Programs of Study

Art and Design

UC Berkeley Extension has the courses you need to sharpen your professional skills and develop in all aspects of art and design. Learn the latest techniques in graphic design. Get ahead of the curve in the emerging field of sustainable design. Or take a studio class in drawing, painting, printmaking or photography. Focus on landscape architecture, interior design or visual arts, and earn a certificate from a program that professionals recognize for quality. Work with award-winning designers, artists and industry professionals to refine your portfolio; gain hands-on experience with local firms; and develop the professional network to advance your career. Evening, weekend and online classes offer the flexibility that fits your busy schedule. Courses are held in San Francisco, Berkeley, Belmont and online. Learn more at a free information session.

Courses Available in

Professional Certificates (What is a professional certificate?)

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts (EDP 022442)
Designed for practicing artists who have completed an undergraduate degree with a nonart major, this exciting curriculum provides the rigorous studio practice and conceptual and art-historical framework necessary to develop a portfolio for application to fine-art graduate programs. Learn more.

Interior Design and Interior Architecture (EDP 022137)
The Certificate Program in Interior Design and Interior Architecture provides a comprehensive interior design education that is professional, affordable and available to working individuals on a part-time basis. This program prepares you for the California IDEX exam and the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. Learn more.

Landscape Architecture (EDP 022186)
The Certificate Program in Landscape Architecture offers a preprofessional curriculum focused on the numerous and varied opportunities that exist in the landscape architecture profession. This curriculum is certified by the Landscape Architects Technical Committee (LATC) of the California Board of Architectural Examiners and prepares you for the Landscape Architecture Licensing Exam. Learn more.

Specialized Programs of Study (What is a specialized program of study?)

Featured Programs:

Digital Photography (EDP 022492)
Digital technology dramatically alters the accessibility and possibilities of photography. The Specialized Program in Digital Photography explores the essentials of digital imaging, including getting the most out of new technologies. Learn more.

Drawing (EDP 022476)
Drawing, the foundation of any art practice, is your most accessible and versatile tool for exploring and expressing creative ideas. With the Specialized Program in Drawing, you master fundamental drawing techniques, methods and materials. Learn more.

Painting (EDP 022484)
After centuries of experimentation, painting still promises the discovery of boundless creative expression. The Specialized Program in Painting teaches essential painting techniques to develop your creativity using a variety of materials and methods. Learn more.

Learn more about all of UC Berkeley Extension's professional certificates and specialized programs of study.

Information Sessions

Learn more about Extension—without making a commitment. Come to a free information session to discover how UC Berkeley Extension can help you achieve your goals. Learn more about courses and programs, meet other prospective students, talk to instructors and staff, and ask questions.

Enroll in a free information session, or call (510) 642-4111 to reserve your space.

Events, Programs and Resources

LASER: Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous (EDP 055392)

The LASER series, chaired by cultural historian Piero Scaruffi, is a local forum for art and science
projects that are creative, original and interdisciplinary in nature. Each evening program features
a medley of four artists, scientists, philosophers, historians, inventors and scholars who are
working on projects that expand existing paradigms.

Dates and Times: Wednesdays, June 5 and Aug. 7, 6:30–8:30 pm
Location: Berkeley Campus
Cost: FREE

The State of the Object: How Art Interacts With Technology, Society and Life (EDP 015602)

Moderated by author Piero Scaruffi—with individual presentations and a panel discussion by distinguished Bay Area practitioners in art and design—this event ranges across the contemporary art and design field to underscore the importance of creativity for business, technology and the way that people live.

Date and Time: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 7–8:30 pm
Location: San Francisco: Art and Design Center
Cost: FREE

Celebrating Architect Julia Morgan: Insights Into Her Genius and Legacy

Learn more about this extraordinary architect as historian Karen McNeill takes you on a journey of Julia Morgan's life and work. This lecture is part of a celebration of the 110th anniversary of Julia Morgan's return to California from Paris. Watch the full video.

Forgers, Prophets and Purists: A Conversation on the Art World

UC Berkeley Extension and Litquake present artist and writer Jonathon Keats in conversation with gallerist and author Richard Polsky and author Nancy Boas on art and artists. Watch the full video.

Art and Design Gallery

View examples of student and instructor artwork and class projects in Extension's Art and Design program areas. Go to gallery.

Some courses are developed in collaboration with the following organizations:

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM)

UC Berkeley Library Exhibits

View "Story Hour in the Library" videos at webcast.berkeley.edu.

Contact

To contact Visual Arts, email visualarts@unex.berkeley.edu or call (415) 284-1041.

To contact Interior Design and Interior Architecture, email interiordes@unex.berkeley.edu or call (415) 284-1070.

To contact Landscape Architecture, email landarch@unex.berkeley.edu or call (415) 284-1070.

To contact Graphic Design, email designarts@unex.berkeley.edu or call (415) 284-1041.