Instructor-Led Digital Art Classes
Professional Certificate in Digital Arts
Expand your creative drawing and design skillsProgram Overview
In the Professional Certificate in Digital Arts program, students develop a foundation in the technical and creative skills for digital art and illustration. Students explore the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, building their understanding of color and composition through projects in traditional drawing and vector illustration.
- Create digital artwork in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Enhance your drawing skills using traditional techniques.
- Learn and apply current vector illustration methods.
- Build a foundation in visual design.
- Expand your artistic portfolio with expert feedback.
Instructor-Led Program
- Project-based courses from industry-leading design and digital media professionals.
- Learn at your own pace—no mandatory logins or preset meeting times.
- Build skills through mentoring and critique from expert instructors.
A Better Way to Learn
Online
Study 100% online from anywhere with 24/7 access to classes.
Self-paced
Complete your program on your own time in 9 months or less.
Industry Relevant
Develop in-demand skills for your creative field.
Customizable
Digital Arts Courses
Program Curriculum
Designed for the busy adult learner, the Professional Certificate in Digital Arts is a 360 clock hour program completed in nine months studying part time. Our diverse selection of online digital art classes creates a program that’s robust, effective, and led by expert faculty with decades of experience as working artists.
Level 1
- 4226 Illustrator Basics - 60 hours
- 4501 Drawing I - 60 hours
- 4218 Photoshop Basics - 60 hours
Level 2
- 4023 Design Foundations - 60 hours
- 4227 Illustrator Advanced - 60 hours
- 4222 Digital Illustration Advanced - 60 hours
Course Descriptions
4226 Illustrator Basics
Build a working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, the graphic designer’s vector program of choice. Course projects explore selection tools, drawing tools, layers, the Pen tool, transformations/distortions, type tools, and modifying paths and shapes. Tapping the power of vector software allows you to produce detailed and scalable art for almost any application. Learn more
4501 Drawing I
Learn how to analyze what you see in the world around you and communicate it on paper. Through hands-on projects, and guided by a professional artist, you will explore the critical concepts of line, mass, form, perspective, value, and composition, building a solid foundation for all your art and design work. Learn more
4218 Photoshop Basics
Get a thorough grounding in Adobe Photoshop, the premiere image-manipulation tool for print design, Web design, and photography. You'll learn to choose and use the best techniques for common Photoshop jobs including selecting and isolating objects, creating image composites, masking and vignetting images, setting typography, and improving images with retouching and effects. Every designer must tame this creative powerhouse of a program. Learn more
4023 Design Foundations
Color is a fundamental medium for any artist or designer. Typography is what sets designers apart from other artists. Composition, literally the assembly or construction of elements, is the artful arrangement that guides the viewer's eye through an image. In this course, you will analyze everything from Grand Masters to Madison Avenue ads to tubes of toothpaste, and discover how color, type, and composition are combined to create effective and powerful visual communications. Class projects challenge you to build and apply your design skills in application to real-life creative scenarios.Learn more
4227 Illustrator Advanced
Create photo-realistic illustrations, complex patterns, rich designs and learn how to speed your efforts with helpful workflow features. You'll build on your existing Illustrator skills to tackle high-end projects with depth, dimension, and wow-power. Learn more
4222 Digital Illustration Advanced
Learn advanced illustration and Adobe Illustrator techniques for communicating your creative concepts. This course explores how a professional illustrator approaches creating editorial illustrations, icons, retro poster designs, illustrations with depth, and identity designs. Open-ended projects will help you develop portfolio-quality illustrations, and peer discussions and critiques will provide valuable interaction opportunities. Learn more
Build Your Own Learning Path
This program is adaptable to a wide range of experience levels. Choose the option(s) below that best meet your learning goals.
Option 1
Specialize
New to the field? Simply complete all required courses in the certificate program.
Option 2
Customize
Already have some industry and/or software experience? Customize up to 50% of your programChoose from courses in Graphic Design, Web Design, Motion & Video, and more by choosing alternate courses.
Option 3
PLUS
Need more training? After you've completed your program, add concentrations at reduced tuitionChoose from concentrations in Graphic Design, Digital Photography, Digital Media, and more to enhance your creative skills.
Program Outcomes
By completing the program, Professional Certificate in Digital Arts students develop the following competencies:
1. Drawing
Draw and paint utilizing traditional media and classic techniques, demonstrating a command of proportion, perspective, value contrast, and the human figure.
2. Technology
Create digital images and illustrations by effectively and efficiently using creative software including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other industry technologies.
3. Illustration
Conceptualize, create and provide illustrations for a range of commercial applications in traditional or digital media.
4. Art/Design Principles
Demonstrate the ability to produce visually compelling work by applying knowledge of color, typography, and composition.
Sessions Student Work
Student Work
What Students Say
I had thought about a degree in Digital Arts for a long time but couldn't commit to another BA or an AA degree. The Sessions Professional Certificate has been perfect for me so far in terms of timing, flexibility, and cost.