Summertime Art

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An artist gathering natural materials by a mountain stream, surrounded by lush green vegetation and towering peaks under a partly cloudy sky.

No Experience Required.

The Department of Art & Art History invites students from any major to explore their artistic side with Summertime Art. These studio-based classes are designed for non-art majors and cover a range of materials, techniques, and creative concepts in specialized art labs. Whether you're interested in studio art, art history, or art education, our 4-week and 8-week sessions are a fun way to build creative problem-solving skills and fulfill CSU's All-College Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements.

Our 3-credit courses are open to all majors and cover everything from art history and contemporary digital media to current issues in art education. Hands-on studio courses are designed to improve your creative problem-solving skills, expand your visual literacy, and encourage innovative thinking. Taught by our experienced faculty, who are working artists themselves, most of our summer classes fulfill general education AUCC category 1C or 3B.

Want to get creative?

Three young artists standing on a wooden bridge, each holding a unique painting inspired by the surrounding mountain landscape, with green hills and cloudy skies in the background.

Explore Art

Expand your persepective

From the foundations of visual culture to traveling abroad, studying with us during the summer offers a unique opportunity to explore new artistic perspectives, develop creative skills, and engage with diverse cultural influences. Whether you're mastering the basics of pottery, experimenting with digital media, or engaging community through public artworks, our summer courses provide a dynamic and inspiring environment for creative growth. Here are a few examples of what we offer from June through August:

  • Introduction to the Visual Arts: Explore the evolution of visual arts through history and practice.
  • Media Arts in Context: Learn about printmaking, photography, video, and digital media.
  • Book Arts: Study the history and structure of books as an art form.
  • Art in Action: Engage in art projects that address social and environmental issues.
  • Photo Image Making: Develop skills in creating photographic art.
  • Graphic Design: Develop skills in typography, design systems, and layout.
  • Art in Forest Ecosystems: Create art inspired by nature at CSU’s Mountain Campus.
  • Art in Japan: Study craft, visual arts, architecture, and history in Japan.
Explore the Course Catalog

Stand Out in Any Career Field

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Creative problem solving is a highly valued skill in today’s job market and Summertime Art will help you build it.

Whether you're interested in drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, or digital media, our classes help you build artistic skills while developing critical thinking and visual literacy. Alongside material and technique exploration, you’ll develop essential career skills like project management, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, verbal and written communication, research, time management, and how to give and receive feedback.

Visit the Career Resource Center

Ready to Explore Your Artistic Side?

Learn More About Summer at CSU
Register for Summer Courses