduced to the field of architecture through a studio project for a public building in New York City. They address complex urban and architectural spatial problems through field observation, architectural drawing, and model making. They acquire technical skills and develop the understanding of scale, form, and spatial relationships needed to interpret the built environment. Students divide their time between designing in the studio, learning to analyze and represent space, and gaining on-site experience on field trips to locations in New York City.

Pre-College 

This course provides an overview of topics and issues central to the Strategic Design and Management program, with an emphasis on the relationships between design, experience, and social and economic change. An intensive three-week course, it exposes students to the enormous variety of ways design functions in business contexts and helps them understand the roles designers play in creative industries through critical readings and discussions, case studies, guest lectures, field trips, and collaborative, practice-based projects. By means of research, prototyping, experimentation, self-reflection, and decision-making activities, students learn to become resourceful practitioners and creative entrepreneurs.The intensive nature of the class results in a steep learning curve. 

Pre-College 

If you are interested in learning more about the world of design or are planning to apply to an art and design school, Design Studio is for you. The criteria for admission to many of today’s most competitive art and design schools are changing. Students are now expected to display their work along with careful documentation of the entire design process. It is no longer enough to present a beautiful finished work of art; you must demonstrate how you formulate ideas, make decisions, and solve problems. This course introduces students to Parsons’ design methodology, including research, concept development, sketching and prototyping, iterative project development, and written reflection. Students then apply this process to projects in which they explore disciplines including fashion, product, and graphic design. Students are also introduced to the fundamentals of drawing and are encouraged to experiment with sketching and illustration techniques using digital tools in Adobe Creative Suite, digital photography, and 3D materials and processes. Project work is supplemented by weekly guest lectures by high-profile New York City designers and recent Parsons graduates and by visits to relevant exhibitions and events in the city. Students must bring a laptop. 

Pre-College 

This course immerses students in the study of the human figure through drawing projects that investigate both its form and its capacity to carry meaning within various cultural contexts. Anatomy, motion, gesture, and a variety of techniques and media are used to explore the body as the site of messages ranging from the personal to the political. 

Pre-College 

This course combines the fundamental practice of observational drawing with conceptual strategies for constructing the drawn image. Emphasis is placed on drawing as an integral component of the design process. Students gain analytical skills through direct observation of studio setups as well as visits to museums and outdoor spaces throughout New York City. These skills are used to approach drawing as a way of thinking, as a critical tool, and as a means of observation, storytelling, and representation. 

Pre-College 

Learn about the process of designing and making, particularly the creation of objects using soft materials. A variety of construction methods are explored, from hand and machine sewing to knitting, crocheting, draping, and patternmaking. Drawing and sketching are introduced as an integral part of the design process, allowing students to develop concepts in two dimensions before they begin making. Transposing visual ideas from sketching to fabricating, 2D to 3D, students are free to explore the techniques of patternmaking or draping to create the structure for their designs. Students familiarize themselves with design process methods through the development of a design sketchbook documenting research, fabric development, sketch inspirations, and reflections. Projects may include but are not limited to clothing and accessories.

Pre-College 

This course introduces students to various presentation methods that enable them to clearly communicate their ideas through 2D media and the development of a collection. Students explore the communicative power of images through visual media using a variety of drawing and digital techniques, with the goal of developing their own individual aesthetic. Engagement with observational drawing from the live fashion model, photography, digital image creation, and video helps bring students' design ideas to life. Students build skills in observation, expression of ideas, and visual organization to create a personal blog or book. Field trips to designer studios and museums along with guest lectures by practicing professionals develop students’ knowledge of New York’s fashion industry. 

Pre-College 

This course provides insight into the business of styling and collaboration and shows students how to keep up with a fast-paced industry. The course challenges students to work through real-life scenarios in which they learn to maintain budgets and inventory and meet the needs of clients. The class engages with work spaces throughout the city, exposing students to styling resources, showrooms, and professional stylists. They learn how to work in professional spaces and develop an understanding of team dynamics. They also become familiar with on- and off-figure styling, editorial, e-commerce, and motion styling. Students leave the course with portfolio-building images.

Pre-College 

This course introduces students to principles of game theory and fundamentals of interaction design. Students explore methods for creating analog and digital games by experimenting with a variety of physical objects and digital interfaces. They develop an understanding of game structure, play experience, and the community aspect of gaming culture. Students are introduced to basic coding, enabling them to create their own games using a range of software and open-source programs. Studio work is supplemented by analysis of existing games, guest lectures by game designers, and peer-to-peer play testing.

