360.00 Hours Required

Jennifer Lugris was accepted into UC Santa Barbara's M.F.A. program, "Thanks to Extension."

Jennifer Lugris

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts

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.

Prerequisites

College graduates who hold at least a bachelor's degree and have intermediate to advanced-level art skills are eligible to apply for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts. Note: The revised prerequisites apply to new students registering for this professional certificate on or after July 1, 2015.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum comprises a minimum of 12 courses and a final portfolio review for a total of 24 semester units (360 hours of instruction), including 7 required courses (12 semester units), and a minimum of 6 visual arts electives (12 semester units). 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 a wide array of 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:

  1. 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 artworks with title, date, medium and size (as .pdf). If your images are too large, please submit them on a CD or USB with the list to the mailing address below.
    • Current C.V. or résumé (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.*
  2. Complete your student account profile if you are a new student.
  3. Pay the nonrefundable application fee through your shopping cart.

*To complete the application process, you must also send your original (official and sealed) transcripts to:

Anastasia Meadors
Director
Art and Design
UC Berkeley Extension
1995 University Ave., Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

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

If you are an international student, you must apply to Evening Certificate Programs. Learn more.

Estimated Cost

Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The certificate has an estimated total cost of $6,200 (not including course materials or registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.

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) 664-7823. After your records have been reviewed, verified and approved (usually within two to three weeks), your certificate will be mailed to you.

Special Instructions for International Students

There are no admission requirements for international students who wish to complete a course or certificate online. You may register for any online course available for enrollment. Follow the registration and enrollment process for the online course you have selected.

If you are an international student who would like to study in the U.S. and require a student visa, you must apply and be officially accepted into UC Berkeley Extension's Evening Certificate Programs before enrolling in any courses associated with this certificate. Apply now.

Please review our International Student Policies for additional information.

Advisory Board

George Rivera
Associate Faculty, Mission College

Richard Shaw
Professor Emeritus, Department of Art Practice
UC Berkeley

Mark Van Proyen
Associate Professor, Painting Department
San Francisco Art Institute

Lewis Watts
Professor Emeritus
UC Santa Cruz

Dominic Willsdon
Executive Director
Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University