Summer Art Intensive

ENROLL NOW

We are accepting enrollments and scholarship applications.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Program Schedule

July 14–August 7, 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

Tuition and the registration fee are included in the tuition prices listed with each course listing on the course page. The $270 registration fee is non-refundable upon withdrawal from the program. This amount covers administrative and processing fees. 

Tuition covers all program costs including necessary art materials, printing, field trips expenses, among other things. 

Enrollment and Scholarship Application Deadlines

Open enrollment ends on Monday, June 30. NB: classes may fill before this date. 

Scholarship application will be accepted until 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 high school students who are serious about art and/or design and to those who seek to develop their portfolio in preparation for college applications. 

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

Enrollment is open to those who are ready to commit to attending the program and are able to pay tuition. Students enrolling are not required to submit a portfolio or undergo a selection process and only need to complete the registration form and submit payment to officially enroll in the program.

Scholarship applicants are required to submit supporting materials including a minimum of 5 images of recent artwork and a brief essay. Applications will undergo a selection process as funding for scholarships is limited. Simply applying for the scholarship does not guarantee or secure a spot in the program by itself. 

If a scholarship applicant is not awarded funding, they still have the option to enroll by completing registration here and submitting payment of tuition.

When will scholarship applicants be notified of their selection status?

Applicants will be notified in mid-May of their status. A limited number of scholarships are available. Accepted students will receive instructions about how to officially enroll.   

Some applicants may be put on a waiting list. Those on the waiting list for scholarship will be notified if a place opens up for them. Not all applicants on the waiting list will be given a place in the program.  

What does tuition cover?

Tuition will cover all program expenses, including the necessary art materials, field trip expenses (travel & entry fees), among other things. The amount listed as tuition also includes a non-refundable registration fee of $270 which covers the cost of payment processing and administrative work.

What does the scholarship cover?

The Jeffery and Paul Gural Merit Scholarship for NYC Public School Students is a full tuition scholarship and also covers necessary art materials, printing, field trips expenses, among other things. 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. This is a commuter program. 

How many classes can I attended?

Students in the program can attend one selection of their choice. Each section of course(s) 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 is the daily schedule?

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

Can out of area and international students attend the program?

Yes, but there are some things to consider. 

If parents aren't relocating with students, a local responsible adult will need to be identified by parents to act as an emergency contact. 

There is no housing option for this program. 

Also, keep in mind that participants won't be eligible for student visas and The Cooper Union will not be able to assist with attaining a visa since this is not a credit bearing course. 

Who are the instructors?

Instructors are professional working artists. Please visit our instructors page for more information about who will lead each class. Each professional instructor is paired with a Cooper Union School of Art undergraduate to act as teaching assistant. 

Does The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive give college credits?

No. The program does not give college credits. 

Upon request, a proof of course completion letter will be issued. Requests for course completion letters 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?

Please visit our policies page for details on how to withdraw from the program. 

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

Students enrolling in the Studio Practice section should have experience and be very self-motivated. Students enrolling in other classes will benefit from having prior experience but it won't be assumed that you have experience. The best option for those with no prior experience may be to sign up for Drawing Intensive. 

How many students are in each class?

Classes are limited to 16 students. 

Do I need to bring art supplies to the program?

All required materials will be provided as needed. 

In some cases, students may want to bring materials from home. Please discuss this with your instructors if you feel you'd like to bring in materials. They must be non-toxic, non-flammable and not require personal protection to use. 

Do I need to bring a computer to the program?

No. Classes will be using well-equiped computer studios. 

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

Drawing Intensive is a full-day single-track class with the same instructors and same classroom all day.

Students in the Animation section and the Graphic Design section spend half the day in a Drawing class. 

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. Student work will be showcased in a program wide exhibition during the last days of the program. A reception will be held and family, friends and educators are welcome to attend. 

Are meals provided?

Once a week, weather permitting, a communal lunch will be held on the terrace where food will be provided. 

On other days, students are encouraged to bring their lunch from home or grab food from a nearby shop or restaurant and are welcome to eat on-campus. 

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.