Pre-College 

Graphic design is the visual language of everyday life, used in everything from magazine ads to film titles to product packaging. In this course, students are introduced to the fundamentals of visual research, composition, typography, and the organization of information. A key goal for all students is learning to develop powerful concepts. Students address a series of design problems through concept-driven solutions that explore 2D and digital making. The role of typography in design is examined in depth, with an emphasis on the selection of the most appropriate typeface for each project. Students are introduced to digital tools, including the Adobe Creative Suite.

Pre-College 

This class explores the ever-expanding territory where illustration meets design. The hybrid designer-illustrator is head and shoulders above the pack, possessing drawing skills; a keen sense of color, typography, and layout; and an interest in doing it all. Today’s new breed of designer-illustrators are poised for long and varied careers. Guest speakers who exemplify these qualities present case studies; slide-show lectures provide inspiration; and practical assignments afford students opportunities to produce portfolio work. Assignments call for students to create a range of packaging, objects, logos, animation boards, and advertising using a multidisciplinary approach.

Pre-College 

The field of interior design is rapidly changing. Interior designers not only are responsible for aesthetic elements but are called upon to assess and understand a given site condition and create environments that inspire and support transformative human experience. In this course, faculty introduce students to the field of interior design through an institutional, commercial, or public studio project in New York City. Students engage in an iterative creative process that includes field observation and analysis, measuring, drawing, model making, and evaluating and selecting nontoxic materials. Students build technical skills and develop an understanding of scale, form, and spatial relationships that enables them to interpret the interior environment. They divide their time between designing in the studio, learning to analyze and represent space, and taking field trips to relevant sites in New York City. Students leave the class with a better understanding of the interconnections between interior design, ecology, and human experience and with the ability to critique and build upon cultural understanding of the field.

Pre-College 

This course focuses on the basics of painting, with an emphasis on technical paint handling, color, composition, and materials. Students acquire basic studio habits and practices and undertake a visual and conceptual examination of painting today. Individual and group criticism, combined with field trips and discussion, expands perspectives within historical contexts. As students advance, they explore a variety of abstract and figurative possibilities for self-examination.

Pre-College 

New York’s urban landscapes offer inspiration as students develop their skills in documentary and fine art photography. Beginners master basic skills in analog and digital photography, while experienced students learn to convey ideas and explore themes in their work. The class includes on-site shoots, lab work, critiques, and lectures. All work is done in black and white. Students must have a 35mm camera with manual settings and a DSLR digital camera.

Pre-College 

New York City provides visual inspiration for students exploring digital photography. Students learn to structure and narrate stories on video and in photography as they collaborate to create short digital films. Professionals visit the class to discuss their craft and share work. This course is recommended for students with some photography experience. Students must have a DSLR digital camera. Beginners should take Photography: Analog and Digital.

Pre-College 

In this introductory course, students engage in hands-on exploration of object design. The product design process is explored through problem solving, integration of essential skills such as drawing and rendering, and iterative prototyping of three-dimensional forms. Students learn where and how design can be best applied. They work both individually and collaboratively in a studio environment to create prototypes for utilitarian products and a project book documenting their research and process.

Deadline: Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Applications are accepted in the order in which they are received. Class sizes are limited. We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, as most courses fill before session deadlines. The deadline for Summer Intensive Studies: New York Session I is April 1. The deadline for Summer Intensive Studies: New York Session II is May 1.

Registering for Courses
Students must be 19 years of age by June 1, 2020, for Session I or by July 6, 2020, for Session II. Students who are 18 years of age by the aforementioned dates and have completed one year of college may also enroll in college/adult-level courses. A college transcript reflecting this must be submitted no later than two weeks after registration and should be sent by email to summer@newschool.edu.

Full payment is required at the time of registration.

Housing (optional): See Summer Housing for fees. 

Note: Registration for the program does not guarantee housing. Apply now for summer housing.

Payment Methods

Online registration: Payment can be made by credit card only. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.

Note: Credit and debit cards often have limits on the amount that can be charged. Your bank may deny approval for a credit card payment if the card is issued by a non-U.S. bank. To ensure a smooth registration process, please check with your bank before submitting your credit card information. Also make sure that the expiration date of the card is more than two months after the date you submit payment.

Paper registration form

Cancellations and Refunds
Students who registered online should withdraw using the online registration system. Students who registered by mail or in person must submit a withdrawal request in writing by email to summer@newschool.edu. In order for you to qualify for a refund of tuition, your cancellation must be submitted before the deadlines indicated below. (Housing refunds are processed separately; visit Summer Housing for details.)

