Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts

360.00 Hours Required

Elinor Cheung is a resident artist at the Bothwell Arts Center.

Graduate, Post-Bacc Certificate in Visual Arts
Read Elinor Cheung's Story

Getting Started

Submit the application for review.

Online Availability

You can complete this program fully in the Live Online format.

Duration of Study

Most students complete the curriculum in 1–2 years.

Estimated Cost

$7,100

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts provides a critical bridge between talent and skill. This exciting curriculum includes expert instruction and rigorous studio experience to help you take your creative ideas to the next level in a supportive atmosphere.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum comprises 6 required courses (12 semester units), 6 elective courses (12 semester units) and a final portfolio review for a total of 24 semester units (360 hours of instruction). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate application fee.

Course topics include theory/critique courses designed to develop creative and conceptual thinking; visual art history courses that function to integrate issues of contemporary art within a historical context; and visual arts electives chosen from studio courses in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and other media.

The curriculum can be completed within one year by attending full time (minimum 8 units per semester) or in two years by attending part time (minimum 4 units per semester). All coursework must be completed within five years.

You must take all courses for a letter grade. To receive the certificate, all courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher. A Certificate of Distinction will be awarded to those who complete the certificate with a GPA of 3.9 or higher.

How to Register

We have a rolling admissions policy, which means that we consider applications throughout the year. While there is no application deadline, it is advisable to submit all of your materials at least two months prior to your intended date of matriculation.

To apply to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts:

Submit the online application, which requires uploading the following materials, converting the documents to .pdf or .jpg:
- Personal/artistic statement discussing your art background, current art practice and goals (as .pdf)
- 10–12 images of your current artwork (each as .jpg).
- Include list of submitted artworks with title, date, medium and size (as .pdf)
- A copy of your transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution verifying that you earned a baccalaureate degree (as .pdf)*
- Any additional copies of transcripts from all other undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (as .pdf). International transcripts must be professionally translated.*
Complete your student account profile if you are a new student.
Pay the nonrefundable application fee through your shopping cart.

*To complete the registration process, you must also send your official transcripts (digital format) to:

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts
UC Berkeley Extension
extension-visualarts@berkeley.edu

If you are accepted into the certificate program, you will need to pay a separate nonrefundable $150 certificate registration fee.

Certificate and Award Request

Once you have completed the certificate coursework, notify UC Berkeley Extension that you have completed the curriculum and request your certificate. Send an email to extension-visualarts@berkeley.edu or call (510) 664-7824. After your records have been reviewed, verified and approved (usually within two to three weeks), your certificate will be mailed to you.

Introducing: Career Services!

You have worked on your Berkeley academics and are now planning the next stage of your professional life, but you don't know where to start. Let the Berkeley Global Career Services team support you in taking your next steps! Get started today.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts

Getting Started

Online Availability

Duration of Study

Estimated Cost

Straight to your inbox each month: news and updates in

Thank you, and welcome to the UC Berkeley Extension community!

Email Privacy Policy

Ask a question about . We will email you a response shortly.

Email Privacy Policy

Required Courses

Electives (Art History)

Electives (Drawing)

Electives (Painting)

Electives (Photography and Film)

Electives (Other Media)

Prerequisites

Curriculum Requirements

How to Register

Estimated Cost

Certificate and Award Request

Introducing: Career Services!

Videos