New York Session II

Before May 1: full refund of tuition

Before June 1: refund of tuition less 25 percent penalty

June 1 or later: no tuition refund

Parsons reserves the right to cancel courses. If a course is canceled, you will be notified and asked whether you wish to transfer to a different course or receive a full refund of tuition and housing fees.

College and Adult Level
College and adult students enroll in this summer program as a complement to a full-time degree program and to gain intensive exposure to design disciplines that will help them attain their academic and professional goals. Students also enroll in this program to build the skills and portfolio necessary for acceptance to graduate programs. Session I is limited to college and adult participants who either 1) are 18 years of age and have completed at least one year of college or 2) are 19 years of age or older by June 1, 2020. College and adult students taking part in Session II must either 1) be 18 years of age and have completed at least one year of college or 2) be 19 years of age or older by July 6, 2020. During Session II, pre-college students are also on campus, and a limited number of courses combine levels. Please see the list below for course descriptions and links to registration.

College Credit
Students enrolled in the pre-college and college and adult-level programs in New York earn three college credits upon successful completion of the programs.

We strongly recommend that participants consult an academic advisor at their home institution for further details of approval and transfer of credits and fulfillment of graduation requirements. 

Academic Transcript Request
Transcripts issued by the Registrar's Office carry the signature and seal of The New School. A transcript is confirmation of a student's permanent record at the university. Students who complete Summer Intensive Studies can ask for their transcripts to be mailed to other colleges and institutions by submitting an official request to the Registrar's Office.

Attendance and Workload
Students attend classes Monday through Friday for six hours a day. Classes run in two sessions (morning and afternoon) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. Attendance is mandatory. Students who miss more than two class sessions will fail the course, subject to faculty and administrative review.

Out-of-class work, which is assigned daily, is a substantial part of the program. Students who do not meet course expectations may be asked to leave the program.

Schedule for Session II

July 6–24, 2020

Sunday, July 5      

Residence hall check-in 

11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Monday, July 6      

Orientation, followed by first class

Friday, July 24      

Last day of classes 

Final exhibition of student work

Saturday, July 25      

Residence hall checkout 

9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon

Registration Process

Who attends Summer Intensive Studies?

The pre-college program is open to students between the ages of 16 and 18 who have not yet attended college. Students in this program explore and develop their skills in art and design as they create portfolio pieces for college admission.

The college/adult-level program is open to adults and students at least 19 years of age. Students who are 18 years old and have completed a minimum of one year of college are also eligible to enroll at the college/adult level. An academic transcript showing proof of eligibility must be submitted within two weeks of registration. Students receive intensive training in art and design that helps them develop their skills and define their academic and professional goals. Many students attend the college-level program to complement full-time degree programs and to build the skills and portfolios necessary for admission to graduate programs.

What are the admission requirements?

This is an open enrollment program available to students with a strong interest in art and design study. There is no application process, and registrations are processed on a first come, first served basis.

When should I apply?

Registration begins in November and continues until all seats in the courses have been filled. Because courses are filled on a first come, first served basis, we recommend that you register early.

What should I do if the class I want to take is already full?

Wait lists are not maintained for Summer Intensive Studies courses. You can monitor the enrollment status of courses through the live online registration system and enroll if a seat becomes available in your desired course.

How will I know if I've been accepted? 

If you have successfully registered, you will receive an email confirming your registration within about ten minutes from our Registrar's Office.

COURSE INFORMATION

When do I attend class?

Classes are held Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.

Where are classes held?

Most classes are held at Parsons in Greenwich Village, in the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center and the University Center at Fifth Avenue and 13th Street. This facility also houses the University Center Library. Digital classes are held in the University Computer Center, 55 West 13th Street, and at 6 East 16th Street.

Who teaches in Summer Intensive Studies?

Courses are taught by Parsons faculty and a select group of New York–based artists and designers.

How many students are in each class?

Each class has a maximum of 16 students.

Will I have homework?

This is a rigorous academic program. Students should expect to have two to three hours of homework a day and on weekends.

Will I receive a grade in the course?

Yes; grades are issued for all students enrolled in the Summer Intensive Studies program.

Am I allowed to be absent?

Students are expected to attend classes regularly and arrive on time. If you must miss a class session, you should notify your instructors in advance and arrange to make up all missed work. Any student missing more than two sessions may be asked to leave the program. Please note that morning and afternoon sessions are counted separately; each day consists of two sessions.

What should I bring on the first day of class?

Approximately two weeks before the program begins, instructors will email supply lists to their students. Students should bring the supplies to the first class. Do not purchase any supplies on the list that are unfamiliar to you. Wait until the first day of class and speak with your teacher before making the purchase. There are many art supply stores located within walking distance of the campus.

HOUSING

How do I apply for housing?

To apply for housing, you must complete the housing registration application online. The link to the application is sent by email to registered students in the confirmation letter sent by the office of Parsons at Open Campus. Visit Parsons Summer Housing to learn more about summer housing.

How much does it cost to live on campus?

Please see Summer Housing Fees.

Am I guaranteed housing?

As long as you apply before the deadlines, housing will be available. Please see Summer Housing.

Am I required to live in the residence halls?

No. You can live off campus while attending the summer program.

Where are the dormitories in relation to the classrooms?

All classes are held in the L, M, N, E, I, and U buildings, which are situated within walking distance of the dormitories (S, T, and V buildings). View our campus map for more details. 

What amenities are available in the residence halls?

Most dormitories are equipped with phones and Internet and cable access. Visit Student Housing for more details.

Are the residence halls safe?

All residence halls have 24-hour security guards on duty. Entry is carefully regulated.

Are there staff members in the residence halls?

There are always staff members on duty in the residence halls.

Will I have a curfew?

Only Students who are 18 years of age are subject to an 11:00 p.m. curfew.

Am I allowed to have visitors and guests?

Yes. All guests, including parents, guardians, and siblings, must leave a photo ID and register in the guest log when visiting. Students enrolled in Summer Intensive Studies who are 18 years of age are subject to curfews and are not permitted to have overnight guests in their rooms. Students 19 years of age and older can request overnight guest accommodations, which are available on a very limited basis. A small number of rooms in other buildings are available for overnight guests during the summer for a fee.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF CLASS

What student activities are offered outside of class?

Activities offered outside of class provide opportunities to meet other students, become better acquainted with the university, and discover New York City. They include industry guest lectures and events relating to admission to degree programs and career exploration, such as Portfolio Review Day. The Office of Student Development and Activities organizes off-campus excursions to Mets and/or Yankees games and Broadway plays. Students can also participate in free fitness classes in the afternoons. All students will be given a calendar with all extracurricular activities during Orientation on the first day of the program. 

What can I do on weekends?

You can participate in the many extracurricular activities scheduled during the summer. Events attended in past years include baseball games and Broadway shows. You will receive a complete calendar of extracurricular activities at Orientation.

What about the rest of my free time? Will I be all alone?

During class hours, you will be with faculty members and classmates. At lunch break, you can go to one of the student meeting areas, the dining locations, or a nearby restaurant or deli. After class and before the 11:00 p.m. curfew, you will do homework (two to three hours a day), eat, and enjoy leisure time. Students generally connect very quickly with one another and go out in groups.

Will I be able to see New York while I am studying there?

Visits to museums, exhibitions, and other places of interest are scheduled during class hours to provide inspiration for your work. You can also explore New York City on your own during your leisure time.

Will I be safe in New York?

The New York classrooms and dormitories are in safe locations. Because New York City is so large, it is essential that students take safety precautions, such as walking with groups and being aware of their surroundings. Visit the Safety and Preparedness site to learn about managing emergencies at The New School.

How can I communicate with my family and friends?

Most of the university dormitories are equipped with Internet access and phones. The university computer center also offers students free Internet access in a state-of-the-art computer lab.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Do I need to apply for a student visa?

Yes. After you have registered for the program, a written confirmation will be emailed to you. This letter will contain your student identification number, which will allow you to log in to the International Students page to access the visa application procedures and forms.

Is there a language requirement?

Yes. A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 79 on the Internet-based course is required for international students. Visit TOEFL for more information.

Whom should I speak with if I have more questions?

The staff at the International Student and Scholar Services Office is available to address your questions and concerns.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

What should I bring with me?

Travel light. Make sure you have an umbrella, sturdy walking shoes, and light clothing, as New York can be hot and steamy during the summer.

Can I mail supplies and other items to the university?

Unfortunately, since there is no storage space for student belongings, we cannot accept packages.

AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDS

Will the three credits I earn at Parsons by successfully completing my course transfer to my college?

Most colleges accept the credits earned for Summer Intensive Studies courses. We strongly recommend that you check in advance with an advisor at your college to find out whether the credits apply.

How can I get my grade and transcript?

At the end of the program, you can access your grade through our online student information system. Transcripts must be requested from the Registrar's Office. You will receive a student handbook with information explaining this process in detail.